Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's union-stripping bill is in state Supreme Court today. At issue is whether Republicans in the state legislature violated the open meetings law by jamming it through it a hastily called committee. Three months later, protesters are still camping out in the capital of Madison, now literally.
My partner, Sarah Goodyear, spent last week in Madison, Wisconsin, where she says Governor Walker really does seem to be very unpopular. Sarah sends these pictures and a report from a new tent city, Walkerville. They're protesting Governor Walker's budget, which raises taxes for the working poor and cut taxes for corporations. Sarah writes:
"The city gave organizers a permit to camp out across the street from the Capitol Building for 20 days, and by nightfall Saturday, a few dozen tents had been pitched. The atmosphere was festive – lots of kids, a singalong, people parading around with signs – although some local business owners and downtown residents were less than thrilled with the development.
"The next day I asked Mary Bell, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council and a teacher from Wisconsin Rapids, how the night had gone. 'We had lots of people asking questions,' she told me. 'That's the whole purpose of this. It's an educational opportunity, to let people know what really bad news this budget is.'
"I also spoke with Andrew Martin, a 24-year-old Americorps worker from Fond du Lac, who went to school to become a teacher – a profession he’s not sure he'll be able to pursue. 'I love Wisconsin, I love everything about it,' he said. 'The Walker administration is an attack on the Wisconsin tradition that you have known and understood.' "
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"Walkerville?" Well, worked wonders for Hoover.
How long until Walker sends the police in to break up Walkerville? That's right, he's trying to gut the police unions too, so he may find that no one would obey that order.
Hey Uff, maybe Gov. Scott (Florida) will give Walker one of his UA's to see if he is all 'Koched' up?
If only we could explain the actions of Walker and other repubs as the effects of drug abuse. Unfortunately, that is too simplistic, as well as being insulting to drug addicts!
That will have to wait Vampire. Voldemort has left for an "Economic Development Tour of Canada." Where I hope falls ill so he can experience the Canadian Health Care System.
It might be the Rogaine Walker and Fitz have been using, eh?
Trudy, Well, maybe Trump will teach his comb-over technique. (Trump University) Nothing confirms my confidence in a man's ability to run this Country like seeing his extreme insecurity about going bald. That screams confidence!!! Trump / Walker 2012!!
Uffda, the city of madison with liberal awesome guy mayor paul soglin have allowed permits for the camp. its not technically on capitol grounds, but city grounds on the edge of the capitol.
the madison police department has been nothing but supportive. the state police and capitol police, well, lets just say we are now calling the capitol "castle huebsch" after the DOA head.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj5OT3z1VGA
Always makes me think of this
I find this "Walkerville" to be a perfect symbol for the fight that is happening across America. "Hoovervilles" came into being because of high unempolyment that was mostly attributed to President Hoovers inaction to address the causes of the Great Depression.
The GOP has returned to exactly the same battle ground. All the ideas that were born as a result of the Great Depression are under attack. The social safety net is being torn apart. Labor rights are being decimated. Regulations created to promote the common welfare are being demonized. The rights of the wealthy and corporations are be championed.
The message from the GOP has never been so clear. They have listened to their own made up facts and drank the kool-aid. Toto has pulled the curtain aside and we see the no longer hidden agenda:
We the Wealthy of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Cash Flow, increase Profits, insure reduction of Taxes, provide a defenseless labor force, promote Financial Inequality, and secure the Blessings of Profit for ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Republican Party for the United States of America.
Pal I am going to borrow this as my facebook wall post - thank you.
That statement is exactly what would make them happy. I, too, plan to share but will give you the credit!
That's good!
Someday, if movies aren't being censored by the rich and powerful, these will be the opening lines in a movie as the camera pans across a future urban blightscape as the fall of the American dream is detailed.
Pat,
May i use your "quote" on my Facebook page?
Totally read that headline as "Wankerville." Seems just as appropriate.
So the repubs will try to make a big deal over unemployment, trying to blame it on Obama, while Boehner says that if repub budget cuts cost lots of jobs, "then so be it"? I also saw a note this morning on the news that state and local governments have been making near-record cuts in their workforces, again creating higher unemployment due to repub-crafted/demanded budget cuts, yet it's dems faults that unemployment is where it is?
