Back In Madison: That Was Easy

Wisconsin Republicans restructured the union-busting provisions as a non-fiscal measure and passed it.

That mechanism had been rejected by the governor weeks ago, but evidently he changed his mind.

Comments

[Melinda Romanoff]

Macphisto-

I know I got off with a light dose. Can't imagine the joy of walking in the school door that you faced.

Phew.

[Threadkiller]

Bullied? Impossible. With the ears being “off limits” what else is left to pick on?

”New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote a piece last week* [December 14, 2006] in which she teased 2008 presidential candidate Barack Obama about his big ears. Well it seems he can’t quite handle that. Microphones picked up a conversation he had with Dowd after a speech of his in New Hampshire last Sunday: “You talked about my ears, and I just want to put you on notice: I’m very sensitive about – what I told them was – I was teased relentlessly when I was a kid about my big ears.” Dowd replies comradely, “Oh, we’re just trying to toughen you up!” The rest of the conversation is unclear”

I don't think is is called Dumb-O because of his ears anyways.

[Threadkiller]

I don't think is he is ...

[Melinda Romanoff]

Holy Cr*)!

This just over twitter/breaking: 84 count indictment vs. Colombus, NM Mayor, Police Chief for gun running.

I hope, for their sake, they have this right.

(Server's a bit jammed, it seems.)

[clarice feldman]

Bukllying is not nice and schools are responsible for seeing it is contained BUT this is not a presidential issue--it's an American Idol fooferaw these two grifters ahve dremaed uop to get the votes of stupid suburban housewifes who can't tell the presidency from the head of the PTA.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

I heard that clip when it happened, TK. It probably was on El Rushbo, but I can't remember. I immediately thought Barry was an insufferable twit, and haven't changed my mind.

[Porchlight]

Are we playing Guess That Party, Mel?

[clarice feldman]

Bullying may be serious, but it is not a presidential issue. It's a gambit these two grifters dreamed up to sway suburban housewives who still confuse the presidency of the US with the head of the PTA.

[clarice feldman]

Pls accept the latter post in lieu of the one above it..I'm working on an unfamiliar computer.

[narciso]

Just like with school uniforms, during the Clinton era, meanwhile we face escalating food, fuel, prices, upheavals from North Africa to the NorthWest Frontier,

[centralcal]

Bullying may be serious, but it is not a presidential issue.

Alas, truer words were never spoken, Clarice. Funny, isn't it how Presidential issues are the ones that The Won doesn't seem to want to address?

[narciso]

Meanwhile trapped in the cave, without a match:

http://pressthink.org/2011/03/they-brought-a-tote-bag-to-a-knife-fight-the-resignation-of-nprs-ceo-vivian-schiller/

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

But, MacPhisto, it could have been solved by you not being a dork hippie, right? How come your peers didn't stand up with you? Why did you, at that time, expect first the school, then Mommy and Daddy, and then the police to help you rather than help yourself? He was a boxer, so why didn't you go to the boxing coach and ask him to teach you how to box? What you are saying is everyone was against you because you wanted to be different. Different in the school years is always a bullseye, if you didn't accept that at the time and prepare for what was sure to come your way, seems like you didn't think it through.

Athletes and hippies did not mix well back then.

We had a kid in our school who was a real dweeb. He wasn't particularly disliked, but he wasm't liked either. I would say the attitude was apathetic. Last to be chosen for a team, a complete putz in almost everything he tried. And then we had a talent show for assembly. He came out and sat down at the grand piano on stage and started playing Debussy's La Mer. You could hear the groans throughout the auditorium and a few catcalls about get him off the stage. About a minute in, he switched and began to play some really hot and rockin' boogie woogie piano and by the time he was done, everyone was on their feet clapping and cheering. The next semester he was elected VP of student council and was one of the more popular kids in school.

[centralcal]

Oh, good f*cking grief!!!! Why, why, why?

Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), who heads the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), told The Hill on Thursday that he has talked to Scarborough a couple times about a Senate bid. And he indicated he’s still working on persuading the MSNBC host to run for the upper chamber.

Okay, before I go off the rails, I am gonna go watch HGTV or something non-political!

[narciso]

Meanwhile, as they said in the TV show; 'Verry
Interesting'

http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/03/10/the-latest-from-a-source-inside-the-egyptian-demonstrations/

[MayBee]

Bullying may be serious, but it is not a presidential issue. It's a gambit these two grifters dreamed up to sway suburban housewives who still confuse the presidency of the US with the head of the PTA.

Yes.
The number of concerned mothers who believe cyber bullying* is the greatest, most common threat to our youth is enormous.
Most of Michelle's issues are very much from the "concerned mother" category. All in the people's business about how other people can better raise their kids to the standards of their choosing.

