Thousands gather for a rally at the Capitol in Madison on Saturday to mark the anniversary of Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature curtailing collective bargaining for most public-sector workers in Wisconsin.
Posted on 03/12/2012 12:26:10 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
...One year after the Republican-controlled Legislature curtailed collective bargaining for most public-sector workers, thousands of pro-labor demonstrators converged Saturday on the Capitol in a "Reclaim Wisconsin March."
They sang songs, listened to speeches and chanted, "This is what democracy looks like," an echo of the demonstrations that clogged the Capitol during the height of last year's protests ...
Saturday's crowd wasn't as large as the throngs that showed up a year ago, but on a bright, sunny, springlike afternoon, enthusiasm was high during an event that amounted to a kickoff for an expected season of recall elections.
"It's more of a celebration," said Peg Durkin, an art teacher from Ithaca who held up a sign that said "Wake Up the Base," on one side, and "Hey Walker, Does the Recall Occupy Your Thoughts?" on the other.
~snip~
The speakers talked about union rights and potential recall elections, as labor and its Democratic allies seek to oust Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four GOP state senators.
Several speakers took verbal aim at Walker as well as David and Charles Koch, industrialists who back conservative causes.
"We're back," said Phil Neuenfeldt, Wisconsin AFL-CIO president.
"Look at what a difference a year makes," said Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union. "Governor Walker and the Koch Brothers started something last year, but they're not going to like how it ends. When it ends there is going to be a pro middle-class governor and lieutenant governor."
Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin and a potential candidate for lieutenant governor, criticized what he claimed was a domination of the political process by corporate interests.
"This no longer feels like the United States of America. It feels like we're living in the United Corporations of America," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
Thousands gather for a rally at the Capitol in Madison on Saturday to mark the anniversary of Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature curtailing collective bargaining for most public-sector workers in Wisconsin.
Wiscosnin Madison Anniversary Protest Ping
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
Just my comment — this doesn’t look like a very big crowd to me. Does anyone have pictures of the Tea Party crowds from last year that the Milwaukee Journal barely acknowledged?
I hate Wisconsin Nazis.
I think that crowd looks small — hardly any bigger than at a normal Saturday morning market crowd in Madison.
I have pictures from Sarah Palin’s speech on April 16.
On March 24, the conservative group Americans for Prosperity Foundation will be holding a “Defending the American Dream Summit” at the Wyndham hotel in Milwaukee. Organizers expect a crowd of 1,200 people.
Looks like the Communists forgot to tell a lot of the membership to wear red.
I think the next big thing Gov. Walker should try to tackle is curtailing this seriously abused recall measures, for which WI leftist activists have made a complete mockery of. One might be to adapt a “loser pays” system, whereby they not only have to pay for their own candidacy, but for the costs of holding the election AND for those of the winner’s. Another is perhaps getting rid of it altogether.
The fact that it forces almost any elected official (in this case, specifically Republicans) to be in a continuous campaign mode and the cost to taxpayers is outragerous. Either that, or go to 2-year terms across the board for all offices (which WI used to have until the 1960s). If a Governor has engaged in actions that would justify removing them from office, that’s what impeachment is for, and should be used as such.
Lastly, as a parting gift to the leeches, Gov. Walker should openly outlaw ANY public sector/government unions in the state. The fact that they are allowed to exist whatsoever is an affront to taxpayers, who have no representation for their interests in footing the bill for these benefit-heavy and overpaid thugs.
Well, they only had 20 or so buses.
“Well, they only had 20 or so buses”
Probably half of them carried Illinois tags.
All those progressives (commies) need to hug a tree a high speed.
This is rich coming from the president of a UNION about the recall situation that was started by UNIONS, is embraced by UNIONS,contributed to by UNIONS from all the U.S., UNION supporters are bussed in from all over the country to Madison, UNION members occupied and trashed the Capital building, and he thinks the process is dominated by Corporations.
Where and how do you even begin to reason with thinking like that ???
For starters, don’t label it “thinking.” There is precious little brain activity involved.
president of the "Sable Flames," the African American firefighters of the City of Madison Fire Department
Mahlon Mitchell is the current President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin. Assuming the office January 2011, he became the first-ever African American president for the organization. In addition to serving as the President of the PFFW.
He has been giving speeches at union rallies and other events around the country.
United Wisconsin; @UnitedWisconsin
Join Mahlon Mitchell and John Nichols at our Reclaim Wisconsin pre-rally March 10th!: https://www.facebook.com/events/282583225147108/ #wiunion #wirecall #wiriseup
Retweeted by Mahlon Mitchell
http://twitter.com/#!/mahlonmitchell
******
Andy Choi; @dudeitsandychoi
@News3Maria We didn’t have a bad show tonight... but Team BSE agrees, @News3Maria, @KrystalJWebb is the glue that holds it together.
4 Mar Mahlon Mitchell; @MahlonMitchell
Reply RetweetedRetweet
@dudeitsandychoi @news3maria @krystaljwebb @News3David I watched tonight at the Firehouse. I thought you guys did an outstanding job!
In reply to Andy Choi
10:49 PM - 4 Mar 12 via Twitter for iPhone
news3
Andy Choi
@dudeitsandychoi
Updates on my life as a journalist, son, brother, dreamer, lover of good Korean food.
Madison, WI · http://www.facebook.com/twoboreddorks
Mahlon Mitchell - Portland Rising March - ‘Jobs with Justice’ Occupy Portland’s Labor Solidarity - create a people’s budget that works for all of us.
http://www.local215.com/photofolio/img/Russ%20Jacobsen%20and%20Mahlon%20Mitchell%20web.jpg
Madison - Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, said Saturday, “we live in a time where we are being taken over by corporate political interests.”
“Right now, it seems like we sacrifice and they share the wealth,” Mitchell told a pro-labor rally at the state Capitol.
Mitchell has been mentioned as a potential Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor if a recall is held.
“This no longer feels like the United States of America. It feels like we’re living in the United Corporations of America,” he said.
“We have the best middle class in the world ... and the unions have a lot to do with that,” he said. “We have to keep fighting hard.”
“We need new fresh leaders in our Capitol,” he said.
http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Mahlon+Mitchell+State+Budget+Standoff+Continues+3gfxYDBW5qwl.jpg
Madison firefighter Mahlon Mitchell leads a chant as union members protest inside the Wisconsin State Capitol on March 4, 2011 in Madison,Wisconsin.
http://dkphotocoop.smugmug.com/Economy/Jobs/i-X6bkvsN/1/L/MahlonMitchellMFDMadisonWI-L.jpg
Mahlon Mitchell, a firefighter from Madison, Wisconsin, speaks at a Rebuild the Dream / MoveOn rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on October 5, 2011, demanding Congressional action on creating jobs.
Serious lack of logic in their reasoning.
Can you post a couple for comparison?
Interesting...thanks for the info. My wife and I have been to Madison twice now. We saw Teamster trucks from KY-TN and other states. The UNION INFLUENCE was everywhere. We also noticed that all of the “evil business restaurants” around the capital were full of union members. And not once did a public sector union employee come up to us to thank us for paying their wages.
When was the last time we’ve benefited from a recall? Getting rid of Willie Brown’s puppet Speaker in 1995?
All it’s done since is replace one disaster CA Governor with another and cost us seats in the WI State Senate.
The concept sounds great on paper but has proven counter-productive. Something needs to be done in WI if the rats are gonna keep abusing it. Hopefully they get smacked down and that discourages further monkey shines.
I would not mind 2 year terms at all, 4 years is a long time.
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