And the Devil Turns Round on You

Well, so much for Fitzgerald's promise they wouldn't do this:

In a brief meeting that lasted barely five minutes, Wisconsin Republicans appear to have jammed through the union-busting, anti-collective-bargaining provision that has been the focus of the protests and political turmoil in the state for the past month.

Here, as best we understand it, is what just happened:

The Republican leadership convened a special conference committee late in the day to take up the collective bargaining provision only, separate and apart from the budget bill it was a part of. By a vote of 4-2, the conference committee just approved sending the union-related provisions alone to the floor of each chamber.

And here's the key part: Because it's no longer part of a budget bill, the collective bargaining provision can now get a final vote in the Senate with or without the Senate Democrats who fled the state to deny Republicans a quorum. It renders their protest-by-absence moot.

Jude's in the Capitol, so follow him here. I hope this doesn't send things south, but honestly? I mean, tell me what to say here. Tell me what words to give you because I've got nothing.

So much for Fitzgerald's promises in general, and the word of anybody, and fuck all these people. I wish I had something more articulate right now, but they're bastards, and not that we didn't know this, but just keep it in mind in the future. They're bastards. That's what they are, and they should never, ever, be able to kid anybody that this is any different.

Let me ask, though, if everything's solved now. If everything's fixed. If everybody's gonna be rich now, and nobody's going to have to worry, and we're all gonna be okay. Because the way they sold this, the way they did this, if you're gonna play that card you better have everything on the table. Don't do it for nothing. Don't do it to win one hand. You'd better be damn sure you're gonna take it all, you're gonna do this.

So tomorrow, probably, or the day after, Wisconsin should be rich. Manufacturing jobs should come back by the score. Those schoolteachers, now that they know their places, will begin turning out class after class of geniuses, unburdened by union thuggery and other such nonsense. Every public worker will now work twice as hard, since the distractions of dignity and decency have been taken away. Once you slash everybody's salaries and make everybody beg, each on his own, Wisconsin can just settle down and start kicking all the unkicked ass that's just been waiting for precisely this solution.

And if that isn't the case? Well, then I guess we have some questions to ask. I guess we have some discussions to have, about what happens when you promise you need something to get things done, and those things don't get done. I guess we have some motherfucking petitions to sign, and you bet your bottom dollar every dollar I can spare is going to those folks, and I'll be raising money every which way until you all are sick and tired of being bothered, because you know and I know that this isn't going to do a damn thing to fix any of the problems that exist.

But hey, the Republicans won, so I guess that should make all the unemployed feel warm and cozy at night.

A.

 

Comments

[Robert Earle]

Dem Assembly leader Peter Barca on MSNBC right now saying that there is no qeustion that the lack of notice of meeting by Republicans is against WI law. Not Assembly rules, state law.

[Robert Earle]

...but the remedies of the law violated is to make the committee and Senate re-do the vote with proper notice. So you make them do it, for the optics of it all, but it doesn't stop them from doing it.

[Athenae]

Explain to me EXACTLY where I can find something to smash.

A.

[g]

Recall their butts

[Tim]

WE...........KEEP..............FIGHTING..............

This is not the end, it is the beginning.

[Robert Earle]

"Recall their butts"

If there was any question about being able to get enough signatures before this, there's no question now; recall elections will happen.

[Robert Earle]

Dale Schultz was apparently the one 'no' vote in the full senate, so good on him (unless they did that just so I'd be sitting here saying 'good on him').

[Ed Ramanauskas]

Usually, there aren't any simple answers to political problems. This time, it's easy:

GENERAL STRIKE.

[Robert Earle]

So what do the Republicans do for an encore? They go to a fundraiser, of course!

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/117699163.html

"Here's your bill, fellas ...now, where's my check?"

[Athenae]

You know, there are times the English language really is insufficient in terms of expletives.

Piss-drinking sons of circus whores.

A.

[Interrobang]

You know, there are times the English language really is insufficient in terms of expletives.

Times like these are when I start getting really grateful that I've made a point since adolescence (when it's fun) to learn to swear in as many different languages as possible.

