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With the Tea Partiers
The Wisconsin Fight
A sign of consistent strength in a key battleground.
Even those who barely follow politics couldn’t avoid seeing Wisconsin constantly in the news last year. It started with Governor Scott Walker’s much-needed Budget Repair Bill, which curbed bargaining rights for many public-sector employees. A state Supreme Court race (considered a referendum on Walker’s bill) and state Senate recall elections followed. But despite tens of millions of dollars and hours of drum beating (literally-by protesters), the public sector unions failed on all three counts to gain the upper hand in Wisconsin.
But give them credit for trying yet again in 2012, as it appears an actual recall of Gov. Walker will take place. The implications of that election reach far beyond Madison: If Walker loses, it will have a chilling effect on much-needed reform. Either other responsible governors and state legislatures will address the massive burden of public-sector salaries and pensions, or they won’t. Wisconsin continues to be ground zero in the battle between the right and the left over the proper role and size of government.
Tim Dake, leader of the Wisconsin Tea Party group Grandsons of Liberty, is well acquainted with the excitement. His introduction to the Tea Party movement was actually somewhat humorous: “My wife and I attended the 2009 Tax Day protest in Madison, Wisconsin, fully expecting to get arrested—that was the first event in which we got involved. We attended a few more around Wisconsin after that but were surprised that none took place in Milwaukee,” Tim told me. “We decided that as the state’s largest city, Milwaukee needed to host an event, so in late July we got four people together and began planning for a Constitution Day rally. We drew between 10 and 15 thousand people to the lakefront in what is still the state’s largest rally.” But afterward, Tim realized that Wisconsin needed more than just sign-waving. “We were looking to create change and not just protest. That change means legislative and electoral change.” So he helped organize a conference of likeminded groups that created a legislative agenda—a wish list that eventually grew to about three dozen items.
And then the drama hit. “We knew that the union fight would be messy. In anticipation of their dis-pleasure with Walker’s agenda, we secured the permit for April’s Tax Day in the week following the No-vember 2010 election. So we saw the reaction coming, but not the timing, with the union protests in February and March of 2011,” Tim said. “As a group, Wisconsin Grandsons of Liberty worked with the other groups (and American Majority) statewide on the ‘I Stand With Walker’ rally.” But that was just the start of the Tea Party’s efforts. Within days, Tea Party leaders began collecting signatures to recall three Democratic state senators who abdicated their responsibilities and fled the state in hopes of denying Republicans a quorum. And it just kept going. “We set up a PAC to raise funds for the recalls of the Democrats. We ran radio and television ads for not just the recalls but also for GOTV [get out the vote] for the April elections. We worked on the recount for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser,” Tim said.
Despite a hectic 2011, the movement is not backing down in 2012. When the public sector unions claimed to have collected more than a million signatures to recall Walker (roughly twice the number needed to trigger a vote), Tim and others decided they weren’t going to simply sit back and take it. “In response to the unions’ and Democrats’ efforts to derail the Walker agenda through the recalls, we created, in partnership with another Wisconsin group and a Texas group, the Verify the Recall online effort,” Tim told me. “This project was created to provide citizens a method of participating in the recall process and to ensure clean elections.…We no longer trust government agencies to carry out their tasks without bias.” Using the project’s website, people working from their own homes can enter petition signatures into a database that checks their validity.
More than 12,000 people signed up to participate as of February. “Conservatives believe that protecting Walker translates into protecting the conservative agenda and movement,” Tim said. “Lose Walker and his momentum, and the unions and socialism reign supreme; protect Walker, and treat it as a public mandate to forge ahead.”
When I asked what he thought about the Tea Party movement, Tim said, “The movement is in a precarious transition state presently, nationally and in Wisconsin. It is under pressure from the GOP, the media and some national organizations. The GOP was both impressed with the ability of the Tea Party movement to exert pressure successfully in 2010, and it was concerned because of the choice of some candidates that were not in line with the GOP message and were therefore ‘rogue,’ and because of the ability of the movement to ‘go its own way.’” He added, “Since the 2010 elections, two key developments have changed the relationship between the Tea Party and the GOP: attempts by local groups to ‘take over’ their county GOP chapters—either amicably or hostilely—and counter-attempts by the GOP to co-opt the local groups. A showdown is inevitable.”
To make matters worse, as Tim relates, “Some national organizations have begun to exercise more influence over the local groups through funding, providing speakers and candidates, and through con-tractual efforts. Consolidation for the purpose of securing funding and electoral victories in 2012 is driving the competition between these organizations. The local groups are getting caught in the crossfire and being pushed to take a side.”
Of course the national media is doing the movement no favors by all but cheering for its demise. “The media is looking for a guarantee from the Tea Party of the same electoral success as in 2010. If this is not promised, the media writes that the Tea Party is dying or is already dead. If the success is not delivered, then the same pronouncement will be made. This is causing some to think that their groups have to justify their existence by focusing on the elections,” Tim said. “The lack of an acceptable conservative presidential candidate appears to be, in the eyes of the media, a reflection on the strength of the Tea Party and is therefore a failure of the Tea Party and yet another harbinger of the movement’s demise. In Wisconsin, several groups, ours included, have written off the presidential race to focus on the all-important open U.S. Senate seat and the ongoing recall efforts.”
Because of Tim and others like him, the Tea Party movement in Wisconsin is robust. It’s moved from simply rallying, to doing legitimate political work that will bring real change. As more and more Tea Party leaders head in that direction, the movement will continue to evolve. But one thing is clear: Tea Parties will have an impact for years to come.
About the Author
Ned Ryun is the founder and president of American Majority, a political training institution. His “With the Tea Partiers” column run each month in the The American Spectator’s print edition. You can follow him on Twitter @nedryun.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (132) | Leave a comment
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Jack in Wi.| 4.13.12 @ 7:39AM
Here in Wi. it looks good for Walker right now. But it will still be a hell of a fight. If he loses the fight to regain control of the government from the unions will be darn near impossible.
oldfart| 4.13.12 @ 8:05AM
And the fallout will be further private sector job reducation as private industry will fleet to SD and ND where the job environment is more receptive to growth.
