Written by a true moderate

bahhahahahalolol
Do you hide under the covers at night?

Bren I think you broke your own record with this one. 5 mentions of "Koch" or "Kochs" in as many sentences, not counting the one in the link.

You know if you remove the "c" and "h" from "Kochs" it leaves you with "Kos". Just a semi-coincidence? Or evil plan to get you so wound up and over-the-top with your obsession that you end up looking a little bit nutty?

They're everywhere, influencing everything, are they not? Their evil deeds know no bounds. By G-d, they could be pulling your strings too and it would never have even crossed your mind had I not pointed that out for you. Check it out and report back, Comrade Bren. Oooga Booga Vleep Nidzorp. That is all. Over and out.

Bren - Replace Koch Bros with Union (name any you wish) and replace Tea Party with Union (name any you wish) and you have a more realistic vision of what is happening to Wisconsin and the Democrat party.

Except, what the baggers are doing is protecting the interest of a few (think Bain Capital) at the expense of their own interest, while unions are protecting the interests of millions and promoting policies that positively affect most of the rest of the country.

Of course I don't expect to understand than since conservatives have trouble comprehending numbers or facts.

Keith - nice try. You lost all credibility at "bagger". Everything after that is irrelevant.

Your losing your chops, Keith. You forgot to mention the dog with the squirts on the top of the car.

Thanks for mentioning it Bob. Nice analogy. If Romney takes us for a ride we too will be doing what Shamus did.

And Hippie, that;'s what you people call yourselves. It's not our fault you people can't use Google verify the uses of the name. Smart people do it all the time.

NP, Keith, just wanted to make sure you covered all the talking points. As few as you have at this point, it's best you use them before you lose them.

And I believe it's Seamus, not Shamus. Shamus is closer to what you guys are doing to the state with your silly recall hissy fit.

@Bren. Bren, you have no eyes to see with, no ears to hear with and no conscience to guide you. Hence, you are a complete imbecile.

C'mon Keith - Google? Really? Devoid of any substantive comment - you regress to your asinine degradations.

The Koch brothers are a major influence on American politics, in multiple states and on the national scene. Remember that Herman Cain was their Republican nominee! They have puppet governors in Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Maine, and Florida.

I'm glad I'm striking a nerve bringing them up as frequently as I do. It also mystifies me that there are people in denial about this issue. Even the laziest will find a lot of data about these men with a simple Google search.

To me the tragedy is that these men could accomplish so much that is good with their wealth (and still have billions!), but instead they choose to work toward destabilizing our economy for their own greater profit. Don't fall for their blandishments.

Why do we all stand for this tom foolerey, The 1 thing we have to understand is, we can all act like they are crazy we cant just watch them roll in with a big bus every were and buy up peoples vote.

we sit back and watch it. maybe people they are not crazy, maybe we are cuz they are doing something while I and we sit here and instant message everything.

When we wake up and figure out some answers to our problem, take a min and read my problem solver.

While we are turning a blinds eye to the truth, low wages, no jobs for the middle just low or high. and ive been high before:)

Keep up people, Mary jane is the fastest most effective industry to pull this recession out of its hole. people laugh then get back to reading.

if it is legal, we have now over site. we dont need any more innocent young mind chopped down for cooporate greed.
there are a number of new industries it will not only give a much needed boost like the medical field- they can stop lookin past it and work with it.
Scientis- are very important for obvious reasons.
Black people will now have an opportunity to live there life with out being taking down
if you are honest with yourself you will understand, now not only has it affected black people but now its white people going down but i can see when i comes to white and black we do see things thru a different eye. blacks have always done with what we are giving and done extremely well at those things. this drug being illegal has giving a stigma

I'm KOCH not KOCH going KOCH to KOCH get KOCH into KOCH the KOCH name KOCH calling KOCH game. But KOCH it KOCH seems KOCH to KOCH me KOCH that KOCH Bren KOCH has KOCH too KOCH much KOCH Coch KOCH on KOCH his KOCH mind.

