Enough is Enough - Behave Yourselves!

Madison conservative radio personality Vicki McKenna is under siege. She has had bomb threats and death threats. Someone is impersonating her on Twitter and posting vile things. Her home is being picketed and now someone has sent her a photo of a member of her family who lives in a different state.

Governor Walker is also receiving death threats on Twitter. Someone up in my area has called a business that they thought was being patronized by Sen. Leibham and told them that having Sen. Leibham as a customer wasn't good for the business.

Since when is this acceptable behavior? This is not a television show about the mafia, this is Wisconsin. Behaving in a way designed to terrorize a single woman? (Would you want your mother or your sister to be treated like that?) Threatening the governor? Making veiled threats to a business owner? What do these people think they will accomplish by behaving this way?

Let me just say that the light of day is the best disinfectant for this sort of infestation. I hope every citizen who has been threatened in such a fashion will stand up for American values and call the bullies out in public. Let their friends and neighbors see what kind of people they really are. And when you've done that, drag them into court and make sure there are consequences for such behavior.

This is my state, and people should behave themselves or leave. We can have all the differences of opinion we like, but taking that discussion into the arena of physical intimidation and death threats is unacceptable. "We will never be abandoned by Heaven while we act worthy of its aid and protection". While Samuel Adams was referring to the nation when he made that statement, it applies equally as well on the state and individual level. How is this "acting worthy of " anything except shame, fines and jail?

It is my sincere belief that the people of this state will not stand idly by while a small, badly behaved, bunch of unruly hooligans bully those who are doing their level best to save our state from bankruptcy or their supporters. For those who are the neighbors, friends and supporters of these people, keep an eye out for them. Call the police when necessary, and if,(as may, sadly and shockingly be the case in Madison-our capital city) they won't help, then step up and help out yourself. Do not allow such childish tactics to become a substitute for the rule of law. We are better than that here.

"Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed." ~ 1 Sam 2:3

Not One Penny for Tribute

The senate met yesterday in a special session. They either addressed the portion of the Budget Repair Bill that dealt with collective bargaining or stripped out the fiscal portions of the bill. I suspect the latter. The logic here was that the bill they were voting on did not require a quorum because it had no fiscal impact(By which I think it means that it does not cost the state more money than is currently being spent -not necessarily that it really has no impact. Because truthfully a reduction in spending is an impact. Sorry if that doesn't make any sense, but it's been a long day here.)

Because it is a different bill than the one the assembly approved after 60+ hours of debate, it will go to the assembly later today. It is not substantially different, so there shouldn't need to be much debate on it.

The session was held quickly and in a highly irregular manner. Many are saying that it was not a legal vote, because the session and vote was not posted for a certain number of hours in advance of the session.This is what we will be hearing about until we are sick of it in days to come. The legislature says it met under the rules described in "Special and Extraordinary Sessions of the Wisconsin Legislature" .

I suspect, but not being a lawyer myself, could not say definitively, that the section under "The Call" gives them the authority to have called this vote the way they did and to have held the vote the way they did. The following is what I believe to be the pertinent section:

"In an opinion to Governor Emanuel
L. Philipp in 1918, Attorney General Spencer Haven indicated that the executive’s options in
calling a special session were quite broad:
It will be noted that this provision of the constitution leaves the matter wholly within your hands. You are hampered by no machinery, and no limitations. The time of issuing the proclamation, the time when the session shall convene, the subjects to be considered thereat, the length of notice to be given to the members, the method of notifying them, all are left entirely to your discretion. (7 OAG 49)
Attorney General Stewart G. Honeck’s opinion in 1948 (37 OAG 374) stated that the call may be issued in person or by mail, telephone or telegraph. He also added that failure to contact individual members who are out of the state or unavailable does not invalidate the special session. "(emphasis mine)

It looks to me as though they were under none of the limitations ordinarily governing the time of the session or the amount of public notice given before this meeting.

There are an awful lot of people out there making an awful lot of ridiculous statements about this. I saw a teachers union member on the news claiming that this was done because the republicans are out to "get our children". (Those were the actual words-can you believe that?) That, "teachers and the unions are the only ones standing up for our children's rights". If that were true, then why do teachers and administrators habitually deny our children their Constitutional rights during school hours, to say nothing of refusing to notify parents when their children need help to exercise those rights? If that were true, then why would the unions obstruct charter schools that are running more efficiently(i.e. more cheaply) and with better results(i.e. better grades) to keep them from succeeding? For that matter, if it were truly about the children, then why not endorse and restructure the educational system around homeschooling? I'll tell you why. Because it is not about the children, it is about power.