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 10:54AM
" which curbed bargaining rights for many public-sector employees" - Explain to me how giving government more control over anything is a conservative principle? So Walker reduced the rights of the people - another conservative principle? Really?
Von Mises Jr.| 4.13.12 @ 11:09AM
Perp,
Riddle me this:
If Marx believed in "Bourgeoisie" economics and "Proletariat" economics; why are you wasting your time talking to the bourgeoisie? Is Marx a fool, or are you? You are like a conch trying to explain your "conch"sciousness to intelligent dolphins.
BTW, you confound public sector employees and the public in your asinine logic. Perhaps "conch" don't have any logic or consciousness at all?
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 6:07PM
So giving government more control is okay with you ? Really?
Walker took bargaining "rights" from the people - if you let him take those rights, what else will he take to gain more control? Don't tell me your that dense, are you ?
Quartermaster| 4.13.12 @ 7:33PM
"The People" you are talking about are bureaucrats that have been robbing the people for years because they were able to increasingly bribe politicians. The bureaucrats are nothing but parasites and have been bankrupting the state. The same has been happening across the northern tier and the end is in sight, if you care to look down the tracks just a very short distance.
Von Mises Jr| 4.13.12 @ 9:22PM
Perp is a loser. He is an angry or enterprising fool. Either he cannot think clearly, or he is exploiting TAS readers for profit. How sad.
Can you imagine a life like that? Aggravating other people for thirty pieces of silver?
H e never answered my question. Are you a fool, or is Marx? One of you can't think straight.
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 10:42PM
No moron Walker took back the RIGHTS OF THE TAXPAYERS OF HIS STATE WHO PAY FOR WISC'S GOVERNMENT, NOT THE GD UNIONS THAT HAVE INVADED HIS STATE TO USE SAME AS A BATTLEGROUND. You want rights for labor union to STEAL FROM TAXPAYERS and we're sick and tired of that BS!!!!!!!!!
mickey_moussaoui| 4.14.12 @ 11:40PM
Collective bargaining is not a right, it is a privilege. If it were a right, we all would have the privilege to use it ALL the time. State unions have been taking too many "privileges" for too long.
SCM| 4.13.12 @ 11:30AM
This so-called "right" was in fact a privilege and perk given to state employees in 1959. Don't make it sound like it came from God or the Constitution. Both the dems and republicans participated in that short-sighted foolishness.
States can no longer afford that type of largesse.
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 6:09PM
Republican run states are using the financial crisis promulgated by the Republican policies (and some Democratic policies too) to get rid of rights of individuals. That is called tyranny, plain and simple. You can slice it, dice it any way you like - but Walker and his cronies have taken rights away from the people - and is being recalled for his efforts. Idiot.
Quartermaster| 4.13.12 @ 7:35PM
Have you considered stand up comedy? The left has had us on a rocket sled to the place we are at now. Now that the results are becoming more obvious you loon ball leftists want to firewall the throttle.
Note: The Left includes people from both parties, not just the Demoncrats. Both parties are evil and stupid.
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 10:09PM
spoken like a true right-wing ideologue. No facts, just belief.
idalily| 4.13.12 @ 11:53PM
But YOU, of course, dealt strictly with facts, right? You're such a pompous ass. And a hypocrite, too.
Von Mises Jr| 4.14.12 @ 9:33AM
Perp, can you answer my riddle, troll?
Riddle me this:
If Marx believed in "Bourgeoisie" economics and "Proletariat" economics; why are you wasting your time talking to the bourgeoisie? Is Marx a fool, or are you? You are like a conch trying to explain your "conch"sciousness to intelligent dolphins.
BTW, you confound public sector employees and the public in your asinine logic. Perhaps "conch" don't have any logic or consciousness at all?
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 10:39PM
States like SC that established Boeings right-to-work manufacturing plant, paying good wages and benefits without unions huh. Then the union thugs began threatening SC officials, huh?????
mickey_moussaoui| 4.14.12 @ 11:42PM
You can thank Democrats for the economic meltdown from the way they manipulated Fannie and Freddie
Controse| 4.13.12 @ 11:32AM
Ah! The people. You can always immediately spot a Bolshevik wannabe by his robotic use of the phase "the people". Just who do you think the government unions are bargaining against? The People. Otherwise known as working tax payers who on average have salaries and benefits that pale in comparison to those of government employees represented by unions. Take some time off from spouting Liberal/Progressive/Communist propaganda and read up on what FDR had to say about public employee unions. "The people" my ass.
Von Mises Jr.| 4.13.12 @ 12:01PM
Perp is a troll and a Marxist, and he is the enemy of "We the People." He is also an ass.
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 6:13PM
And - You are a foul mouthed, pussy-whipped limousine Romney boot licking closet fag.
See ? I can call you names too. Isn't this fun? Idiot.
Quartermaster| 4.13.12 @ 7:36PM
The mirror you were looking in while you wrote all that must be seriously warped. Even you couldn't possibly be that ugly.
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 10:11PM
Wow - I graduated from that immature argument when I was like 12... are you that dumb? Rubber and glue, rubber and glue ... nananananaaaaa. idiot.
Von Mises Jr| 4.14.12 @ 6:21AM
Answer the question troll. Marx taught that there was "bourgeoisie" economics and "proletariat" economics. You are like a conch trying to impart your "conch"ciousness on intelligent dolphins.
Was Marx a fool or are you a fool?
Walter| 4.13.12 @ 12:01PM
In my youth during the 1970s, my understanding was that "public sector employees" sacrificed higher wages for security of employment.
Somehow, during the past generation, the "public sector" now has higher wages, gold-plated health and retirement benefits, and "iron rice bowl" job security.
How did that come about, and why is that justifiable?
Mainly through corrupt bargains between political hacks and their public union supporters, it would seem.
It's long past time to end the pilferage of decent, hard-working Americans by public sector unions.
