In Wisconsin, the new normal is perpetual political warfare.

[iwishiwas]

So be it.



Wis. union battle prompts perpetual political war

By Nicholas Riccard Los Angeles Times

8:06 a.m. CDT, April 4, 2011
chibrknews-wisconsin-union-battle-prompts-perpetual-political-war-20110404

Reporting from La Crosse, Wis.—

In Wisconsin, the new normal is perpetual political warfare.

Ever since a Republican governor and GOP-dominated Legislature pushed through a law to curtail the collective bargaining rights of most public employee unions, this normally get-along state has engaged in all-or-nothing partisan combat.

Activists are gathering signatures to trigger recall elections of 16 state senators — eight Republicans and eight Democrats. Analysts and political professionals in both parties agree that the Republicans are more threatened. Democrats could even retake the Senate if they oust three Republicans without losing any of their own seats.

The Republican Party has filed a public information request to obtain emails from a University of Wisconsin professor who has written critically about the conduct of Gov. Scott Walker. The GOP accuses Senate Democrats of abdicating their responsibilities by fleeing the state to try to prevent a vote.

Unions are threatening boycotts of businesses that don't display signs saying they support workers.

National groups are pouring money into a previously obscure state Supreme Court election set for Tuesday, in which the Republican incumbent is suddenly threatened by resurgent Democrats who believe that swinging the court majority to their party would give them an edge when Walker's law inevitably is challenged before the high court.

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

[dkf]

1. So it's turned into DC.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

9. Wisconsin is like a microcosm of DC- or a prototype for the larger fight?

A local fight feels more surmountable than a national one--and I think it is. If we stand up to all that is happening with enough resolve and persistence, maybe, just maybe... we'll win at least some of the important battles.

Maybe? Hell no - We shall Prevail!

Every state needs to do the same... the momentum would be amazing

[dkf]

12. I think once the collegiality has left, it's very hard to get back.

It starts with a rabble rouser, but even when that person has left the poison remains, like a divorce.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

13. I'm glad I live in Madison where most people "lean forward"

we don't have the division that seems to be going on in other areas.

[aquart]

2. This is NOT "war." This IS democracy in action.

For those who haven't seen it in a long time, take a good look.

[iwishiwas]

4. Nicely said. thanks for the correction.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

7. It feels good...

like it hasn't in years.

[elocs]

8. Democracy in action also includes showing up and voting at the polls.

We would do to remember that.

[calimary]

11. Truly, and I would hope if the bad guys' side is active, then OURS damn well better be, TOO!!!

I guess the difference is - our side in Wisconsin is FINALLY fighting back, matching every offensive the bad guys launch. EVERYTHING the bad guys do on their side HAS TO BE MATCHED OR BESTED by our side.

Remember when ann coulter was pissed off by the 9/11 widows, the Jersey Girls, who were speaking out and she took great umbrage at their doing so because they were being portrayed as such sympathetic figures (remember - "how do we know their husbands weren't divorcing these harpies?") and she'd belch out "but we can't respond! We can't respond!"

My immediate response to THAT was "GOOD, bitch! We've already heard more than enough from the likes of you to cover 1000 attacks on America."

But see the mentality at work here? They're hardwired by now TO RESPOND TO EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING THAT THEY DECIDE THEY DON'T LIKE. And they're on it like the proverbial white on rice. WHY aren't our guys that way? With our side it's never "we can't respond! We can't respond!" It's always more like "we DON'T respond"! Or the even more frustrating "we don't have to respond because the American people will just KNOW! The American people will KNOW the truth, will understand what's going on!"

I would LOVE to tell our stupid gullible Pollyanna Dems to Wake The Fuck Up And Stop Kidding Yourselves!!! You've got the completely dumb-ass wrong idea about the American people. The American people DON'T know and they DON'T understand and they're gonna stay that way unless YOU DAMN DUMB DEMS get off your asses and take off your rose-colored glasses and TELL THEM THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT'S REALLY BEEN GOING ON, and how they've been TOTALLY CONNED!!!!!! The American people have been radically dumbed down over at least a couple of decades. They've been spoonfed "you don't even have to think! I'LL do the thinking FOR you!" by limbaugh and the like, overtly like that (I actually heard him say that on the radio one day) and covertly, with the CONSTANT repetition of frames and memes and carefully crafted/focus group tested buzzphrases and slogans that work under the radar and subtly start crowding all independent reasoning capability out of their brains.

And it just burns me up to see how many of our DAMN DUMB DEMS just can't see this and/or just don't get this.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

3. self delete

wrong spot

[PeaceNikki]

5. I know it will SHOCK some on DU, but their side has people who are energized, too

They aren't protesting to the degree we are, but they went to vote on Tuesday. A lot of them. And they used the SC election as a sign of support.... just like we used it to oppose.

[iwishiwas]

6. Yes, I think I as in a cacoon--going to protests and not

thinking of the other side.

[Brickbat]

10. I do not see boycotts as political warfare.

I see it as long-needed direct action, and I'm looking forward to more of it.

[Snotcicles]

14. As the economy improves so will the demand for labor, the momentum will shift in labors favor. nt