He KOCH must KOCH also KOCH have KOCH shortKOCHterm KOCH memory KOCH loss:

Filegate:
This Clinton scandal involves the discovery of over 900 Republican FBI files in the White House. Files of former Secretary of State James Baker, former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, and Newt Gingrich's spokesman Tony Blankley were found to be on this list. Upon the discovery of these files, the White House issued an excuse claiming that the files were mistakenly requested by a White House employee working with an outdated list. They were called a simple "snafu." Investigations into Filegate revealed that not a common White House worker but the President's friend and close advisor, Anthony Marceca, had requested the files. When the presidency starts illegally compiling an enemies list it is a sure sign he is not fit to serve office and that, just maybe, a crime has been committed.

Bren - it sure reads like you are talking about George Soros. A lazy google search can find reams of data that Mr. Soros is destabilizing the economy for his own wealth. I am glad you did strike a nerve about Mr. Soros. It would be a tragedy if he did not do some good with his wealth - and still keep billions. Don't fall for his blandishments.

Koch Brothers? All you do is wail your myths about how the Koch brothers have bought Wisconsin politics. They are not even in the top 20 of political contributors in this state. The top 20 political contributors consist mostly of Union organizations, the DNC, and assorted Democratic PAC's. None of the top 20 are Republican orientated organizations. Out of state Unions spent over 30 million dollars in the last special elections. If you must whine, them whine about how the Unions and their pet politicians are costing the taxpayers of Wisconsin over 9 million dollars in needless recall expenses.

Michael Mark, perhaps you haven't seen my numerous posts on the Koch brothers' contributions: they have given the maximum donation allowable to Scott Walker. They also made a $50,000+ donation to the Republican Governor's Association. Most significantly they "created" the astroturf Tea Party movement, and are behind Americans for Prosperity (which pays for the pro-Walker ads, etc.), among other organizations. And I support the recall 100%. I'd rather spend $9m on democracy in action than tax cuts for corporate cronies.

Mau, you're kind of reminding me of a lady who used to live down the street. She was a sad drunk who spend most nights in the summer drinking next to the swimming pool and caterwauling "Everything is Beautiful," over and over and over and over.

Ima, do share a link about George Soros' involvement in Wisconsin politics.

Bren - if you are requesting links? You are really lost. Mainstream media - we lie, you decide.

Brenny girl? For the record, wrong. But I did chuckle, so thanks for that.

In response to your "Koch" comment, I think the Koch brothers are "over the top." You may not comprehend or care about the scope of their political activities and their potential impact on our country, but fortunately some patriots do.

There are many types of people in America. Among the most dangerous are the low information right-wing voters.

Well right now the issue seems to be "venture capitalism is fine for everyone except Mitt Romney." Oh, and the 12 hour ordeal he put his dog through (strapped to the top of the family car in a dog kennel with no rest break). The only sensible candidate on offer is Jon Huntsman, but I get the feeling the Republicans don't want a viable candidate this cycle. They're setting their true sights on 2016.

You are so right in what you're saying Bren. Don't let the right-wingers bother you. Maybe they don't know any better. You know the old saying : You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. Keep telling it like it is.

Thank you Dennis. If even one person reads what I write and decides to support the recall it will be well worth it!

@Stormy Weather the only reason you are belittling her comment on the Koch influence is either you are part of the problem trying to downplay the Koch brothers involvement in this issue or you simply don’t have a clue what the hell is really going on. She is spot on!

Well, it's a power thing. Romney comes across as condescending and arrogant. He exhibits the same insouciance in dismissing his acts of animal cruelty and community-destroying mass layoffs. Massachusetts' job creation numbers were among the worst in the U.S. under his governorship. When I look at him, I see a man that some publicist thinks looks presidential, but I don't believe he has the E.Q. for the job.

I don't recall reading or hearing anything about Barack Obama "throwing family members under the bus," so I can't react to that.

Obama is in a unique situation. The Koch/Tea/GOP in Congress is doing its admitted best to thwart his presidency with complete disregard for the wellbeing of our country. However, the billionaires have enough money to live on regardless of the economy. What do they care how the rest of us suffer? All it means to them is that they'll be able to scoop up land and resources at bargain rates.

George W. Bush was given a second term, and if Mr. "Let's raid Social Security and invade Iraq" was given this opportunity Barack Obama deserves the same. He will have my vote in November.

You don't like Romney because he comes across as condescending and arrogant? What do you think of our current President then?

@Stormy Weather...I am curious why you would leave a position after 10 years; was it voluntary? Also, do I detect a bit of racism in your statement of not wanting to terminate employees because of fear of accusations of discrimination? What agency did you work for? Was it local, county, state or what? Also what was your position?

