Die Hard

The public sector unions in Wisconsin do not intend to go gentle into that good night.  Ann Althouse has more.

Comments

[Danube of Thought]

O God how I yearn to see those bastards smacked down.

[Neo]

I work in an industry that expect 10% turnover of employees every year. If it doesn’t get to 10%, they try to push out enough to make it 10%. They figure that 10% of the workforce is always “below par” and need to be sent packing.

While 10% may be a bit high, I can see a 2 to 5% “forced turnover” in teaching .. that may deserve to be institutionalized as policy as a backstop to tenure.

[Danube of Thought]

I see a bright future for home schooling.

[NK]

O how I long for a Governor for Ct such as Christie, Johnson, Daniels and Kascich. Instead we have a whore to the unions Dan Malloy, who is corrupt at heart (Cut rate work from contractors for no-bid Stamford City work), incompetent (see his son and the Fairfield County police blotters) and uses the Frikkkin' NY Times as a publicist. Danny Malloy will learn the iron law of economics-- when United Technologies, Hartford insurers and hedge funds all move to business friendly States, we'll see how many $100K/year public employee jobs CT can afford. As for me, I'll sell my mortgage free home and rent a high-rise de-lux apartment in the sky-- I'll be like George Jefferson.

[BB Key]

Insty has a link to an online poll the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is doing. Unions losig 55-45 out 8,000 paticpants

[narciso]

Well the fact that they had to steal the election, NK to get Malloy in, much as they
did in Illinois, with Quinn, probably tells
you all you need to know.

[Porchlight]

Just checked and it's now 53-47:

http://www.jsonline.com/polls/116392154.html

[Threadkiller]

MCCLANE
Holly, we have to stop meeting like this.
(taking in the vault)
So that's what it was. A fucking robbery.
(thinking)
So why nuke the building, Hans?

HANS
(with a shrug)
When you steal six hundred dollars, you can disappear...but when you steal six hundred million, they will find you...unless you play dead.
(tight smile)
Which happens to be your next role, drop your gun, please.

[Ranger]

Question for the legal types around here. Would a federal law baring the formation or operation of public employee unions be constitutional?

Or would each state have to eliminate its public sector unions individually?

[Old Lurker]

Hi guys, I'm back!

Do you know how really hard golf is when taken up at 60+?

Did I miss anything? I gather we can balance budgets if we don't count the mortgage payments? Who knew?

[Henry]

who's paying for the buses and organizing / coordinating the workers?

Keep in mind this scuffle is just the weigh-in theatrics before Gov Walker's main event next Tuesday (the Budget). Wisconsin has a $3 Billion structural budget hole, this union adjustment only adds up to $300 million. Big fireworks to come next week.

[boris]

Probably would not have to ban them, just remove the priviliges granted to private sector unions.

[Ranger]

BTW, Barry has done it again. Via The Corner:

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/259977/obama-wisconsin-reform-efforts-assault-unions-katrina-trinko>Obama: Wisconsin Reform Efforts ‘Assault on Unions’

Admitting that he hasn’t “followed exactly what’s happening with the Wisconsin budget,” Obama nonetheless slammed limiting collective bargaining during an interview with a Wisconsin radio station yesterday.

“Some of what I’ve heard coming out of Wisconsin, where you’re just making it harder for public employees to collectively bargain, generally seems like more of an assault on unions,” said the president.

[Ranger]

Instapundit has a great post up:

http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/115192/>PHOTOS FROM WISCONSIN: How much respect did the demonstrators show for the State Capitol grounds?

This kind of sums it all up:

It’s the difference between civilized people, and looters.

[Danube of Thought]

Would a federal law baring the formation or operation of public employee unions be constitutional?

I am pretty sure it would be constitutional if it simply banned collective bargaining by such unions--the Commerce Clause power, don't you know. The 1st Amendment freedom of association probably protects the right to form a union, but there is no right to collective bargaining. It didn't occur in the federal work force until JFK authorized it by Executive Order. I would love to see the GOP candidate in 2012 promise to rescind that order.

