June 2011
24 posts
Walker To Cut Medicaid Without Public Hearings →
“Without Public Hearings”—really seems to be the mantra of Walker’s Republicans, doesn’t it?
WI GOP Wants To Make Recalls Harder →
What’s a party to do when they can’t convince the public that their anti-worker, union-busting, anti-education ways are the way to go? Why, change the rules, of course.
Walker Says Most Voters Don't Care About Recalls →
Yep. Those 100,00+ people who’ve been in the streets of Madison, they’ve totally forgotten why they were there. The 60% of Wisconsin residents who disapprove of the job Walker’s doing, they were just kidding. The unions that Walker is trying to destroy? They’ve absolutely just given up and gone home. Excellent point, Governor Asshat.
Does overwhelming signature collection success in... →
I am sincerely hoping that the answer to this question is yes.
What's Next? -- The Progressive →
“Finally, we’ve got to realize you can’t go it alone. To regain your energy, to restore your hopes, to recoup your strength, you need to join with close friends and make of this work a picnic. The pain and sorrow of today can be eased tonight by laughter, love, and home-cooked food.” And song.
Emails Suggest Legislators Knew Supreme Court... →
Huh. Apparently, Republicans in the legislature were somehow notified how and when the conservatives in the Supreme Court would be ruling on the collective bargaining bill. Nothing fishy to see here, no sir, move along. Move along.
Capitol Re-Opening →
This is the best news I’ve heard in a while. All eight Capitol doors will re-open on June 27, and the metal detectors will go away. Our House.
When We Win →
Beautiful video of the protests, rallies and sing along on Tuesday. Just when I thought I had no tears left…
Unions File Suit Against Collective Bargaining... →
Never give up. Never surrender.
Fake Democrats Will Cost WI Over $400,000 →
Apparently, we don’t have enough money to educate our children, or for art, or for recycling, or for safe water, or to allow workers’ rights. We do, apparently, have over $400,000 so the Republicans can run fake Democrats in the recall elections, and buy more time to get big corporate money into Wisconsin. The hypocrisy is just staggering.
GOP Plans To Add Collective Bargaining Measure To... →
The “Extraordinary Session” starts at 11am tomorrow, allowing the Republicans to bypass all kinds of normal regulations, including open meeting requirements. And it’s looking like they’re going to add the collective bargaining measure into the budget on the floor.
Assembly Repeals Racial Profiling Law →
“The Assembly voted 61-36 to repeal a requirement that police collect traffic stop data in an effort to gauge whether racial profiling in a factor in pulling people over…. No Republican spoke during the floor debate.” Well, I can’t imagine why.
All 3 Dem Recalls Certified →
I suspected this was probably coming, but I was hoping it might not. Crap.
Shuffle
On my bike ride down to the Capitol today, I had my ipod on shuffle, and this came up first thing. It’s been coming up a lot lately. I have a lot of music on my ipod and this keeps coming up. Well, today, it was exactly what I needed to hear.
“We know the battle ahead will be long,
but always remember that no matter
what obstacles stand in our way, nothing
can withstand the...
Waste Of Time →
Another late-night entry into the budgeting process: The Republicans pass a motion to prohibit public funds being used for abortions at hospitals that do not provide abortion services and have never provided abortion services and are not planning on ever providing abortion services. ’”This is a waste of time and it’s stupid,” Grigsby said.’ Truer words were never...
GOP Offers Big Tax Break →
We can’t afford to educate our children, we can’t afford to keep the promises we’ve made to our public employees, we can’t afford bicycling, recycling, high-speed rail, the arts, or safe water, but apparently what we can afford is to give huge tax breaks to corporations. Seriously, how do these people sleep at night?
Bleeding Heart Liberals →
Even more on the Red Cross/Sing Along/Rep. Farrow brouhaha. At least it points out that we patched things up with the Red Cross almost immediately. Seems the press on this is going to turn out okay.
Farrow, Let My People Sing →
A news story about the Republican Rep. who is upset at the Solidarity Singers.
Protesters Disrupt Meeting →
I spent a few hours singing outside of the Joint Finance Committee last night. This is a story on what happened.
Blue Cheddar →
I was the guest for half an hour on an internet radio show this morning, talking about Solidarity Sing Along. You can listen to an archive of the show here.
No Signs? →
People have been arrested for holding signs while watching meetings in the Capitol. Apparently, not only is it not against the law, there’s not even a rule against it.
Capitol Singers Upset State Rep. →
Solidarity Sing Along is upsetting the Republicans. I suspect this is a good thing.
May 2011
68 posts
All 6 Republican Recalls Moving Forward →
All six of the recall elections against Republicans are moving forward. The three currently in process against Democrats are on hold due to fraud allegations. This is all very, very good news.
Roar →
ROARmag has been doing a fantastic job of covering the protests in Spain, and they did a little write-up on Wisconsin’s song of solidarity for Spain, “No Nos Moveran”.