My speculation is that these people are so deluded that they cannot discern a lie even when it is told by themselves. But then what do you expect of those who embrace the Madison state of mind? Madison, a place where some of the people out here in the hinterlands say is the place that logic goes to die.

This is the right thing for our state and for the rest of the nation(Since they insist upon poking their noses into our business, I may as well include them.) The unions need to be restored to their reasonable role -that of ensuring reasonable wages along with healthy and safe working conditions - and leave politics to We the People.

"The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace." ~Isaiah 59:8

"And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand." ~Acts 29:3

It Depends on Where You Are When You Ask...

That's what I said when I was asked how people in Wisconsin really feel about Scott Walker and what he's doing with the budget.

I said that because, as former governor Lee Dreyfus once said, Madison is "68 square miles surrounded by reality." So, the opinions of the people in Madison, or even Milwaukee, are not necessarily reflective of the opinions of the people in the rest of the state. (No, as a matter of fact, the rest of us do NOT want to pay for your train-you want it-you pony up the money yourself.)

I know that there are polls showing increasing disapproval of Gov. Walker and I thought those polls were in need of some balance. I saw a billboard that pretty well sums up the attitude of many up here in Kestell country. (I wouldn't presume to say everyone-because the teachers union members and their compatriots up here clearly-if you read my other posts- oppose him.)

So in the interest of balance, here is the billboard. Enjoy.

At least that's the post I was working on when I heard the Governor Walker had decided to compromise. So, who is representing the taxpayers in those contracts now? Congratulations, you've just taught the communists that they don't have to play by the rules.

I am disgusted. Texas, Oklahoma and Utah are beginning to look good. ( I would pick Alaska, myself, but my husband thinks it's too cold here.)

I feel betrayed. But maybe I'm jumping the gun here. I'll be calling my legislators and the governor's office tomorrow. I hope this is just a reporter, hoping for a scoop, behaving badly with privileged information.

Update: This morning,(3/9/2011) I called the governor's office to ask about reports of compromise on the part of Governor Walker. Tristan(an aide I assume) informed me, that, as far as he knows, the governor has no intention of compromising. I expressed my approval and asked that he relay my message of absolutely no compromise to Governor Walker. If we allow this sort of shenanigan to prevail, then we have no business calling ourselves a republic. Giving in to "pay for play" democrats who refuse to do their jobs and union thugs from across the country would be anathema to the vision of our founders and the continued existence of our status as a sovereign state.

If I went to work one day and found that my employer wanted me to do the most disagreeable job at the business, would I be justified in throwing a hissy fit, walking off the job-while still insisting that I be paid- and having my union send in people to vandalize the business and harass the other employees who are trying to do their jobs? Of course not. I should be fired for such behavior. And the union should be disbanded or heavily penalized. And yet, that is exactly what these 14 Senators have done. Add in that they have accepted rather a lot of union money to get elected and the true picture becomes even clearer. I say Illinois can have them. They should resign if they are not willing to represent their constituents above their campaign donors.


"When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

"And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: "~ Exodus 18:16-21

An open letter to Senate Democrats from one WI Mom

Hello, Ladies and Gentlemen,

You were elected to vote.

• Not to run out on your responsibilities like teenagers pulling a prank.
• Not to run up expensive resort bills on the taxpayer's dime while you do so.
• Not to make our lovely state the laughingstock of the nation.
• And certainly not to leave our beautiful Capital building at the mercy of out-of-state hooligans brought in to act as Union Enforcers against the people of Wisconsin.
  
  You may not like it that your vote will not change the outcome. That does not change your duty. You were elected to vote. I suggest, that you put your behinds back on that bus, get yourselves back to the floor of the legislature in Madison and do your jobs.
  
  May I further suggest that you take up a collection amongst yourselves to pay the bills for the resort and the bus, so as to avoid further burdening the hardworking taxpayers of WI and shaming your electorates any further.
  
  Your behavior is outrageous.
  
  "The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
  
  Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest. "~ Micah 3:11-12

Budget Repair

Update: The situation continues to worsen.