Lyle - Racism is where YOU want it to be. It probably had nothing to with poor performance, subordination, age or faith. So, enjoy your Dick Tracey investigation.

@Ima Hippee...Stormy Weather was the one who broached the subject with the following statement: "I also saw new hires who never should have made it past probation, but supervisors were afraid to let them go, because that employee would cry discrimination."

Lyle - Racism is where YOU want it to be. You are the one that is suspecting racism when it may not even be there.

Lyle, thanks to a certain class of ambulance chaser, the fears Stormy Weather has related are, indeed, relevant. Having worked for a firm at one time where we experienced precisely that on more than one occasion, it's a necessary consideration - whether you regard it as racist or not.

In terms of racism, that's the corner we have been painted into because, yes it does exist. It would nice if it didn't because it is such a stain on this country and many people get manipulated by it on the right, but it does.

Welcome to the race to the bottom mentality.......... I hope you enjoy it there. Now you should just shut up because that’s what I would like you to do now. You should not voice your opinion or have a voice at all. Get it you peon worker? You don’t deserve to have a say in your work place so shut up and go cower in your corner and wait for me to pass so more laws to take whatever I want from you. Maybe I want take your home next so shut up and be a good little peon because I am more powerful than you bunch of lowly work ants and you will bow to my will without a voice so shut up and get in line because it’s my way or the highway I’m the king around here………. Oh wait I’m not walker.................have a nice trip racing to the bottom. The argument about work performance could have been addressed in renegotiations of workplace performance standards. Being a dictator is not what he was elected to do. Besides that, the big picture here is still a part of a bigger cause on behalf of the FAR RIGHT to bust all unions because they support and sponsor candidates that protect the working class. You can’t have a successful Oligarchy if the people have a voice and power to stop it.

Farrey - whew! For a moment there I thought you were referring to Obama. Or were you?

You must have a huge paint brush to make that statement. As a teacher for 35 years I remember people like you who think they are the only one doing a good job and you are the only one who thinks that pal. I bet as a kid teachers told your parents that you do not work well with others and that explains who you are, a pathetic person who dosen`t work well with your fellow teachers.

Here's the problem: we've created all these protected classes so that it makes it very difficult to fire people. In the public sector instead of firing the poor performers from the protected classes we simply let them sit and try to minimize the damage they can do to the work of the good performers. In the private sector, if the organization is big enough, they simply behave like the public sector: let them sit and either hope they quit or isolate them to so they don't affect others work. For smaller organizations: they pray they can find something like porn on their laptops so they can wield that against them in the firing process. For private organizations what do you think this environment has on hiring? We all recognize that hiring someone is always risky. But now you want to hire someone from a protected class? That is truly walking the tightrope w/o a net. Putting up barriers to firing people has now had the opposite effect: it's dampened hiring from the protected classes. I can guarantee you if we removed the barriers to firing hiring would pick up among those protected classes. I feel for anyone that has to manage people in the public sector. Dealing with the poor performers that know they can't be fired. Sounds like the seventh ring of hell to me.

Isn't this lovely:

http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/1-11-12a.cfm

We've lost our minds. It's as if we want to turn natural selection upside down and offer the best chance of survival to the very bottom of society.

<sigh>

lol, glad I don't get my news where Marie gets it. Everything would look rose colored.

I agree with you but unfortantly I can not help you in Wisconsin, I live in Michigan but I am watching this very closely and I agree, this is about the color of our Presidents skin and not his policys. These fruit-cake teabaggers did not show up, until right after President Obama was elected. My hat is off to you and my fingers are crossed, this governor of your is a corrupt toady of big business and anti-black elected officials, peace

By the way I am a Geologist and my wife has a degree in Political Science, please do not let these, so-called enlightened, no-it-alls here, get to you, you go for it.

No SOROS Conservatives BUFFETT have GATES spewed EMANUEL as DALEY much AYERS hate AXELROD toward REZKO Obama BLAGO as JARRETT the SOROS liberals AYERS have REZKO toward JARRETT Walker.

@Mau -- I think you'll need to explain the point of that post. It seemed a tad fragmented.

My point is it is ,the ones who hate the most, are the ones who profess it is the other side that are the haters.