It's gotten to the point where parents are convincing themselves they need to monitor their teens' email accounts and snoop into their texts. I've had friends consider getting a nannycam for outside their kids rooms.

I suspect it is much more about their desire to live in their kids' lives. If they could get presidential approval for that? They'd think Obama is the greatest president ever.

*I understand it can get extreme. But you can get away from the "cyber" life. Kids throughout time have had to deal face to face with bullies. Did our parents ever tell themselves they needed to listen in on our phone conversations or follow us around the mall?

[Porchlight]

Is cathyf around this evening? I have a little tidbit for her.

Talked to my dad tonight. My parents are University of Chicago alums and my dad had lunch with a UC development guy this week. It seems Ron Schiller was in development at UC before he went to NPR (apologies cathyf if you've already mentioned this). My dad asked if Schiller was as arrogant and condescending at UC as he was at NPR. Answer: "Yes, he was." His performance there was characterized as "a total disaster." UC was thrilled to be rid of him.

[Ann]

cc:

I think this picture you linked to earlier this week is priceless and sums up everything so nicely.

Dirty!

[Captain Hate]

If you say so, Porch; although is that something that's really known or a connecting the dots kind of thing? Either way Stanley Ann doesn't get high marks for her maternal skeels.

Yes clarice; we noticed something was up with your avatar being a different color. And a diminution, but not elimination, of your spelling gaffes.

[narciso]

Yes, he's a moron, CC, and so is Scarborough, they really live up to Van DerLeun's line,
about 'thirsting for death'

[jimmyk]

Ann, Michael Moore has gotten even fatter and more disgusting.

[Captain Hate]

Didn't Cornyn do a bad enough job in November to merit being shuttled off to some committee to maintain cleaning supply inventories, or something where he can't screw things up? Or is he the subject of a Duke Brothers wager?

[clarice feldman]

*smack* Capt.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

CBC Congressman: KKK bigger threat than Muslims because they burned crosses and lynched people 50 years ago or something.

[Melinda Romanoff]

A rousing defense of NPR's "Schiller Twins" can not be made up to fit this view.

Talk about being insular, check out the comments.

Wow.

[clarice feldman]

Whoa--I must be losing my mind,Mel, I thought I'd just read that after narciso linked it..

[Captain Hate]

Speaking of Mike al-Moore, didn't they try an extreme makeover to clean him up and slim him down two or three years ago before figuring out they couldn't polish a turd? That worked out well.

[MayBee]

He's still waiting for Murray Waas to bring down Bush.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

PROTEST FAIL: Indiana unions produce less than 1/3 of promised crowd, even with people being bused in from out of state

[Captain Hate]

Less than one third even with busing in goons for hire? Perhaps Bill Ayers should write a book about the recent progress of organized labor; maybe call it "Prairie Fired".

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Republican Senators in Wisconsin getting death threats:

From: XXXX
Sent: Wed 3/9/2011 9:18 PM
To: Sen.Kapanke; Sen.Darling; Sen.Cowles; Sen.Ellis; Sen.Fitzgerald; Sen.Galloway; Sen.Grothman; Sen.Harsdorf; Sen.Hopper; Sen.Kedzie; Sen.Lasee; Sen.Lazich; Sen.Leibham; Sen.Moulton; Sen.Olsen
Subject: Atten: Death threat!!!! Bomb!!!!

Please put your things in order because you will be killed and your familes will also be killed due to your actions in the last 8 weeks. Please explain to them that this is because if we get rid of you and your families then it will save the rights of 300,000 people and also be able to close the deficit that you have created. I hope you have a good time in hell. Read below for more information on possible scenarios in which you will die.

WE want to make this perfectly clear. Because of your actions today and in the past couple of weeks I and the group of people that are working with me have decided that we’ve had enough. We feel that you and the people that support the dictator have to die. We have tried many other ways of dealing with your corruption but you have taken things too far and we will not stand for it any longer. So, this is how it’s going to happen: I as well as many others know where you and your family live, it’s a matter of public records.

There is more. These are really scary people. Funny how a petite woman up in Alaska was the sole cause of Loughner killing all those people, and barely a word about the threats and violence of the other side. Makes me want to throw up.

[RichatUF]

And not a single one of the GOP "front runners" made a peep.

And something more depressing, take a look at the Bloomberg poll over at Politico.

[glasater]

Didn't watch the terrorism hearings Maybee so I didn't know the color of the Bledsoe giving testimony.