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 6:16PM
You should also wonder why the private sector jobs income growth has been stagnant for 30+ years. Check from the time Reagan broke the back of the Patco union. All Employers followed suit as fast as possible. Don't blame the unions for that - blame the right wingers that think unions are bad. We should raise the income of private sector jobs, not race to the bottom of the Chinese wage pie. Maybe you don't care if you make nothing, but I do.
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 10:36PM
Chinese workers' wages are higher than USA's ......SINCE THE CHINESE HAVE JOBS, WHILE AMERICANS DO DRUGS AND BECOME STUPID!!!!!!!!
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 6:12PM
"Otherwise known as working tax payers who on average have salaries and benefits that pale in comparison to those of government employees represented by unions. " - perfect right-wing nonsense - so you want Chinese wages for all or American wages for all? Which do you prefer, commie pinko? Red China policies where people cannot unionize, cannot bargain and just put up with what they get? You're the communist, not me. You prefer a race to the bottom of the wage ladder? Why don't private sector jobs pay more? Riddle me that. They used to, didn't they? Wonder when they started going down? Take a look at when St. Reagan was President. You'll get a clue, oh, clueless one.
Quartermaster| 4.13.12 @ 7:38PM
It goes much earlier than that my young ignorant friend. You need to add the leftist US Congress who pretty much got their way for 60 years as well. Your mental meanderings show many lacauna in the data you possess (or considered, and if that's the case you are worse than just stupid).
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 10:13PM
You obviously don't pay attention to facts. The union movement had it's back broken by Reagan when he fired the PATCO workers. Ever since then the union movement has declined as have wages and the middle class. That is a fact ... but you won't hear that on Fixed News - they are for the 1% and you idiots believe their crap. Live in your bubble, while America falls apart around you. idiot.
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 10:29PM
Reagan rightfully fired the air traffic controllers and replace them with equally or more talented employers, and that's what Romney will also do to the entire federal workforce once elected!!!!!
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 10:33PM
And those Chinese workers exceptionally producing will get raises and bonuses rightfully. That is why China's economy is increasing while our is in the toilet. China obtained our manufacturing due to unions forcing manufacturers to outsource excessively high union jobs, so unions are to blame for USA's loss of manufacturing.........go complain to Trumpka and the AFL-CIO!!!!!!!!
TrueBlue | 4.13.12 @ 1:58PM
Instead of having public sector unions forcing the various local and federal governments to give them increased pay and benefits, public sector employees should have to put it to a vote by the people if they want an increase. THAT is the problem, public sector employees should be beholden to the people, instead the politicians end up directly accountable to the union, not the people that elected them. If they don't follow through the union shuts down the government and blames the politicians.
No public-sector employees, this includes all politicians all the way up to DC, should be able to vote themselves a pay raise or force the government to give them one by threatening to close everything down. If they work for county, the raise goes on a county ballot, state goes to the whole state, etc. One of the reasons I think federal Reps and Senators should be paid by their state of origin, not the federal budget. They want a raise, they can ask their constituents to approve one.
Jobe| 4.13.12 @ 2:43PM
You might educate yourself on WHICH provisions of the law were changed. Take a close look at the amount per month that Wisconsin teachers paid into their own retirement. Take a look at the master agreements that public unions made with public employees such as state senators and state representatives. When these people (government negotiators) are bargaining with tax payer money rather than their own, they can be quite generous.
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 6:19PM
Gee, what a marvelous point. No one would ever know that employers would try to pay the least for the work they need done. Wow, how profound. Let's all just take what our benevolent employers will offer us, let's not complain - let's be good little communists - just like the Chinese. You work for the Chinese pay scale and see how you feel then.
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 10:27PM
No instead lets have a system where employees performing exceptional work obtain bonuses and salary increases based on their individual work performance, not because some thuggish GD labor union demand it. Oh and if the lackey left don't produce, then fire/terminate their behinds. No tickey, no washee!!!!!
mickey_moussaoui| 4.14.12 @ 11:47PM
We have a market based economy. Unfortunately for now, the global market is in the craper. With 88 million Americans unemployed none of your wage predictions have any impact.
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 3:04PM
Let me SPLAIN it to you briefly [although you and other liberals are very aware of the sleeziness of unions]. In their hayday of the Industrial Revolution, unions served a needed purpose, but not now [as they are currently only self-serving]. Due to union membership declines from their escalating above market wage rate demands which increase companies' costs-expenses and threaten their profitability, companies outsourced their labor to non-unionized foreign countries [which in turn reduced domestic employment]. To maintain their status, labor unions transferred their unionization activities to governments, which has resulted in the inability of government administrators to fire/terminate government employees so unionized. This has resulted in rising costs-expenses for governments whose tax receipts have not increased as fast as these employee/union expenses, ie GOVERNMENTAL DEFECITS AND DEBT [and correspondingly increased expense to TAXPAYERS that pay for government]. 'Reduced rights of the people'? No REDUCED RIGHTS OF THE TAXPAYERS [since the former are WELFARE RECIPIENTS whereas the latter are WELFARE PAYORS]. Got it now, dumbars?????????????????????????
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 6:23PM
The decline in middle class income over the last 30 years belies your premise that unions are the problem. They aren't. Companies always seek the lowest wages, unions or otherwise. THEY make the decision to turn their back on American workers. That's why Corporate America is making plenty of money - overseas.
So your solution would put us at the Chinese wage level in order to compete. What else is would be your solution? And you call me names?
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 10:16PM
No moron, the decline in the middle class income is due to your problem.....stupidity. Typical children of former MI parents ex-spend their youth on sex, drugs and R&R instead of working on obtaining an education; are thereafter so un-educated that they can't intelligently qualify for hi-tech computer jobs and therefore remain unemployed since the former manufacturing jobs have either been taken over by computers or have left the country because of labor unions excessive wage rates. Women have replace men as income earners since they become educated and intelligently enough to obtain/hold good jobs. Males are simply becoming pimps and drug addicts since they are so stupid they can't earn income from decent jobs!!!!!!!!!!
