Michael Moore: Not a single elected national Democrat has come to Madison...and Obama nearly silent.

[highplainsdem]

MMFlint Michael Moore
From what I can tell, not a single elected national Democrat has come to Madison to support the workers. And Obama nearly silent.
1 minute ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[Merlot]

1. I was thinking the same thing. When is Obama going to say something?

He made a good statement about Egypt in a timely fashion.

BTW, why does "Obama" show up in spell check as an error? think someone could had that to the dictionary?

[MadBadger]

52. He already spoke about this to a Milwaukee Radio Station

You should try listening

[orleans]

56. what did he say?n/t

[Myrina]

81. "unions are valuable but workers have to adjust to the new fiscal reality"

ie - tough shit, workers of America, Wall Street owns my ass.

[MadBadger]

93. he called it an assault on unions

Missed that part?

[joeybee12]

109. "seems like" an assual...got that, "seems like"...

very timid response, as usual.

[metapunditedgy]

126. Just enough so he can take credit without doing anything. The bully pulpit is missing. n/t

[ClarkUSA]

205. Wrong. "seems MORE like an assault on unions" is what he said

very selective quoting, as usual

[Marr]

208. "Unions need to adjust to the new fiscal reality", is also what he said.

And his tepid comment on the Wisconsin Governor's approach seemed to concern his tactics, not his strategy.

[ananda]

209. Bullshit.

Unions need to remake the new fiscal reality... putting Wall Street in jail
and ending corporate and lobby influence on government.

[texshelters]

214. I think Obama is

out of touch with reality. Unions have given, and given, and given and not state governors want to take away their bargaining rights. Bullshit!

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[rhett o rick]

165. His response was very weak regardless of how you try to spin it. nm

[joeunderdog]

213. Did he tell the bomb-makers they had to "adjust to the new fiscal reality" too?

Didn't think so.

[rhett o rick]

236. So do you think his response was strong? You forgot to say. nm

[MrMickeysMom]

99. Oh... in other words...

"Bend over and take it like a proletariat!"

I don't think so, "Tool in the White House"... :grr:

[defendandprotect]

141. ... and don't notice what Obama/Duncan are doing to public education/teacers -- and UNIONS....

[Plucketeer]

195. PER-ZACTLY!

Ass hole Arne is NO friend of education. Another "outsider" with all the answers. Right!

[Autumn]

216. Well that seems like a fuck you

followed by a nice little bit of truth, 'it's an assault on Unions.' No shit. How very brave and forceful of him.

[maryf]

100. Link??

I'd like to hear his words. (or probably not like...)

[radhika]

157. Here's a TV link I found....

put me to sleep, frankly.

http://hotair.com/archives/2011/02/17/obama-says-wisconsin-conducting-an-assault-on-unions/

[texshelters]

212. and he gave no support

to the workers at all, just lip service.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[Divernan]

79. If the unions win this fight, THEN Obama's backers will swarm in

claiming it was HIS victory and he was playing 3 dimensional chess with the Governor behind the scenes all along, doncha know? What was it Obama used to campaign on about transparency? Oh yes, I believe he was in favor of it. Used to be. Not anymore.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a president who was motivated to use the bully pulpit on behalf of America's workers, instead of America's corporations?

[Divernan]

80. Hey Obama! Here's how a DEMOCRATIC president uses the bully pulpit!

“In this serious hour in our Nation’s history,
when we are confronted with grave crises in Berlin and Southeast Asia,
when we are devoting our energies to economic recovery and stability,
when we are asking reservists to leave their homes and families for months on end and servicemen to risk their lives — and four were killed in the last two days in Vietnam,
and asking union members to hold down their wage requests at a time when restraint and sacrifice are being asked of every citizen,

the American people will find it hard, as I do, to accept a situation in which a tiny handful of steel executives whose pursuit of private power and profit exceeds their sense of public responsibility can show such utter contempt for the interests of 185 million Americans.”



Given that the unions in question have offered to increase their share of health insurance and pension plan costs, and are only demanding retention of their collective bargaining rights, and given that the Wisconsin governor will not even accept phone calls from elected state officials attempting to negotiate, I'd say he's showing as much contempt as those steel company officials did back in 1962.

[Poboy]

83. oh, Obama is 'transparent' alright.

[Divernan]

85. Except for those backers admiring their emperor's new clothes.

[howmad1]

168. I'll bet the Koch brothers love Obama.

[texshelters]

215. A weak corporate Democrat can give

people like the Koch brothers cover more than a Republican can.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[dionysus]

97. transparently what?

[defendandprotect]

142. +1000% --

Obama is making himself clearer every day and it's quite sad to see!!

::(

[Donnachaidh]

108. oh yeah -- that's SOP for this admin.

Disgusting, ain't it?

[markpkessinger]

202. Yes, rather like the Johnny-come-lately support for the Egyptian people n/t

[barbtries]

115. you can add it to yours

just right click

[Frisbee]

120. Obama has been a disappointment more often than not...

and I fully expect him to be one on this issue as well. His puppet-masters would love nothing more than to see unions squashed so their profit and loss sheets will look even better, and he doesn't want to disappoint them, after all, he has his billion dollar campaign just around the corner. They sure would love it if they could pay slave wages here in the states and save on all those nasty freight charges and tariffs and such. And he knows there is no way in Hell the unions are going to support the repukes when all is said and done. Don't look to Obama for much support on this one. If he is in fact this master of 3D chess everyone loves to talk about, he is playing it for his corporate donors, not the American people.

[Jackpine Radical]

203. He's playing a very sophisticated political game.

Timing is critical. He will make his move at exactly the right instant, and it will be exactly the right move.

