Democratic Senators Walk Out As Protests Begin

[mimitabby]

Source: channel 3000

Democratic Senators Walk Out As Protests Begin
Labor Activists To Rally At Capitol For Third Day

Updated: 11:03 am CST February 17, 2011
Related
State Capitol

MADISON, Wis. -- Democratic state senators have walked out of the state Capitol on Thursday as protests are expected to begin again, according to state Sen. Tim Cullen.

They are not expected to be there when the Senate goes in to session at 11 p.m.

Meanwhile, labor supporters are expected to return to the state Capitol for a third day of widespread protests against a proposal that legislators are considering to end most collective bargaining for the majority of state employees.

Read more: http://www.channel3000.com/politics/26900252/detail.html

[HereSince1628]

1. Would that prevent a quorum from forming?

Just wondering.

[cascadiance]

8. Yeah, might be a good move to duplicate what Texas legislature did!

And if they try to arrest them like Texas did, go over to Minnesota where they have a Democratic Governor.

[jwirr]

14. We in MN would welcome them. I assume the house cannot do this

because they are a minority? If so they should show their solidarity with the protesters by checking in and then going out to "talk" with the protesters.

[PatrynXX]

113. cept you got that crazy bachman character there

and I'm still cross about what happened in the twin cities Aug-Sept 08.

(course Western Iowa has um some sort of scary monster called Stephen King oh wait was that Steve King?? :P

[Manifestor_of_Light]

17. Austin to Ardmore - Killer D's.

Wearing my T shirt right now - Austin to Ardmore 2003.

[donquijoterocket]

50. suppose Willy

Nelson will send these guys T-shirts,bandannas, and a case of whiskey like he did the Texas dems?Don't know whether Wisconsin has a home-grown analog to Willy who could fill the role in case the actual Mr. Nelson is busy at the moment. but perhaps DU could do something of the sort.

[susanr516]

101. I still have a poster

that says, "I am a Killer D fan." The Democratic State Senators also ran off to Albuquerque that year--the "Texas Eleven." I have a memento of that, too.

[S_B_Jackson]

19. In the end, how did that end up working out?

As I recall, the Goppers held firm, and eventually one of the Democrats broke ranks. And Repubs have used that particular bit of malfeasance as a club to bludgeon Democratic office-holders since. In fact, this time around, pubbies have a quorum-proof super-majority, AND control every state-wide elective office.

[AtheistCrusader]

89. In Il., Lincoln started it anyway.

[Honeycombe8]

116. It didn't do any good, as far as results. It's just a show of solidarity.

The TX legislators had to come back soon, of course. And when they did, the law was passed. The walking out just delayed it. So it doesn't do anything as far as results go. It does show solidarity, though.

[mimitabby]

15. yes!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x438002

[HereSince1628]

16. That's grand!!

Every opportunity must be played out.

[liberal N proud]

2. I think maybe the GOP has pushed the people of Wisconsin too far

The people are about to bite back.

[southernyankeebelle]

6. This is going on around the country. It is coordinate effort of republican governors to bring down

unions because they support democratics. This is what it is about. I called congressmen Hoyer's, congressman Weiner's offices and e-mailed the president and asked why are they not supporting the unions. I told the president he should be on a plane to Wis and support the unions. This is the line in the sand. I have never been in the unions but I don't believe tearing the unions down is the way. They have benefited all of us.

[liberal N proud]

9. Living in Ohio, I know that s true

This asshole is following Walker lock-step.

[EnviroBat]

24. We need to throw this scumbag Kasich out of office.

Hasn't been in office more than two months and already causing great damage to our state. I wonder how the assholes that voted for him are liking him now?

[liberal N proud]

31. I can't find anyone who will admit voting for him.

[earcandle]

60. maybe voter fraud?

[liberal N proud]

61. This is Ohio

Remember 2004

[wryter2000]

34. Isn't he at something like 30% approval? n/t

n/t

[Enthusiast]

58. Taft was at 9% his final year.

Lowest of any governor in history. One would think the Ohio voter would learn, But noooooo.

[Sugarcoated]

49. They did it in California

If Kasich is that bad, and pisses off enough people maybe the same can be done . . . and not just in Ohio.

[ladym55]

106. I don't think we can recall in Ohio

Think I read that in another thread here on DU. We'll have to impeach the jerk. I suspect Mr. I'm-All-About-Corruption will give everyone ammunition of illegal activity fairly quickly.

