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

[DebinNC]

So much for the curtesy of allowing "a question" from the Dem leader.

[Janet]

That Barca is big on rules all of a sudden. Hahahah... tell him they are living, breathing rules.

[martin j smith]

If Wisconsin voters want to turn their state into another Michigan--then they are psychotic.
But it is their right--just leave me out of it.
You know as the saying goes : at the end of the day, there will be no money for Teachers or anyone else for that matter. Then the"base" will be happy ? Answer: Avery small elite group will cause that is what they want. CALL IN THE NATIONAL GUARD NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!

[bgates]

what is the rationale for public employee unions for civil service employees?

As I understand it, it goes something like this:

When it comes to choosing industries and companies to favor, government is full of brilliant technocrats who dispassionately do what is best for the nation.

When it comes to health care, government is full of compassionate healers who selflessly make everyone better.

When it comes to determining the parameters within which you and I may live our lives, government is full of benevolent instructors who ask us to follow only those rules which will be good for us.

But when it comes to fighting over sick days and overtime, those ratfuckers are management, and they'll bleed the civil service dry just for kicks if somebody doesn't keep a boot on their throats.

[Rocco]

Those death threats include bombs...now I'm not claiming Bill Ayers is behind them but this might be a great opportunity to compare these protestors to the Weather Underground.

[clarice feldman]

hi, MayBee..read your comments upthread about teachers unions with great appreciation for the measured strength of your position.

Bledsoe's dad seems a fine way to start the eharings--not demagoguery, but honestry and prudence is what we need about jihadism.

Happy Birthday,Jim.

[Rob Crawford]

Rocco, Wisconsin has its own history of leftist bombings, including the complete destruction of building in Madison during the '70s (I believe).

[MayBee]

thank you, clarice. xoxoxo

brilliant, bgates

[Rocco]

So we have also built several bombs that we have placed in various locations around the areas in which we know that you frequent.

This includes, your house, your car, the state capitol, and well I won’t tell you all of them because that’s just no fun.

Aren't these teachers placing those kids in grave danger? They really are using these kids as human shields!

[clarice feldman]

I'm out of town and can't do it..Quick someone send bgates' latest bit of genius to instapundit!!

[narciso]

Yes, a reminder that this is not always idle talk,

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/96878074.html?page=2

[glasater]

Bledsoe--wonder if that part of the family from my area who produced Drew Bledsoe.
Drew is attempting to become a winemaker just down the road:-)

Right now that's not a good enterprise...

[cathyf]

Sent off to Insty! (if we flood his mailbox, he'll be sure to instalaunche bgates, right?)

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Paleface have strange idea of "easy".

[MayBee]

glasater- it could be the same family, although this Mr. Bledsoe is black.

[Rocco]

And this from a freeper re the bombing of Sterling Hall in 1970

I posted this because it's the Anniversary of Fassnacht's death, and many years ago when I lived in Austin, and was acquainted with those in the anti-war movement (VVAW, CCI, SDS, Black Panthers-I helped with their free breakfast program,) some folks I knew who were associated with either SDS or Weather Underground alluded to the fact that they were hiding David Sylvan Fine out in Austin.

[anduril]

Here are three links that raise what is, to me, the biggest issue of all:

'This Is War': Could Michael Moore be on to something?

Will Obama Stand by the Guarantee?

The Other Loser In Wisconsin - Law Enforcement Credibility

[anduril]

From the NYSun:

No doubt it will be said that America is nowhere near having to engage the guarantee clause. Republican government isn’t yet gone, or even nearly gone, from Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana. But there is no doubt that it is being tested, and it is not so hard to imagine it breaking down. What is so startling about the current crisis is that the chief executive officer of the federal government, bound by oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution, is a party to the scheme by which the very legislators who form the core of republican government in the states are fleeing to states controlled by the President’s party — a circumstance the Founders clearly hoped to avoid by wording the constitutional oath the way they did.

[Danube of Thought]

In the battle for public opinion, is it really smart to trot out Jesse Jackson and Michael Moore?

[Sandy Daze]

Just received this early March comprehensive doc:

Doctrinal Basis for Jihad

"The views expressed in this presentation are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any Agency of the United States Government"

Rigorous, exhaustive review by a gent working for the army (name@us.army.mil)

Take good care,
Sandy

[Melinda Romanoff]

DoT-

Isn't that a matter of perspective?