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 10:24PM
PS: No idiot, my solution would be to eliminate labor unions which would allow the return of manufacturing plants with well-paying jobs and to retool public education to compensate good teachers and to fire the incompetent ones [and eliminate social promotion between grades], cut government employment by 50% and eliminate wasteful governmental spending, eliminate all welfare except for the elderly poor and force welfare recipients to perform government work for their benefits, give tax breaks to companies employing through training programs, eliminate all restrictions on domestic oil drilling that would produce thousands of good paying jobs, establish public funded trade schools to educate those not wanting a college education, etc. that just for starters...next question????????
mickey_moussaoui| 4.14.12 @ 11:51PM
I'm middle class and non union. My salary went up 400% over 30 years. So did the majority of people, (about 5000) that I worked with. I didn't have collective bargaining but I did have a market value.
Nite| 4.13.12 @ 10:07PM
Hummm taxpayer money is paid to the Unions in the form of dues by public sector employes, which include Republicans and Democrats. This comes from Democrats and Republicans tax payers. Then Unions give money (from tax payer dues) to only elect Democrats. I would say there is quite a problem.
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 10:19PM
It isn't taxpayer money that pays for union workers - anymore than WalMart's money is yours when you buy their goods. You choose to live where you pay taxes - if you don't want to pay taxes, leave. Otherwise bitching and moaning doesn't change that the bills and the workers that clean your streets, rescue you from fire, save you life when you have a heart attack, or stand and shoot a robber, burglar or killer to protect you. Either way, you benefit from their work, you have to pay for it. Otherwise you're a freeloading , self-righteous, ingrate. And, you call yourself an American? I'd rather pay Americans than foreigners. But not you, you communist b*tard.
idalily| 4.13.12 @ 11:57PM
Yes, it IS taxpayer money. The workers that "clean the streets, rescue us from fire, save us when we have heart attacks and shoot robbers" are public employees, their wages paid by taxpayers. No wonder liberal governments always fail. Their adherents are idiots.
mickey_moussaoui| 4.14.12 @ 11:53PM
You sound as if these "public employees" don't get paid for their services. You also sound like you don't like the work.
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 10:44PM
No dumbars, Walker reduced the rights of the labor unions, who steal from their memberships and from taxpayers so his state could financially survive w/o excessive unions wages/benefits/pensions all paid for by TAXPAYERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Appleby| 4.13.12 @ 8:06AM
If Walker is turfed, look for Mikwaukee to turn into Detroit.
Von Mises Jr.| 4.13.12 @ 11:02AM
If Gov. Walker is defeated, look for an implosion. Over the next ten years, fifteen (15) states will face default on their pension plans. Approximately twenty-five (25) states do not make it past another ten years. So in twenty years, four-fifths (80%) of all states will have defaulted on their state pension obligations.
The only solutions other than reform are to dramatically raise local property taxes (since this is the main funding for state education) or to relinquish all state and local pension obligations to the federal program where these "fat" pension and health care promises will be paid out at pennies on the dollar.
Then the public unions will find out what it felt like for the Chrysler Bond Holders who got thirty (30) cents on the dollar.
http://kelloggfinance.wordpres.....ion-plans/
Al Adab| 4.13.12 @ 12:20PM
As you note many states are facing a similar pension plan disaster. With more former workers drawing pensions than workers drawing salaries the system cannot continue. States failed to develop solid trust funds to finance the promised obligations.
This recall in WI is however only a dress rehersal for what will happen nationwide as the chickens come home to roost. Even though WI is not a state in play this november (its electoral votes belong to the DEM) this scenario is well worth watching and studying.
Von Mises Jr.| 4.13.12 @ 12:41PM
Hey Al, this is not a new phenomenon. It is why Obama nationalized GM and Chrysler. I read that GM had nine (9) pensioners for every current employed worker.
When you increase your burden ten-fold, bad thing will happen.
And it will happen to the public employees in these state union jobs. Many who have figured this out, like the leadership in WI; have decided to kill the golden goose and let the future union workers feast on dirt soup.
SUBVET| 4.13.12 @ 2:47PM
Von.........question ?
What happens to public employees currently on pension when they can't fund the system. Say a worker put in his time and he has retired within the last 8-10 months and now they can't payout what was promised. Does the fund reduce it's responsibility or just not pay.
Al Adab| 4.13.12 @ 3:33PM
Dolphin:
To answer, my brother-in-law retired last year from a major national company. Along with his second pension check he got a slip explaining that the fund was broke and no more checks would be coming. He was at an executive level, not just the union level. What would the unions do under that scenario? The options are not pretty.
SUBVET| 4.13.12 @ 3:57PM
AL...........thanks for your comment the problem with this is they took SS out of his payroll check and when he reached 66 he could only get a small % of SS because of doubble-dipping. So now the poor sob won't have any retiremment on both accounts.
What load of BS these city unions are, I say stand them up against the wall.............
Al Adab| 4.13.12 @ 4:49PM
Consider Vet how well off we would all be if those SS payroll deductions had gone into personal 401s or IRAs or even mutual funds. We would all have large net worth AND, the money would be our own to use as we see fit.
Von Mises Jr| 4.14.12 @ 12:01PM
The state of New Jersey guarantees pensions above bonds, I believe. Since they are written into law, taxes may have to be raised or other services cut, or both.
There is a Federal Pension Guarantee Program that I think applied to GM and Chrysler. But it is also going broke.
There have been towns in CA and AL that simply told the retirees that they are SOL.
The problems are complex since ObamaCare Medicaid mandate also bankrupts the states. I guess if we re-elect Obama, we will find out.
KennesawJack| 4.13.12 @ 12:48PM
Al, not so sure WI is a lock for the Dems this year, especially if Ryan is the VP candidate. Given Walker's election in 2010 as well as the Republicans taking control of both houses should put the state in serious play
Al Adab| 4.13.12 @ 3:35PM
Jack:
We'll see how the recall plays out, but don't forget they worked long and hard to steal Reids election in NV. With the WI judge deciding that the names of Mickey Mouse and Adolph Hitler were legiitimate on the petitions, do we have any reason to think the election will be honest? The Left will stop at nothing to retain their power.