My other point with the fragments, is that there are some who just can't seem to get their point across, without throwing out specific names ad-nauseam and labeling anyone who does not share their point of view.

I myself enjoy these dissenting viewpoints whether I agree with them or not. But the name calling distracts from the conversation.

Obama "....has divided our country..." ?

Yeah - those good RepubliTards have been TRYING to get him to agree to help the little guy for the past three years !!

What kind of illiterate fool ARE you ?

J Steen - Well, well, well. I have nothing to say so l'll use invectives like "tard" and "fool" "TeaKlux" and "yokels"? Yeah, that will show them! I'll shower them with name calling. Talk about illiterate. Take your keyboard and go home.

I hate Obama. Why is that so hard to say? I lived in Illinois when he was a senator and was trying to warn all of you "followers" that were so blinded by one speech. There is not one thing I like about the guy, hate him. Pretty easy for me to say that now call me a racist and a bigot libs.

Just remember that the financial concessions public employees made were to finance Walker's unfunded corporate tax breaks. Not to address the budget shortfall.

So what addressed the Doyle budget shorfall then? Since that is fixed and all.

@Stormy Weather...What I would caution you on, is that your statements' generalize a situation that may be more specific to your experience. I am not denying that occasionally the situation occurs, but it is more the exception than the rule. I have heard the same complaints made in the private sector. In your case it wasn't the coworkers who were the problem but the supervisors and managers. I have had to "pull the trigger" on a number of under performing employees. If the manager knows what they are doing and document the situation, then there isn't any problem with the termination. For the most part, it's a supervisor who isn't doing their job.

I would agree with you 100% Lyle. How many times have supervisors complained to me about this or that employee and I just look at them and say, "I'm not the one you should telling this--[insert employee name here] won't know there's a problem unless you talk to them about it." Call it fear of confrontation, competitiveness, whatever--the saying is crass but true: "The fish rots from the head."

"opinion piece" I fixed your typo

Did you read it Steve?

Farrey - you lost me at "some it up in one word"

@ Ima Hippee re Farrey oh my bad "sum" thanks for pointing it out. I know that made your day.

Jerry are you Charlie McCarthy incarnate?

@Stormy Weather...You are entirely wrong, the supervisors could fire them even with union involvement. Because management wouldn't follow through, that gave a very clear message that management was powerless. If you have just cause, you can make it stick, making the environment better for everyone. The problem rests with management just like with RUSD. RUSD has always had the tools but have chosen not to use them.

So if lets imagine 1 % maybe 2 % are screw offs. I'm not agreeing with you but even if it were true that these people were not "Perfect”. You think that you should make the whole group suffer? By that reasoning if your neighbor is habitually late with his house payment you should be in jeopardy of losing your house or being stuck with a higher interest rate, in fact your whole neighborhood should suffer the same fate. Do you get it? I’m sure that the screw offs that the governor and his lackeys hire in will be a perfect replacement "with raises" as long as they drink enough crazy tea and spout; its ok, trust us, trust us; it’s for your own good!
Hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites that created our legislation before Walker and his bought and paid for ALEC member crew came along obviously didn’t know what is best for Wisconsin.
Remember the unions did agree to the wage and benefit forfeitures that we asked of them. It did not matter. It was all about busting the Unions and making this a right to work for nothing state. It was all about defunding the Democratic Party. It was all a lie! Do you stand by a LIAR? Do you stand against the people of Wisconsin that this FRAUD has been perpetuated against? A lie is a lie no matter how many times you say it. HE LIED TO ALL OF US.... YES THAT MEANS YOU TOO.

Stormy Weather: You are wrong in saying that the supervisors couldn't fire them because of the union. Yes, the union was going to protect them. It's their job. If they don't represent someone that was fired then that person could turn around and sue the union. In the private sector, in a sitution like this, if some one is discharged for cause, the union has to represent them. If the firing party wants to push the discharge and the union files a greivance, after the grievance goes thru the steps, it might go to final and binding arbrition or not depending on what the contract says. If arbrition isn't an option then all the union can do is take it back to the membership and ask for a strike vote. If ,as you say , the person isn't a good worker how many do you think would vote to go on strike to keep them on the job?

@Stormy Weather: let me just add that I have been in this position so I know how our contract was written. I was President of the local for the IBB and also Bargaining Committe Chairman and we represented around 1500 employees in 5 companies. I am also a member of the IBT.

