Labor has decided to fight back

[nadinbrzezinski]

and the elites are getting scared. Why they need to pound on Hoffa's statement.

The sound of the S word is really nice, and yes... it is coming to that point.

[villager]

1. I agree, Nadin, but... which was the "S" word!?

Perhaps I'm a bit thick this morning?

Not the "S" word used by Hoffa, was it?

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. STRIKE

[villager]

4. ah, right! And even better when preceded by the "G" word!

;-)

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Yup... it is coming

Wisconsin was just the beginning... I've said this before,

[Scruffy1]

61. I love that sound.

[Brickbat]

2. What the rank-and-file do in the coming months, and how so-called allies react to that, will be much

more telling than an exciting speech by a union president on Labor Day.

[pintobean]

5. indeed n/t

[socialist_n_TN]

31. Well one thing to ALWAYS keep in mind

the union LEADERSHIP is ALWAYS to the right of the rank and file. So if the union leadership is acting militant, you can BET that the membership is REAL militant.

The leadership is always a part of the labor aristocracy and HEAVILY vested in the system. They only get militant when they have no choice but to get militant.

[Brickbat]

38. This is a very general statement and depends on the union and where you are.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. Actually this is an accurate statement for the US.

[socialist_n_TN]

41. In my view (admittedly Marxist), it's an accurate

statement in almost every place and time. I would feel safe making that bet anywhere and anytime. But you're right about the specifics in the USA.

[nadinbrzezinski]

42. There is history, as in formal history, done on this

<------Will have to get to it sooner or later.

[Brickbat]

47. If you're talking about national presidents, I agree with that. But when it comes to local ESTs,

they truly run the activist and political spectrum.

[kctim]

7. Labor vs. Tea Party = violence

If that is the point you see coming, you may not like the results.

Not every worker is union and not every union member supports the hardcore labor type. One the other hand, EVERY Tea Party supporter, some even members of unions, supports the Tea Party.

We now have two groups, basically the same in numbers, targeting each other. NOTHING good is going to come out of this.

[villager]

9. Gosh, I guess unions had better support Tea Party policies then!

n/t

[kctim]

14. Only for the narrowminded

who believe violence is the only way to show that one does not support a policy.

[villager]

15. So, you're equating voting and strikes with violence?

:shrug:

[kctim]

24. Not at all

I am equating a direct call to take out a specific group, to targeting a specific group with crosshairs. Both are about voting and both are intentionally trying to garner support from some and place fear in others.

The funny thing is how it is somehow "different" when the side one supports is guilty of doing it.

[villager]

25. well, the elites with their ownership of the airwaves have certainly succeeded here

n/t

[kctim]

28. Ah, yes

I can't refute that so I am going to blame the 'elites,' 'Fox' or the 'evil corporations.'
Nice.

[JoeyT]

57. I'll refute it, if it'll make you feel better.

You acted as if a clearly worded demand to vote people out of office is somehow the same as "Second amendment remedies" or "If ballots don't work, bullets will.". The first you can only claim is inciting violence by knocking about half the quote off. The 2nd and 3rd are clear incitements to violence to anyone being honest.

You used a false equivalency to get butthurt. There isn't much to refute.

[socialist_n_TN]

32. So who started all of this "targeting" talk?

I swear some "liberals" and "centrists" would lay down to a five year old.

I'm GLAD to see labor getting militant. I think they're policy positions will have a HELL of a lot more support than the Tbaggers. But even if they don't, I'm just happy to see somebody standing up to the proto fascists.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. I am sorry but that is a RIGHT WING MEME

Why do you think FOX is pushing that meme?

Why do you think there is a war on voters too?

[Lost-in-FL]

27. I think you are "narrow-minded" if you ask me.

I don't remember "riots" done in Winsconsin or violence of any kind. What make you think that "Unions" will go so low when in reality they have done a great job defending their rights through peaceful but strategically brilliant maneuvers. Remember the recalls? That was such a brilliant thing to do!

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Gee where did I hear this? Oh yes... FOX NEWS....

Why are you using FOX NOOZ memes?

And are you afraid of UNIONS actually fighting back?

[kctim]

17. Sigh

Another tired attempt to simply discount so as to avoid reality.

FWIW, I don't watch Fox, MSNBC, CNN, Current or any other propaganda on TV. Hell, I'm too busy enjoying life to watch much TV at all.

And I'm not afraid of unions at all. They can 'fight' for whatever cause they want. They do NOT have the power or support they once had.
But, the intentionally vague rhetoric Hoffa spouted was meant to anger and, IF it works, there will be violence. I do not support such violence so I will speak out against it whether it comes from those I support or do not support.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. You are the one equating voting with violence

which is odd indeed.

[kctim]

26. The question is

how will the right take his words and what will the reaction be? What will the right do if union members start showing up at their 'rallies' and become aggressive? What will the left do if Tea Party members show up at their 'rallies' and become aggressive?


Do 'words have meaning' or not?

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. So the answer is to say nothing?

Odd indeed...

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. You are the one equating voting with violence

which is odd indeed.

[Little Star]

12. Have you not noticed the numbers of the so called Tea Party..

have dwindled? Just google around to some of their events and the head counts will verify that.

They were a astroturf-ed movement. Not a grass roots movement.

[kctim]

22. I have noticed

there are small 'rallies' all over the country that usually draw a few hundred people. Not all of them are members of the websites and most of the groups are NOT members of the large fake fronts.

You can believe them to be dead and ignore them if you wish, but I will not.

[Marr]

23. You think the Tea Party is as numerous as labor?

I really doubt it. From what I can tell, the Tea Party is comprised of a handful of angry, mostly elderly, dimwits.