KennesawJack| 4.13.12 @ 3:51PM
Al, points are all well taken but maybe, just maybe, Wisconsinites will make a decision to cease being lemmings for the left.
Al Adab| 4.13.12 @ 4:50PM
I hope so Jack. I keep looking to find those 100 electoral votes we need to move from one side to the other in order to prevail. Its iffy.
Indy| 4.13.12 @ 9:00AM
Go Walker, the more I listen to him, the more I like him, he stays cool under pressure.
I look to him to run for higher office in the future, for now I will do what I can to help him win, I'll work the phones.
David W| 4.13.12 @ 9:31AM
Even though Mitt is a RINO, we as conservatives and Republicans have to support him and fight against the socialist/leftist/marxist puppet who is in the Oval Office right now. If Obama is re-elected, having a conservative majority on both sides of Congress won't do any good - Obama will ignore it and the Supreme Court and use his jackbooted brown shirts to implement the left's utopia.
Henry Calvin| 4.13.12 @ 10:02AM
Very True
Joellen| 4.13.12 @ 10:22AM
Send your checks to Governor Walker. We must show the goons (union) that we the people will fight to keep a CONSTITUTIONAL Governor in office. Indy, I agree with you - Walker is the kind of LEADER I would love to see as President - let him get through this trail - and we see a future President if the country survives.
Beer f.m.h.| 4.13.12 @ 10:43AM
Walker should be on Romney's short list of potential candidates for the VP spot on the ticket.
Todd M | 4.16.12 @ 2:29AM
I doubt Walker would be interested. Walker is a real conservative. Romney could pick RINOs Paul Ryan or Ron Johnson who supported him. I used to like Ryan and Johnson but no more. Scott Walker is a real conservative and he has principles - unlike the RINO RNC/GOP.
Citizen Jerry| 4.13.12 @ 11:11AM
If you want a prime example of how leftists have gone beyond wild-eyed crazy to violent, just look at what happened in Madison. Even a candidate's family and friends aren't safe.
KennesawJack| 4.13.12 @ 12:11PM
Ain't nobody that can hate with the gusto that liberals do. They are nasty, hateful, and just plain down-right miserable human beings. Not to mention being highly accomplished thieves (as in transferring our wealth to their pockets).
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 2:22PM
So far, I haven't heard of anyone being killed by a liberal - not so a conservative - Dr. Tiller was killed by some conservative ahole last year or so, and Timothy McVeigh was no liberal.
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 3:06PM
Ever heard of BILL AYERS, DA????????????
Al Adab| 4.13.12 @ 3:36PM
Lee Harvey Oswald.
KennesawJack| 4.13.12 @ 3:53PM
How about the Korean store owner that was killed by Sharpton's mob?
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 6:24PM
he's not a liberal .. he's a revolutionary ... don't you know the difference?
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 10:07PM
Then I guess that makes ya boy in the WH also a revolutionary right [since he trained. mentored and wrote a book for him right]???????
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 10:20PM
Huh?
Oldefarte| 4.14.12 @ 12:07AM
Duh....Ayers and Obama!!!!!!
Joellen| 4.13.12 @ 3:35PM
Purp, first let's clear this up - Timothy McVeigh nor the individual who killed Tiller, who was a Baby Killer ,were "conservative Americans". They were two individuals who decided to take the law in their own hands. Both were put through the judicial process and dealt with. However, as I did state, Tiller, who was a baby killer. Every day liberals PROMOTE the murder of innocent life in the womb - why do you not bristle at that? These babies - and yes they are - they have hearts that are beating, are brutally poisened or pulled apart in the womb - Where is your outrage to that PURP? By the way - I cant remember the last time a "conservative" put a $10,000 bounty on a civilian - ala the Communist Black Panthers, can you?
Al Adab| 4.13.12 @ 3:37PM
Where on the spectrum does Major Hussein lie? BTW what happened to his prosecution?
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 4:46PM
He's probably being sequestered in the basement @1600!!!!!!!
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 6:27PM
When you ask the fetus what it thinks, then I will listen to your specious arguments. Did you know that Arizona has now decided that life begins 2 weeks before conception ! Better keep your hands to yourself boys - that sperm is life !
I said Kill, not threat, not bounty - kill. I suppose you think Martin Luther King's killer wasn't a conservative either? How about JFK's killer? He was a communist or was he?
Joellen| 4.13.12 @ 9:39PM
The BABY may not be as articulate as you Purp, but I know by your words, he/she is surely using more brain cells than me thinks you use. As for the law in Arizona, well maybe, just maybe their intent is to try and reverse the evil atrocity that has taken hold of this country - that life is not sacred and can be destroyed from conception through birth. I applaud them for trying to reverse the concept that life is disposable. As for your inane comments on MLK and JFK not even worth a response. Let me leave you with this Purp, a true conservative, like most of these good people on this site, revere life, from natural conception to natural death. Conservatives also love the concept of America, and that is a country that was founded on the principal of LIFE, LIBERTY and the pursuit of land (John Locke). We DO NOT kill for pleasure, nor conveience. That would be the side you seem to embrace. Those like Stalin, Chevez, Hitler, Mao, etc. and again people like Tiller, a baby killer (who by the way committed infanticide). So, please stop your preaching, cursing and ranting. Open up your heart and mind and really try to listen and hear what we are trying to convey to you. Maybe just maybe, you'll understand and have a change of heart and then you too, will truly understand the evil that has permeated in this current administration and seemingly throughout our society.
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 10:26PM
If you knew anything about biology you'd know that the FETUS cannot live on its own - hence it is part of the mother, until birth - as the Good Lord intended.
Revere life? Only until its born you mean. After that, you're on your own. Poor parents? Orphaned? Disabled? Tough s**t - that's your problem. You need help - too bad - your born, not get along, sink or swim - unless you're from the Elite 1% - then we'll care about you, feed you, nurse you along, kiss your a**...