[Mark Folkestad]

Glasater, if I remember correctly, Drew Bledsoe is the grandson of Stu Bledsoe, who represented Ellensburg in the Washington state senate and was Republican caucus leader. Stu was a close friend of my late uncle, Silas Erickson, from the days when my uncle was pastor there.

[DebinNC]

WI Assembly live link

[anduril]

Best news the WI GOPers could have gotten:

Jesse Jackson In Wisconsin: We're "Going To Escalate The Protests"

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Meade reporting from the Capitol says the bill has passed and there is nothing left to protest, it will have to wind down.

Pie in the sky?

[Danube of Thought]

"Isn't that a matter of perspective?"

The perspective I have in mind is that of how well the majority is persuaded by your advocates.

[ObamaLand]

Welcome to hope and change hell. This is what happens when Democrats stir up racial and class hatred. The Republican Governor now needs to take action to put down this insurrection. There is absolutely no excuse for not having the National Guard at the capital and around the city to maintain safety and order. I have been happy with the Governor except in his inexplicable reluctance to make a serious show of force to protect the citizens of Wisconsin from this socialist army. Time to man up Gov!

[centralcal]

Was away for lunch, came back to TopsecretK9 tweeting away that O'Keefe released another tape of the Liley gal talking about hiding any MB contribution in case of audit.

Sheesh. Anyone hearing anything about that? Think Ms. Liley is the next to get the axe?

[DebinNC]

I don't think they've voted on the bill yet. Barring something extraordinary, it will pass today, but they're still talking about it right now.

[Rick Ballard]

Walker would be nuts to bother with the NG. Let the progs form as many dumb circles around the RentaBlack and Michael "Two Slobs in One Skin" Moore as they wish for as long as they want. This farce has reached all the solemnity of Chuckles the Clown's funeral (which outranked Wellstone's Memorial Rally and Hog Calling Contest).

On to Ohio and Indiana!

[Sandy Daze]

Latest James O'Keefe Project Veritas video is here

[Porchlight]

Meade needs some reporter lessons, it would seem.

[centralcal]

Thank you, Sandy! I also found a transcript of some of the conversation over at Daily Caller.

LMAO!!!!!

[Jack is Back!]

Its over now.

I just hope the school children of Wisconsin were watching to see what "real spoiled brats" sound like. Boy, a real eye-opener to crass, selfish me-me-me ism.

[DebinNC]

CP Chief Tubbs is trying to cajole his fellow travelers protesters out of a hallway. But will he enforce the judge's order to clear the building by 6:00 or will the campouts return?

[clarice feldman]

What's the death pool entry fee on Ms Liley?

[narciso]

What did they order at Cafe Milano, because this is possibly the most expensive meal in NPR history.

[centralcal]

Heh, Clarice. Saw this posted on Politico's media blog and had not heard about it before:

Liley was placed on administrative leave, along with Ron Schiller, on Tuesday, after the first video was released.

Guess I missed that news. Did everyone else know she was put on admin. leave?

[Porchlight]

Holy cow, that O'Keefe video is something. Who here predicted that Vivian Schiller's ouster would turn out to be connected to that $5 million gift? Liley says in the video that she's waiting on a draft of a gift agreement from their legal counsel. She also tells the fake MEAC rep that Vivian Schiller knows about the meeting with MEAC and that specifically Ron and Vivian had discussed it.

Oops.

[Porchlight]

Guess I missed that news. Did everyone else know she was put on admin. leave?

It was not reported at all AFAIK - in fact I think you and others were asking whether there had been any updates on Liley's status and nobody had seen anything.

[Sue]

Has anyone seen Pelosi lately? Surely she has a few tears for the violence that the rhetoric in WI is causing.

[narciso]

Their legal counsel, who happens to be the new CEO, Slocum, they have some 'splaining to do.

[centralcal]

Well, that was my memory too, Porch. Except it is busy tax season and work and sometimes I miss a lot during the day and crash in bed early in the evening, so I can miss little details like Ms. Liley.

Guess, per Tops tweets again, she throws the new interim CEO Slocum under the bus about 10:50 into the video. Not in a position to listen to a 44 minute video. Anyone have any details on that info?

God - it just gets better and better. Guess O'Keefe says he has still more video. Love it.

