Democrats who fled Wisconsin given hero's welcome at protest

[cal04]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/149125-democrats-who-fled-wisconsin-given-heros-welcome-at-rally

The 14 Democrats who fled Wisconsin to block a vote on union legislation thanked protesters Saturday for supporting them during their self-imposed exile.

Calling themselves the "Fabulous 14," the Democrats appeared at a rally to protest a bill signed Friday by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) that ends collective bargaining rights for public employees. Critics call the law an "assault" on unions, but Walker said the legislation is necessary to reduce the state’s budget deficit.

(snip)
Tens of thousands of people filled the streets of Madison, Wis., for the protest. Estimates of the crowd size ranged from 50,000 to 100,000 people.

(snip)
"It's so good to be home in Wisconsin," Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller (D) said, according to Reuters.
(http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/13/us-wisconsin-protests-idUSTRE72B2AN20110313)


Democratic senators return to Capitol, get boisterous welcome

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/117862214.html
(snip)
One by one, the senators took the stage and addressed the audience that fanned out on muddy ground and spilled out into State St.

State Sen. Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee) told the demonstrators, "Thank you for being our voice while we were gone. Thank you for being Wisconsin's voice while we were gone. Thank you for being America's voice."

[HereSince1628]

1. That's me with the maroon hat with the DU icon

just 4-5 people left of the tree!

[HereSince1628]

2. What the hell do you mean you CAN'T SEE ME??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[seeviewonder]

4. Is your name Waldo by any chance?

[LAGC]

3. If only we could re-take the November elections today.

I imagine many apathetic voters who didn't bother showing up at the polls would show up in droves...

[RagAss]

5. Lot's of folks in that crowd voted for Walker too. We all live and learn.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

6. The bill is only necessary to reduce the votes for Democrats in 2012

Nothing to do with reducing any deficit or with cutting spending. Everything to do with cutting VOTES.

[subterranean]

7. It may end up having the opposite effect.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

8. I certainly hope so.

:evilgrin:

[cal04]

9. The 'Wisconsin 14' get a heroes' welcome

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_fd231822-4d11-11e0-aeb0-001cc4c002e0.html

By 1:30 p.m. you could hear the crowd at the Capitol five blocks away along the Lake Mendota shoreline. By 2:30, protesters on the Square were moving no faster than a shuffle. By 3 people could not move. And at 3:05, "Wisconsin's 14" got a heroes' welcome on the steps of the state Capitol.

"You go away for a couple of weeks and look at what happens," said Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, who, along with his smiling colleagues, kept surveying the crowd, seemingly awed by the turnout. "It's so nice to be home in Wisconsin."

Saturday's crowd, estimated by Madison Police to be between 85,000 and 100,000, surrounded the podium on the State Street side of the Capitol and showered the senators with shouts of "Thank you! Thank you!"

The senators returned the sentiment and clapped for the crowd. "We left because the Republicans gave us no voice," said Sen. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee. "Thank you for being our voice while we were gone."