That is, he will wait until the event has come to a resolution before throwing his support behind Walker and excoriating the professional leftists who made such a specacle of themselves in & around the Capitol.

[texshelters]

217. As sad and angry as that

comment makes me, I can't disagree.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[villager]

2. Well of course: They don't dare stand up to their real bosses

n/t

[WinkyDink]

3. RFK would've been there in a trice.

[Divernan]

87. He & JFK smacked the greedy steel barons down REAL good.

In April 1962, when U.S. Steel and five other steel corporations unilaterally decided to jack up their prices and squelch an intricate set of compromises that the Kennedy Administration had expended a great deal of effort in negotiating, President John F. Kennedy responded with an aggressive counter attack that shocked the Washington press establishment. He turned loose his younger brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who subpoenaed the expense accounts of the top steel executives and dispatched F.B.I. agents to “interview” them.

Robert Kennedy also sent the not-so-subtle message that the Justice Department and its Anti-Trust Division, along with the Internal Revenue Service, were about to make the executives’ lives miserable unless they honored their original agreement with the White House and the labor unions to maintain prices.

See my reply #80 above re JFK's statement to the steel industry.

[WinkyDink]

112. I actually remember the US Steel smack-down quite well! My father worked for Bethlehem Steel.

JFK stood up to Big Steel, Big Media, and the M-I C----and paid with his life.
Bobby stood up to the Mob and the FBI (redundant?), and for the poor-----and paid with his life.

Who stands up today?

[defendandprotect]

143. That "smack down" resonated like an earthquake's aftershocks ... !!!

Think it started to wake up America -- which was very dangerous at that time --

What? Thinking Americans????

What might they think about next? Federal Reserve, Cold War, Women's rights?

[kurtzapril4]

194. I don't remember JFK with many fond memories....

He was a hawk and a Truman Doctrinaire, and not that into civil rights, as I recall...but his brother Bobby...I really liked him.

[Jackpine Radical]

226. Bobby improved with age.

Not bad for a guy who started out working with Joe McCarthy. I wonder what Bobby might have become if he had lived.

[WinkyDink]

229. What JFK was, was a product of his time: WWII vet; elected post- Ike's Korean Conflict;

inheritor of Nixon's Bay of Pigs plan; and battling the Cold War at its coldest, with the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., did not share your dim view of JFK's Civil Rights stance, BTW.

[TomClash]

4. Aren't there only two?

Obama and Biden.

[Raine]

24. Wouldn't Senators and Congress Reps count as

national since they are United States Senators and US Congress people and their votes on bills etc affect the whole country. I don't know for sure but that would be my guess.

[TomClash]

35. I suppose that's what he meant nt

[liberation]

162. Anything more than one is plural. No?

;-)

[Doctor_J]

173. Wellstone would have been there if he hadn't been killed

back on it.

[myrna minx]

5. Their absence and silence is rather telling.

[roguevalley]

14. he won't come. they won't come. won't even say much. cowards.

[whathehell]

76. Yes....Cenk was asking Ed Rendell about Obama's absence

last night on his show and Eddie did a little song and dance

that had no substance.

I think that, in their "move to the center"...They are

trying to be very "quiet" on unions...I think that is

the democratic "agenda" right now.:puke:

[defendandprotect]

144. +1000% --

:puke:

[Jamel]

184. Cenk is part of the problem

It's commentators like Cenk who cause divisions in the party, and keep people home from the polls. He's a "REPUBLICAN'S DREAM"! What can Obama do, "wave his magic wand?"

[texshelters]

218. Obama can show up

and stand with the workers. He is after all socialist.

Cenk didn't cause the divisions, he's just reporting on it.

Obama and his White House have been increasing the rift by insulting the "professional left" and telling us to get over it and buck up. So who started this?

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[blackspade]

228. Oh, please.

Cenk is not causing divisions in the party or keeping people home.
That is the same tired strawman argument that the DLC Democrats have been using for two decades against folks that ask tough questions.

[glinda]

53. Telling of what though? They are dead silent.

[defendandprotect]

145. SILENCE is also an answer . . . !!

Think about it -- !!

[glinda]

158. I have. There is no excuse for it unless they share in the corruption or are dead.

[defendandprotect]

161. Agree -- :)

[AnneD]

172. That is the way...

I see it too.

[mike_c]

6. when are the dems going to speak out for America's workers?

Their pollsters are still too busy finding the triangulation they're seeking, I suppose. The path that sounds good for workers without pissing off their wealthy corporate patrons.

[calimary]

8. First they came...

First They came... - Pastor Martin Niemoller

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

...Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.



Well, folks, we've made it to the trade unionist part now.

[Enthusiast]

65. They took out the communists long ago. nt

[calimary]

155. Yeah. Just working their way down the list.

:( :scared:

[Divernan]

92. I was ridiculed when posting this quote-which highlights the result of narrow self-interest

I was debating with another DUer about the fairness of PA GOP controlled House retroactively increasing health insurance costs of some state employee retirees (and calling it a donation), in violation of their pension contracts. By the way, the insurance costs had not gone up, and this money would go to the House general fund, not Blue Cross/Blue Shield. His/her reply was, well HE had to pay more for HIS insurance, so I should just suck it up. He ridiculed me for quoting the Niemoller poem (which I had seen engraved on a plaque at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp). I replied:

The German Lutheran minister whom I quoted, did not expect another holocaust to occur. He was trying, and in your case failing, to explain to people the importance of taking a stand for others, even when one's own narrow self interest has not been immediately or directly affected. It's about the rule of law, and taking a stand on principle.