[Captain Hate]

How great would it be if public sector unions got busted under B+ Hussein? Unintentionally Reaganesque?

[Jim,MtnViewCA,USA]

More coverage with some youtubes, at the LUN.
A watershed event.

[Rob Crawford]

BTW, Barry has done it again.

Barry is one of the Looters, not one of the Makers.

Theory: You can tell when a unit of government has been taken from the Makers by the Looters by the essential services. If potholes in overpasses are "repaired" with sheets of plywood, the city is in the grips of the Looters. If the chief executive spends more time picking the menu for his next party than attending to foreign policy, the Looters are in control.

If the first budget cuts are to police, fire, and paramedics, you're being governed by Looters.

If the school board cuts bus service before administrators, they're Looters.

[Captain Hate]

O/T The times they are a changing:

[UC] Davis has backed away from a policy that defined religious discrimination as Christians oppressing non-Christians after more than two dozen Christian students filed a formal complaint.

The definition was listed in a document called, “The Principles of Community.” It defined “Religious/Spiritual Discrimination” as “The loss of power and privilege to those who do not practice the dominant culture’s religion. In the United States, this is institutionalized oppressions toward those who are not Christian.”

“This is radical political correctness run amok,” said David French, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund.

[Rob Crawford]

How great would it be if public sector unions got busted under B+ Hussein? Unintentionally Reaganesque?

I dunno. Too much of a chance of him pardoning the ones who so desperately need to spend the rest of their lives in prison.

[Army of Davids]

Get rid of the public sector unions.

The asymmetric negotiations they have enjoyed w/ Democratic politicians in power need to come to an end.

I have no sympathy for them and the damage they have done to this country.

legacy healthcare and pension obligations will weigh on state finances for decades.

[Captain Hate]

O/T LUN WTF?

[Captain Hate]

The link on my previous post is almost a year old but what does the Dept of Ed need with a SWAT team armed with shotguns?

[Army of Davids]

Kudos to governors Walker and Kasich.

Taking on the public sector unions is at the core of getting this country back on track.

[MarkO]

I suspect they simply don't know how unpopular public ed is these days.

[NK]

MarkO-- I think the unpopularity of public ed has to do with people realizing how much they pay for it. In the NYC suburban towns the rule of 80/80 generally applies. 80% of the Towns' budgets is for education and 80% of the education budget goes to pay teacher/administrtor salary, benes and pensions. Hence, almost 2/3rs of all taxes goes into the teachers/admins pockets. I am getting the sense that generallly, people don't like that.

[Ranger]

This is clearly an effort to establish a thugocracy. The unions tried to physically block access to the Senate chamber to prevent a vote today.

[MarkO]

NK. Exactly. Public ed is one of the great humanizers of America. It's loss would be significant. It needs to be viewed more as a profession than a sinecure.

[Janet]

The unions are gonna get to participate in funemployment! They should be happy.

[Jim Ryan]

Webb announces he's a Kaine man! Stop the presses! Webb is a Kaine man!

[Mark Folkestad]

Announced just a few minutes ago by Megyn Kelly, the Wisconsin State Senate Dems have vanished, and the cops are out looking for them. They seem to be taking a cue from Texas Dems who tried to block reapportionment by hiding out to prevent a quorum a few years ago.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

I say "fire the bastards!" This is my favorite story of the week. When is the vote scheduled for?

This story pretty much highlights, well, everything: the disparity between the public and private sector, the overreach of Government, the cluelessness of Obama, the impact of the tea party, and on and on.

I love it!

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Welcome back OL!

[Jim Ryan]

STOP THE PRESSES!

PERRIELLO WANTS IN! !!111!Eleventy!!!111

[Annoying Old Guy]

I think Walker's gone past the point of no return. He must win or die (politically). I hope he realizes that.

