1/20/2013: Special Report -- Wisconsin and Civility

Lessons from Wisconsin

A COMMON THEME OF THE UNION DEMONSTRATORS IN MADISON TODAY WAS THAT GOVERNOR WALKER IS A “DICTATOR.” This showed up on sign after sign. It sheds light, I think, on how public union members in particular, and liberals in general, think. What is going on here is that the voters of Wisconsin have elected a Republican Governor and–overwhelmingly–a Republican legislature, precisely so that they can get the state’s budget under control.

WHAT THE DEMOCRATS DON’T LIKE ISN’T DICTATORSHIP, IT IS DEMOCRACY. That is why the Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate fled the state en masse–they prevented a quorum, so that a vote they were going to lose couldn’t take place. Once again, it is democracy they are trying to frustrate, not dictatorship.

One could make the point more broadly about the organized labor movement. THE UNIONS’ TOP PRIORITY IS TO ELIMINATE THE SECRET BALLOT IN UNION CERTIFICATION ELECTIONS. Why?

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/02/028392.php

The demonstrations in Egypt are about people fighting a dictatorship. But this is just the opposite. We just had an election which the Democrats lost badly. They are unhappy with democracy. But to call Walker a dictator makes you worried about the education of the protestor. When you realize many are teachers it makes you even more worried.

Democrats doing their job?

Here’s an interesting video where some Wisconsin Democratic Senators are caught hiding in Illinois to avoid voting in Wisconsin. What I thought was funny was how they answered the question, “Why aren’t you in Wisconsin doing your job?”

http://gatewaypundit.rightnetwork.com/2011/02/breaking-tea-party-member-chases-wisconsins-missing-dems-out-of-rockford/

Some history lessons for the Wisconsin protestors

WISCONSIN GOV. WALKER FOR PRESIDENT? IF HE WINS THIS, THERE'S PRECEDENT FOR IT:

"COOLIDGE BECAME FAMOUS NATIONWIDE DURING THE BOSTON POLICE STRIKE OF 1919, WHEN NEARLY THREE FOURTHS OF THAT FORCE LEFT WORK. Mobs roamed Boston, breaking windows and looting stores for two nights. The mayor managed to restore order with local militias. Then Coolidge called in the entire state militia, which broke the strikers' will. Coolidge made a famous declaration: "THERE IS NO RIGHT TO STRIKE AGAINST THE PUBLIC SAFETY BY ANYBODY, ANYWHERE, ANY TIME."

Coolidge won reelection for governor by a record vote. In 1920, he garnered some votes for the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention. The delegates chose Senator Warren G. Harding of Ohio, but gave Coolidge the vice-presidential nod on the first ballot…

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/opinion/outside-observer/article_d110b8a8-3aff-11e0-97c9-001cc4c002e0.html

What’s at stake in Wisconsin

Bottom line: WHAT HAPPENS IN WISCONSIN COULD EASILY HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT ACROSS THE NATION. If the unions win, watch for them to challenge other governors just as aggressively. .

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/260052/beyond-wisconsin-other-states-facing-union-protests-katrina-trinko

This may explain why you are seeing teachers lie and call in sick to go to the capital. And why people are coming from neighboring states to be part of the demonstration. The Unions are fighting for their lives. BTW, I'm not justifying what they are doing, only explaining it.

Threats of violence and it’s not the Tea Party

Someone wrote me that the “public employees” in Wisconsin reminded her of Chávez and his goons in Venezuela. Actually, they remind me of Cuba. THERE, THE DICTATORSHIP SENDS ITS LOYALISTS TO THE HOMES OF THOSE SUSPECTED OF NOT BEING LOYALISTS. They scream, beat on things, denounce, and threaten. The idea is, the “disloyal” Cubans are supposed to quake in their homes, and they do. THESE TACTICS ARE CALLED ACTOS DE REPUDIO — “ACTS OF REPUDIATION.” THEY ARE A MAINSTAY OF THE REGIME.

IN WISCONSIN, THE SCHOOLTEACHERS AND OTHER “PUBLIC EMPLOYEE” BEAUTIES ARE GOING TO THE HOMES OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, SCREAMING, DENOUNCING, ETC. The situation has gotten very bad. We know where you live. Yesterday, I had a talk with Sen. Randy Hopper, recorded here. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE RECEIVED THREATS, AND CREDIBLE ONES: THREATS TO THEIR PHYSICAL WELL-BEING. They are not disclosing their movements, whether they are sleeping in their own homes. THEY ARE WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ON HOW BEST TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/260073/streak-castroism-wisconsin-jay-nordlinger

There is a phenomenon called projection. What it says it that people will project their behavior and desires on others. Hence all the talk of the incivility of the TEA Party appears to simply be projections of what lies deep in the hearts of progressives.

Meanwhile this isn’t limited to Wisconsin…

Speaker Boehner’s home targeted by mob protest

Perhaps this will serve as a wake-up to those still hoping the Democratic Party of 2011 is the Democratic Party of 1986. SPEAKER BOEHNER’S HOME WAS TARGETED BY A PROTEST MOB. Maybe this protest will drive home that the rules seem to have changed. UNLEASHING INTIMIDATING MOBS TO AFFECT POLICY IS NOTHING NEW TO SOME. Ask officials with Waste Management Corporation who saw their 1988 meetings with local banks in Chicago illegally raided by howling mobs. Stanley Kurtz has documented these tactics throughout Chicago in the late 1980s and 1990s in his book Radical in Chief. That gangs of activists are now showing up en masse, whether at people’s homes, or at state capitals, SHOULDN’T SURPRISE ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN PAYING ATTENTION,….

http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/02/17/speaker-boehners-home-targeted-by-mob-protest/

Keep this in mind. I’m sure there will be a time in the future when someone does this to liberal elected officials and the left will be condemning the right for this brand new escalation in tactics.

More threats against conservatives this time in Idaho

Idaho has a “superintendent of public instruction,” and his name is Tom Luna. He has proposed some measures that the teachers’ union doesn’t like, at all. And his opponents have made sure that he feels good and threatened.

SOMEONE WENT TO HIS MOTHER’S HOUSE – HIS MOTHER’S. SOMEONE SLASHED HIS TIRES AND SPRAY-PAINTED A THREAT ONTO THE DOOR. As reported in this article, Luna has said, “Family and personal property are off-limits. You don’t cross that line . . .”

Oh, yes, you do. At least some do. I will repeat what I have already said this morning: I DON’T WANT TO HEAR FROM THE LEFT ABOUT “CIVILITY” FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE…

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/260076/wisconsin-so-idaho-jay-nordlinger

The last line says it pretty well. It appears we have a problem with civility, but it is from the left. The signs carried by the teachers in Wisconsin are much more offensive than any carried by the TEA Party and the stalking of conservatives at the home is much more threatening than anything the TEA Party or any other legitimate group on the right has done.

The left debates Wisconsin

I gave my take on events in Wisconsin — and Obama’s role in them — a bit earlier today in “Who’s Polarizing America?” And you’ll find Jay’s great stuff on Wisconsin if you scroll through yesterday’s Corner. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LEFT?

THERE’S A FASCINATING DEBATE ON WISCONSIN GOING ON BETWEEN HAROLD MEYERSON AND CHARLES LANE AT THE WASHINGTON POST. It’s of interest that Meyerson is a proud socialist, while Lane appears to be a Democrat unhappy with the left-turn his party has taken of late. At any rate, this debate is well worth following.

Here is Meyerson’s initial op-ed, followed by Lane, Meyerson, Lane, and Meyerson.