Madison Protests - Crowds are smaller

[Lefta Dissenter]

but just as enthusiastic, representing a broad spectrum of citizens.

I had been going through withdrawal. I have been sick and hadn't been to the Capitol since Saturday, so I went down for about an hour and a half this afternoon. There were people with signs marching around the square, drummers drumming, cowbells ringing, and lots of "This is what Democracy Looks Like" car honks.

For all of the claims of the protesters being just out-of-towners, or dissatisfied State Union workers, here's one little sampling of the rioting protesters - a firefighter, a cop, a veteran, and a self-employed small business owner (me).

[Earth_First]

1. Never waiver, never fail

SOLIDARITY!

[mmonk]

2. Thanks for sharing and your efforts.

[myrna minx]

3. At least there's representation during the work week - that makes a huge difference.

In addition, just think of everyone out in the various districts gathering signatures for the recalls. It warms the cockles of my heart. :bounce:

[Pharaoh]

4. It will swell greatly on saturdays

We know Walker doesn't give a fuck, but recalls are well underway,

It is phase 2 . Throw the fuckers out!

[HereSince1628]

5. The battle has really turned to the recalls, once the budget returns

there will be people in Capitol Square again.

The first court cases surrounding Walker's and Fitzgerald's misadventures during the protests was lost by Walker. He must cough up the 18000 emails he claimed to recieve...someone is gonna have really sore fingers from typing phony emails this weekend.

The violation of the open records law has gone to court. The judge is out for all this week, so nothing will happen. The sec of state isn't publishing the law--which is required to make it take effect--and may not unless ordered to do so by the court.

It looks like we have more than half the minimum votes that are needed, and we have until April 19th to collect the rest for most of the filings.

There WILL be recalls, I'm confident we will take at least 2 of them.

[Lefta Dissenter]

8. Lots of the signs today (including the flip side of mine)

were in support of Kloppenburg, who is the State Supreme Court Justice we need to elect on April 5th. Also several "Recall them all" signs.

I'm still crossing fingers for 3 republican recalls to be successful. I hope their opponents are fired up and ready to run.

I still have laryngitis, so while I can march around the square and toot my little horn, I can't speak much at all. It's frustrating to be unable to work on the recalls now while they're running hot and heavy. I'm counting on having my voice back in time to help with the campaign of someone running against one of the recalled republicans (I live in a great district with a Dem Senator).

If nothing else, I'll continue to circle the square, tooting, "This is What Democracy Looks Like" on my horn, enjoying the replies of whistles, drums and car horns.

[bluestate10]

10. Recall is where the battle should be, fight and win locally. I have and

will continue to contribute money. I am a democrat and are behind Wisconsin unions as well as national unions and unions in my state, but I have no vote in Wisconsin. Locals MUST win the fight.

[eleny]

6. People are out collecting recall signatures!

[bluestate10]

11. Where the fight must be nt.

[Scuba]

7. Thanks for posting. See you Saturday.

[bluestate10]

9. Try going door to door and street to street collecting recall signatures,

and DON'T allow republicans to get democrats on recall ballots and win. Not rocket science. All the money in the world from the Kochs can't keep Wisconsin republicans in office, or turn democrats out of office if people that are disgusted with republican politics get recall signatures and recall the bastards, while protecting good politicians.

[Arugula Latte]

12. Yer all a buncha damn longhair socialist hippies!

Oh wait ... Maybe not ...


:hi:

[alfredo]

18. When I had hair I was.

[slingsam]

13. I am so proud of you folks

And ashamed that I'm not there.......

But then again.......who needs 2 self-employed small business owners in the same venue........
I'm in Pennsylvania...and now......am ready to ring my cow bell...in this little town.

[B Calm]

14. K&R

[alfredo]

15. The law suits challenging the constitutionality of the law,

and the recall is probably where the action will be.

[Jackpine Radical]

16. Not to mention the Kloppenburg campaign--

when that baby hits the Supreme Court, it would be infinitely helpful to have JoAnne on the bench.

[alfredo]

17. Not familiar with that.

[Jackpine Radical]

19. We have a SC election April 5, which gives us a chance

to get a 4-3 majority of liberal/reasonable Justices. JoAnne Kloppenburg is running against the sitting Justice Prosser.

[alfredo]

21. How's her chances?

[Jackpine Radical]

25. Interesting question. Definitely better than a month ago.

The SC race is held in an off year with no "high-profile" races to attract voters, so the turnout is typically low and more right-wing than in other elections. Sometimes only 10% of the electorate has decided the composition of the SC. This time, though, there are much larger efforts to get out the vote because of what's at stake, so I think she'll have a good chance. It will be the first test of the resolve of the people.

[alfredo]

27. That race could be a bellwether.

[Jackpine Radical]

28. That's my take.

If we can beat out the heavy pro-Prosser ads that will be saturating the airwaves and get our people out to vote, it bodes well for the recalls. It means we're reaching people.