[centralcal]

We missed you Old Lurker, glad you're back.

Are the votes there if the cowardly Democrats have fled? Don't know much about the WI legislature's makeup.

[boris]

They need at least one more present to have a quorum but winning the vote is a given.

[boris]

Some respect for democracy those dimorats ...

[narciso]

I was reminded of that, Mark, why can't they just vote no, be on the record for that, let
the chips fall were they may.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Do you know how really hard golf is when taken up at 60+?

Well, at least something's hard.

[Neo]

Police officers are looking for Democratic Wisconsin lawmakers who were ordered to attend a vote on a bill that would strip public employees of collective bargaining rights.

No Democrats showed up for Thursday’s Senate session, meaning a vote cannot be taken. Republicans need one Democratic senator to be present. Calls to Democratic leaders were not immediately returned.

Republicans are pushing the anti-union bill proposed by GOP Gov. Scott Walker. Thousands of people clogged the halls of the Statehouse for a third straight day in opposition.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says law enforcement officers were searching for Democrats after they were ordered to attend the Senate session.

[Sue]

I like the way Roll Call starts their story on Perriello "defeated Rep. Tim Perriello would consider...". How funny.

[Mark Folkestad]

The news coverage on what the bill says is fuzzy. But what I've gleaned from a few speakers in the last few minutes is that Wisconsin would not ban public employee unions, but they would require greater employee contributions for benefits and pensions, and prohibit strikes. I have bitter memories of my mother's life being threatened when she refused to participate in an illegal (at the time) teachers' strike at a small rural school system here in Minnesota. Thugs. Nothing but brutal thugs.

[Porchlight]

Wow, this is quite a story developing in Wisconsin. Shades of the Texas "Killer Ds" in 2003.

[Mark Folkestad]

Funny comeback, ChaCo, to the comment on taking up golf at a certain age. Mercifully, although on the verge of my sixtieth, I don't seem to have that problem. And I don't mean golf, which I hate.

[NK]

State Senate Quorum-- hmm-- I'm sure the union cops are turning over every stone to find the AWOL dem senators. But these are the times, the Taxpayers are aware and won't be patsies to the public unions and the politicians anymore. The taxpayers just can't afford it. Just t'is.

[Captain Hate]

TMI OL

[Mark Folkestad]

ChaCo, please tell me you have never had a connection with Moorhead, Minnesota. I had a buddy up there named Charles Martin, and I lost track of him a very long time ago.

[Ranger]

You know that if Republicans tried a similar stunt while they were in the minority, the press would report is as "Rebulicans resorted to parliamentary tricks to try and block a legitimate vote" or some such thing.

Remember the hyperventalating in the press when the Republicans walked off the floor of the House because the Dems cheated on a vote on a motions to recommit a bill, and call the gaveled the motion a failure when it passed by 3 votes.

And all of this is so short sighted on the part of Dems. The basic premise of democracy is that you abide by the results of election. They are undermining the very basis of the system by playing these games (but, what's new).

[OldTimer]

Democrats are arrogant bullies when the public isn't paying attention, but when the chips are down and they're called to account, well, the Wisconsin D's perfectly exemplify their disgusting collective cowardice.

I think I'll send the WI governor an email of encouragement. His ability to stand firm in the gap will eventually affect all of us.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

So the cops say they will drag the dems back. Are they planning on staying away permanently? That has its benefits.

BTW the ICE agents who were attacked last week were unarmed because Mexico doesn't allow them to be armed - and apparently Holder is down with that.

Also DIck talked about a story today where some black kid who was drunk ran over a cop and got shot. The grand jury decided not to indict the cops and Eric Holder has decided that the case needs another look.

[MarkO]

Speaking of dying hard, check out this bold interpretation of data from the new kid:

White House press secretary Jay Carney says the Recovery Act added several million jobs and lowered the unemployment rate. According to Carney, the "goals" of the stimulus package "have been met."