It's really hard for me to run out of expletives. I'll loan you a few, if you like.

[markg]

I've already contributed some money and time to the recalls, but they've now upped the ante, and now I'm going to give way more money and time, and I hope others do the same. I'm ready to gloat like hell when those stupid, arrogant motherfuckers go down.

[k]

The problem is, what are they going to shove through now that everybody will be fighting the legality of this action? It's fucking carpet-bombing.

[CVS]

Elections have consequences, and these people didn't just become assholes overnight. They were pretty consistent assholes before and after the election. So, I'm not sure what people thought they were going go get when they put these people in power, but the outcome was pretty much 100% predictable.

Maybe the state will explode in moral outrage and toss these fuckers out on their ears so that they can go back to their cushy think tank jobs. But the damage has been done and they accomplished what they were paid to do.

Sorry. Feeling extra pessimistic and cynical these days.

[joel_hanes]

Don't mourn.

Organize.

[V]

I've already contributed some money and time to the recalls, but they've now upped the ante, and now I'm going to give way more money and time, and I hope others do the same. I'm ready to gloat like hell when those stupid, arrogant motherfuckers go down.

I donated too, but it seems so aggravating and dispiriting....I mean, the Kochs can just write a check for a couple of million all by themselves and not break a sweat...Unless the voters in WI wake up and realize the consequences of this.....it will not end well for any of us.

This is going to take more than $, its going to take educating a lot of people that they are actively ruining their own future by voting for these so-called conservative idealoges.

[hoppy]

As Ed Ramanauskas said, there is really no better thing to do than a general strike. If every union worker in Wisconsin stays home for a week, that will either make a point and inspire people, or piss off a lot more people and turn them against the unions. Like everything in life the answers to simple problems can be much more difficult to find than meets the eye.

But, a general strike, nation-wide, for a week sends exactly the right message, and really would do a vast amount of good. Why this gets so little discussion puzzles me. In Europe, a general strike would already be underway, and would totally shut down the economy.

[escariot]

Would President Obama please pick up a white courtesy phone.....

Questions Need To Be Asked. We'll wait.

[SK]

First: I find considerable poetry in your angry words. May I copy/paste?

Second: Will spend each moment I have doing things I haven't done since the 60s. Painful then, more so now.
Sk

[CVS]

I don't think Obama cares, dude. I really don't.

[Buffalo Rude]

I admit I'm pretty astonished and pissed about what happened. But losing a battle is not the same as losing the war. Like a couple people have already mentioned: This is not over. It's only just beginning and the only response is to press on. Don't mourn (or smash things), organize.

Well, OK, maybe smash a few things. It is pretty fucking infuriating after all.

[escariot]

"I don't think Obama cares, dude. I really don't."

no argument.

I think he needs to know that some of us do.

[Robert Earle]

JSOnline is reporting that they want to keep people off the 2nd floor because they're worried about the structural integrity of the 'bridges'.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/117706343.html

Is anyone familiar enough with the testimony of the 'public access' hearing last week (ie the %7.5 million hearing) to know if this was mentioned in any way whatsoever?

[V]

I mean, wtf is happening to this country? Is fluoride in the water or cell tower radiation diving canservative america insane? Wall Street tanks in 2007-2008, and conservatives blame Obama even though he wasn't even president at the time. Kennedy dies, and Massachusets replaces him with an ex-playgirl model. Wisconsin replaces David Obey with a reality show contestant. Feingold gets replaced by some TP goofball who married into a family business and hires lobbyists for his staffers.

Now TP'ers fight against wall-street rich people by beating down teachers and public service employees. And they attend rallys supported by rich fat cats who would piss into the Tp-ers mouths if they asked for a glass of water.

Even richer yet, these so-called TP patriots were cheering politicians and other goobers who were preaching nullification and secession just 2 years ago because of Obama's Rommneycare-style health care (HEALTH CARE!) law (christ-it's not even single payer!). Now these same jackasses are posting on boards all over crowing "yay repubs beat defeatocratz!! WIN!! 11!"