[alfredo]

29. As long as Walker is allowed to be all he can be, your chances

will increase.

[EC]

20. Judge

for WI Supreme Court, will swing it left. We know this will reach the court.

[alfredo]

22. Good luck

[groundloop]

23. I'm guessing timing could become important

OK, I'm watching all this from a distance and someone correct me if I'm wrong. But I'm guessing the union busting law that got rammed through illegally won't stand up in court. So.... If recalls are succesful and you have a Democratic state senate that law is dead. However, if that law gets overturned too quickly, while there's still a Publican controlled senate there's a chance that law could pass again.

[Lefta Dissenter]

24. It will be a nail-biter, that's for sure

Yes, there are lawsuits in play. The open meetings suit would probably accomplish nothing more than to make them vote again - and I'm guessing that will be determined too soon for us to have swung the Senate. It's difficult to get a legislative decision actually overturned by a court.

But I believe some of the other suits may have merit.

I've been through this at the local level - and I've won by delay. And I've run a local recall that was successful. So I'm someone who has hope, and who will keep plodding along, being a general pain in the ass to the powers-that-be, because sometimes you just need to be more stubborn than the other guy.

[femmedem]

30. Is the recall effort going door-to-door with voter reg lists?

Last I read, volunteers were set up at grocery stores, laundromats, etc, but wasn't systematic.

[Lefta Dissenter]

31. I think it depends on which recall

and the individuals running each one. When we did a local recall, we mapped out the town into zones, provided volunteers with voter lists and maps, and hit absolutely every residence (except the guy being recalled - he probably would have met them with a shotgun).

Dealing with one town, however, is not quite like a Senate district, so I'm not sure how they're doing it. On the positive side, turnout was low at the last gubernatorial election, so the number of signatures required is smaller than it might have been.

[deacon]

26. Time to get energized. n/t

[sybylla]

32. Now that the Fab 14 are back, a lot of people are working on recalls instead

The news is good on the recall front. We already basically have the sigs we need on one senator and are close on several others.

There's been a huge showing of volunteers out to collect sigs. While the courts try to take down the illegal bills that have been passed, the activists are trying to elect a new supreme court justice and unseat as many repukes as we can.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

33. I've been too sick to go too. Dr. says I have the flu...

there is a lot of awful stuff going around. Hope you feel better soon.

[Lefta Dissenter]

34. The cops yesterday

said that it's the "Capitol Cough."

I caught it the first week at the Capitol, and was in bed for two days, then got a little better, so I started going back to the protests - dragging, for sure. Then last week it just knocked me out for 4 or 5 days, including laryngitis. I simply could NOT get out of bed! I'm finally starting to feel somewhat human again. I've NEVER been this wiped out by a virus. I also had a sinus infection, but antibiotics helped with that.

I think it was Dave Letterman who described "snot pudding" a month or two ago - referring to having a sick kid, of course. After that, I just imagined the inside of the Capitol being smeared completely in snot pudding, with all the kids and sick protesters crammed in there. No WONDER it will cost millions and millions of dollars to clean it up! :D

probably germ warfare by the Fitzgeralds!

[eowyn_of_rohan]

35. "Germ warfare by the Fitzgeralds" - LOL!

I'm glad to hear you are finally better. It gives me hope. How you describe it is how I am feeling though I also had a fever yesterday. My husband got it first and he had a feeling he got it last Wednesday night at the Capitol (after the stolen vote!!) so you may be right! I came down with it Monday. It feels scarily awful... the idea that we got it from snot pudding makes me gag.

[Lefta Dissenter]

36. HA, sorry about the gag (:

The cop who was sending me through the metal detector in the Capitol said that he treats it with beer. :beer:

[eowyn_of_rohan]

38. I just made myself a whisky & lemonade

...less histamines (and a big kick) :toast:

[PeaceNikki]

37. It'll be big this weekend again. Iraq vets will be marching

Madison:
Iraq Veterans Against the War calls on all veterans and peace organizations to mobilize to Madison on March 19th, the 8th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, to stand in solidarity with workers organizing for their rights. We will be joined in the streets by the AFL-CIO, union members, and their supporters:
10 a.m. rally at Library Mall, 750 State Street in Madison, WI
11 a.m. march up State Street to the capitol, stopping at the Civil War Memorial
Noon rally and speak-out at the capitol, joined by the Wisconsin AFL-CIO and other unions - King Street entrance

http://www.weac.org/Issues_Advocacy/Legislative_Resources/Support_Our_Union/activities.aspx

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=193875367309986&pending

[Lefta Dissenter]

39. What a sad anniversary

The Vets have certainly made a strong showing at the protests, including that one wonderful drummer who was in the Capitol for days and days on end. They bring a powerful voice.


(posing with my little two-headed calf from Boise - Deja Moo)