[centralcal]

Thanks, Narc. Busy typing away and you posted the answer one minute before I asked it! lol.

[Porchlight]

Liley also says that MEAC can donate the $5 million anonymously so that MEAC [and NPR, presumably] would be "shielded" from possible government audit. Also that NPR had taken $80 million in anonymous donations from heads of various "higher ed institutions" (I think I read that right).

Give NPR a few million, get favorable news coverage - is that how it works? And how many of these "higher ed institutions" are at least partly taxpayer-financed, I wonder.

This video is almost more damning than the first one. No wonder they booted Vivian so fast.

[Henry]

Local TV is now talking up the recalls, showing protesters in the Capitol standing around the rotunda with maybe one in ten doing anything besides looking glum.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

I guess they have to consult with The Reverend Jackson, Michael Moore and their IWW and SDS "consultants" to decide their next step.

[Porchlight]

I've been missing a lot these last couple of days, too, centralcal. In fact I've barely been able to keep up with just the basics on the NPR and the WI stories, let alone anything else in the news.

I know the video is long but I just LOVE that because although many people won't watch the whole thing, all the NPR execs HAVE to, and they're squirming the whole time. And they won't be able to claim selective editing.

I just hope this doesn't all get buried by the MSM.

[harrjf]

The bill has passed. The assembly session has been closed. Nothing to see here folks, nothing to see, move along.

I was up by the Capitol at lunch today and things were very well organized. No chaos. The roads around the Capitol were closed to traffic. There were a small number of people marching around. More law enforcement than protesters at some points. Just off the square I saw a group of para-military types, green fatigues with a simple "Police" on the sleeve. Probably a response team of some sort.

It makes perfect sense to have let the knuckleheads alone. Now that the bill has passed the fire will burn out. They used physical means to clear the assembly room which was necessary. Doing so to get people out of the Capitol, which isn't really necessary goals and ends wise, would have played into their hands. Inevitably someone would have been injured and then the usual group would have been able to deplore the violence.

To those of you in other states, I offer you a hearty "you're welcome!".

[Porchlight]

Thank you, harrjf. I totally agree that letting the idiots tire themselves out was the right strategy. They were just itching for violent confrontation (as lefties always are) and they never got it. That has to be incredibly frustrating for them.

[Ranger]

Local TV is now talking up the recalls

Of course they are. Recalls would be a godsend to them in political add revinue in what I am sure is a tough year for all the local media.

[centralcal]

And, you know what else, Porch? Not only NPR folks are squirming, how about the PBS folks? O'Keefe says more to come - doesn't have to mean just NPR.

I am glad that WI has finally got the bill passed in both their houses and Gov. Walker will get to sign it! As to what comes after with the goons and thugs, just more of the insane same.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

What a birthday present. I don't know if I will ever have a better one.

[hit and run]

Porchlight:
I know the video is long but I just LOVE that because although many people won't watch the whole thing, all the NPR execs HAVE to,

Not the NPR ombudsman.

[Janet]

Give NPR a few million, get favorable news coverage - is that how it works? And how many of these "higher ed institutions" are at least partly taxpayer-financed, I wonder.

Makes me think about the high tuition costs these days too. I've got 2 kids at VA Tech. What schools have so much money that they are giving it away to NPR?

[Henry]

Miller trying to rally fleebaggers in IL, Jauch already bailed back to WI. The lawsuit parade has been launched by Barca.

[narciso]

And the day wouldn't be complete, with the pride of Elis everywhere, Sheila Jackson Lee,
calling for more funding for DHS, but no clear
indication of what they are supposed to be looking for

[MayBee]

Janet- I think she might have been confusing on that part. I think she was still talking about when she was at Purdue.

[clarice feldman]

I wonder who was behind the $80 million contribution to universities headed by women that Ms liley says was hidden by all the donees?

[Porchlight]

Ah, good point, hit. That was very very nice work by Patterico. Of course as he points out it will go largely uncorrected out in leftosphere.

Can the NPR ombudsman get fired now too?

[bgates]

Has anyone seen Pelosi lately? Surely she has a few tears

Not yet, but she's dispatched a private jet to Fiji to get the proper grade spring water, so she should be able to either inject it into the ductwork on Friday or just have it installed with a fresh face plate over the weekend.