God, I just wish for some schadenfreude by watching some of these TP-ers have to dine on catfood and soylent green in a year or 2 after their GOP heroes totally f*&^ everything up. Except that we will all probably be in the same boat by then.

[SK]

Forgive me for I have copy/pasted to FB.

Oh, and thanks for the word "fuckmook." Fuckmook is now every other word that I say! God you guys are great!

[V]

I mean, wtf is happening to this country? Is fluoride in the water or cell tower radiation diving canservative america insane? Wall Street tanks in 2007-2008, and conservatives blame Obama even though he wasn't even president at the time. Kennedy dies, and Massachusets replaces him with an ex-playgirl model. Wisconsin replaces David Obey with a reality show contestant. Feingold gets replaced by some TP goofball who married into a family business and hires lobbyists for his staffers.

Now TP'ers fight against wall-street rich people by beating down teachers and public service employees. And they attend rallys supported by rich fat cats who would piss into the Tp-ers mouths if they asked for a glass of water.

Even richer yet, these so-called TP patriots were cheering politicians and other goobers who were preaching nullification and secession just 2 years ago because of Obama's Rommneycare-style health care (HEALTH CARE!) law (christ-it's not even single payer!). Now these same jackasses are posting on boards all over crowing "yay repubs beat defeatocratz!! WIN!! 11!"

God, I just wish for some schadenfreude by watching some of these TP-ers have to dine on catfood and soylent green in a year or 2 after their GOP heroes totally f*&^ everything up. Except that we will all probably be in the same boat by then.

[SK]

So I'm this fat, frightened old man. Rich people always get the better cards. Just a given. But through a democracy you at least can force the bastards to give you a "New Deal." ;)

[Kristen]

We've been down at the protests pretty consistently and tonight was the first night that I sensed a strong feeling of anger. Not violence - nothing like that. We are still peaceful, courteous Midwestern protesters. But the mood has definitely shifted.

[Elspeth Ravenwind]

"Piss-drinking sons of circus whores" = My new fave name for a band.

[Duckman GR]

I pretty much have nothing pleasent to say. I just hope the anger is the cold white hot steel sort that makes people take the silent steps of the quiet American hero, you know the sort, Shane, Audie Murphy, the coal miners and steel workers who showed up to work every day healthy or not, the teachers who teach everyday, the NYFD marching UP the stairs of the Two Towers, your Dad and my Mom who put food on the table and went off to work every day to do it, those people.

People need to know the truth, not the pablum and foma the media doles out for their coin of the realm, but the truth. The hard truth that the lies of the right and of the media cannot cover up any longer.

The right has just launched their Pearl Harbor attack on America, on the Constitution, on the Declaration, on the people who make this country. I hope the Rest of the People of this country hear about it and take action.

[pansypoo]

we should punch him in the kock.

[quixote]

Well, it was never really about the money for the Klepticans. It was about busting the unions. I guess this is just them breaking cover to do Job #1, since the pretty words about "fiscal responsibility were just getting in the way, what with the ornery 14 and all.

But doesn't that go both ways? If they can separate the money from the union-busting, what's to stop the unions from doing the same?

Why should they now agree to any givebacks? It seems to me that the first step, the very first, ought to be to say, "No more 8% cut from us for your 'budget.' Cut the Kochs."

[pansypoo]

indeed. no cutbacks. suck it walker.

[fsdlmwn]

I find your argument interesting however, your'e suggesting taking affirmative action against the decisions made during this meeting. Let me ask you is the death threat email sent to republican legislators the liberal idea of taking action?

http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/117732923.html

[cgeye]

Dear Troll,

You don't find this argument interesting, else you'd engage it instead of posting a clip that could easily be generated by a fellow troll agent provocateur. Damn near everyone who's fighting for the dignity of WI workers is doing so strictly by rules of non-violence, unlike the Koch klowns who want to call out the dogs and firehoses.

The day you post the threats made against Democratic officials against this coup is the day I'll be convinced you're interested in anything fair.

Having said that, a general strike was explicitly made illegal by Taft-Hartley. Is anyone making the calls to put in place the legion of lawyers we'll need to keep people from being shipped off to black prisons? This will be far heavier than the call for election protection.