Randy Hopper is a state senator in Wisconsin. A Republican. He is now holed up with his colleagues — his Republican colleagues — in the capitol. The Democratic senators have apparently fled the state. Hopper says, “None of my colleagues from the minority party decided to come to work today.”
The Democrats are denying the Republicans the quorum necessary to vote on key fiscal legislation.
Hopper says, “I spent two years in the minority, and I came to work every day, even when I didn’t like the bills the majority was passing. I thought it was my job.” The Democrats, he says, “have relinquished their duties. The people sent them here to do a job, and they are refusing to do it. They’re in hiding. They ought to be ashamed of themselves.”
Hopper has received threatening phone calls and e-mails. These are threats of a physical nature. “We are working with law enforcement in my district. They are watching my home and my business.” Other Republicans have had their homes and businesses threatened, too. The unionists have demonstrated outside those homes and businesses.
A menacing old phrase comes to mind (and has been used by others, in talking about events in Wisconsin): We know where you live.
Hopper says, “I’ve always said that they can threaten me all they want, but it’s not going to stop me from doing what the people elected me to do.” And he says more than once, “We’re still here.” The Republicans have not run anywhere.
I blame Sarah Palin.
Ahem.
(thanks to GeoffB)
The new hippies: “LETS STOMP THOSE WHO DON’T ACCEPT THE ALL-ENCOMPASSING POWER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT!”
It’s bizarro world.
wis. clowns found:
link
I thought it was interesting that at the WEAC web site they will only give out the names of the union leaders to registered members. Perhaps an example of where they know what they would do and assume their political enemies would do the same?
That hoochie what is responsible for all things bad should not be anywhere near our failshit government.
And, cupcakes.
This message brought to you by Hostess™
I hope the next move of the WI legislature is to fast-track concealed carry laws. Apparently, people need protection from some of those oh-so-enlightened Democrats.
word of the day:
putsch
? ?/p?t?/ Show Spelled[pooch] Show IPA
–noun
a plotted revolt or attempt to overthrow a government, especially one that depends upon suddenness and speed.
From the AP article:
The protests have attracted teachers, grade school children, college students and other workers over four days.
Other workers? That there list consists of some over-credentialed part-timers, and the future unemployed. I think our AP writer needs another layer of editors.
I would assume the “other workers” would mostly be the
parents of the grade school childrenbreeders of Democrat voters, Squid.Yes, the protest has attracted grade school children. The continuing dumbing down of America being brought to us by unionized school teachers and advertised by the make believe media.
Who is paying? This can’t be inexpensive.
Yes, if the Runaway Dems dare submit their hotel bills on an expense report, I think that should be made public very loudly.
They should “deem” the quorum present and hold the vote.
They should repeatedly go on TV and explain what happens when public unions collectively bargain.
There should be a movement in the US to get rid of public employees unions. It’s a vote buying scheme.
How long do the WI Dems have to play hooky before the Governor can declare their seats vacated?
Civility from back in December.
And this from Feb 10th. tells “who benefits“.
Teachbaggers. Far less violent than the Teabaggers. And more eloquent because of their education!
The head of AFSME acused the governor of extortion?
These fuckers really are insane.
There should be a movement in the US to get rid of public employees unions. It’s a vote buying scheme.
The scheme at the moment looks more like demanding money with menaces. There used to be a law against that.
Fire them if they are skipping work
The problem we’re facing is that the teachers are actually hired at the local level. Which means Walker can’t do that much about it. (It’s also why there hasn’t been a single DMV or office like that closed down. He can fire them immediately.)
What’s predominantly happening is that X number of teachers are calling in sick and then their politically sympathetic administrators are using that as the excuse to call school off. When school is called off, they’re no longer not reporting to work so they don’t need a valid excuse.
It’s why we’re trying to convince these superintendents and school boards that this is not a politically safe thing for them to do or turn a blind eye to.
It’s why we’re trying to convince these superintendents and school boards that this is not a politically safe thing for them to do or turn a blind eye to.
Burn up the phones of your school board members. The superintendents work for them (not that most of them fully realize that). I’d be curious to know what the board members think about this illegal work action and the negative impact it’s having on the edumacayshun of the chilruhnz.
We’re hitting both. Different message. For superintendents, it’s a warning that helping or ignoring an illegal work action is an unquestionable cause for their own firing. For school board members, it’s a warning that we’ll kick them out of office.
Fascinating exchange, geoffb. Meyerson misrepresents the opposition’s point, evades the issues, and is dishonest about the basics. I almost ended up liking Lane.
I hope my governor Rick Scott continues to show the same kind of spine. Public sector unions will be the death of the republic, if we let them.
link
I’ll come out.
Seriously. Are you going to let a bunch of school teachers bully you? Besides, I thought we were supposed to be against bullying this year. And salt.
some fdr
link
“Besides, I thought we were supposed to be against bullying this year. And salt.”
link
From the Lane response:
Right now the union bosses have in place “one man, one vote, one time” which we have seen the results of in many places. That however isn’t quite enough as with “Card Check” they will have “no vote, no time” system which they prefer.
It’s not particularly hard to figure out which Mary Bell is the WEAC president. We could have 200 people on her front lawn yelling and waving signs tomorrow.
But, instead, we’ll just destroy WEAC through legislation. If you ask me, that’s quite a bit more satisfying.
They have nothing. They’re going to lose.
check out rsm for all these folks in the education industry in wi making >$150,000/yr
http://theothermccain.com/2011/02/18/which-flag/#respond
Yep, Geoff. They’ll need an annual vote, people won’t have to join the union and union dues won’t be automatically deducted from their wages.
When this passes, so do their unions. They’ll voluntarily disband without any coercion.
They know it. We know it. And there is absolutely nothing they can do about it.
“They should repeatedly go on TV and explain what happens when public unions collectively bargain”
Jeff,
Governor Walker did just that and more at a press conference I heard on Fox today.
He also said this on Greta’s show:
“I’ve said all along the thousands of people who are storming the capitol have every right to be heard, but I’m not going to let them overshadow the voices of the millions of taxpayers in the state of Wisconsin who deserve to be heard, as well.”
NOW THAT’S HOW IT’S DONE PEOPLE!!!
More From Walker, Cheese State Ranger:
“Mr. Walker also bristled at comments by President Barack Obama that his bill “seems like more of an assault” on unions. “When your budget is fixed, you can stick your nose in ours,” Mr. Walker said. “But in the meantime, let us fix our budget the way we said we were going to.”
and:
“With no end to the standoff in sight, Gov. Walker said that if the Democratic senators do not return, he’d consider cutting the funding that pays for their staff.
“If they’re not here, it begs the question whether or not they need to have staff,” he said. “They’re not performing their functions.”
KEEP FIRING; CHEESE STATE RANGER!!!
Oops,
forgot the LINK
You have company.