Wisconsin Statehouse Protest - Feb 19
Posted on 03/11/2011 4:00:19 PM PST by SJackson
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), a former businessman and now a freshman senator, held a conference call Thursday afternoon with a small group of bloggers. For a freshman, he's entirely fluid on the issues and easily navigates between specifics and larger themes.
I asked him about Wisconsin. Why did Gov. Scott Walker take so long to pull out the "fiscal" elements and pass the legislation without a quorum? Johnson first made clear that he and the governor believe this "is not about individual workers . . . but about rebalancing the equation" so that the taxpayers' interests are being protected. As for the long-in-coming resolution, Johnson explained that the governor wanted the collective bargaining provision and the rest of the cost-cutting measures "tied" because they were all part of the effort to close the state's budget deficit. But it became evident the Democrats weren't budging. He said that one Democratic senator even requested an absentee ballot for the spring election. At that point Walker moved forward on the bill.
But Johnson was clearly disturbed by what he characterized as "mob rule and thuggery." He said that Republicans were being accused of being undemocratic, but "what doesn't look democratic is the mob rule." He argued that the "amount of thuggery, the threats of execution" have not been sufficiently covered by the media. He recalled that a radio show host read an anonymous e-mail sent to all the Wisconsin Republican state senators "threatening to put a bullet" through their heads and asserting that the e-mailer knew where the senators and their families were. Johnson said, "That is so out of bounds."
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
That’s why “democracy”, as the Egyptians and their pizza-eating union brothers are calling for, really sucks. America needs to go back to being a REPUBLIC as the Founding Fathers intended. “Mob rule” doesn’t cut it and is the worst form of government there is. Worse than communism, if that’s even possible.
The Founding Fathers thought ahead in anticipation, thus the 2nd amendment.
I wouldn’t put it past some members of the lamestream media to respond to an incident of violence against Republicans (God forbid) by saying “Well they asked for it”.
Yup!
The comments section of the article is beyond belief. The WashCompost sure is the newspaper of choice for the loony Left!
My favorite comment from the Post article...
“Jesus Christ, a REPUBLICAN denouncing ‘mob rule’? How ridiculous is that? You scumbags used mob rule to get elected ...”
Darn those mobs voting in elections!
“... to get us into Iraq ...”
I seem to remember the street mobs were anti-war, not pro-war.
“... pass the Patriot act ...”
The Democrat caucus in the Senate voted to pass the original Patriot Act by a margin of 48-1. The Democrat caucus in the House voted to pass the Patriot Act by a margin of 145-62. In 2006, none other than Barack Obama voted to renew the Patriot Act.
“... and legalize torture.”
Yes, George Bush and Snidely Whiplash gleefully concocted the legalization of torture over big cigars while twirling their dastardly mustachios and adjusting their monacles, sipping vintage brandy made from the blood of minority babies. (I heard they even cackled maniacally while doing so.)
Sheesh.
Look, this may be A+ quality commentary on campus, but really, is not the vaunted Washinton Post’s readership supposed to consist of actual adults?
During an interview with conservative talk radio host Charlie Sykes this past Monday, Democrat Mayor Tom Barrett of Milwaukee (and Scott Walker’s former opponent for Governor) said, “You could vote on those without those missing senators. You could vote on those tomorrow morning. You don’t need 20 senators to vote on those changes to the collective bargaining. Again, if someone really wanted to end this standoff, the way you would end it is simply have a separate vote.
Sykes responded with, “Would you favor that?”
“I would certainly favor that”, replied Barrett, who’s top five campaign contributions came from labor unions.
So, great idea and thank you Tom Barrett!
This is a great article and Ron Johnson is well spoken and looks to be an amazing Senator.
Here is the thing with this Wisconsin stuff. Going after the public employee unions is basically taking a dagger to the heart of the Democratic Party. This law, over time and assuming liberal judges in Wisconsin don’t interfere with it, will seriously weaken the far left.
Labor unions know over time and given this new choice, huge numbers of public employee’s will cease paying union dues. It won’t be long before the unions are cash strapped, and that means the Democratic party loses a huge bulk of it’s funding.
The Democrats are reacting to this law like cornered rats. It is a serious threat to the very future of the Democratic Party. The left will fight this law tooth and nail and they will not stop. It isn’t over in Wisconsin. Unions and their Democratic lackey’s will fight this in courts, in the media, they will run recalls, they will continue to protest, perhaps strike, etc. This is for all the marbles and they know it.
We need to be ready to defend our Wisconsin Republicans because things are going to get even uglier.
Walker gave the dem senators 3 WEEKS, they never came back to debate or vote. I think that was generous of him.
Progressives are redefining democracy as “the persuasion of power.” If they want to replace the rule of law with the rule of force it will be messy but I think conservatives will have little trouble prevailing. :-)
This guy wouldn't be the first conservative flattered by the liberal MSM - he should be warned - the liberal MSM does NOT have his best interest at heart - and they probably don't like him. Novice - and a good person - reads to a liberal as 'pawn'...
Thanks, Brown Deer! It will be interesting to find out more about this piece of work....
Wasn’t long ago the liberals were complaining about the lack of civility by conservatives and they turn around and act like this? But not surprising since liberals are hypocrites on all issues, so why would this be any different.
The Democrat caucus in the Senate voted to pass the original Patriot Act by a margin of 48-1. The Democrat caucus in the House voted to pass the Patriot Act by a margin of 145-62. In 2006, none other than Barack Obama voted to renew the Patriot Act.
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Unless I'm mistaken the Patriot Act was written during the Clinton administration by Clintonoids.
Wisconsin Statehouse Protest - Feb 19
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