• Democratic legislators have vacated the capitol in the hopes of preventing a vote.
• The governor has instructed that police to look for them and bring them back.
• The DNC and Organizing for America(Mr. Obama's replacement for ACORN) are busing in out of state protesters to add to an already strident situation. (There's a demonstration of civility and common sense-add to the danger of the situation by adding outside agitators to the mix.)
• Protesters have apparently gotten onto the Senate floor.
• Teachers across the state are calling in sick.
• Former Senate candidate Dave Westlake is calling for a I Stand With Governor Walker rally at the capitol on Saturday.
• Rush Limbaugh has called Madison WI, "Moscow West"
• The Socialists have chimed in for the unions.
• Mr. Obama has chimed in with his two cents worth, saying Governor Walker shouldn't have turned down the train money. (And exactly how would that have helped this situation? Unless it is Mr. Obama's contention that Mr. Walker should continue the shady accounting practices of former Gov. Doyle and have surreptitiously allocated some of that money to the general fund to make the budget look better.)
• Mr. Obama has also said that Gov. Walker's bill seems like an assault on unions. Perhaps if the members of the state employee unions hadn't spent their time over the last several years alternately whining that they aren't paid enough and bragging to the rest of us that they had lifetime security in their jobs with no worries about health care or retirement thanks to their wonderful state jobs, we might agree. As it is, not so much.

It is time for the state union employees to remember that they are citizens first and union members second. If they had reigned in their unions demands, the governor wouldn't have to. As it is, they just seem greedy, selfish and power-mad. In these days of media inspired politics, that's not the message they should want to have out there. They could have stepped up to the plate and said we offer these reductions to the state out of a wish to remain consistent in our duty as citizens to keep this state fiscally solvent.

We're all in this together. They chose to continue business as usual. This is not a republican or democrat issue. this is a common sense issue. When there is no more money, the belt must be tightened and luxuries let go.

The Wisconsin legislature will be debating the merits of governor Walker's plan to repair the budget tomorrow and Wednesday. There's been quite a bit of coverage on this plan, and much of that coverage has been negative.

Unions, for a long time, have been dictating terms of employment for many, many people, not just in the state, but in the nation. I have written in the past that it is high time that the unions were reminded that they are made up of people. People whose first priorities, as far as employment goes, need to remember that, unless there's a job available, they will be unemployed. People who need to remember that they are citizens first and union members second.

In Wisconsin, the state's union workers have had about the best benefit package available anywhere, except those offered for Federal gov't workers. They will not find much sympathy for being forced to contribute to their own retirements, much less for being forced to pay a fairly low percentage of their own Health Insurance when compared to private sector workers.

There will undoubtedly be news stories covering the plight of the poor union workers forced, forced I say, to contribute in this way to their own benefits. The facts are, as Governor Walker stated, that there is no more money. The taxpayers have no more pennies to contribute to any more largesse that might be demanded in a collective bargaining agreement with these workers. The money simply isn't there.

Not only are there no more pennies to contribute to more benefits for these union workers employed by the state, but there is no more tolerance on the part of the people of the state for watching government workers whine about benefits that the private sector cannot afford to offer.

To their credit, I have seen many comments on articles, from state union workers who support Governor Walker in this effort. Many of them are also resentful that they have been forced to be part of the union in order to have these jobs. These are the people who understand what governments service is about. These are the people who understand that they are citizens first and employees second.

The state unions will be busing people to the capitol in Madison tomorrow and Wednesday, in an attempt to communicate to our legislators their strong disapproval of this action on the part of Governor Walker. AFP will also be busing people to the state capitol in Madison tomorrow and Wednesday, in an attempt to support the governor in his attempts to rein in the spending and to restore fiscal sanity to the state of Wisconsin.

My guess is that there will be more union members than regular citizens. Mostly because regular citizens from the private sector will not be able to take off work for the day to go down to Madison and be part of a demonstration. That does not mean however, that private sector employees and other citizens cannot make a difference in this debate.

This is one of those opportunities to exercise good citizenship by contacting your state legislators and giving them your opinion. It only takes a few minutes to call and your legislators will appreciate the input on what is sure to be a highly publicized vote. This is how participatory governments are supposed to work. Participate by calling your legislators and letting them know what you think, politely please. Remember, the aides who are answering the phone are not doing the voting. Call the legislative hotline at: 1-800-362-9472. Ask for your legislator. You'll be asked where you live, and transferred to the office of one of your legislators whether it be a senator or an assembly person. I would recommend that you make note of who your legislators are, and have your call directed from one to the next.

Citizenship in a free and independent Republic is a personal duty and a demonstration that we are worthy of the freedoms we have been given in this nation.

"So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." ~ Luke 17:10