The youtube video of the song has now been viewed over 26,000 times, and hundreds of messages of thanks have been posted from all over Spain. So proud to have been part of this.
Solidarity Sing Along Music →
One of our sing along regulars has been recording audio and video of many of the sing alongs. This page has a bunch of mp3s if you’d care to hear what the sing alongs sound like.
Dem Recalls Delayed? →
“The Government Accountability Board announced this afternoon it will not take up next week the recall petitions against three Dem senators because of “numerous factual and legal issues” that need to be investigated further.” Excellent.
Wisconsin's 2nd District →
If Tammy Baldwin runs for Senate, Kelda Helen Roys is considering running for her House seat. Yes, please.
Signing Ceremony Crashed →
Walker’s signing ceremony was crashed by an activist who was able to ask Walker a question. It was a fantastic piece of work.
On The TV →
There were lots of cameras in the Capitol today, and lots of people filming the sing along. Many news stories today had film of the sing along, but here’s one: Nice little piece on NBC 15 on reactions to Judge Sumi’s ruling today, and on the Solidarity Sing Along.
Obama's Polling Well In WI →
Obama now holds comfortable leads over Romney, Gingrich, Palin and Ryan. More good news on a day that’s had plenty. I’ll take it.
It's Dead →
Sumi declares the collective bargaining bill null and void. Let me repeat. Sumi declares the collective bargaining bill null and void. It’s dead.
A New Poll--It's Not Looking Good For Walker →
Walker’s approval rating: 43 Percent supporting recall: 50 Feingold vs. Walker: 52-42 Barrett vs. Walker: 50-43 Can we start the recall now? Please?
Walker Signing Law We Don't Need →
“… let’s look at national figures.
Saturday’s Wall Street Journal pointed out that President George W. Bush made voter fraud a priority for enforcement, so the U.S. Justice Department went to work.
From 2002 to 2005, the Journal reported, 55 people were convicted. That’s nationwide. That’s barely one person per state.”
1 person per state over 4 years. That means we’re...
Walker Signs Voter ID Bill →
I am so disheartened and frustrated by this. I sang so loud today that my voice is hoarse, and I clapped so hard I think I bruised my hands.
“The legislation should prevent people from voting in another’s name, but not the most commonly prosecuted form of voter fraud in the state - felons voting while on state supervision. The state Department of Justice and Milwaukee County...
Rep. Litjens Holds A Listening Session →
Rep. Litjens held a listening session. At which she claimed, with NO EVIDENCE, that the voter ID bill is necessary because of 4,500 cases of voter fraud. She also claimed that she personally talked to poll workers who saw the same people voting five or six times. Three options. A) Those are terrible poll workers who did not report a serious crime upon witnessing it, and should have been...
Capitol Security Is A Fire Hazard →
Madison’s fire marshal says security measures at the state Capitol are a potential fire trap, but a spokeswoman for the Madison Fire Department says the state isn’t doing anything about it….
“Ed Ruckriegel, our fire marshal, has actually talked to the Department of Administration and as of right now they don’t seem to be prepared to change anything they’re...
Feingold Early Favorite In Poll →
Feingold and Baldwin are both polling very well for Kohl’s seat. Can’t we have them both?
DOA Says Capitol Could Open Up In Future →
Hey, look. Mike Huebsch says he might start obeying the Wisconsin Constitution at some unspecified point in the future. Good for him—what a swell guy.
GAB Officially Certifies Three Recalls →
Excellent news. Kapanke, Hopper and Olsen, we’re comin’ for you.
Group Wants Senator Lasee Investigated →
Sen. Lasee, during the debate on the voter ID bill, claimed that he had personally spoken to 3 people who had committed voter fraud. When asked why he hadn’t reported those 3 serious crimes, he said he misspoke. Or, in other words, Sen. Lasee *lied* on the floor of the Senate in order to get a bill passed. Is that a crime? Shouldn’t it be if it’s not?
Republicans Ram Through Voter ID Bill →
Democratic senator Bob Jauch…: “History will show that today is the day that democracy died in Wisconsin. Attacks on workers rights, restriction on access to the Capitol, attacks on voters rights. Today Republicans are limiting speech – limiting the right of the minority to speak against the tyranny of a group gone mad. This is a pattern of dictatorial madness.”
Tweet
We had a fantastic sing along today. The Senate passed the Voter ID bill this morning, so there was a lot of frustration in the air. The sing along did much to lift my spirits and to strengthen me.
As did this:
A tweet from Michelle Litjens, conservative Republican Assembly member:
“I’ve had enough! One hour of union protesters singing, “We Will Overcome” etc. in the...
Walker Moves To Ban Hospital Visitation Rights For... →
Because Scott Walker is all about shrinking government, saving money and creating jobs. And this does all three of those things.