[Porchlight]

MayBee, she talks at one point about a large donation made by someone and that was while she was at Purdue. But after that she mentions the $80 million from various "higher ed institutions" and that was definitely money given anonymously to NPR.

[Porchlight]

Jim Rhoads, I was thinking today would be a very nice day for a birthday. :)

[Janet]

Think of all the money given to these leftist outfits! They just suck up the cash from donors, governments, organizations (that are also sucking up cash from government).
and most of this sucking is done in the name of "the poor". All the poor get is Gosnell's clinic.

[maryrose]

Happy Birthday Jim and yes you will remember this one. I remember how happy I was on my 30th birthday when Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the President of the United States.

[narciso]

The way, you presented hit, reminds of that line from Python, which was what you were going for 'we didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition'

[MayBee]

hmm...I'll have to listen again.

[Jane]

Boy it has been another fun day.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

Thx, gang. I hope this is the Gettysburg for the SEIU/AFSCME/NEA racket.

[centralcal]

Politico has posted an NPR statement about the latest revelations via Ms. Liley:

“The statement made by Betsy Liley in the audio tapes released today regarding the possibility of making an anonymous gift that would remain invisible to tax authorities is factually inaccurate and not reflective of NPR’s gift practices. All donations – anonymous and named – are fully reported to the IRS. NPR complies with all financial, tax and disclosure regulations.”

It isn't about reporting donations to the IRS, it is about anonymity of those making the donations. It would appear their "statement" says the same thing.

What am I missing?

[narciso]

You're not missing anything, it's just another
'look squirrel' moment. They must be wondering
when the egg carton runs out.

[MayBee]

Is this the part?

“We also got an $8 million gift,” Liley said. “I don’t know if you remember this; about two years ago a number of institutions, higher ed institutions, all with women as presidents, got donations that ranged from $5 million to $12 million. They were never identified who the gifts were from, but they totaled about $80 million dollars.”

I think she's still talking about a donation she got when she was at Purdue. DC says it's from higher ed institutions to NPR, but it seems to me that isn't what she's saying. Purdue does have a female president.

[Rick Ballard]

c-c,

Name games. Rather than report a contribution from the Mahometan Brotherhood of Headchoppers an account is opened and a check written and reported from the Asian Peace & Flower Society.

[Jack is Back!]

Who's next? Ohio or Indiana? Or maybe God will fulfill my dreams and make a trifecta of chaos by including California and/or New York in the mix. I love it when the dems and union thugs dirty tricks fizzle - in means "lets eat our young" time.

[PD]

Was at the coffee shop this afternoon when a local far-leftist came in not looking very happy. He asked the barista behind the counter, "Did you turn off the news?" She had. Apparently neither of them could take it any more. Turned out she'd gone up to the Capitol last night, which he applauded, but neither of them was in high spirits this afternoon.

He and I converse occasionally because we're both Mac enthusiasts, but our politics are about as far apart as could be. I feel his pain. :-)

[Jack is Back!]

I forgot to wish "young" Jim Rhoads a happy, hopefully regressive birthday!

[Jack is Back!]

PD,

Why didn't you mention to him the benefits of decicing how his dues go? He could save making more contributions to those chickenshit fleebaggers and buy himself one of those ne iPad 2's:)

[Gmax]

O'Keefe is a discredited wingnut agent. I read that on Huffpuff so it has to be trued. Well disregard the notches on his gunbelt, including the community organizer extraordinaire and now NPR and maybe in a some strange way Huffpuff is onto something.
I dont know what it would be, but trying to be charitable I heard its a virtue!

[Henry]

Ohio seems to be moving faster? Or did their Dems fleebag as well.

Did the CA Reps tie up Gov Brown?

Idaho snuck in under the radar, did any other state?

And on the fun side, what else does O'Keefe have up his sleeve?

[Rick Ballard]

Iowa has a bill on the floor.

It's probably going to take a good pop in the muni market for the concept of absence of OPM to fully sink in. I've been reading about the possibility of a 20% hit but I'm not sure if that's really probable. PIMCO's Treasury move is rather interesting. It's not exactly a confidence builder but Gross may be just engaging in a bit of market manipulation. Again.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

Thanks, JIB. When I was a young man, even the progs understood the stupidity of unionizing "civil servants". Where did it all get off track?

[Jack is Back!]

By the way, a big hand for henry, PD and harrjh for all the excellent local on the scene knowledge, perspective and reporting for the JOMO tribe.