[cascadiance]

11. I'm glad we fought here in Oregon to get Kitzhaber!

It was a close election, but at least we didn't get that bum Dudley in charge who even when campaigning was saying he wanted to cut the minimum wage for waitresses there and have them live on tip income... Who knows what he would have done were he in charge now!

And of course Terry Branstadt is now not only collecting his new salary as governor of Iowa, but is continuing to collect state pensions from when he was governor before even though he's preaching to the state that they need to all sacrifice and endure cuts! They are all made from the same fascist cloth! Wish their sheep would finally wake up!

[classof56]

27. Yes, Dudley would have been a Disaster!

It was a squeaker, but to our great benefit, Kitzhaber prevailed. Yes!

[L. Coyote]

102. In Oregon, we don't have black box voting, we have all paper ballots

[chowhound]

12. thank you

"I have never been in the unions but I don't believe tearing the unions down is the way" thank you for saying that many people dont feel that way. they get jealous of the union benefits that hey dont get and instead of saying i want that too they try to tear the unions down saying "I dont get that they shouldnt either." ........... so thanks

[shanti]

20. they tried it here in cali too

but we canned the repukes and now have a dem governor back in again. must be the meme that they spread at their repuke governor's conferences.

[Ricepaper]

42. I hope you're right.

It's time for the people to stop taking this crap.

[mimitabby]

3. I believe this is our Cairo

I hope that Wisconsin doesn't get a snowstorm any time soon!

[nebenaube]

5. Snowstorm?

That would only help... We don't get bogged down by a little snow.

[mimitabby]

7. yay!

[tekisui]

4. knr!

[Tippy]

10. Union Busting is the goal.......Don't let it happen,

It wouod be like putting a nail in ouur own coffin....I am not a union member but I support them....

[Citizen Worker]

13. "Democratic state senators have walked out..." This was made possible by the mass demonstrations

that created the space for the politicians to move into. The train was about to leave the station and the politicians read the schedule and jumped on board lest they be left standing on the platform.

[mimitabby]

18. I belong to a union and have for 32 years

at my company, only about 25% of us belong to unions, but the other 75% have gotten a lot of benefits just because
we, the union, have led the fight.. our company then gives the bennies to the others as well, maybe in a more diluted form.
So having unions is good for ALL the workers, members or not.

[YvonneCa]

21. Great post.! And SO very true. n/t

[olegramps]

53. That has been a big problem. Leeches who enjoy the benefits.

[kevinbgoode]

112. Absolutely true. I've been a member of several unions over the years

and I can tell you that companies will not have provided many benefits if it wasn't for the fear that union organizing would expand in those companies.

Now, what really pisses me off is listening to conservatives rail about the unions, particularly the public employees. Since the Reagan era, when conservatives introduced draconian measures to strip private workers of most of their rights - and watered down their benefits so that many have suffered an actual loss in compensation, the Right starts screaming that the public employees should be forced to do the same. I got into a very nasty online duel with a wingnut who railed against "union thugs" who were "destroying America" and how he had to be the "voice of the taxpayers."

He wasn't very happy when I asked him where his fuc*ing "voice" was 30 years ago when his Republican Party manufactured countless ways to destroy private employee benefits. Why, I can remember in 1980, my health insurance had a single $100 deduction. Period. My pension plan was totally paid by my company and I had the OPTION of contributing more to it. . .try to get a conservative to explain just WHY those benefits have been hatcheted over the years - and even better - ask one of them just how much protesting did they do to their company, their insurance carriers at the time? You know it - they rolled over and did NOTHING. Meanwhile, those companies, who conservatives claim are "entitled to make a (ever-growing) profit" restricted wage increases to 1 or 2 percent, further eroding the buying and savings power of most private sector workers. And all the while they cried "we can't afford it," while paying bonuses and investing in new operations to make more money while reducing the amount of labor.

Just ask one conservative why he/she didn't take "personal responsibility" for the integrity of their own pay/benefits package while working for these large corporations and stand up and throw tantrums about their masters. They don't have an answer.

[stlsaxman]

22. Rush currently spinning this as Dems are "scared of unions"... NO mention of "quorum"

:eyes:

[mimitabby]

37. thank you for sacrificing your ears

and listening to rust limpballs for us. I cannot bear to.

[Roy Rolling]

39. spin...

Yes, democrats should fear the unions, all govenment should be fearful of the people. That's what made America great. Not the other way around that the people are scared of their government.

[Enthusiast]

65. We aren't scared of unions,

we ARE unions. What a terrible lying fat fuck.