[kctim]

29. Hardcore labor types? Yes.

At least in these parts.

[myrna minx]

33. Just like how blood flowed through the streets of Madison last winter? Yes, the union thugs

brought their union thug toddlers in strollers to the rallies - and union thug supporters from all over the world ordered pizzas and sandwiches to keep all of the union thugs fed. Did you see any "union thugs" waiving guns in the air like the baggers did? No.

Have you seen the bagger rallies lately? They have no more than 20 people milling around. That's what happens when you have to *pay* your people to astroturf protest.

Have you seen the passionate groundswell in Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan? That's a real movement. The powers have every reason to be nervous - labor is back, baby! And we're going to vote the bastards out.

[Claudia Jones]

35. say what???

"Not every worker is union?"

Unions fight for all workers, and all workers - all of us - benefit from unions.

"...not every union member supports the hardcore labor type?"

WTF is a "hard core labor type" ???

"We now have two groups, basically the same in numbers..."

No, organized Labor represents 10,000 times as many people as the phony astroturf "tea party" movement does.

"...targeting each other..."

Fighting back is not "targeting" and is not "equally bad" as the tea party people. This "both does do it" idiocy is right out of the right wing propaganda playbook.

"NOTHING good is going to come out of this."

Nothing good will come from workers fighting back against the predations of the bosses?

[kctim]

49. Not entirely true

The majority of workers are not members of a union. Yes, workers today benefit greatly from the actions of the unions in the past, but there is no way the majority of workers are going to bother with joining unions on the front lines.

Nothing good will come from workers fighting against the Tea Party. Keep the focus on business heads, not other ideological groups.

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. Is this the new centrist talking point?

Unbelievable!

[kctim]

64. I'm not sure if it is or not, nadin

but then again, it really doesn't matter if the facts are right.

Are the majority of workers, members of a union?
Are the majority of workers out there on the front lines when a union goes on strike?
Can intentional aggressive rhetoric cause two sides to feud with each other?

You are correct though, sometimes facts can be "unbelievable."

[Claudia Jones]

53. sorry

I can't make out what you are trying to say.

[bvar22]

65. It is a little broader than "Labor vs. Tea Party ".

"Jim Hoffa today said he stands by his criticism of corporate-funded conservative politicians."

http://www.teamster.org/content/hoffa-corporate-funded-conservative-politicians-out-destroy-middle-class

That includes an entire wing of the Democratic Party.
Hoffa was also putting THEM On Notice.
The Unions haven't forgotten what the White House did in the Arkansas Democratic Primary, 2010.



Who will STAND and FIGHT for THIS American Majority?
Hoffa & The UNIONS WILL!!

Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Odin2005]

8. STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE!

[Bandit]

11. The Unions are not going to fight back..

It is way too late for that... If they were going to fight, they would have done so when Wisconsin and Michigan were getting their Public Union stripped of everything... If Unions really wanted to they could shut this country down... Everything you have gets delivered by truck. Unions could conceivably stop all trucking in this country if they truly wanted... They won't because they have had all their teeth completely pulled....All they can do is spit and sputter....

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Alas that was the first step

A movement does not just rise fully formed from Zeus's head...

Yes, they are fighting back,

[Bandit]

18. We'll see

I remember back in 2000 when the Teamsters Union built a new Union hall in Houston Texas using Scab Labor and made an announcement about it saying Union Labor was too expensive.. I also remember in 2004 Hoffa and the Teamsters rallied behind Bush* because they said he would give them more jobs than Kerry could....The Teamsters are not credible IMO and I wonder where they were during that month or so in Wisconsin when Madison was filled with Public Union workers fighting for survival......

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. On the ground, look at photos

[Claudia Jones]

36. don't you mean "we?"

Do you not see yourself on our side?

If it is too late for unions, then it is too late for all of us.

[Bandit]

54. I do not belong to a Union although I support most 150%

The Teamsters though have pulled some pretty shitty things. They built a new Union hall in Houston texas in 2000 and used scab labor. They rallied behind Bush*/Cheney in 2004 instead of John Kerry. I don't think the Teamsters are going to do shit.......

[Claudia Jones]

56. why?

Why do you not belong to a union?

[Bandit]

58. I own my own business.

I am one of those job providers Republicans like to brag on except I don't have a dime to my name hardly...

[Claudia Jones]

59. thanks

What sort of work do you do, if you don't mind me asking?

[Bandit]

60. I am a wholesaler

I sell vegis and fruits and dairy products to restaurants and institutions, such as hospitals, schools, and the jail.

[Claudia Jones]

63. ok, thanks

I appreciate the discussion.

[pintobean]

30. Which unions do you think will strike

and for what reasons? I don't see it happening.

[SoCalDem]

34. thirty years too late

but anything is better than nothing

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. The fight has begun all over again

[SoCalDem]

44. Isn;t it disgusting though, that we have to re-do stuff that was done

decades ago.. It;s almost meaningless to even make laws anymore, since very subsequent administration immediately sets out to undo everything that came before.. It;s no wonder we are in such a mess.

[nadinbrzezinski]

46. Part of it is complacency

And part of it shock. We also have to fight DEMOCRATS who are anti labor, as well as Republicans...

[MineralMan]

37. Are you a union member?

It sounds like you are. Which union?

[William769]

45. K&R.

[samsingh]

48. about time

[TeamsterDem]

50. It feels TERRIFIC to be fighting HARD against these creeps. I couldn't be prouder of Hoffa

And I couldn't be prouder to hold the title "Teamster."

"We've had all we can stands and we can't stands no more!"

[Tom Ripley]

51. I stand beside my brothers and sisters (n/t)

[malaise]

55. About time

:applause:

[Starry Messenger]

62. k&r