There used to be a black professional football player with the same last name and spelling as mine. He was from Missouri as I remember and that's where the family emigrated from to the NW in the late nineteenth century.
I know he's family:-)

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

After the Emancipation Proclamation, many former slaves to the last names of their former owners, picked a last name from famous historical figures (Washington, Franklin, etc), and in some cases, the names of the farmers and merchants who helped them to escape via the Underground Railroad (lots of common Quaker surnames). Then there are those names that defy explanation, like the 4 black football players over a couple of decades who had the same name as my husband. He was 2nd generation German from Russia, so how his last name became a common AA name is not easily explained.

[glasater]

Sara-
My family came from Russia in the early part of the last century. My better half's side came from Missouri in about 1880--at least that's what the family bible notes say.
Very interesting to read and fortunate to have it.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Police are raiding Charlie Sheen's home right now according to Chan. 11 TV News.

[RichatUF]

Must be Winning.

[MayBee]

Has Sue seen this? About Chauncy http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/10/viral-post-pits-coverage-of-sheen-fallen-soldiers/?hpt=P1&iref=NS1

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

OMG, what is going on in the world. 7.9 Quake hits northeast Japan. Tsunami warnings in effect.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

UPDATE 10:18 PM PT -- Sheen just tweeted: "#fastball; the LAPD were AWESOME. Absolute pros! they can protect and serve this Warlock anytime!!!

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Wow, Berkeley seismology guy saying some readings as high as 8.8.

[RichatUF]

USGS has it as an 8.8

[MayBee]

Oh, poor Japan. That is a big big earthquake.

[Soylent Red]

Soylent's Conference on Bullying:

1. Hit bully as hard as you can, as often as you can, until he is on the ground begging your forgiveness.

2. In the event you cannot do 1., pick up large heavy object and try 1. again with that.

3. In the event you cannot succeed at 1. and 2., collect several of your friends and their big heavy objects and try again.

Please sign the roster. The bar is open.

[Stephanie]

13 ft tsumami. Buildings on fire. Not good.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Wow! One of the aftershocks was a 7.4.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

The damages and death toll for this one are going to be enormous. That small 13' tsunami was bad enough and they are talking about a much bigger one.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Now raised to an 8.9.

[MayBee]

Luckily, Japan is well built for earthquakes. Those burning buildings being swept along the tsunami rivers is very scary.
I think Tokyo is ok, which gives me comfort.

Can you believe the local news has switched to this, Sara? Shows what an awful event this is.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

That massive river of water full of cars, trucks and houses made me feel sick. You know there are hundreds, if not thousands, of bodies in all that debris.

Tsunami event for Hawaii, 3 AM Hawaiian time.

Maybee, I was filling the dog bowl, so I didn't hear it all, but there was something about a possibility of 4 million homes without power in and around Tokyo. Right now all I'm seeing is the water damage, but an 8.9 is going to cause massive damage to buildings, even ones very well built and earthquake-proofed.

I've been thru some pretty serious earthquakes here in Calif., but I cannot even imagine an 8.9.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Our Marines, stationed in Japan, were the first responders on the ground. OohRah!

I've got a blog post going with some of the early raw video. Will update until I go to bed and then all day tomorrow.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Wow! 7th largest earthquake EVER recorded.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

California, Washington, Oregon, up to Alaska now under tsunami watch.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Tsunami at Sendai, Japan was 24' high.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Hawaii has now issued evacuation of low lying areas.

I hope our JOM Hawaiian Barbara is safe.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

California coast now upgraded to a tsunami WARNING. Due 8:08 San Francisco, La Jolla 8:48.

DOT: I'd think about getting off Coronado.

Wave not expected to be over 5-6', but will be moving anywhere between 300-800 mph., so even if it is only 2-3', serious damage can still be the result due to the speed of the water.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Town of Kurihara, pop. 77,000, has been completely destroyed.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Hawaiian airports are all closed down now.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Fox and Friends just reported that the Pentagon announced that all US service personnel in Japan have been accounted for and they are all safe.

[hit and run]

Frau:
He probably knows more than our birthdays!

Probably?

[Melinda Romanoff]

Sara-

At that speed, the wave will rise quicker than the blink of an eye when it hits shallower water.

As always, Wretchard is on point.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I drifted off. Woke up to hear the TV say 200-300 bodies found along the shore in Japan. Didn't hear the specifics.

[Big Al]

"I'm working on an unfamiliar computer."

Based on what I've seen here, this broad must use a different computer every day.

[centralcal]

Wow, woke up this morning to the Japan earthquake and the tsunami news. Unbelievable!

[Melinda Romanoff]

Have you been in a lot of pain lately, Sara?

Just concerned, your hours are getting a bit like mine....

[Jesse Gore Jr]

The Japan earthquake was caused by global warming and the taking away of union rights in Wisconsin.

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

I'm a little worried about Another Barbara in Hawaii - and so glad you are no longer in Japan Maybee.

