BRKG WI Republicans strip out spending, pass bill reducing unions to wage bargaining only

[Little-Acorn]

The big bill that WI Senate Democrats fled the state to disrupt, had both spending items that specified how much various union workers would be paid, what pensions etc.; and also non-spending items like whether govt-employee unions would have the power to collectively bargain for pensions and benefits as well as wages.

Wisconsin law says that a quorum must be present in the Senate, for anybody to pass bills that do any spending. Democrats fled to prevent any voting on that big bill. They have said all along that they really object to the collective-bargaining provisions.

With the Democrats missing, Republicans stripped out all the spending parts of the bill, leaving just the collective bargaining parts. And then passed it out of committee and the full Senate voted on it a few minutes ago. It passed, 18-1.

Now they have to reconcile it with the (Republican-majority) Wisconsin Assembly. Shouldn't take long.

Tough titty, Demmies. You could have come back any time in the last two weeks. But you didn't, and now it's done.

Elections have consequences. And "we won".

-------------------------------

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...ME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-03-09-19-27-44

Wis. GOP bypassing Dems on collective bargaining

By SCOTT BAUER
Mar 9, 7:32 PM EST
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate have voted to strip nearly all collective bargaining rights from public workers after discovering a way to bypass the chamber's missing Democrats.

All 14 Senate Democrats fled to Illinois nearly three weeks ago, preventing the chamber from having enough members present to consider Gov. Scott Walker's so-called "budget repair bill" - a proposal introduced to plug a $137 million budget shortfall.

The Senate requires a quorum to take up any measures that spend money. But Republicans on Wednesday split from the legislation the proposal to curtail union rights, and a special conference committee of state lawmakers approved that bill a short time later.

The move set up a vote in the Senate, which voted mere moments later.

 

[Sysman]

I love it. How to beat them at their own game...

.

 

[Gitche Gumee Kid]

The WI Repubs pulled off a strategic victory. Watch the fur fly now.
GGK

 

[hoss]

I wonder why they didn't do this 2 weeks ago and spared some of the initial drama?

 

[Little-Acorn]

I wonder why they didn't do this 2 weeks ago and spared some of the initial drama?

To take away Democrats' ability to further lie: "The Republicans RAMMED IT THROUGH before we could get back to discuss it!!!"

Now Republicans can point out they waited two weeks while the leftist fanatics lounged in hot tubs in Illinois.

 

[Codeno]

The WI Repubs pulled off a strategic victory. Watch the fur fly now.
GGK

Yeah, this is far from over. It's been good to see the Gov. and Repubs stick to their guns, and it'll take a lot more of this to ever begin to turn things around.

 

[Little-Acorn]

How long before the Democrats and other leftist fanatics start rioting, breaking windows, trashing buildings, and setting fires?

 

[JackieD]

Awesome!! So happy they found a way to break the stalemate. Hopefully, the Demos will return and they will get about the states business.

 

[Little-Acorn]

From the fanatic-left site Huffington post:

BoyInBOYCOTT 1 minute ago (7:49 PM) 1691 Fans

OUT of the Capitol, and DEMONSTRAT*E at EVERY Republican*'s HOME and the schools of their kids.

NO JUSTICE NO PEACE

This is going to get ugly, real fast. These leftists are petulant, savage animals when they don't get their way.
Bring it on, leftist losers.

 

[2redroses]

Just caught the breaking news on this on both FOX news and then CNN. Mike Tobin of FOX reported the news/events of what was going on with the vote, protesters in the Capital building, etc. Then I saw CNN and their report included some very biased opinions from the CNN reporter in Madison. Could not believe the very blatant CNN opinions from the reporter in the field.

Kudos to Mike Tobin for a straight report! Will be interesting to see how this proceeds from here

 

[Blastoff]

Well played, Gov Walker.

 

[TerriHaute]

It's not quite over. The WI state House has to vote on it next. There will probably be huge demonstrations and in-your-face media coverage until the final vote is done and Walker signs it. I just spent a week in Madison visiting family. The local TV station programming was saturated with political ads supporting the union, it was like the final week of a November election. Very obnoxious.

I sure wish the Indiana legislature would do something like this. It's not getting much national press, but the Indiana Dems are still holed up in Illinois. They are getting fined $250 per day each day the state congress is in session and they don't show. The collective bargaining bill they hated expired and is no longer an issue this session, but they have a list of about 8 other pieces of legislation, some which have already been voted on, that they are demanding be tabled before they will come back. Indiana law does not allow for removal from office or recall elections. And, they get paid for the entire year up front in January, so there is no way to pressure them by withholding pay. Mitch Daniels appears to be prepared to wait them out, no one is blinking on the Repub side.

 

[Hfcomms]

The ugliness that is coming is only a shadow of the reality of our future. Most people simply refuse to believe that the old sow is milked out and the teats are dried up. When the government milche cow runs dry the screaming really starts. And this from a population that no longer knows how to do for itself, how to provide for itself and how to make do what what they have. Yes, the banksters and money men of the world have the responsibility for the mess we are in but as individuals we have to deal with it....adapt or die. Going to be a lot of rioting, looting and dying in our future unfortunately.