You know, Sachsenhausen (about 1/2 hour's train ride north of Berlin) was Hitler's first camp (in 1936) - where he tested the most efficient means of killing lots of people. The first Jews were not sent there until the camp was 2 years old, on Kristallnacht, Nov. 9, 1938. Do you wonder why Niemoller listed communists and trade unionists before Jews in his poem? For the first two years, it was the trade unionists, the communists, the newspaper editors, the university professors, the artists, the intellectuals who were sent there and who died there. These people were "disappeared" from their homes, their workplaces, their streets. Their families were never given any information as to what happened to them. They were not allowed lawyers, or court appearances. There was, in short, no habeas corpus. When my (American) guide explained to my group how all these prisoners had been treated, I looked at her and said, it sounds just like the Patriot Act. She sadly nodded her head in agreement.

[truth2power]

105. No one, including yourself, should ever be ridiculed for posting that

statement by Pastor Niemoller. It can't be stated too often.

[calimary]

159. Absolutely.

Jesus Mary and Joseph - I'm writing this while listening to donald rumsfeld denying EVERYTHING in an interview with a surprisingly challenging Andrea Mitchell. What the hell? Has she been hanging out with Rachel Maddow? What a BASTARD!!!! "Stovepiping? What do you mean by 'stovepiping'?" Holy GOD! You have NEVER heard weasel words like I'm hearing now. No - wait - she obviously hasn't spent THAT much time with Rachel Maddow. Swiftly moved on to Sara Jane Moore and President Ford. Rachel would have stayed on this, but Andrea had to get to her much-more-important list of questions.

Doomed to repeat it. We are doomed to repeat it ALL, evidently. rummy says go check his website! He's got all the documentation there! Yeah, I just bet he does. :sarcasm: All properly doctored and redacted, most likely. After all, he's got a book to sell and history to rewrite.

And unfortunately, there are as many willing listeners ready to stick their heads in the sand after he's dropped by - as those who've turned their noses up, or maybe snickered at, that Niemoller poem, and then thought no more about it. Meh - just another one of those silly hand-wringers. Not gonna happen. Nothin's gonna happen...

I have a tab open on my computer that I'm leaving on the Ian's Pizza Facebook page. I need a dose of that every few minutes to remind myself that there are still people who actually do care.

http://www.facebook.com/IansPizzaOnState

[truebrit71]

240. Damn right....Fascism doesn't appear overnight, it creeps in, in stages...

..and it's ALWAYS labelled as being "for your safety"...The TSA is now dong their thing in train stations, apparently...We are not a million miles away from border checks on state lines and travelling papers...

[Enthusiast]

225. I firmly believe this was

the real purpose of the Patriot Act.

Is it fascism yet?

[Divernan]

234. I agree. We had habeas corpus under King George before the American Revolution!

Now we don't. And Obama, despite his explicit campaign promises to scrap the Patriot Act, now seeks a longer extension of the Patriot Act than the Republicans. Obama is a constitutional law scholar - he knows exactly how fascist the Patriot Act provisions are.

[Iris]

227. I, for one, am glad ou posted it again. n/t

[bobbolink]

49. Along about the same time they speak up for poor folk.

Actually, that isn't true, since they will NEVER speak up for poor folk.

the "workers" are waaayy ahead of the line.

[rpannier]

196. I heard you had been sick

Welcome back
Hope you're better

[eilen]

90. Never. They only care about those who have money

read: Plutocracy Now: What Wisconsin Is Really About How screwing unions screws the entire middle class.

The Democratic Party has largely abandoned the working class.

http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-labor-union-decline?page=1

[defendandprotect]

146. The Q really is: When are you going to stop expecting them to?

[southernyankeebelle]

7. I got a call from the Dem's Organization asking for money and I sure gave

him an ear full. I asked him where the hell is Obama and why wasn't he in Wi? I wanted to know where are other democratics? I am so pissed at them.

[Delphinus]

73. Good for you!

Thanks for letting them know your displeasure. :hug:

[defendandprotect]

148. You don't worry them .... You have "no place to go" --- !!

:evilgrin:

[WillyT]

9. K & R !!!

:kick:

[TBF]

10. Rights for workers is not on this president's agenda. nt

[hay rick]

13. You're obviously forgetting

how hard he fought for EFCA...

[ProfessorPlum]

25. LOL. Good one.

[Enthusiast]

66. That is clear. But trade deals are.

He is one of THEM.

[texshelters]

219. True, and health care doesn't matter so much

if you have no job and no rights.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[hay rick]

11. But what would Wall Street say?

Working people. Union members. The stench...

[undeterred]

12. Russ Feingold was here on Friday.

Tammy Baldwin was in the Capitol on Sunday.

And the 14 Senate Democrats are doing what they are supposed to do.

These are the people that matter the most, and they care deeply.

Senator Kohl is still in office and Feingold is not, but it would make no difference if it were the other way around. Feingold would be here either way, and Kohl would not.

[boomerbust]

Where the fuck is Herb Kohl?

I would think he is cowering in a corner somewhere in the Senate building. Pathetic

[undeterred]

21. Herb's Powerful statement on 2/17

"Public workers deserve fair treatment and their interests should be taken into consideration as these issues are resolved. I’m concerned about the well-being of their families and hope these matters can be settled in a respectful and balanced way."

[sabrina 1]

59. Weasel words. A clear statement of support for

the people's rights and a demonstration of clear opposition to the tea-bagger, Koch-purchased governor would have sufficed.

I hate the fact that they think they are so clever and 'balanced' when they make statements like that. We are not stupid, I really wish someone would tell them that.

[undeterred]

71. Kohl is a very rich man.

Has about $250M. And he does not take particularly strong stands on much of anything. (I forgot the sarcasm icon in the above post).