Revere life? Yep, all those Americans and Iraqis that gave their life for what? How about in Afghanistan? Invasion in Asia has never worked, but it's okay - it wasn't your sons or daughters killed in action. Revere life my a**. As long as its someone else's kid you couldn't care less about their life.
Death penalty - yeah that's believing in the sanctity of life - bunch of hypocrites.
You couldn't care less about life after its born. You have an ax to grind and that is all it is.
idalily| 4.14.12 @ 12:01AM
Ah, so only those who can "live on their own" have the rights of a free society? Got it. So the severely retarded or the incapacitated who need full time care don't have rights. Got it.
And you're full of crap, accusing conservatives of not caring about life after birth. That is a filthy lie, perpetuated by liberals who, BTW, give far less to charity than conservatives. Do you people ever stop lying?
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 10:04PM
Are you equating JFK's and MLK's killers? GD are you stupid!!!!!!!!
Nite| 4.13.12 @ 10:15PM
I took care of tiny premature babies. One weighed a pound. Yet they responded to voice, stroking, rocking, and other stimulation.
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 10:28PM
And so does my cat, dog, even an ant will respond to stimuli. So what? Premature does not mean unborn, now does it? My God you people are dense.
Oldefarte| 4.14.12 @ 12:05AM
Welfare recipients respond to stimuli also......the postman delivering their check from taxpayers!!!!
DTOM!| 4.13.12 @ 3:50PM
Ever hear of the Una-Bomber?
How many people did the SLA kill in the 70's?
Uh, yea, and how many millions of people did Chairman Mao kill. And Joe Stalin's millions.
Purp, you haven't heard because you don't want to listen!
Tell us Purp, are you a useful idiot or an unrepentant Communist? It's one or the other! Which one?
For your sake, I'm voting that you're an idiot...
DTOM
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 6:28PM
None of them are liberals - they are revolutionaries ... don't you know the difference either? Good Lord you people are dumb.
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 10:01PM
I know the difference....liberals are the handlers that tell revolutionaries what to bomb, burn, destroy, protest and who to vote for [and then give them cigarettes and street wine as a reward]!!!!!
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 10:29PM
Watch out, they're out to get you... not that you're paranoid or anything... what a tool.
Oldefarte| 4.14.12 @ 12:03AM
Oh they can't get me since I PACK [if you get my drift]!!!!!!!!!
Ryan| 4.13.12 @ 5:14PM
All the druggies and thuggies vote Republican, I suppose...
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 6:29PM
Hmmmm, Limbaugh, druggie, ya guess so.
Hmmmm, Mel Gibson, thuggie, ya guess so.
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 9:57PM
The zonked out Hollywood crowd is one big drug binge for Democrats. West was partially correct about Democrats being Communist, and most of them come from Sunset Blvd!!!!!!!
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 9:59PM
Lets see now, what would Whitney and Michael be maybe.......druggies, nah just misunderstood right??????
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 10:29PM
Whitney and Michael who?
Oldefarte| 4.14.12 @ 12:01AM
Figure it out stupid......druggies that OD'd. Ding Dong.....comprendevu?????????
Todd M | 4.16.12 @ 2:47AM
Hey troll. You forgot Teddy Kennedy.
Bob| 4.13.12 @ 12:08PM
I feel it is very unwise to ignore the presidential election and simply focus on Congress. Have you forgotten the damage that will be done if Obama gets the opportunity to appoint a couple more Ginsberg, Sotomayou and Kagan types? That would be the end of our quest for Conservativism in America.
DTOM!| 4.13.12 @ 3:53PM
And to have a Presidential override in the Senate would take the Republicans gaining all ten open seats PLUS two Democrats deciding to retire before their terms are up and Republicans gaining their seats.
AND Lisa Murkowski (RINO, AK) and Olympia Snowe (RINO, ME) and Mark Kirk (RINO, IL) have to vote with the Republicans...
Better make sure Obama loses!
Get busy people!
DTOM
Scott| 4.13.12 @ 12:26PM
Wisconsin is slowly becoming more conservative. Of the top 10 fastest growing counties,almost all but one,Dane CO. are either conservative or lean conservative. The welfare types in western Wisconsina are losing population.
kwan| 4.13.12 @ 1:06PM
The leftist public sector unions find themselves in a catch-22 situation. They are supporting Democrat/Communist politicians whose leftist economic policies are bankrupting the cities, counties, and states that are suppose to be paying the union members wages, medical benefits, and retirement. A classical case of dumb, dumber, more dumber, and much more dumber.
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 6:35PM
Then you should be thrilled, right? So all our wages can go down to the Chinese level with no benefits and 12 hour workdays again. Idiot.
kwan| 4.13.12 @ 9:02PM
Burp as usual you can always be counted on to make a dumb, dumber, more dumber, and much more dumber reply in another failed effort to provide cover for the leftist bums that you idolize.
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 9:53PM
No moron, so manufacturing can return to this country and we won't have to import 90% of our consumer products from China due to unions. Supply and demand will rightfully determine the correct market wage paid, not the thugs of unions that steal from their memberships and from taxpayers!!!!!!!!!
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 10:31PM
And, pray tell how do we do that without matching their wage levels, Sunshine?
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 11:59PM
Can you read you dumb SOB? Try contemplating my last sentence above.. Get rid of the GD unions, companies can then pay a market wage comparable to China's and companies will become on a level playing field pay scale wise [since the transportation costs from imports will be nullified]...GD you're stupid!!!!!!
Tex Expatriate| 4.13.12 @ 2:19PM
I don't endorse the argument that if Wisconsin voters recall the best governor they've ever had that other governors and legislators will be intimidated. Most office-holders are already cowards, intimidatable by all kinds of pressure.
If the recall is successful all it will do is confirm the view of many of us that most of those northern states (Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, all of the northeastern states, and Washington and Oregon, and their southern neighbor California) do not belong in the United States anyway.