@Stormy Weather...Anybody can be fired, admittedly some are more difficult than others, but it can be done.

1) Most public employees have a graduated progressive schedule for earning sick leave.
2) No one knows when a catastrophic illness is going to strike. That is terribly hard to plan for. You seem to be pretty harsh and cold hearted in your judgement.
3) I don't know where you got this idea that sharing your sick time is mandatory. The occurrences i know of, the other employees voluntarily shared their sick hours to prevent the sick employee from becoming financially devastated. That seems to me to be the right thing to do.

Sick time should never be paid by the employer p(ublic or private sector, alike).
You get sick, use your vacation time, or don't get paid, or don't get sick.

Great small minded, short sighted comment. One survey in New York found that half of the restaurant workers come in to work sick. Bon appetite!

C. Sanders : Sick pay is a negoiated benefit that is paid for in negoiations between a Company and the union. Let's hope you never get sick, since it sounds like you don't have a sick day benefit.

@C. Sanders....I think you aught to reevaluate your statement about no sick pay. It is better to allow a certain level of sick time so that vacation can be used what it is designed for. When parents have young kids, often have to take time to take care of ill children. This is not a unwarranted benefit. It provides for the well being of the employee and the family, making for a better worker.

@lyle ... To judge others based on your own experience and utilizing yourself as a frame of reference is a closed loop system and reflects only your values. But to demand the rest to live or meet your standards is an indication of someone who has a distorted reality.

@ stormy re My husband and I decided that it would be better for me to stay home with our children. Isn’t that special. So you don’t have to worry about taking a "sick" day to take your kids to the doctor or take care of a loved one. You can do it anytime you like. Wow the ability or lack of ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes before you JUDGE them is amazing. How is this possible that one of the most important Christian values is so often neglected (judge not lest ye be judged)? Aren’t these supposed to be the party values of the right? Isn’t it easy to be an armchair quarterback? Hun you’re not even in the game. You don’t even have to go to work on a daily bases. Yet you JUDGE those that are actually working. We all know that a stay at home mom is not all bubble baths and hanging out on the computer all day shopping. We know that you have some responsibilities. Well so do those people that go to work every day. Many of these moms do the work you do plus work 8 hours a day, plus travel back forth to get there etc. Obviously you forget how hard that was to do.

Yes, Stormy's attitude suggests she has never had to face the types of situations that jeopardize security, health, and life. I hope that she never does.

The standard union contract covers hours of work, rates of pay and conditions of employment.

The Recall Walker group accepted help from anyone, including out of state unbathed crud. It shows the desperation of of Graeme Zielinski that he can condemn volunteers who support Walker, but accepts criminals and homeless activists to further his agenda.

"Recall Walker group accepted help from anyone, including out of state unbathed crud."

Except for one staffer at each location for the sake of continuity, everyone volunteered, especially in the goose-stepping Ftiz's district, where Lori Compas and her group did the impossible and will be forcing a recall, despite that leaker's sweaty, desperate efforts to worm out of it.

"Out of state crud?" Where's your evidence? Put up or shut up.

Guess you wouldn't understand because the only way the GOP could force a recall is to pay people to collect signatures. Notice how many Democratic state senators are getting recall? None, nada, zipo.

Keith: Yes I am talking about the crud that slept in the Capital Building like homeless, but we do not allow the homeless inside when it is freezing out. They stunk the joint up and made a mess. The tent city outside was also filthy and unsanitary. Put enough slobs together in one location and the urine and fecal matter tends to pile up. And who payed to clean it all up? The taxpayor! All because of a temper tantrum for not getting their way.
Get your head out of your rear Keith, welcome to the real world.

Craig, the State Capitol myth was disproved months ago. Scott Walker claimed that $100,000 in damage was done to the State Capitol and that was a lie. The only out of state staffing I heard of were the paid signature collectors hired to coerce citizens to sign Democratic senator recall petitions. That and the out of state AFP billions we all know about.

@Keith-Because we believe in the democratic process and elections!! We dont run and cry foul when something is done we may not believe in. Instead we wait until the election cycle and let the people speak!!

Let's nip the WEAC nonsense.

