Posted on 02/19/2011 12:50:21 PM PST by rhema
A savvy insider writes:
An out of state colleague asked me what it was like here. I thought maybe some of my other friends would like to know, too.
It is wild.
My personal feelings have been of incredulity and anger that our political process has been stopped by a mob. It is absolutely shocking.
For those of you curious about other viewpoints from the regular press reports, I recommend the MacIver Institute's website, and Media Trackers. org. and WisconsinEye. Also don't miss the coverage by Wisconsin Reporter.com Their tweets have been the best coverage of the events. Eyewitness history. #wisconsinreport
The tea party plans to rally in support of Governor Walker. I don't know what kind of numbers they can amass, but frankly, I doubt they can come close to busloads of union thugs being shipped in from all over the country. Last night one Senator told me they had been told to clear the Capitol because the new groups coming in overnight are filled with with people "who aren't afraid to be arrested" and the Administration could not guarantee the safety of the legislators and their staffs. In our Capitol.
On Thursday, legislators were advised to return to their offices and lock their doors. Mobs roamed the halls, banging on the glass of the doors, pounding on the walls. No one could move in the halls or enter or leave the building. The glass of the Supreme Court's entrance was broken. Legislators were genuinely afraid. Our elected representatives were afraid. In our Capitol.
A young female reporter trying to get into the Senate chamber struggled to get through the crowd. She arrived disheveled and upset because she had been roughed up as she tried to get through "Bitch-slapped" the mob told her. A senior senator was spat on. A senator and his female staffer struggled to get into the capitol. He was worried about his staffer because the crowd was grabbing at her and pushing her. University Police were two arms lengths away and did nothing. They, of course, are union.
Everyone has heard the story of the Democrats fleeing the state (Our slogan: Wisconsin; Illinois is beneath us). Everywhere are signs comparing Walker to Hosni Mubarak. What is their end game? Overturning an election and seizing our government?
Protesters spent the night on the floor of the Capitol. A friend of mine said the entire place smelled when she walked in on Friday morning. There was garbage everywhere. This is one of the most beautiful Capitol buildings in the country. The mob had no respect for the place, for what happens there, or for the citizens whose freedoms it represents.
On the other hand, one of the freshmen (Republican) members of the assembly tells me that the leggies are united and have bonded in a way that would never have been possible in other circumstances. On Thursday night, behind locked doors she said, they wept, held hands, and prayed, vowing unity. Another Senator says she thinks the tide has turned. Another (Repub) answered in response to my question; "This is kinda fun!"
The Governor stands firm. I understand that there are strategies in place for next steps which will shake up the stalemate....I have known him for at least 15 years, but he is different now. He is a man who has met his time and his place, and he seems to know it.
Disgusted and sad to hear this.
Naw, 10,000 or so Tea Party and patriots showed up, the bussed in union goons, a couple hundred, stood around on the edges of the crowd and STFU.....a good day for America.
Wow. And good reporting.
This is a wonderfully vivid description of the goings-on in Madison.
Scott Walker and all the Republican legislature are giving a civics lesson -I hope the GOP in D.C. study it well- this is how it’s done.
This is the new civility.
As an American who values democratic institutions and common decency, I want these people removed from the Capitol building.
This is the new civility.
As an American who values democratic institutions and common decency, I want these people removed from the Capitol building.
“How “civil”, busing in thugs who aren’t afraid to assault and possible murder who are not afraid of jail.”
Let’s say a renta-thug commits murder. What is the liability of the unions who bussed in these guys? I would think they’d be taken to court and held accountable. Certainly, the prosecutor should do this. But, as usual, failing accountability from a politically run prosecutor’s office, maybe the surviving relatives?
When I was at the 912 event in DC the only SEIU renta-thugs who remained by the time all x million of us got down to the Capital were genuine bruisers. They kept their eyes and signs down, stood in a circle facing out and put in their time. They were most certainly men on the clock.
A guy at the gym where I work out was hired by the SEIU as a renta-thug, and bussed to DC from Tallahassee. He said they trained them to stand next to each other, lean forward and scream in people’s faces. Their orders were to “Get in their faces and force them to go away.” (They paid him $17/hr plus all meals, travel and accommodations.)
I'd like to know who the heck allowed them to stay there.
If these were TEA Partiers there would be martial law.
I don’t know what it will take for the Governor to bring out the National Guard.
VISITOR'S GUIDE TO THE CAPITOL Hours: Building open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (M-F) and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (Sat. and Sun.).
The building was closed. Someone allowed the protestors to stay. Who was it?
I agree the Tea Party being there will allow the media to allow any damage done or violece commotted on them alone or on both sides.
Those are apparently non-union Rent-a-Thugs
Whoever allowed those protestors to run amok in the Capitol and then spend the night, needs to be FIRED.
I want to meet the total moron who thought it would be a good idea to let the mob into the Capitol building.
Standing there, doing nothing and getting overtime. They're union, they're on the side of the thugs.
Hey...if the teacher are allowing this form of representation then I say FIRE THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Watched a little live video and I have two questions. Who is paying for the porta potties and who is playing the music? If they got rid of the porta potties maybe some of the crowd would leave.
What the hell is everyone on this thread babbling about, the Tea Party owned downtown Madison for 3 hours....
I agree the Tea Party being there will allow the media to blame any damage done or violence committed on them alone or on both sides.
(sorry, trying to type with one hand while holding my baby with the other again)
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