The Wisconsin Wobblies-Conservatives in Wisconsin getting nervous 3 Repub state senators may defect

[kpete]

Source: Wall Street Journal

The Wisconsin Wobblies
Conservatives in Wisconsin are getting nervous that three Republican state senators may defect on the collective-bargaining reform vote.


Conservatives in Wisconsin are getting nervous that three Republican state senators may defect on the collective-bargaining reform vote. It's still anyone's guess as to when that vote will take place because Democrats remain in exile to prevent the necessary quorum. But Republicans in the Senate hold a 19-14 majority, so GOP Gov. Scott Walker can afford to lose no more than two Republican senators on this pivotal vote.

On Wednesday, Republicans held a "unity" press conference that was attended by all but one senator, Dale Schultz. But a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll showing that 62% of respondents oppose curtailing collective-bargaining rights for public-sector workers over health care, pensions or other benefits suggests that the GOP position may be losing some support among independent voters.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703580004576180670002465378.html

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separately:
WEAU 3/1/2011 5:02:32 AM: ...continuing our coverage this morning of the capitol in crisis... right now, national union leaders are saying they want to help protestors in wisconsin.afl-cio leaders say they're deciding on the best ways to coordinate their efforts to help keep the crowds large as protests enter a third week at the capitol in madison. the strategy sessions are part of the afl-cio's annual winter meeting this week....and there may be more trouble for the governor. n-b-c news reports four moderate republicans are wavering and could break with the g-o-p and vote against walker's budget repair bill.

http://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=5100&DateTime=3%2F1%2F2011+5%3A02%3A32+AM&Term=%22AFL+CIO%22&PlayClip=TRUE

[Sonoman]

1. Well, that didn't work as planned, did it?

The 'pubs thought they could bombast the D's into breaking ranks.

Looks as if the D's are going to win by using some Gandhi tactics.

Just sit back and watch the 'pubs self-immolate.

Touche'.

Sonoman

[underpants]

6. 2 weeks ago or so Mark Halperin was on Morning Joe saying that unions "lost the PR battle..."

"and PR is everything" typical status quo conventional wisdom MSM speak for trying to declare victory at the beginning.

The politicians get the polls (and more polls than we see) and they know that they are getting their tails kicked in this. I read not this prediction but mention of it a week or so ago....that leads me to believe that they were testing the waters and polling on it. I'd bet that they got results that reflect this.

[iamtechus]

2. Use of the term "Wobblies" to describe repigs is a grave insult to labor movement heroes

http://www.iww.org/culture

[boppers]

13. Deeper link:

http://www.iww.org/culture/official/wobbly

I'm guessing the wsj headline author has no idea.

[toddwv]

3. Don't do it!!!

It's a TRAP!!!

Governor Wanker has been lying through his teeth from the start. Why assume this is true as well?

[regnaD kciN]

4. Because the only other option is to remain out-of-state for the next two years...

...and hope the G.O.P. doesn't find some way to have those seats declared vacant, so he can fill them.

[elocs]

11. Actually, no. Recall elections could change that in a matter of months.

Walker could potentially be out of office by this time next year. Also, I think that Walker is desperate to get this done by May so he can steal pension funds or something.

[Cieran_WI]

12. Recalls started in 8 vulnerable GOP districts but need to get signatures

We have like 58 days left to get enough signatures in each district (we need 3 successful recalls to flip the Senate to be a permanent check on Walker's power). Once there's enough signatures and the recall is successful, it triggers an election 6 weeks later on a Tuesday. The GOP state senators can run again, but will get stomped by whichever Democrat runs.

http://www.RecallTheRepublican8.com

We need volunteers and donations to get control of the WI senate back.

THIS is why there's any talk amongst the GOP senators now about flipping their vote. They know that if they stonewall alongside Walker and refuse to concede, they WILL lose their own jobs and Walker will lose his come January. Let's hope the 14 Democrats see their desperation and continue to push forward on the recalls.

[buddysmellgood]

16. Amen

[ladywnch]

7. I had the same thought, but then I remembered that several

of these pukes are up for reelection in Nov. If they pull another flagrant lie (ie: say they they won't support the bill as a means to get the dems back and then 'change' their minds) it will kill them come Nov. "how can you trust (fill in name) when he will say anything to deceive people" It will stick to them like a tar ball.

[buddysmellgood]

17. They won't get to November

[Cieran_WI]

8. IT'S A TRAP!

[glinda]

10. I agree. They lie to the people and to the Dems.

[karynnj]

19. My guess is that they will want to see two things that make them more comfortable

The first is that they would want PUBLIC statements by the Republicans saying they will vote against the budget if specific things (and anything equivalent to them) are not removed from the budget.

Also, they would want to see that the defectors are the moderate Republicans from swing districts. (Think of it - if it was the US Senate, you would be more willing to trust Snowe and Brown than McConnell and DeMint. This has little to do with them as people - just that publicly promising to fight this atrocious bill and not doing so would have a real political cost in MA and ME, where it wouldn't in SC and TN.

[pacalo]

5. It's the right thing to do. We're so weary from seeing the "bad" prevail.

Please let their consciences prevail for the "good" side.

Already, there's been an announcement from the governor that he's laying off teachers. Though I've heard he had plans for the layoff before the standoff, Walker is unwisely attributing the action to his own spitefulness against the 14 Democratic senators. Big mistake. If anything has been learned by the world watching, it is that Wisconsin's citizenry has a lot of good old-fashioned horse sense. Nothing gets by them & they're brave enough to stand up & be heard in a classy way.

It would not only be the right thing for these moderates to say "no" to Walker's bad ethics & bad behavior, it would be a wise, courageous decision. And they'll be able to sleep well at night.

[reformist2]

9. I think we need at least 5 GOP defections on the record before the Dems in exile return

Otherwise, I'm thinking... IT'S A TRAP!

[kwassa]

14. Ironic headline: the "Wobblies" were members a trade union ..

I would expect the WSJ to know something about union history!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Workers_of_the_World

The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or the Wobblies) is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict. IWW membership does not require that one work in a represented workplace, nor does it exclude membership in another labor union.

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

The IWW was founded in Chicago in June 1905 at a convention of two hundred socialists, anarchists, and radical trade unionists from all over the United States (mainly the Western Federation of Miners) who were opposed to the policies of the American Federation of Labor (AFL).

The convention, which took place on June 27, 1905, was then referred to as the "Industrial Congress" or the "Industrial Union Convention"—it would later be known as the First Annual Convention of the IWW. It is considered one of the most important events in the history of industrial unionism and of the American labor movement in general.
The IWW's first organizers included William D. ("Big Bill") Haywood, Daniel De Leon, Eugene V. Debs, Thomas J Hagerty, Lucy Parsons, "Mother" Mary Harris Jones, Frank Bohn, William Trautmann, Vincent Saint John, Ralph Chaplin, and many others.

The IWW contends that all workers should be united as a class and that the wage system should be abolished.<1> They may be best known for the Wobbly Shop model of workplace democracy, in which workers elect recallable delegates, and other norms of grassroots democracy (self-management) are implemented. On January 3, 2010 the IWW GHQ moved its general offices into a new location at 2117 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL. United States.<2> The origin of the nickname "Wobblies" is uncertain.<3>

[Kolesar]

18. The WSJ runs on ideology

+1

[buddysmellgood]

15. Four? That is awesome!