WEA Trust (no C) is a non-profit, with literally no ties, financial or otherwise, to WEAC. Its board and officers are paid a fraction of the rate of for-profit corps, and its medical-loss ratio is 93% (the Affordable Care Act mandates a minimum of 80%). Its premiums have increased at a lower rate in recent years than the for-profits, and it was scored well enough to be included among the preferred plans for the state employees' insurance program.

The reason WEA Trust us often more expensive (though not always) is 1) they provide better reimbursement to providers and 2) they require less out of pocket from the insured.

Of course you like being raped the old fashioned way -- by private health insurance companies.

Dennis that was much different. The Democrapic senators fled the state and neglected to do the job they are paid for! I don't care if an Obama Muslim gathered signatures for that job, they should have been removed for dereliction of duty. Can you throw a hissy fit and hide from work with no reprocussions?

Craig, I honour the Fab 14 for slowing down the legislative steamroller so people could actually learn what was in the "budget repair" bill. We all learned that the "budget repair" bill included legislation that had nothing to do with "budget repair" but more to do with undermining the public union and paying for Walker's unfunded corporate tax cuts.

And your "Obama Muslim" slur is highly offensive and ignorant.

@Bren-Just like we all got to see what was in the Obama/Pelosi health care bill right? Get a clue

And what did you do about it? Sat and cried onto comment boards such as this is my guess.

.................
Patriot

6:50 am on Sunday, January 15, 2012

@Bren-Just like we all got to see what was in the Obama/Pelosi health care bill right? Get a clue

@ Craig,"That was different." ROTFLMAO!!! Of course it was, it's always "different" when you're called on the carpet. Hmm, narcissism.

Craig: They were doing their jobs. Where is it written that they have to be in the capitol building to be working ? In this modern age people work from laptops at coffeeshops. A group of businessmen playing golf might come up with a great deal. Even the GOP knew why the 14 left the state. All that talk about not doing their jobs was just rightwing talking points. And I'am sure you know that too.

@Stormy Weather...You and your family have been fortunate. Some of us haven't been that lucky. I wouldn't ever be as judgmental as you seem to be. the one thing that you seemed to overlook is that when you and your husband decided for you to be a stay at home mom, one of the advantages is flexibility. Although you may have given up income, you allowed yourself freedom and flexibility. To judge others based on your own experience and utilizing yourself as a frame of reference is a closed loop system and reflects only your values. But to demand the rest to live or meet your standards is an indication of someone who has a distorted reality.

@Stormy Weather....Sharing sick leave is not a common provision of most collective bargaining agreements.

@Stormy Weather Oh my apologies this is clearly a typical situation where a Far Right wing holier than thou pin a sainthood pin on yourself situation that you have every possible answer for how others should live their lives. Sorry Hun but I think you would find fault with Gandhi. Yes it is about choices and they opted to work where they work because of the benefits. There are many private companies that offer great benefits. Would you like to tear them down to so that those employees could have less? These people chose to work these jobs because they are good paying jobs and have good benefits. Yes it is a choice. What about the perks and benefits our politicians get. Do they work any harder than the people under them? Have you advocated a reduced salary for them? Do you advocate taking away their perks too?
I do think you have some CONTROL ISSUES. (other people buying big expensive houses, blab la bla Limbaugh bla bla limbaugh bla bla)That is usually indicates some other under lying issue. Perhaps a good therapist might help? And fyi (fyi... I have been busier as a stay at home) evidently not busy enough. You have too much free time if you have time to dictate how you think everyone else should live or what benifit they should recieve. Really now, that is kind of sad.

@lyle. .... Interesting that you criticize @stormy for sharing values. You impose yours in virtually post. What's up with that?

You know what I'm talking about, right? All of those recent "massive" street corner teabagger rallies attended by what, 10, maybe 15 "patriots? (*laughing*)

Just a reflection of the fact that the [tea] party is over, boys and girls.

Oh, and, Saxon Realm, the Occupy movement changed the debate in this country in a fundamental and positive way. What they "destroyed" was the uninformed Tea Party fixation with deficits, turning the country's attention to the fact that the 1% screw the rest of us each and every day, aided and abetted by teabagger idiots who can't see that they're just being used to promote policies favoring the 1% that screw them just as badly as they screw every one else. Teabaggers have just been useful idiots, manipulated by astro-turf organizations like Americans For Prosperity, and the rest, into embracing ideas which are antithetical to their own best interests, and conned into forgetting that they are part of the 99%.