[Ozymanithrax]

23. Time to get hungry for a general strike...

Do not cross picket lines.
Do not support the Government of Wisconsin.

[Iliyah]

25. The corporate media

is completely ignoring the US protests. Like we don't exist.

[indy legend]

29. then it's time to ignore the corporate media.

Turn off the tv. turn off the radio except for if you are lucky enough to have a progressive station, and start boycotting sponsors on Fox Noise and righty talk. Absolutely the only thing these right wing, fascist, fuck sticks care about or understand is money, so hit these bastards were it hurts them most.

[liberation]

30. ""First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win."

Gandhi said that ;-)

Don't despair.

[Ozymanithrax]

46. We have an alternative Samizdat media in Twitter, Facebook, blogs...

It is time we left the old media behind.

[HereSince1628]

28. The trick seems to be dragging out the protest for days.

Everyday has seen more people turn up.

With the arrival of the weekend there could be general support showing up in Madison. The possibility of 50K-60K people crowding the Isthmus is not out of the question.

At that point, Homeland Security may be forced to raise the alert level.

[Ozymanithrax]

47. The trick was gettng peopole angry enough to act...

after that, you look for ways to keep up the momentum. The longer this last, the more possible everything else becomes.

[bobthedrummer]

26. Maybe some of them are with me, I'm over in Westby right now...k&r

:patriot:

[greyghost]

32. The time is coming soon...

Marx said that the revolution will only take place once the middle classes realize they will never, ever join the upper classes. This of course is beginning to happen all over the country as we speak.

The job losses, foreclosures, I'm beginning to think that people are finally waking up.

[sulphurdunn]

33. I am at a complete loss

to understand how the elimination of collective bargaining rights has anything whatsoever to do with reducing budget deficits or creating jobs. Maybe someone supporting this action can rationally explain it, since I have yet to hear anything in its defense that sounds even remotely intelligent.

[katty]

35. end of collective bargaining?! talk about a dictatorship!

and Russ Feingold isn't there anymore - sad

[Jakes Progress]

44. Miss Russ. He was on NPR yesterday

where the idiot girl asked him if he was just of touch with voters because of his wild views. NPR is about to permanently lose my donations.

[katty]

100. out of touch?! Russ a tireless fighter, and now this is happening

in WI - god he must be sick to his stomach everyday

[Jakes Progress]

124. And what does NPR get for running the gop line?

They get cut anyway. See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-silver/house-votes-t...

Russ has stood up to them, so he doesn't have to pretend that he enjoys being screwed by the repukes.

[ChiciB1]

36. QUESTION? This Looks Like An All Out Attempt For UNION BUSTING...

which IMO is so COMPLETELY wrong headed! So, so many people would have NOTHING were it not for Unions. So, given this atmosphere what AFFECT will this have on the RETIRED workers?

We have retiree benefits in place right now, one BIG benefit is our HEALTH CARE INSURANCE and I'm worried. Our health insurance through the union is better than the regular run of the mill Medicare Benefits and includes pharmaceutical coverage without having to pay extra money for it.

Does anyone have any information regarding this? My sister just started received Medicare and she has to pay for a Supplemental & the Medicare Part D Coverage, so she has 3 payments monthly. We, on the other hand only pay $98.60 for ALL coverage and we rarely have to pay ANY out of pocket fees. We also have vision and dental included which does include some out of pocket fees. The only drawback is that we are limited by doctor choices. However, I can't say that it's that much of a problem given where I live because we seem to have a good pool of doctors to choose from.

Anyway, I'm thinking Union Busting is Union Busting and it would seem that we WILL be impacted.

Thanks for any information.

[TBF]

40. It is union busting and thank goodness Wisconsin is fighting back. nt

[hamsterjill]

38. I am proud of them!

n/t

[TBF]

41. I've heard Walker has language in the bill to do away with Badger Care

and Senior Care. Anybody have details on that?

[ewagner]

43. The bill

has language that gives the Secretary of DHS (Dennis Smith) the power to make changes to Badger Care without Legislative approval...I think it might have to go the the Joint Finance Committee but not to both houses of the legislature.

re: Dennis Smith

He worked at Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services under Tommy Thompson. He also worked at the Heritage Foundation where he co-authored a paper encouraging States to "opt-out" of Medicaid except for the long-term care (nursing home) portion.

Any clues what this dude wants to do with BadgerCare? Hint: BadgerCare is Wisconsin's Medicaid.