I'd be overjoyed to see 20 or 25 states leave the so-called union, forced on Americans by Abraham Lincoln's war.
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 3:11PM
Wisconsin and Scott Walker represent the very front line of the ultimate battle you so-called conservatives should be concerned with. It ain't the WELFARE ASSAULT UPON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH! If Walker is defeated, it will represent a complet victory for labor unions and Democrats, since they have poured $millions into this contest against Walker. His survival is even more crutial than is the 11/4/12 election! This fight should be the supreme cause of conservatism, and if Walker goes down we that call ourselves conservatives will go down with him!!!!!!!!!!!!
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 6:36PM
Too late - over 1 million Wisconsites will vote him out. And, that's only the ones who signed the recall petition.
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 9:51PM
In yo dreams, moron! Not only are we gonna kick out the labor union socialists bloodsuckers from government entirely after Walker win, but throughout the country as well. Labor unions are comparable to the Third Riech, since they steal from their stupid memberships and destroy the country's manufacturing from excessive wage scales. Basically unions leaders are thugs and crooks and should be all put in jail for stealing from taxpayers!!!!!!!!
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 10:33PM
If you can't spell it, you can't compare it to anything. But I suggest you go back and get your money back for your education if you can't spell. Could be why you know nothing, ya think?
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 11:53PM
Sugarteats, I'll compare education and income statements with you any day anytime. Now go back to your Mickey D's counterperson job and earn your $3/hour......''''''stupidly''''''!!!!!
Mike Hawk| 4.15.12 @ 12:15AM
Don't engage Purp in a discussion. She is so far removed from reality it's got to be painful.
"Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference" -Mark Twain
shoebox57| 4.13.12 @ 3:59PM
My family has been in Wisconsin since 1836. My direct branch goes all the way to New Amsterdam, prior to it becoming New York City. We have the blood of Presidents, Senators, Congressmen, Generals, Enlisted men and most of all we love our Country. Yes, Wisconsin is at the center of a push to re-establish the priciples of our once great Republic. We are not going away, we will never give up and we work daily, hourly, to throw off and keep off the attempts by an unelected beauracracy of regulators and judges, who are owned by Unions using our tax dollars against the will of the People. The good People of Wisconsin are going to need your prayers, the fruit of your labor and in some cases the very labor itself, if it is to keep the hand of tyranny now thrown off, from returning!
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 4:52PM
Many of us are with you in spirit and our thoughts/prayers go out to you in this fight. I'm hereby requesting any/all writers of this publication to please please editorialize as much as possible concerning this crucial situation in Wisconsin!!!!!!
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 6:38PM
Are you kidding? Tyranny is stealing the rights from the people and calling it fiscal conservatism. While giving tax breaks to the 1% and keeping a straight face while you're strings are pulled by the Bros. Koch commie overseers.
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 9:47PM
Grow up idiot and quit Lewinskifying ya boy! This 1% that you refer to EARNED their income, as opposed to the gofvernmental welfare queens and other lowlifes that constantly suck off the taxpayers for their food, housing, condums, transportation, housing and if they can finagle it, their liquor and cigarettes. I hope that I live long enough to see the entire end of governmental welfare, and maybe these Florida street protestors paid by their community organizing handlers will be forced to work for their financial living. The greatest boon to the economy would be to end welfare and force them to work. Your useage of 'commie' shows your stupidity since communism/socialism are exactly described by what your community organizers now in charge are destroying this country with. On 11/5/12 this country will revert back to a capitalistic one so be prepared!!!!!!!!!!!
Nite| 4.13.12 @ 10:21PM
I agree with your comments. We were poor. My parents each worked two jobs each to get by. After I was old enough to work, I worked too. We all did. My family pulled ourselves up by our boot strings and did NOT expect the government to take care of us. Big difference between then and now.
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 10:38PM
Something to be commended for, no doubt. But - not everyone has the ability, the opportunity or the good fortune to have 2 parents and a good start in life, for many different reasons. The trouble I have with some, not all, right wingers is that they really don't give a d* about anyone they label as trash. Certainly not what Jesus would say. But they will be judged by their deeds not their words - let's hope they are more charitable than they are on here in many cases.
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 11:44PM
Yeah, your so called rightwingers are charitable church attending people, as opposed to the hypocritical thugs of the now radicalized Democratic Party. If your ever in an accident or need, see which type comes to your aid. Radical-liberals talk a good game of charity by hypocritically so [they only preach charity for their selfish political purposes]. Conservative are religious and extremely charitable, but liberals are worthless/selfish individuals!!!!!!
Purp| 4.13.12 @ 10:36PM
Everyone earns their income - otherwise it's not really income is it? As for sucking off others, the RED states are sucking of the tits of the BLUE States by sending less to Washington then they get back. In my book, that's a freeloading bunch of lame a**es. Commie pinkos in the Red States live off the rest of the country.
http://voices.washingtonpost.c.....ipoff.html
Oldefarte| 4.13.12 @ 11:51PM
No idiot, its because the states of the South contain 90% of those in poverty due to their own laziness and stupidity [and who liberals love to use taxpayers' money to fund governmental welfare used to support them]. Again, Northern liberals love to take taxpayers' money [wealth redistribution] to support their political charities, when they personally give nothing privately to charities. Liberals are hypocrites and liars, since want to spend others' money instead of their own. A Kennedyisk will contribute nothing personally to charity but will turn around and demand others pay higher taxes to support governmental welfare so that he cna receive the votes of welfare recipients in quid-pro-quo demands from liberals. Sleezy dishonest hypocrites defines liberals!!!!!!!!!!
BayouKiki| 4.14.12 @ 6:36PM
I'm from a red state. I'd be more than happy to NOT accept any money from DC if they'd stop taking mine. The only thing I want from DC is a military to protect us from enemies, foreign and domestic (is that you?) and a stable banking system. Let each state handle the rest of it.
Scott| 4.13.12 @ 6:22PM
I can honestly say as a state resident,this recall is the only issue. The GOP primary was not the main issue at all,which I think helped Romney and hurt Santorum.