[narciso]

Does Pagar live out there, as well.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Astute, Melinda.

[Shobijin]

Mothra oh Mothra
Hear our call for you to save us
over time, over sea
like a wave you come
our guardian angel
Mothra oh Mothra
the people have forgotten kindness
their spirit falls to ruin
we shall pray for the people as we sing
this song of love.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Jane: I kept hoping AB would check in during the night, but nada.

[Ranger]

Just an asside, but Kevin Drum, in a series of responses to "14 mistakes liberal economists make" admits that deep down, Libs know there will be death panals, they just refuse to admit it (via Instapundit):

11. Use of a strong moral argument for universal health care coverage, combined with a fairly practical, hard-headed approach to the scope of the mandate, and not realizing the tension between the two. Failure to indicate where the "bleeding heart" argument actually should stop and at what margins we should (and will) let non-elderly people die, if only stochastically.

Also unfair. This is mostly a marketing issue, not an economic one. In practice, the only way to build support for universal healthcare (or any other policy) is to talk up its good points, not its drawbacks. Insisting on some Diogenic level of honesty from liberals is really just a way of ensuring that liberals will never win public support for anything.

That last bit if the answer bears repeating, as it is yet another admision by a liberal that they deliberatly lie when making policy arguments:

Insisting on some Diogenic level of honesty from liberals is really just a way of ensuring that liberals will never win public support for anything.

[clarice feldman]

My kids live on the beach in L.A. and were planning to go to Japan next week. My son't b-i-l lives there with his wife and two sons. I'm looking for an up to date map of the tsunami.

[centralcal]

Oh my, Clarice. Hope your son's relatives are all okay. My sister lives near the water, too, in Monterey.

[Porchlight]

Some Hot Air commenters in Hawaii are noting that the effects there are so far very minor.

[clarice feldman]

Here's a live cam of Diamond Head.

http://www.kitv.com/video/27158203/detail.html

[Melinda Romanoff]

Hope you're staying comfortable and can get some real sleep soon.

[Melinda Romanoff]

West Coast Tsunami Arrival Times.

Please take note, and appropriate steps, please.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Maui is reporting a first wave of about 6' has hit.

[centralcal]

Thanks, Mel!

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Those bodies were found in Sendai, and revised wave height to 33' at Sendai.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Ten meters.

[Janet]

Does Pagar live out there, as well.

No, narciso. I don't think so.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Centralcal: Are you anywhere close to Crescent City? They are evacuating there.

[centralcal]

Sara - no, I am a flat lander! Central San Joaquin Valley - far from the beaches. Just concerned about those I know living on the coastline.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Sara-

Do you need to be moved?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

They are searching for a missing ship with over 100 passengers on board. And I heard earlier that there is a missing train somewhere North of Tokyo.

[PD]

Bullying may be serious, but it is not a presidential issue.

It is when it's the president who's doing it. Which he does, often.

[Ranger]

At Hot Air:

Update: The Anchoress has a good roundup from earlier this morning with links to Ace, Ed Driscoll, and a nuclear emergency at a power plant, where cooling efforts are “not going as planned.”

They also have video posted of an oil refinery that has exploded as a result of the quake.

[Sandy Daze]

Pagar lives in Panama.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I've watched that refinery fire all night. It started out as just a small flame on one of those domed tanks and now it is an inferno spread thruout the whole group of tanks. The flames are reported to be 100' high.

A few weeks ago, we got into a ghoulish conversation about the ways we would most fear dying. My list was: being buried alive, burning alive, and drowning. All night as I watched the tsunami, the fires, and the piles of rubble that used to be buildings, I kept projecting those fears on to what my eyes were having a hard time watching.

Mel email me.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Pagar lives in Panama.

I didn't know that. Cool.

[PD]

Obama says his administration will "continue to closely monitor the situation."

[Ranger]

Weird thing is that oil is dropping on this news. I guess everyone is exspecting much less economic activity from Japan in the near future as a result of the quake.

[clarice feldman]

I was thinking the same thing, too, and that's really awful because Japan has already been reeling.

[Ranger]

Obama says his administration will "continue to closely monitor the situation."

Yes, I am sure there will be a top level strategy session in the White House to plan contingencies (which Obama will not attend). Then, Obama will recieve a half hour breifing on the situation, which will be reported widely so we can all rest assured that everything will be OK.

[Jack is Back!]

clarice,

In case your son needs to find his b-i-l. LUN

[Melinda Romanoff]

Sent to P2P.

[fdcol63]

"Then, Obama will recieve a half hour breifing on the situation, which will be reported widely so we can all rest assured that everything will be OK."

And he's still be able to make his 11 AM tee time.

[clarice feldman]

Thanks JiB.