This is what happens when you shut down mental institutions and let the inmates have their own political party.
From standing out in freezing temps to camping out in 90 degree weather, we will not go away!!!!! If we don't do it now and stop the GOP from steam rolling over us it could be our permanent lot. Let's get out there and stay out there people!!!!
to say nothing of the people who camped out in 15 degree weather in March.
Caption for first photo: Signs and relativelywellmadetents.
I can't wait for Walker to be recalled because I envision he will have to be dragged out of his office kicking and screaming. When he is forced to leave, I hope the media is there to give a lot of coverage. He should not be allowed to sneak out in the middle of the night. The "perp walk" would be very gratifying.
You forgot the "I Love Me" jacket.
I may have to find a nearby pizza place and send these folks some pizzas while they do good works out there!
Ian's Pizza is a local business in Madison that has been very supportive of workers, and have supplied many pizzas to protestors already!
Dr. Maddow, I so would love to work for you. It's great having someone whose voice is sane and well informed. I'm hoping you will do some shows on Texas and the fight for education here. Apparently, the GOP is now calling basic education an "entitlement" here to further demonize public education.
Dr. Lamoreaux
you must have to go to republican school to be as thickheaded and dumb as they are.the process of getting rid of jerk like scott walker should not have to take as long as it does.by the time he is eliminated he will have done so much damage it will take to much time to repair.he lied to the voters that should be cause to get rid of him.the same goes for all the other states with these senial republican governors
larry, our constitution requires 1 year before the recall process can begin. wisconsin is progressive enough to have a recall process, i wouldn't knock the 1 year thing..
Uffda, the city of madison with liberal awesome guy mayor paul soglin have allowed permits for the camp. its not technically on capitol grounds, but city grounds on the edge of the capitol.
the madison police department has been nothing but supportive. the state police and capitol police, well, lets just say we are now calling the capitol "castle huebsch" after the DOA head.
posted this above, but want to make sure its clear.
#walkerville 1.0 was in the days immediately after the protesters were removed from the Capitol Bldg. Very cold; people slept on grounds of Capitol. No tents were allowed.
Now they are across the street on two sides of the Capitol. It's a lot warmer and with tents.
Walkers on Koch....he needs rehab then jail time...he had to have broken a few rules...
Madison is more tolerant than Swartz Creek, MI. I'm on the Committee to Recall Rick Snyder and several of our volunteers were threatened with arrest this weekend. Two were on private property with the permission of the homeowner and two were on public sidewalks, no permission needed. One was actually told by a police officer to leave town. She said that would be a little difficult as she lived there and would have to go home eventually.
scooter, i already new about the 1 year.the point i was trying to make is he lied during his campaign.maybe they should pass a new law holding elected officials more accountable about what they say and do. this is to the extreme
Anybody in Green Bay want to share a ride down there?
Please inform Rachel Maddow that Romney said he would sign the RYAN PLAN
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/06/romney-talks-to-abc-news-about-health-care-jobs-ties-and-red-sox.html
Romney Would Sign Ryan Medicare Plan
By Joseph Lawler on 6.2.11 @ 3:39PM
In an interview with ABC following his campaign announcement, Mitt Romney said that he would sign Paul Ryan's Medicare overhaul plan if it crossed his desk. He also said that he would come up with his own strategy for reforming Medicare: "His plan is not the plan I’ll put forward, I have my own plan.... I’ll be putting that out before I debate President Obama."
With that statement, Romney has taken the same stance as Tim Pawlenty. Except for Herman Cain's full embrace of the Ryan plan, it is the right-most position on entitlement reform in the field so far.
I've been referring to this administration as the KOCH/WALKER administration.
Or sometimes, Scott KOCH Walker, as governor when the opportunity is there.
After Japans's earthquake, who in their right mind would want the Koch brothers to be able to buy the nuclear plants in Wisconsin.....with no bidding involved. This is very scary. We now know that the company in Japan, did not do what needed to be done as it would have destroyed the reactors. They were never honest with the Japanese government or people of the world. How would the Koch brothers be any different? I know this is about other things, but just a reminder about how scary it is that the KOCHs have their fingers in the Walker administration.
Ian's Pizza on State is the "official" pizza supplier of the Cheddar Revolution/Walkerville :)
(608) 257-9248
Garlic bread?