A reporter asked Carney why unemployment is at 9% and not 7%, the percentage projected if the stimulus worked. Carney dismissed the question. "We've said repeatedly that we don't want to relitigate the battles of the past," Carney told the reporter.

[Ranger]

Well, if what Rush is saying is true, we have what amounts to the national democratic party attempting a coup in Wis. If they are activly calling for people to travel to madison, and if Oranizing for Amarica is activly calling for participation from across the country, then this is bordering on unconstitutional Presidential interference in the politics of the sovereign state of Wisconsin.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

ChaCo, please tell me you have never had a connection with Moorhead, Minnesota. I had a buddy up there named Charles Martin, and I lost track of him a very long time ago.

Closest I've been for any length of time is in Rochester. "Charles Martin" is not an uncommon name.

Sorry.

[Danube of Thought]

I think in Texas they sent the cops out to haul them in, but I'm not sure. I know it went on for a few days.

Is it OK to call this a "government shutdown?"

The online vote is now 57-43. I hope Walker realizes this is his moment to be a national hero. And I hope the teachers get sanctioned, or, better yet, fired.

[Captain Hate]

Tammy Bruce reporting that Nita Lowey and Steny Hoyer have joined their Repub counterparts on urging Toonces to veto the UN Resolution siding with the genocidal maniacs in the Middle East against our only friend in the area.

[Mark Folkestad]

ChaCo, I know that yours is a common enough name, but I've had many "small world" experiences in my life. I won't insult you by saying that it is a relief you're not my old buddy, but.... Hehehehe. I look forward to meeting you in the future, along with a host of our fellow JOMO tribe members.

[Ranger]

IIRC, the Dems in Texas actually fled to New Mexico for a few days. And the press went into fits when Tom Delay asked the Department of Homeland Security to identify and track possible chartered aircraft that might be flying the Dems out of the state.

Now we have a sitting president organizing people from out of state to go to the capital of Wisconsin to disrupt the states legislature.

[Dave (in MA)]

O/T LUN WTF?

Posted by: http://tinyurl.com/ya39u5p>Captain Hate | February 17, 2011 at 12:34 PM

For the circular firing squad?

[macphisto]

"O how I long for a Governor for Ct such as Christie, Johnson, Daniels and Kascich."

if it weren't for his unfortunate enthusiasm for the darker fascist sciences, i'd long for a Pinochet as California Governor. eventually, i'm afraid and convinced that's what it will take to end the ceaseless efforts of the Marxists to drag us into their low-rent Utopia.

[narciso]

They really don't know Obama at all, do they Captain, he spent most his speech in 2009, denouncing settlements in the West Bank, making him a poor cousin to Moammar and Mohammed.

[Danube of Thought]

This this should be a clue that when it comes to the public dole, Americans are no different from Greeks, Frenchmen and Brits. When you once entitle people to other people's money, they'll stop at nothing to keep the gravy flowing even when it has run dry.

Look for this kind of thing to become rather routine in the coming years.

[Captain Hate]

No narc; those pleas will fall on two very large deaf ears.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

ChaCo, I know that yours is a common enough name, but I've had many "small world" experiences in my life. I won't insult you by saying that it is a relief you're not my old buddy, but.... Hehehehe.

No worries.

[Ranger]

I think Jane is on Rush right now! A woman just said we need to get off our couches and save our country!

[narciso]

Btw, Captain, Rove was on Greta last night, and he was going on a conniption fit about
the Birthers, it's not my cup of tea, but one can walk and chew gum

[Rob Crawford]

Announced just a few minutes ago by Megyn Kelly, the Wisconsin State Senate Dems have vanished, and the cops are out looking for them. They seem to be taking a cue from Texas Dems who tried to block reapportionment by hiding out to prevent a quorum a few years ago.

Did any Republicans flee the country rather than lose the vote on Obamacare or Porkulus?

[Rob Crawford]

According to Carney, the "goals" of the stimulus package "have been met."