[TBF]

45. Thank you - that's very helpful (and mortifying... ) nt

[classysassy]

48. Our Republican brothers and sisters

are out to finish off the Unions in America at the request of the wealthy criminals.When will America wake up and realize the Republicans and their bosses hate Unions?

[Odin2005]

51. K&R

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[colsohlibgal]

54. Make No Mistake

This is a concerted effort to bust unions and bring us back to what amounts to slave labor. I hope state workers in these states, states where the assault has begun in earnest, who voted for these corporate tool governors and legislators - I hope they get their heads out of where they were and learn the truth, not what Faux News passes off as the truth.

Guys like Walker or Kasich in Ohio want to make sure their buddies rake in every dime they can while sticking it to every day people.

[AsahinaKimi]

55. Tonight on ED SHULTZ's show, he will be in Wisconsin

covering the protests for MSNBC. THIS should be good! Go big Ed!

[Kingofalldems]

56. K and R

I want to read about Wisconsin, not about the Gov of Alaska. That's a distraction.

[mokawanis]

57. I'll be there tonight

I've been at the capitol building every day since this mess started. We're fighting for worker rights and we are determined to keep the struggle going.

[SoapBox]

59. Bravo for the Dems.

[earcandle]

62. Union Sunrise -Xtal a little inspiration! (J Neo's mom is from Wisconsin)

Union Sunrise

[Zen Democrat]

63. I hope they stick to it.

I remember when 50 Texas Dems walked out of the legislature over the Tom DeLay gerrymandering and fled to Ardmore, Oklahoma. DeLay even tried to call out the FBI and federal marshalls to bring them back.

This is the same redistricting that will soon see the convicted felon DeLay serving time in the state penitentiary for conspiracy and money laundering -- and not soon enough for me.

[Nossida]

64. don't forget

The 2012 Election is coming.
These Corporate republican sellouts
need to be voted out of office forever.

[Newsjock]

66. (Wisconsin) Democratic Senators Out-Of-State

Source: NBC15 Madison

A source tells NBC15 News that all 14 members of the State Senate are meeting at an out-of-state location to avoid the Senate reaching quorum.

The reason they have left the state is because the Senate has the power to issue a Call of The House, which would send the Wisconsin State Patrol to bring absent Senators in.

The source tells us that the Senators say they understand this is an extreme move, but their feeling is that the legislation is extreme, and they're doing what they can to slow things down.


Read more: http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/UPDATE_Budget_Repair_Bill_Passes_Committee.html

[truthisfreedom]

67. interesting.

[AlbertCat]

73. interesting.

You mean "here we go again"

[Kingofalldems]

68. Will the Governor send the cops after them ala Texas?

And somebody just unrecced this. I wonder who?:shrug:

[sybylla]

74. State Patrol has no jurisdiction in Illinois.

Not much the pukes can do about this.

[htuttle]

77. That's why they went out of state

Rumor has it, the troopers aren't looking very hard either. They have a union, too.

[martymar64]

98. I hope the State troopers know what's at stake and suppoprt the protestors.

[YvonneCa]

69. Interesting development. n/t

[Lasher]

70. Sounds a little familiar.

Wonder if Hot Tub Tom will illegally get the feds after them?

[Luciferous]

71. K&R

[mikeburetta]

72. out of state

herd on wort out of maddison that arrest warents have been issued to force dems back to senate..hmm where did i here this story play out a few years back..wasnt it in texas on redistricting?

[Name removed]

75. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[snappyturtle]

76. Yes....I lived in TX at the time...quite wonderful! Here's a link if you're interested.

http://articles.cnn.com/2003-05-13/politics/texas.legislature_1_house-speaker-tom-craddick-democratic-walkout-texas-house?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS

[Zephie]

78. Senate Dems leave city to avoid participating in budget vote

Source: Wisconson State Journal

Senate Democrats were leaving Madison to avoid participating in the vote on Gov. Scott Walker’s controversial budget repair bill, which has sparked four days of protests at the Capitol, an aide confirmed Thursday.

The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak on behalf of her boss. Legislative assistants answering the phones at the offices of Sen. Jon Erpenbach of Middleton, Sen. Mark Miller of Monona and Sen. Fred Risser of Madison all insisted they knew nothing about the walkout.

Mike Browne, spokesman for Miller, the Senate minority leader, would only say that he did not have any information on the location of Miller or the other senators and did not know when they would be back.

“I don’t know where they are,” he said.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_01c093f0-3ac0-11e0-ba01-001cc4c002e0.html

---

Absolutely vital to read the whole article. Best news I've heard in days. I am truly proud to be a Dem today.