[2banon]

147. Isn't Senator Kohl, the owner of Kohls Department stores?

Seems like I read that somewhere a few years ago. Never checked if it was true. I wouldn't think he'd be there on the front lines with worker rights, union or no union, imo. It wouldn't be in his "business interests". But again, I don't know for sure if that's his family business or not, or just a name coincidence... :shrug:

[dembotoz]

149. don't think so

he was associated with Kohls food stores

[AllyCat]

170. Sold it off eons ago. Not part of it anymore.

[undeterred]

175. Should retire and give away most of his fortune to Senator Feingold.

Who would use it for good progressive causes. Would be the best legacy ever.

[2banon]

198. agree.. n/t

[2banon]

199. good to know... thanks n/t

[AllyCat]

169. Herb Kohl--Nobody's Senator

Feingold has been here. Baldwin has sent me several updates and sides with the workers. Don't know about Moore

[undeterred]

174. Yes, she has been here, forgot about that.

I heard her interviewed live one day. She's a great speaker.

[GigiMommy]

15. K & R!!! n/t

[bigwillq]

16. K and R (nt)

[AsahinaKimi]

17. I wonder if Michael Moore

Will go to Madison?

[Canuckistanian]

18. Where's Kucinich?

Is he still suing the cafeteria for that olive pit?

[OhioChick]

23. Dennis is in Washington....

Washington state workers rally to support unions

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Union members, students, parents and even former presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich rallied in Olympia on Monday, taking advantage of the holiday to lobby against budget cuts and to show solidarity with Wisconsin's embattled union for state employees.

Hundreds of Washington state employees chanted, sang songs and waved signs in the Capitol Rotunda in a rally supporting unions and state employees in Wisconsin. Ohio Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich addressed the group wearing a union T-shirt from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

More: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_olympia_rallies.html

[Canuckistanian]

38. Well, that's good

But he's NEEDED in WI.

[Enthusiast]

67. Why the dig

on one of the few REAL progressive Democrats? Sound like Limbaugh to me. That you Rush?

[Canuckistanian]

74. It comes back to the original point

Where are the Dems during a fight for the entire future for labor? Nowhere.

I at least expected Kucinich to be there. Why is he in WA "showing solidarity", instead of being in Madison?

This is why Dems lose votes. If this had been a cherished conservative idea that was being threatened, there'd be a constant stream of rallies, celebrities, radio hosts and ELECTED OFFICIALS.

What do Dems stand for? Until that question is answered, nobody will get excited about them.

[Enthusiast]

89. But why the smart aleck remark?

Why would someone go out of their way to insult a real progressive when there are so few of them in congress? Sure, they all need to be there, but still.

[Canuckistanian]

96. I didn't mean it to be snarky

I just meant that maybe he was busy with his lawsuit.

[Fuddnik]

95. He's in WA STATE with workers doing the same thing as Wisconsin.

And, he'll probably show up at rallies in Columbus, Ohio, his home state.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

110. channel Fox much?

It was a broken tooth, infected, horrifically painful, and potentially deadly. In fact, last week near here, a 14 yr old was having a root canal for a broken tooth, and he died.

Snark's fine, but really. Some people have the empathy and understanding of a pet rock.

[RedCloud]

19. Just have more rallies all across America. They should fear us more than the dumb Tea party.

[defendandprotect]

150. Green Party has a rally in NJ - Trenton -- on Friday 12:pm ....State House

[senseandsensibility]

20. Tammy Baldwin was just live from there on Rachel's

show. And I think she's been there all week-end.

[pacalo]

63. +1. I was going to add her name if no one else did.

[GoCubsGo]

86. Yep. Ed had her on his radio show yesterday, too.

But, Michael Moore's word is the Word of God with some around here, so she doesn't count.

[upi402]

22. the 2x4 of truth has swung again! n/t

[RegieRocker]

27. Good one!

[EFerrari]

29. I like that.

:thumbsup:

[Greybnk48]

26. Tammy Baldwin was the first today.

Russ has been there but he's not in office.

[Raine]

28. Their true colors seem to be showing

more red than blue. x( I'm so glad that MM is calling them out! :thumbsup:

[Agony]

30. Hey! it's a great fundraising opportunity! Schumer sent me this...

"I'm sure you've watched as the hard-right governor of Wisconsin is doing everything he can to eliminate collective bargaining rights for the men and women working in state government.

He may wish to take America back to the 1920s, when workers had no rights, but the rest of us certainly don't.

Tens of thousands of people at a time have been demonstrating at the state capitol for almost a week now, refusing to bow to this attack in the national battle over our rights.

Let's turn their attack into our strength.

Show Wisconsin's Governor Walker and his national hard-right allies that his attacks will only make us stronger -- join me in making a contribution to go toward electing more Democrats to the Wisconsin State Senate.

Of course, this uproar happened because Governor Walker tried to ram this rollback of workers' rights through the legislature without adequate analysis, debate and discussion.

Not surprisingly, because the Governor rushed this bill, two separate issues are getting confused, and it is not fair to Wisconsin workers that it is happening.

On the issue of pensions, even union leaders agree there is a need for reform, given the fiscal challenges faced by many states. But Governor Walker is clinging to ideology and holding out for the elimination of collective bargaining rights.

Governor Walker needs to negotiate on a fair and equal basis with the men and women who work for the Wisconsin government.

That is what has inflamed the Wisconsin workers and so many of us around the country, and that is why we need to help. It's not too early to start working to elect more Democrats to the Wisconsin Senate.

If you support collective bargaining rights, join me in making a contribution to help elect more Democrats to the Wisconsin State Senate and show Governor Walker he can't take us back to the 1920s.

This is an important fight that could be a turning point for workers across America. We need to stand together on this.