Here,here!

[Danube of Thought]

with the pride of Elis everywhere, Sheila Jackson Lee

Let us not forget that she's also the pride of all Cavaliers.

[Danube of Thought]

OK, that grotesque union-busting lardass Moore announces that "this is war" (will that do for a violent metaphor?), and within 24 hours the bomb threats fly.

Please tell me when to expect expressions of outrage from Reid, Krugman and all the rest.

[Frau Trauer]

So Jim is another year older! It's hard to tell from here. Happy birthday!

From the New York Sun article about Where's Obama on the ruckus in WI?
What is so startling about the current crisis is that the chief executive officer of the federal government, bound by oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution, is a party to the scheme by which the very legislators who form the core of republican government in the states are fleeing to states controlled by the President’s party — a circumstance the Founders clearly hoped to avoid by wording the constitutional oath the way they did."

Disregard for the law seems to be the law of the land for some.

[PD]

and buy himself one of those ne iPad 2's:)

Heh. He already ordered on the day of the announcement. He'd been on the fence for a long time after the original one came out, and I think the pent up desire had to find release last week. :-)

[Danube of Thought]

I hope this is the Gettysburg for the SEIU/AFSCME/NEA racket.

Gettysburg hell--what I want is Compiegne. And I personally will dance the faux jig.

[clarice feldman]

DoT It's the New NEW Civility.

[Ignatz]

--In the battle for public opinion, is it really smart to trot out Jesse Jackson and Michael Moore?--

In the interest of accuracy I would like to register my considerable doubt that Michael Moore has trotted anywhere in the last 20-30 years, with the possible exception of Home Town Buffet when they put out the fresh tater tots and pork chops.

[Rick Ballard]

"Where did it all get off track?"

I'll take 1755, although there is some merit in considering 385 BC as a better starting point for the misdirection.

[Ranger]

At The Campaign Spot:

On Wisconsin, Obi-Wan Cites Thatcher: ‘Controversy Is Good.’

Obi-Wan also mentions that Obama, after that make-believe comeback of a month ago, is sagging again in the polls. Remember, the next downward trend could become a plunge.

I have a feeling that if Lybia goes south and the rebels are slaughtered, Obama's numbers will dive fast.

[PD]

My Mom told me today that she'd heard some hotels in Illinois are offering "Club Fled" promotions.

[clarice feldman]

That's how I read that statement, too, MayBee. We are all getting a look at the inside workings of "institutional development" offices and it isn't pretty, is it?

[centralcal]

I want to heartily second what JiB said about our intrepid WI reporters henry, harrjh and PD! Thanks all.

Did the banking and heart Hannity talking to O'Keefe. After pressing by Hannity, O'Keefe admitted to tape on PBS, but said he would not release it until he heard what "HE" had to say. Didn't catch who the "HE" is at PBS.

[clarice feldman]

Best nugget from the campaign spot bit:

"The mistake political junkies always make is wildly overestimating how much detail normal folks have about politics and government. (Not a criticism of normal folks.They are sane.We are not.) So with Chris Christie and now Governor Walker, the public is just beginning to gets its head around the pay and benefits and pensions of state employees. And Wisconsin has brought the whole question of giving state employees not only civil-service protections but the kind of collective-bargaining rights that corrupt current politicians into giveaways that force generations of taxpayers into indentured servitude and ultimately hurt public employees by bankrupting their pension funds.

So Walker’s numbers are irrelevant. Get into any controversy and the numbers tremble, but look at former Michigan governor John Engler and Christie and, for that matter, Thatcher and Reagan. People cut through the noise, figure it out and the political dividend is huge. I’m almost sorry Walker had this quick a victory."

[Janet]

Ya'll have probably seen this too - Michelle Obama's $1,000 handbag. She could have donated that money to Planned Parenthood...or anonymously to NPR.

Michelle Obama the Lion of Haute Couture.

[Captain Hate]

Yes, between Sheila Jackson Lee and Perky Katie, the Hoos must be so proud.

[Frau Trauer]

SEIU/AFSCME/NEA is a beast with many heads, Jim, and those are just the biggest ones.

[Jack is Back!]

Janet,

I am no fashion expert but that's a shopping bag, right? You're not telling me that is a handbag, are you?

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

That bag seems designed to carry anonymous cash contributions.