[xchrom]

79. Love it! Nt

[damntexdem]

80. Wow, what a coincidence -- that they would all disappear at the same time.

;-)

But we know from Texas experience that the slip-out could ultimately fail if a few cave and come back.

[Justitia]

81. that's right - stay strong Dems! -eom

[bluestateguy]

82. Like the quorum breaking in the Texas legislature in 2003

Now the only problem with that is that if just a few people get weak in the knees and capitulate the whole thing will fall apart.

In Texas it was Senator John Whitmire (Quitmire) who fucked it all up.

[FBaggins]

85. It could fall apart regardless... but that's not the point.

There's no way to gain a lasting victory with this tactic (by itself). Republicans could win almost immediately if they chose to (but it would hurt them in public opinion)... and Democrats can't stay away long enough. In TX (IIRC) there was a deadline that could run out the clock... that doesn't appear plausible here.

But that isn't the point. The idea is to draw public attention to the issue while the protests have lots of energy. They may sway public opinion enough to force the GOP to relent.

[LiberalFighter]

83. Now if the Republicans do something illegal in attempting to locate them.

I hope they do and they get caught doing it.

[Vidar]

84. Very cool! I hope Bob LaFolette is watching from somewhere beyond.

[Kingofalldems]

86. Keep this kicked and recced

[Judi Lynn]

87. Senate Dems hit the road to delay vote (AUDIO)

Senate Dems hit the road to delay vote (AUDIO)
by Bob Hague on February 17, 2011

in Budget,Legislature

Democrats in the Wisconsin state Senate did not show up for work Thursday, and law enforcement is looking for them. The Senate was scheduled to be the first chamber to take up Governor Scott Walker’s controversial budget repair bill, but when Senate President Mike Ellis called the roll, none of the Democrats took the floor. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald spoke to reporters. “I’m not sure where the Democrat Senators are. I have had no contact from the minority leader,” said Fitzgerald. “We right now have law enforcement that are out there looking for Democrat Senators, to try and have some of them come back to the chamber, so that we can move forward with final passage.”
The state Capitol was jammed with thousands of union members and their supporters, the fourth day of protests over provisions of Walker bill which would eliminate the ability of public employee unions to negotiate for their pensions and health care benefits.

“The ‘Call of the House’ means that law enforcement will now try to find a few of the Senators and bring them back to the chamber,” said Fitzgerald. Can those Senators refuse to come back to the chamber? “I guess I don’t know the ins and outs of how far law enforcement can go in terms of bringing a Democratic Senator back to the chamber, but in theory that’s how it’s supposed to work,” said Fitzgerald. “I’m not sure if they would be under arrest or not. I guess it would depend on whether or not they would resist any attempts to bring them back to the chamber.”

The drama in the Senate played out against the backdrop of a fourth day of protests at the Capitol, with thousands of chanting people in the building. Fitzgerald said Minority Leader Mark Miller did not inform him of any plans by his 14 members to not show up. “I saw Senator Miller in the hallway this week, but nothing formally beyond that. He didn’t reach out to me . . . he didn’t ask for more time, none of that.”

State Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) said Democrat members are not in the state. “We’re not in Wisconsin right now,” said Erpenbach. “We got together and we met outside the Capitol this morning, we talked about the options that we had to slow things down a little bit. The bill was introduced last Friday and they want us to vote on it today.”

More:
http://www.wrn.com/2011/02/senate-dems-hit-the-road-to-delay-vote-audio/

[Old Troop]

88. Maybe they could call it an "away game"!

[Name removed]

110. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kpete]

90. Missing Wisconsin Dem speaks: We're MIA until GOP drops assault on workers rights (Dems in IL)

Source: The Plum Line

Missing Wisconsin Dem speaks: We're MIA until GOP drops assault on workers rights
By Greg Sargent

I just got off the phone with Wisconsin State Senator Chris Larson, one of the Democrats who has left the capitol in order to stall the GOP's plan to rolll back the bargaining rights of public employees. Speaking to me by cell phone from an undisclosed location, Larson said he and his fellow Democrats would not return until the GOP takes its assault on organizing rights "off the table."

"Each of us is in a secure location," he told me, confirming that they were not all together but were monitoring events on the Web and on Twitter. Larson refused to say whether he and his fellow Dems had left the state, as some have speculated.

"We're going to be staying away until we hear that they are taking the right to organize seriously," Larson continued, referring to Republicans. "They're going after 50 years of history in one week. Until they take that off the table, it's a non-starter."