Thank you,


Chuck Schumer"

[QC]

33. You might want to write back to Chuck and advise him

that you will gladly make a donation if he, Chuck Schumer, the Senator from Wall Street, will go to Madison and stand with working people.

I don't think you'll be risking any money on that one.

[Agony]

37. Dear Senator Schumer,

I will be happy to send a donation to ActBlue if you will show some direct support for the teachers on the line and go to Madison and stand with them for any one 24 hour period.
I would prefer that you do this with a busload of national Democratic leaders by your side. This will really mean something. It IS this important and you should make travel plans now. Working people deserve your direct active support on the street, Main Street, not Wall Street.

Sincerely,


How is that?
You are right tho... I am not holding my breath that I will be sending any of my dwindling pile of cash to ActBlue.


Cheers!
Agony

[QC]

42. Lovely letter, and your money is not at the slightest risk. n/t

[Agony]

72. I will be using my money for beer and travel... my dollar against a Blankfein million dollar?

Why would I even bother, It's not like I haven't tried to buy a vote with the $25/$125/$200 I've given in the past. It is a joke.

[highplainsdem]

47. +1

[Lorien]

55. None of them are ever going to think of ActBlue again. They believe that the

banks, fossil fuel giants, big pharma, the insurance corps and the military industrial complex are their only "constituents" now. Anonymous needs to throw the next election to the Greens and other ignored third party candidates to wake everyone up to the fact that the system is RIGGED.

[dreamnightwind]

57. Great idea

That would wake them up! We'd see nothing but hand-counted paper ballots after that.

[Enthusiast]

68. They better understand real quickly

that they need actual votes to win an election. I guess the midterms didn't teach them anything.

[CrispyQ]

177. Lorien, I like the way you dream!

"Anonymous needs to throw the next election to the Greens..."

Fuckin' A!

[russspeakeasy]

117. Chuck will show up.. The day after, so that he can claim

that he fought for or is fighting for or standing up for
..Seems like everything this guy does is a day late. By the
time you check which way the wind is blowing, it has changed.

[Poboy]

31. recommend

[riderinthestorm]

32. What?! Jesse Jackson was there!!111!!!

:-)

[midnight]

34. K&R for our Senator in Wiscosnin......

[RedCloud]

36. Send some married elected Democrats if the singles won't show up!

[rhett o rick]

snicker

[teacher gal]

39. Hello Michael Moore

That's because BOTH political parties are owned and controlled by corporate money.

[riderinthestorm]

40. Hey Mike, why don't you go? And do some filming while you're there. nt

[democracy1st]

48. +1 that would be a great documentary

[treestar]

41. If they were there it would be said it is none of their business

Why should they have to be there? Unless they have power to interfere, which they do not, they would just be accused of using it as a photo op.

some people just want drama. They want the big stars in every movie.

[Davis_X_Machina]

51. Don't bother with logic here...it's useless. n/t

[Major Hogwash]

62. Your usless warnings of uselessness have been trumped by useless complaints.

LoL

[flamingdem]

54. I agree with you, it would not be helpful right now nt

[Pholus]

77. Part of GOOD leadership is MAKING problems your business...just sayin'

The other side is gonna call you names regardless so forget em.

[treestar]

98. I disagree

that may be part of being a good buddinsky.

Where the federal government has no powers or duties, why does the President have to deal with it? that's what states are for.

Going around and finding other people's business to get involved is for people with nothing of their own to do. The POTUS has plenty of things that are his duty to do. enough for a more than full time job.

[defendandprotect]

151. Really? Then, neither Ike nor JFK should have spoken against Segregation in South?

[Pholus]

231. Naturally. Are you scolding the other side's Buddinsky's too?

Now, let's have some look-sees at the Buddinsky's from the GOP who are getting that issue out FRONT AND CENTER nationally.

From http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

"The Republican Governors Association is showing its support for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker with a new website amid extensive protests in the state."

From USA Today http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/02/wisconsin-budget-scott-walker-presidential-support-/1?csp=hf

"GOP presidential hopefuls rally behind Wis. Gov. Scott Walker"

Rep Ryan has been ALL over the place on this one. Dang near every Sunday talk show this week. Well, he is from Wisconsin I guess.


What did we get? It "seems" like an assault on unions. I guess I should be happy it went *that* far.

[uponit7771]

119. Wisdom would be picking the problems, I'd wait if I were them till there was something THEY could do

...to change the situation right now it's up to Walker and Unions.

[Pholus]

230. Perhaps. To quote the great philosopher Kosh...

Once the avalanche has started it's too late for the pebbles to vote. If Walker wins, it's over and spreading state-by-state with a precedent.

[Pacifist Patriot]

78. I was thinking the same thing. It's a bit of a rock and a hard place.

Personally, I think you show support as an elected Democrat by promoting Democratic values everywhere and all the time. I don't want to see someone give a speech in Madison, I want to see them actively working towards dismantling this corporate oligarchy. Don't tell me, show me.

[pscot]

123. 90% of life is showing up

By not showing up they show that they are complicit.

[Ignis]

133. Solidarity is just something that happens to other people, eh?

:eyes:

[defendandprotect]

152. +1000%

[okieinpain]

164. thank you. president obama being there would cause more

problems then it would fix. but oh well this is the time to hate president obama.

[ejbrush]

43. At this point, they may as well stay home.

We've done this thing on our own, we've pulled in hundreds of thousands of people without any sort of so called "leadership" beyond the folks that work and represent us at home. Maybe this ought to send a message up the ladder that, ya know, maybe the current "leadership" in the Democratic party is replaceable too.

[Starry Messenger]

44. Honestly at this point, I'd rather they didn't.

I'm tired of the unions being beholden to a political party that treats them with benign neglect as best. Better we don't end up owing them any favors for their grudging company.