Dec| 4.14.12 @ 2:43AM
"The lack of an acceptable conservative presidential candidate appears ... a failure of the Tea Party and yet another harbinger of the movement's demise. In Wisconsin, several groups, ours included, have written off the presidential race to focus on the all-important open U.S. Senate seat and the ongoing recall efforts."
So, another Nut for Newt or Simpleton for Santorum, eh? It's true congressional races are critical, but getting Obama out before he can appoint another justice to the SCOTUS or more Communist federal judges is even more important.
All of you self proclaimed "true conservatives" who intend to pout instead of supporting Romney should remember that the Community Organizer in Chief understands that "personnel is policy" and we must get him out of office before he can infect the entire Federal bureaucracy with a new generation of Eric Holder disciples.
martin j smith| 4.14.12 @ 8:19AM
The Republican Leadershit is the Stupid Party. It should
work with Conservatives and the Tea Party not fight them inspite of imperfections. Besides is the Republican Leadershit so perfect themselves ?
Oldefarte| 4.14.12 @ 4:36PM
Purp: Due to your love affair with LABOR UNIONS you may wish to contemplate the following:
'......Breitbart.com Monsters in the Classroom: NYC Teachers Union Reinstates Alleged Molesters by Education Action Group NEW YORK – What are parents to do when their child comes home from school with stories about "this creepy guy in my class" – and it turns out to be the teacher?That’s a very real concern for parents with children in New York City public schools, where 14 teachers of highly dubious character have been reinstated to the classroom – and two others have been given "desk duty" – thanks to appeals by their powerful teachers union, the United Federation ofTeachers.NYDailyNews.com reports that 16 teachers "kept their jobs after being brought up on egregious charges, some sexual, some involving excessive personal familiarity with students."A few examples:Gym and health teacher Willie Laraque was charged with bending a male student over a desk, leaning in to him and saying, "I’ll show you what is gay." The Daily News reports Laraque is back in the classroom after paying a $10,000 fine.
Norman Siegel, a high school teacher, was accused of pressing his genitalia against a female student’s leg. Siegel only received a 45-day unpaid suspension, "although the arbitrator found that the girl’s charge was likely true" and that Siegel "was previously accused of a similar offense," the Daily News writes.
There’s also a case involving Edward Cascio, a gym teacher who accepted pornographic pictures from a student – of another student. Cascio was back at work after serving his three-month suspension.The district tried to fire these individuals, but the UFT appealed the decisions to arbitrators, who gave the teachers their jobs back."Why would arbitrators throw kids to the wolves?" asks a Daily News editorial. "Because they make a living deciding such cases – and because they are hired by joint agreement of the Education Department and the UFT. They well know that if they toss teachers out of work, the union will do the same to them."
The paper is calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to have teachers accused of bad behavior to stand before the "Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, where every other civil servant goes for adjudication" and whose "professional administrative judges have no built-in bias against rendering the tough rulings needed to protect kids."That’s a good start, but education reformers should demand changes to teacher tenure, so district officials don’t have to spend a small fortune in legal fees every time they attempt to remove a perverse educator from the classroom. Given UFT’s influence over New York’s school system, such a bold change might not be possible. But New Yorkers must do everything in their power to protect their students from these teachers – and their union.......'
samsez| 4.14.12 @ 4:55PM
The governor’s controversial labor reforms are already saving taxpayers millions.
http://www.city-journal.org/20.....alker.html
Bill| 4.14.12 @ 5:15PM
Either we win, or those union thugs took control of American, once and for all. So, help fight Gov. Walker.
Pat| 4.14.12 @ 6:34PM
The buzzkill about being Middle Class is that everyone ignores our existence. Our much loved government, tier upon tier of public servants from your local city councilman to the temp employee currently occupying the White House, just desires to tax us and then tax us some more. The Middle Class gets nothing back from our government - or at least nothing the 49% of Americans who pay no income taxes don’t also receive. Standing on your own two feet and asking for nothing in return is cold comfort when you’re stuck in the Middle Class because no one among the powerful will acknowledge those virtues as virtues or will sincerely value your individual contribution.
Even the hated 1% receive far more attention than Mr. and Mrs. Middle Class. B. Obama lusts to tax the 1% into submission and our media blames them for every conceivable problem starting with the Great Flood of biblical times – but at least they’re noticed.
The life-long “helpless” among Americans, the professionally “disadvantaged”, the deserving poor, the drug addicts, the career losers enjoying three hots and a cot courtesy of the state loudly demand and then receive far more in benefits than the Silent Majority – the unenviable role of suffering in silence while paying the bills can get very old, very quickly here in our land of the constantly complaining free and the not so brave.
But then the Tea Partiers emerged; scary folks who won’t keep their lips buttoned and have a politically incorrect ax to grind. Noisy, angry folks those Tea Partiers – people who refuse to accept their assigned role as merely a voiceless source of taxes and docile breeders of future soldiers charged with defending the untaxed privileges of our nation’s many “helpless”.
At another time in the not too distant past, a somnolent group of innocents was viciously attacked and a wise man then said of them: “I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible wrath”. Let’s all hope the Tea Party folks keep jabbing that sleeping Middle Class giant with a very sharp stick. And, daily, we should be grateful that some few among us have the courage to remind us of our heritage. And let’s also nurture the hope our Middle Class will eventually rise from its long slumber.
Katherine M.| 4.15.12 @ 9:09PM
Unions, both private and public sector, have continually proven they are nothing more than legalized extortion from their members. Unions try to extort from business higher wages and bennies with no consideration for the stability of the business or public enterprise. Union members automatically have dues deducted from their checks to give to political parties they may not agree with. Those who refuse to join unions may not get a job, and in some cases, those not belonging to unions still have dues taken from their paychecks. They may have been a good idea one time when mining companies provided horrid working conditions. But with laws like OSHA, that is a moot point. Unions have done nothing more than stifle enterprises and try to install a type of socialism over free markets.