Sure. How much of that money has disappeared into union/Democrat/mob slush funds?

[MarkO]

"Look for this kind of thing to become rather routine in the coming years."

Cue Glenn Beck.

[centralcal]

I saw somewhere on the net today, that the Texas Dems were found huddled in an Oklahoma hotel.

Cowards. Liberals all have mental deficiencies, big fowl mouths, aberrational violence tendencies, and are cowards. They are all "eco- this" and "eco-that" and, yet, they strew there trash about hither and yon and never clean up after themselves.

Whatever did the beautiful planet earth ever do to deserve Liberals?

[Rob Crawford]

Well, if what Rush is saying is true, we have what amounts to the national democratic party attempting a coup in Wis.

Just keeping up the tradition they started in South Carolina over a century ago. Be thankful they haven't started rioting.

Yet.

[Captain Hate]

Thanks narc; I screwed up by mentioning his name and like a bad check he shows up. Maybe if I say it quickly 3 times he'll go away forever.

I don't recall any birthers badmouthing any primary winners and violating Reagan's commandment. Also I hope he didn't question the academic credentials of birthers because I'm sure at least a few of them have college diplomas.

[Danube of Thought]

Now comes Tennessee:

NASHVILLE — Tennessee school districts would no longer have to engage in negotiations with teachers' unions under a measure that is headed for a full Senate vote despite opposition from hundreds of state teachers.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Jack Johnson of Brentwood passed the Senate Education Committee 6-3 along party lines today.

[narciso]

You know if it wasn't for double standards, they would have none at all, in the LUN

[Rob Crawford]

DoT:
Tennessee school districts would no longer have to engage in negotiations with teachers' unions under a measure that is headed for a full Senate vote despite opposition from hundreds of state teachers.

Wow. "Hundreds" of teachers oppose. That's like 0.01% of the state's population.

[Captain Hate]

Rush was talking about that earlier, narc. It doesn't take very long for them to contradict themselves; but longer than their short-term memory obviously.

[Rob Crawford]

Ah, but CH, it's not "uncivil rhetoric" when they do it. It's "just concern for the future of our sinecures country" when they do it.

[Neo]

White House press secretary Jay Carney says the Recovery Act added several million jobs and lowered the unemployment rate. According to Carney, the “goals” of the stimulus package “have been met.”

By the way, if you’re still unemployed, the White house sends their regrets but they have already “shot their wad” and have no further advise for you except … “keep trying” ... because this is as good as it gets

A reporter asked Carney why unemployment is at 9% and not 7%, the percentage projected if the stimulus worked. Carney dismissed the question. “We’ve said repeatedly that we don’t want to relitigate the battles of the past,” Carney told the reporter.

You've got to love that last line. I suggest it for any "birther" questions to Republicans.

[narciso]

Carney gets the 'Comrade Syme' award for that effort in pegging the memory hole, at the Ministry of Truth.

[Captain Hate]

Rob and narc, somebody has to keep all polls away from ace. He starts acting like even more of a ninny than usual and refers to the pronouncements of AllahPansy as if they came from some reincarnation of Michael Barone instead of Squishy McEeyore. I would mention where Reagan was in the polls almost a year and a half before the 1980 election but he obviously doesn't listen to anybody outside of Duke & Repuke Inc.

[Dave (in MA)]

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20110216/capt.8b3124799f9e4ecc97646f1932b1be61-8b3124799f9e4ecc97646f1932b1be61-0.jpg>

Uncivil rhetoric in Pakistan.

I thought this sort of thing was supposed to come to an end as of 1/20/09.

[Old Lurker]

Hey Cap'n...the TMI was ChaCo's comeback. Mine was completely innocent!

[bgates]

7%, the percentage projected if the stimulus worked

which still would have been significantly higher than the so-called "jobless recovery" under Bush.

Actual conditions under Bush > conditions promised by Obama >> conditions delivered by Obama.