[Edweird]

45. Remember which side Obama was on in Central Falls?

[teacher gal]

46. Yes, the oligarchs nt

[LooseWilly]

50. But... there's a key labor ally of Obama's who's insisting that labor thinks Obama's doing great...

“The president has been accused of watching situations to see how they develop so I think the fact that he issued a clear, clean, quick statement was critical for the relationship. It helps enormously,” said former SEIU president Andy Stern, a key Obama labor ally who served on his deficit commission.
(http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49845.html)

If a former labor official who served on Obama's deficit commission thinks Obama's handling things swimmingly, then it must be true. Why should anyone have to be bothered actually coming out to Wisconsin?
:sarcasm:

[amandabeech]

206. Stern has turned into a "bishop" for the oligarchs.

You watch. This guy comes out and "blesses" everything that the oligarchs want to give the oligarchs a little film of legitimacy.

"See? The unions love it because Andy Stern endorses it!"

I wonder what Trumka is really thinking.

[GreenTea]

58. Absolutely SHAMELESS & DISGUSTING by democratic leaders showing NO support for our fellow workers!!

[texshelters]

220. For FELLOW workers?

When did any of these Senators do a days manual labor? They are not fellow of 90% of DC pols, and if they were every laborers, it's been years.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[Imagevision]

60. Repugs are backing Walker - Dems don't seem to want to get involved backing protesters - Interesting

[defendandprotect]

139. Certainly they didn't come out to push for MEDICARE FOR ALL ... so why support unions?

Obama isn't supporting unions -- that's the message to the rest of the

Democratic Party!!

And, specifically, I mean UNION interests in trade agreements ignored --

and Obama/Duncan attacks on public education -- teachers and their UNIONS!

[Major Hogwash]

61. We should all go, the ones that can, and march down the roads with arms locked in

solidarity.

However, some people don't live very close, don't have the money, or can't get off of work to do it themselves.

I'd like to see Michael Douglas show up and give a speech rebuking the Gordon Gecko-type business policies that Walker is using in Wisconsin.

[Enthusiast]

64. Apparently they still believe

they can be elected without actual votes.

[lunatica]

69. Some people want Obama to meddle in every fucking thing

So far there's really no reason for them to go to Madison. There's been no violence and no unfair arrests. Obama has spoken out against the union busting but because he isn't banging his fists and screaming about it, his incessant critics can't stand it. Well, if he were to meddle and scream those exact same critics would find fault in that too. Why do people keep wanting him to push Governors around? They may be lousy but they're elected. I would be irate if the President started pushing Jerry Brown around.

One doesn't have to be pro or against Obama to see this pattern.

[eilen]

91. Maybe he can raise some money

and while he is at it, sign a presidential statement supporting card check while the bullyboys are on vakay from the Congress.

[ProSense]

134. The President did

make a statement: Obama voices strong support for Wisconsin public employees

The union leaders and workers know they have his support.

[defendandprotect]

153. Good thing the South still doesn't have Segregation -- !!

They'd be waiting a really, really long time for Obama to respond!!

[texshelters]

221. Hello?

I guess you like Obama on the sidelines while workers rights are threatened?

You call that meddling? Really? That's sad.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[lunatica]

232. What do you suggest he do? Bully the Wisconsin Governor?

If he did that you'd scream about how he's hurting the workers because then the Republicans and Teabaggers would pile on him the way you do now. What's sad is you just don't see that he would actually hurt the workers cause if he meddles in the business of each state. The fact is, the workers in Wisconsin are doing pretty good without his meddling. Much better than they would if he did meddle.

But I guess you think everything should be decided by whether he meddles in it or not. Talk about sad.

[Ganja Ninja]

70. If he did stand with the base it would be a first since his election.

One gets the sense that he wants to avoid any appearance of that. It's almost as though he thinks it's bad for his image.

[xchrom]

75. recommend

[Name removed]

82. Deleted message

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

[WVRICK13]

84. Freedom Only Counts

in foreign countries. If this were happening off our shores the White House would be giving statements on a daily basis. We have the Democratic Republican Corporate party in this country, a true one party system.

[Pholus]

88. Here is another thread that I really think gets at the problem...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=479266&mesg_id=479486

[HDPaulG]

94. National Democrats in Wisconsin

Thus far, Gwendolyn Moore and Tammy Baldwin have been on the media in full support.

Herb Kohl has been MIA as far as I can tell. Former Senator Feingold was with the protesters last Thursday.

[MadHound]

101. This simply goes to show, yet again, that the Democratic party is, by and large,

Just another wing of corporate America. Can't speak out in favor of what is going on in Wisconsin due to fear of pissing off their corporate sponsors.

[orbitalman]

102. Due to Democrats inaction, the Repugs may as well be IN POWER. n/t

[ProSense]

103. Where is Bernie Sanders or Sherrod Brown?

Does anyone know if there is a reason they're not there?

TPM reported this: Sherrod Brown Backs Dems In Wisconsin -- And Encourages Hardball In Ohio

<...>

"I think they're going to fight back, and I think they're figuring right now what to do," Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) told me during an interview in his Capitol Hill office.

<...>

"When these guys aren't having real hearings, they're not really listening to the public, they're using a problem to go on an ideological rant -- and you play hardball," Brown explained. "That's what Democrats in Wisconsin are doing as they should."

<...>

U.S. Senate rules prevent members from lobbying on state legislation, so there are some lines Brown can't cross. But he says he's open to working with state Dems or protesters in a show of solidarity.

"I've not really worked with them yet on this, I will work with them when they ask."