.............

Dems will not return, Larson vowed, "until the Republicans are prepared to listen to the effects of this bill on workers and what it will do to our state."

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2011/02/missing_wisconsin_dem_speaks_w_1.html

---

UPDATE: Budget Battle: Democrats Who Left State are Located
By The WTMJ News Team

MADISON - Democratic State Senators who protested the budget repair bill by leaving the state have been found.

The lawmakers are in the Best Western Clock Tower in Rockford Illinois.

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/116390569.html

[LiberalFighter]

91. If I was one of them I wouldn't need to leave the state if I had the right place.

Someplace out in the boonies deep in the woods. Anybody attempting to enter the place would find it empty or if so inclined encouraged to leave fast.

It would be very important not to be friends enough that they spend anytime with hard core Republicans that would squeal about possible locations.

If I was any of them I would not be using any know cell phone especially if they are provided by the state. I hope the Republicans do something illegal involving telecommunications and get prosecuted.

[FBaggins]

92. No... they NEED to be out of the state.

They don't want to place the (union) police in the position of having to have to choose between union members that they support, and a duty they are sworn to uphold.

Plus... the legislators want to be able to speak out. You can't very well be "in hiding" AND be interviewed on TV at the same time. Their support will fade rapidly if they can't constantly get their side of the argument on TV.

In the end... I suspect that they won't have much choice unless the republicans relent. They'll eventually draft a new bill that doesn't require the 3/5 quorum and pass it. Then there's no point in staying away.

[Kingofalldems]

93. Real Democrats

K and R

[Populist_Prole]

94. Yes Yes!

[Wait Wut]

95. I have this incredible urge to go to Rockford

I wanna hang out with the cool kids. Seriously. If they're exiled from Wisconsin permanently, please send them to Arizona.

[LWolf]

119. Good.

I hope Democrats in Washington are taking notes.

[derby378]

96. I'm so proud of Wisconsin's Democratic state senators today

Now watch the full might of the state Republican machine be brought to bear on them as it was on the "Killer D's" in Texas back in 2003.

[nolabear]

97. Makes my patriotic little liberal heart proud.

This is what politics is about, standing up for (and walking out in support of) what you believe in. Makes me happy to see the Dems and the people standing together.

[WillyT]

99. HUGE K & R !!!

:bounce::woohoo::bounce:

:toast:

:kick:

[FJeff]

103. Senatorial fugitives

I'd be more than glad to harbor some of these fugitives.

[sam sarrha]

104. i hear they are hiding out in an Illinois hotel...

[lonestarnot]

108. LOL are they rounding them up yet or is that next week?

:rofl:

[marasinghe]

105. good. make the filthy fascists pay, any which way, for their greed & thievery. (n/t)

[Bozita]

107. From Poland to Wisconsin ...

[mzteris]

109. two GOP senators missing . . .

Schultz and Van Wygaard.

Know anything about that?

[FVZA_Colonel]

117. Maybe they just grew a conscience.

[humbled_opinion]

111. This is only the begining...

ending all entitlements is their end game, as well as reducing government by getting rid of the Dept's of Education and Energy. The surprising part is that a large portion of the public is supporting them, we need to have someone out front communicating the need to keep these safety nets for the American workers or we will all be screwn as we sink down into the depths of this corporate privatization.

[donheld]

114. Solidarity NOW

[RegieRocker]

115. This is just the begining

and it's real good to see. The Dem senators are saying NO by walking out. It's their way of protesting and stopping this in its tracks. See there are many ways to protest. Just do it. Want your jobs back don't buy foreign goods. Even American products that have foreign parts. Want to make a stand. Stop buying anything for 1 day. Send a freakin message of some kind. Do it now. Have a better idea if not then STHU and do it.

[FVZA_Colonel]

118. My only fear is that the protests might run out of steam over the weekend. However, based on reports

for tomorrow and Saturday, it doesn't really look like that might happen. Maybe this'll force that fucking lunatic to take that moronic bit of "policy" out of the bill, or just trash that mess entirely (the pension changes are pretty damn ridiculous on their own.)

[wulfric82]

120. We Support the Wisconsin 14!

Show your support! Send a message to Gov. Walker and sign the petition!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/158/support-the-wisconsin-14/

[Hubert Flottz]

121. The patriotic thing to do...

defend democracy.

[creon]

122. See it through

This will have to be done to the end.

[grahamhgreen]

123. This is why I'm a PROUD DEMOCRAT!