He's like a high school nerd who scoffs at the idea of taking a cheerleader to prom, brags about bringing his homely sister, then ends up staying home rubbing a pork chop against his shorts to entice the dog.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

I think Jane is on Rush right now! A woman just said we need to get off our couches and save our country!

I wish - but no - it's just that GMTA. But - I implore every one of you to locate your local tea party and find out where their tax day rally is being held and at least drive by and beep your horn.

It is more important than ever! Wisconsin needs us!

[Ann]

Speaking of Reagan, Captain......

[narciso]

Maybe if Coleman can deliver it to him, Captain, his new crush, in on John Thune

[Captain Hate]

Dave I've never seen Lurch look so good. He's obviously had some work done. Or maybe it's the magic hat?

[Janet]

I think Jane is on Rush right now! A woman just said we need to get off our couches and save our country!

I just got back home & had to post that I heard it too Ranger! I think her name was Kathy, & she was wonderful! Her son is serving in the military putting his life on the line & we need to get engaged here to save the country.
I thought maybe it was Jane too at first!

[bgates]

Speaking of uncivil rhetoric, the WaPo headlines a story, "Is Scott Brown Beatable?"

Which, as the WaPo notes, Scott Brown had actually just answered in a 60 Minutes interview where he talked about being sexually abused as a child by a camp counselor and physically abused by his stepfather.

[Captain Hate]

ace is catching feelings now from everybody and lashing back; he really needs to cut the hardass act (lol @ that fooling anybody) and come out of the closet.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

Looks like Piven has incited something in Wisconsin. ISTM it is time for counter demonstrations. Why can't the Tea Party get busy on Facebook and Twitter. If I were only 20 years younger......

[Henry]

Tea Party folks have jobs, a counter protest here in WI would have to wait for the weekend.

[Janet]

What is going on?
CNN asks Rep. Jeff Flake to denounce the 'birthers'.
and Stephanopoulos badgers Michele Bachmann to denounce 'birthers' & defend Obama's Christianity.

So it has been NBC,CNN,& ABC....hounding Republicans about info only Obama can answer.

[Sue]

Oh, Ann, you just make me so sad. A man versus a mouse. And the mouse is all that is between us and the terrorists.

[Pagar]

"Tea Party folks have jobs"

Not only do Tea Party folks have jobs, they go to those jobs. How many of the leftists hanging around the State House are worried about what happens if they don't go to their work today?
How many of the Democrat (you can't call them lawmakers) politicians out riding that bus are worried about their jobs? IMO, not a one, Democrats always get bailed out. Republicans never do.

[centralcal]

Janet, if all the MFM has in their poison arrow quiver is the "birther" slur, they are in really big trouble.

Sarah Palin has a good way of avoiding that nonsense:

She also made it clear that she has no patience with birther claims. “The faith, the birth certificate, others can engage in that kind of conversation. It’s distracting. It gets annoying. And let’s just stick with what really matters,” Palin urged, talking about Obama’s fiscal record.

[clarice]

Much bigger things going on then fussing about birthers, Stephie pants..What is journolist not able to keep up?

My b-i-l says Madison is like Cairo right now.

Go Badgers!

I think these Republican governors have found their cause and footing.

[Danube of Thought]

Heard a talk show host on Cavuto saying sentiment in WI is strongly against the unions and protestors, but she didn't exactly sound unbiased. i'm hoping this issue gets legs all over the country, because it sure seems like a winner. Hang in there, governor.

[Janet]

Lib outrage will get full page coverage & sympathetic interviews in the MFM while the ugly rhetoric is hidden.
On 9-12-2009 about a million Tea Party patriots came to DC & there was many more across this nation....did they get this kind of coverage? No. The MFM even had to MAKE UP stories about evil rhetoric.

[Henry]

The local TV news has lefty nutjobs spinning like tops with more and more schools closing. At some point the claims that Gov Walker is putting state workers into slavery will remind the taxpayers who is enslaving whom. Where did I put that popcorn?