<...>

[metapunditedgy]

128. Maybe they don't want to steal the limelight from Obama on this issue? n/t

[MessiahRp]

207. Brown has to be all hands on deck, IMO, for the fight in Ohio

Kasich is just as bad as Walker (if not worse).

[Jakes Progress]

104. But, but if he supports unions, oreally might say something mean

and that would hurt him's feelings.

He can wag his finger and tell us how impatient we are and he can kiss all the republican ass he wants. That's for his conscience.

[QC]

106. And he has to be the president of everybody, including the voraciously greedy sociopathic parasites!

[ClassWarrior]

107. So do you think that means he has to be a voraciously greedy sociopathic parasite?

:crazy:

NGU.

[QC]

116. I try not to delve too deeply into the logic of advanced apologetics.

It just makes one's eyes spin, you know.

[defendandprotect]

138. No -- presidents are to work in the interests of the "general welfare" --

obviously "greedy sociopathic parasites" shouldn't qualify!!


:evilgrin:

[defendandprotect]

137. +1000% -- ah yes -- operating in FEAR based thinking!!

[GillesDeleuze]

111. NOT TECHNICALLY TRUE

Tammy Baldwin was here. But this is her district.

[barbtries]

113. that's a good point.

where are they? what about their own elected officials??

[DirkGently]

114. Excellent points. Why is that, Mr. President?

[uponit7771]

118. "....NEARL..."!??!??!?!?!?!?

[femrap]

121. k and r

The political minions do as they are told....welcome to fascism! Members of the Supreme Court deserve to be impeached.

RECALL WALKER AND KASICH!

[JJW]

122. Obama busy monitoring

the record perks and bonuses on Wall Street.

[valerief]

124. They're all fussing with their ties and framing them. nt

[nmbluesky]

125. michael, Obama already spoke!!!

Obama spoke to Wisconsin radio

Obama voices strong support for Wisconsin public employees:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2011/02/the_morning_plum_189.ht

[MJJP21]

127. Not only that

Where is the Dept of Labor on all this. What Walker is doing is clearly against the Dept of Labor laws for organized labor. When companies can't come to an agreement they go to arbitration and they must attend including govt entities. If Walker chooses not to negotiate he can be fined from the Dept of Labor and the courts can force him to comply. This is what I don't understand. How is this allowed to continue?

[Love Bug]

129. Paul Wellstone would have been there!

I remember when hotel workers went on strike several years ago. Wellstone marched in the midst of them, supporting their cause and their union.

[JDPriestly]

130. I woke up this morning wondering where Russ Feingold is hiding himself?

As for Obama, his charter school movement will do more to destroy teachers' unions than this law in Madison.

So, whatever Obama says, and what he says is nice, he is not really pro-union. He is pro-business.

Charter schools are pro-business and anti-union. You can't have it both ways.

Teachers who work for charters will not have the leverage that a united union negotiating with a school district has. That's the real reason that the rich and Obama with them support the charter school concept in the first place. It is a way to lower teacher pay.

[undeterred]

163. It would not surprise me at all to learn that Feingold is advising the 14 Senators

behind the scenes. Feingold used to be a State Senator himself, and he is now a law professor at Marquette University in Wisconsin. Plus, he was married for several years to the sister of Senator Jon Erpenbach, who is the Senate minority leader, so they know each other well.

Feingold was at the Capitol on Friday showing support, but he is no grandstander.

[Mattylock]

131. And from the other side there's this

http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/22/the-standoff-in-wisconsin-continues-with-the-aid-of-president-obama/

[Coyote_Bandit]

132. I don't much care

what Obama says. I really don't pay much attention to his words. Like most politicians his words are not particularly transparent or reliable. I do, however, very much care about his actions. I'm not impressed.

[julian09]

156. Voting has consequences, so does not voting

Well, those who stayed home Nov 2 are now bearing the bitter fruit of defeat, in Wi a blue state.
I guess they showed Obama, now they are looking for support from him and others in office from other states.
Those who didn't show up election day are the ones to blame.

[Coyote_Bandit]

188. Ummmm......

Did I say I wasn't voting?

Did I advocate not voting?

No, I did not.

[defendandprotect]

135. Shame on the Democrats -- what does this tell us they truly support?

Thank you Michael --

Here at DU, we too infrequently face the issue of how little the Democrats are

acting like Democrats!!

Keep waking up us!!

Love and hugs !!

[defendandprotect]

136. Obama is also SILENT on Libya -- evidently he's been held incommunicado for 3 days?

[Desertrose]

160. Yeah...really?

:(

[lonestarnot]

140. Hey Mr. President! Are you on vacation or just taking a knap?

[JJW]

154. This is Obama's fault

a result of his extending Bush tax cuts to the Oligarchs.

[rhett o rick]

166. I am afraid the Democratic Machine in Washington the DC has sided with business. Sorry. nm

[Arkana]

167. Whine, whine, bitch, moan, complain, hem, haw.

Obama can't get into this aside from supporting the Wisconsin unions. If he steps in, it becomes all about him. This is labor's protest and they're handling themselves quite well.

[texshelters]

222. How about he say something positive about workers

and their rights to bargain collectively. That's not "stepping in". That's being for the people.

I guess that is too much for him.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[Doctor_J]

171. They don't want to get cut off from the CofC tit for 2012

Who really runs this country, the voters or the Chamber of Commerce? Be serious when you answer.

[JoseGaspar]

176. That's because he is President of ALL the people...

Moore just doesn't get how hard it is to be the President of scabs...

and union-busting vampires...
and war criminals...
and right-wing goose steppers...
and bankers...
and client-dictators...

and...