Anyway, Saxon Realm, off you go, back to the warm, cuddly embrace of your white supremacist buddies over at Stormfront.

@Zuma Bound.... Just one quick question ? Were you homeschooled ?

Zuma - you are bound up. I hope your trip west is pleasant. As Joe Friday says..."the land of sun baked people with half baked ideas..." Head west Zuma, enjoy your grapes of wrath.

BTW - you have a "thing" for teabagging?

Hey Ima Whiner -- the Tea Party is to patriotism as the Three Stooges are to drama.

We made the same choice your family did. We cut our wages in half when I quit my job to be a stay-at-home mom. We planned ahead so that we would be able to achieve our goal. During those years I volunteered at school, worked some temp jobs, volunteered with 3 local non-profit organizations and did whatever was necessary to make it work. We did not have have new cars, motorcycles, big vacations, a fancy house or any of the other trappings that require a 2 family income.

I can remember the days when I was employed full time, where employees would pool sick days and donate them to fellow employees with catastrophic medical or family conditions. During the authentic Great Depression my former employer cut/equalized the work hours for it's union employees so nobody got laid off. I can't imagine society today doing that. Of course this is nowhere close to the Great Depression.

I don’t have a hard time understanding civil debate. I’m just being as silly as you are. All your whining about too many sick days, get real those days are part a a package of Benefits. It sounds like your dittoing some Vicki McKenna garbage am I correct? Are you a daily listener to her show after a few hours of Limbaugh and Hannity? Just for the record I am not a public employee. I am not a union member. I just don’t like Walker's agenda. I don’t like our country turning into an oligarchy. I don’t like the fact that people like Rush Limbaugh, Shawn Hannity, Glen Beck, and Vicki McKenna fill up our air waves with hate and lies every day and so many people follow right along then DITTO their misinformation. I don’t like when corporations buy our state Legislature. They are supposed to be working for the people of Wisconsin, They should not be going to ALEC conferences then coming back passing laws that benefit the corporations and hurt the people. This is happening. I don’t like that the KOCH brothers foundation duped a lot of well-meaning people "the tea party" funded the foundation that started the movement and now they think their agenda is helping America. Their agenda helped stall this country and take the focus off of the real criminals that stole so much from this country’s people. So Walker and the Right Wing Elite go after the middleclass and the impoverished to make up the money stolen from the same people. glass houses?crazy nonsense really what ev

@Stormy Weather -- If the downward pressure on wages and benefits is allowed to continue, your 'different path' of doing without a few luxuries in order to have a full-time parent in the household will no longer be an option.

As for paid sick leave -- do you really want flu germs all over your food, your mail, you bank statements, and in the office you share with co-workers? here are times when staying home isn't purely self-indulgent.

Yea, I thought so also.

Good post.

Exactly.

@Zuma
We collected our signatures today - the last day (Saturday). I was pleasantly surprised to get them-the last day. It was like tax day--people meaning to do them but waiting for the last minute. We got lots of good honks and a few middle fingers and shouts from the Right. But all and all it was a good day.
Then we had a potluck supper with all the volunteers. It was sweet knowing we are part of making "Walker is history" moment. And it will happen no matter how long the TeaGOP try to delay it.

Cheers.

Yes, unfortunely it probabally will pass in In., since the state is completely controlled by Teapublicans. They are rushing this thru before the 2012 elections because they have bad feelings about what is going to happen in the elections. Same as what's going on in Wisconsin. Get rid of the unions and watch what happens to your 5 day ,40 hr. work week. Ask your boss for a raise because you're the best worker there's ever been. Then your boss can lower every other workers pay and make it seem like you got your raise. Isn't that what you want ? You anti union people are losers.

What sort of patriot fights for the rights of foreign owned companies to control our electoral process?

@Laydee-Seriously? All I have to do is look at Washingtons failed policies and it is very clear to me that you are part of that. A failed policy

You can’t blame them too much. They have been duped. They think they are doing something good and I applaud them for their well-meaning. They are like children who have yet to grow up and see how the world really is. They hear one side of the story get mad and don’t bother listening to all points of view then create their own summations. It is easy to listen to just one side all day and patriot parrot it. You don’t have to think. You don’t have to be conflicted. You are never wrong, well not until you open your eyes, take that first step and consider there are two or more sides then see that perhaps maybe being narrow-minded is not going to get the best results. It’s too bad they just don’t see the big picture yet. To save all of you that will reply I do listen to all sides. I do see flaws in all sides. I do choose the path that is best for all when I make my choices what causes to champion.