[QC]

182. +1

[PatrynXX]

178. rarely disagree with moore but do that time

Must remain grassroots. Only thing Obama or national dems can do is support the right of state Americans the right to protest.. It must remain grassroots. Shouldn't appear to be a national thing. It'll hit their state soon enough I'm sure. And while he isn't one Feingold has given his support. National dems have one thing on their plate, idiot Repukes wanting to shut the Government down. And let anarchy reign. Let the state congress figure their own ass hole plugs location... Can't do everything.

[guruoo]

181. Glad to see somebody gets it

[Zambero]

190. I couldn't agree more

The folks in Wisconsin are doing a pretty good job of making their case from a grass roots level. If there were fire hoses, clubs, and attack dogs a-la 60's Selma, Alabama, it would be altogether different but it's been peaceful thus far as it should be. Bringing in progressive VIP's to address the crowd might be a morale booster for some, but would also provide a ready-made argument for the right wing, "proving" that well-heeled outside elements are really in charge. This portrayal could be a major distraction to the effectiveness of the protest. The protesters' own personal accounts of why they are there, and how they are affected by Walker's bill are 100 times more effective than a pep speech from national figures.

[texshelters]

223. What? The Democrats can't support the right for collective bargaining

and shoot down the budget lies of Republicans?

They have no will to do it, but it is not a stretch and giving support is NOT meddling.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[kestrel91316]

179. It speaks volumes. Nobody can convince me now that the Democratic

Party is not under the control of people who are NOT Democrats.

[Rex]

180. That is because they don't work for the citizens, just big business.

People are still just learning this? Jebus! Obama is a business suit, fortunately not a crazy one that starts wars for no reason, but a friend of Wall Street and an enemy of Main Street. Sad, but that is where we are right now.

[Jamel]

183. WHAT ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO DO?

I say, let the people protest. This is step #1. Do you think Walker will listen to anyone? And isn't there such a thing as "STATES RIGHTS"? What should be done? I hear the bitching and criticisms as usual, but no one has any solutions!

[Bluebear]

185. State's rights?? Whoa.

[Jamel]

192. STATES RIGHTS

I mean, you can't just go into individual states and start telling them what to do about their budget. The people in that state have to work it out. I believe the people WILL prevail!

[patrice]

201. Oh come on! Just because some people abuse that term does not mean it is invalid.

sheesh . . . :eyes: How PC can you get?

[quiller4]

186. Moore is wrong according to rally organizers more than

25 elected Democratic officials were in WI over the weekend including national and regional figures.

[vssmith]

187. A small list would be good

John Kerry?
Al Gore?
Pat Leahy?
Tim Kaine?
Dick Durbin?
Al Franken?
Joe Biden?
Chuck Schumer?

Who?

[Jakes Progress]

191. 25 huh? Care to share the names?

[Firebrand Gary]

189. Does anyone really think it would be beneficial?

[styersc]

193. Agreed! Please, big-wigs, stay away. This is a popular uprising.

I don't want the right to turn this into Muslim, Kenyan, Communist, blah, blah, blah, mind-numb strawman arguments. THis is simply the little guy protecting himself from the big, powerful interests. Lets not muddy the water. When the work pays off, there will be plenty to come to Wisconsin to soak up the limelight.

[texshelters]

224. Stating that you will fight for collective bargaining rights of ALL

Americans could mean a lot.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[Imagevision]

197. snip>Divernan -> Hey Obama! Here's how a DEMOCRATIC president uses the bully pulpit!

by Divernan

“In this serious hour in our Nation’s history,
when we are confronted with grave crises in Berlin and Southeast Asia,
when we are devoting our energies to economic recovery and stability,
when we are asking reservists to leave their homes and families for months on end and servicemen to risk their lives — and four were killed in the last two days in Vietnam,
and asking union members to hold down their wage requests at a time when restraint and sacrifice are being asked of every citizen,

the American people will find it hard, as I do, to accept a situation in which a tiny handful of steel executives whose pursuit of private power and profit exceeds their sense of public responsibility can show such utter contempt for the interests of 185 million Americans.”


Given that the unions in question have offered to increase their share of health insurance and pension plan costs, and are only demanding retention of their collective bargaining rights, and given that the Wisconsin governor will not even accept phone calls from elected state officials attempting to negotiate, I'd say he's showing as much contempt as those steel company officials did back in 1962.

[Divernan]

235. These were JFK's words to rapacious steel executives.

[markpkessinger]

200. Is any more evidence needed of Democratic complicity in all this? n/t

[patrice]

204. Obama needs Labor at the table as a PEER, not another lackey & THAT'S best for Labor.

[ScottLand]

210. And why the hell isn't he out there with them?

[texshelters]

211. There is no oil

or canal in Wisconsin, so who cares, really?

President Obama is a jerk who doesn't give a damn about workers, except perhaps getting our votes.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[Le Taz Hot]

233. In Better Times

MLK and RFK would have been right in the middle of this fight. It's sad that young people today don't know what a real leader looks like.

[GoCubsGo]

238. MLK and RFK were both assassinated for their efforts.

You want the President out there when all we're hearing is shit like this?:

The Athens Banner-Herald in Georgia reports that a shocking question was asked at a town hall event held by Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) on Tuesday. According to the article, an audience member asked the congressman, "Who is going to shoot Obama?"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/25/paul-broun-town-hall-who-is-going-to-shoot-obama_n_828047.html#comments


Not to mention that MLK and RFK didn't have a looming government shut-down, a Middle East gone wild, 10% unemployment, and a shitpile of other issues on their plates with which they had to deal.

[grahamhgreen]

241. You mean the commander in cheif who daily sends our troops to die for lies?

He should be willing to fight for the cops and firemen who put their lives on the line for us daily

[mdmc]

237. ..

[somone]

239. They're waiting for better weather