For those who will call me a liberal so that they can call me a name and dismiss my comments because it’s easy for you, I will tell you my political stance. I was always an Independent until Bush, the Republican Party and the Supreme Court stole the election. This was a slap in the face to all Americans. Now I am a registered Democrat. I voted for Hillary in the primary because I had no idea who Barack Obama was. I voted for him for President verses Palin , McCain OMG. To his credit he has done a much better job than Bush ever did even with all of the obstructionism and I support our President. Now as a registered Democrat I will tell you who else I am. I consider myself a progressive first, I am financially conservative, I am liberal and I am a patriot.

What, "Patriot"? No commentary or defense of the Teabagger group that flat-out LIED, CHEATED and BROKE THE LAW to try and keep Pearce in power? If you're just miffed that I mentioned it, too bad. How about the Republican mantra (aka LIE) that Obama is disrespecting the Constitution while they patently attack it daily AND pretend Barbour didn't deliberately shyte on his own state's??

Yes, I prefer a more robust.. more HONEST rebuttal. But I guess hoping for such from a Republikkkan/Teabagger is a vain wish, isn't it?

Ron Paul for President. He is our only hope.

Paul? You mean that guy who thinks that the only recourse a woman should have when she is sexually harrassed at work, no matter how good she is at her job, is to QUIT? That guy who crowed on video about some nasty newsletters he owned until it turned on him and he pretended he didn't know anything? THAT Ron Paul?

Ha. I happen to like being treated like an equal at work AND the variety of employment and educational choices I have that my grandparents didn't, thank you very much.

I can't wait to start.

@Zuma-When did this become a race issue. Has nothing to do with his color, race, or anything like that. But rather his ability to divide this Country like never before. Open your eyes Zuma his failed policies are not working. Now he wants another 1.2 trillion. Maybe this time it will be shovel ready.
Progressives like you are the very evil that is destroying this country. The majority will prevail.

Thanks Zuma

I feel a bit naked without my recall clipboard and signs today. I took my recall table and signs out of the car. I can see the seats now:-)

And thank you for contributing to some good dialogue on this board. It is very much needed.

Take care. I am signing off as a friend will pick me up shortly to see the Packer game. Most of us volunteers for the last 2 months have worked around the games--setting up shop where people get food and goodies for the games. Good to have some downtime before the recall election season starts--and the elections will take place despite the delusions evidenced by comments on these boards.

Take care

@Zuma-If your efforts are so envolping then why did u not collect a million or 2 million signatures. The signatures collected are equal to or close to it the amount who voted against Walker during the election. So when you loose the recall effort whats next? Was it not the fab 14 who left the State and prevented offical State business from happening? Thats what I thought

I sincerely hope that a majority of citizens can grow up and learn to accept and respect the opinions of their fellows with whom they disagree. Obviously, both sides can, and should strive to refrain from using, foolish labels like "useful idiots and lapdogs." Anyone with a strong opinion can make the mistake of perceiving all contrarians as benighted inferiors. You are certainly welcome to your opinion, which you have arrived at according to a process you have approved, just like everyone else. Consider the possibility that many fellow citizens have had enough of the corrupt and ruinous relationship between the state workers unions and Democrat political operatives. As the youthful pro-democracy demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square told Mubarak: "Enough!"

morninmist, you did explain to everyone who signed your recall forms that their signature and information would be part of the public record, did you not?

Doesn't it seem that it would be less of a 'witch hunt' if the validation is being done by out of state volunteers rather than friends, neighbors and relatives or those who signed the petitions?

How exactly, is delineating information about the recall petition signers, for any and all to see, different than publishing the Walker contributor list?

No reason at all. In fact, thanks for the heads up. I'll be practicing my speech to the person who calls or knocks on my door to verify I actually signed the petition.

Telemarketers usually call rather than send you mail, but that aside I'm not sure there's enough of a margin in crying towels to warrant either a telemarketing or mass mail campaign. So you're probably safe.

Right On. And what I heard was they got almost as many sigs. as Walker got votes for governor. Your going down Snake.