 

[pitbull]

TEA PARTY FRIENDS, follow the Huffington post

Out of the streets and DEMONSTRATE at every dem's home and at the schools of their kids.

NO JUSTICE NO PEACE

 

[Dennis Olson]

OUTSTANDING!!!

 

[intothatgoodnight]

Full Text Of OP's Article

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...ME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-03-09-19-27-44

Wisconsin GOP Strips Public Workers' Bargaining Rights

By SCOTT BAUER

Associated Press

March 9, 2011 8:20 PM EST

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate voted Wednesday night to strip nearly all collective bargaining rights from public workers after discovering a way to bypass the chamber's missing Democrats.

All 14 Senate Democrats fled to Illinois nearly three weeks ago, preventing the chamber from having enough members present to consider Gov. Scott Walker's so-called "budget repair bill" - a proposal introduced to plug a $137 million budget shortfall.

The Senate requires a quorum to take up any measures that spend money. But Republicans on Wednesday split from the legislation the proposal to curtail union rights, which spends no money, and a special conference committee of state lawmakers approved the bill a short time later.

The lone Democrat present on the conference committee, Rep. Peter Barca, shouted that the surprise meeting was a violation of the state's open meetings law but Republicans voted over his objections. The Senate convened within minutes and passed the measure without discussion or debate.

Before the sudden votes, Democratic Sen. Bob Jauch said if Republicans "chose to ram this bill through in this fashion, it will be to their political peril. They're changing the rules. They will inflame a very frustrated public."

Walker said after the votes that Senate Democrats had plenty of opportunities to come home.

"I applaud the Legislature's action today to stand up to the status quo and take a step in the right direction to balance the budget and reform government," the governor said in a statement.

Walker's proposal has touched off a national debate over union rights and prompted tens of thousands of demonstrators to converge on Wisconsin's capital for weeks of protests. Spectators in the gallery Wednesday night screamed "You are cowards" as the Senate voted.

"In 30 minutes, 18 state Senators undid 50 years of civil rights in Wisconsin. Their disrespect for the people of Wisconsin and their rights is an outrage that will never be forgotten," said Democratic Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller. "Tonight, 18 Senate Republicans conspired to take government away from the people. Tomorrow we will join the people of Wisconsin in taking back their government."

The drama unfolded less than four hours after Walker met with GOP senators in a closed-door meeting. He emerged from the meeting saying senators were "firm" in their support of the bill.

Democrats had been calling all day Wednesday for Walker and Republicans to compromise.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said earlier that Republicans had been discussing concessions Walker's office had offered, including allowing public workers to bargain over their salaries without a wage limit. Several GOP senators facing recall efforts had publicly called for compromise.

Union leaders weren't happy with the concessions, and Democrats had not signed off on them.

While talks had been going on sporadically behind the scenes, Republicans in the Senate also had publicly tried to ratchet the pressure on Democrats to return. They had agreed earlier Wednesday to start fining Democrats $100 for each day legislative session day they miss.

Walker's stalled bill was introduced to help plug a $137 million budget shortfall projected by the end of June. He has said that without the collective bargaining bill, he may have to lay off 1,500 state workers and make other cuts to balance the budget.

On Wednesday, the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau offered a way to salvage $165 million in debt by refinancing savings. It had said the bill could pass as late as early April if other accounting moves were done by Walker's administration to extend the debt refinancing deadline by a month.


© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

 

[denfoote]

How long before the Democrats and other leftist fanatics start rioting, breaking windows, trashing buildings, and setting fires?

In other words, make themselves out to be targets of opportunity??

 

[intothatgoodnight]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/10/us-wisconsin-idUSTRE72909420110310

Wisconsin Senate Passes Public-Sector Union Curbs

By Jeff Mayers

MADISON | Wed Mar 9, 2011 9:59pm EST

(Reuters) - Republicans in the Wisconsin state Senate approved sweeping curbs on collective bargaining by public employees on Wednesday in an abrupt and accelerated vote that caught many Democrats by surprise.

The move was like to add to the already bitter political atmosphere in Wisconsin and ratchet up the anxiety level of union workers nationwide, who face similar efforts to roll back public employee power in a number of other states.

The bill, which also increases the health care and pension costs for workers and was the most controversial part of newly elected Governor Scott Walker's emergency budget repair bill, now heads for the Republican-controlled state Assembly, where quick passage as early as Thursday is all but assured.

By stripping out the sections of Walker's bill that involved appropriating funds, the Senate Republicans were able to work around the legislative roadblock their 14 Democratic colleagues threw up three weeks ago when they fled the state to deny the Republicans a quorum.

In an 18-to-1 vote, the Senate approved the curbs on collective bargaining by public employees.

Republican Walker insists the limits are needed to help the state's cash-strapped municipalities deal with a projected $1.27 billion drop in aid over the next two years from the state, struggling to close its own $3.6 billion budget gap.

The measure has prompted massive demonstrations in the state capital by the bill's opponents and triggered a wave of recall campaigns targeting both the governor's supporters and opponents in the legislature.

What began a month ago as a Republican effort in one small state to balance the budget has now turned into a confrontation with unions that could be the biggest since then President Ronald Reagan fired striking air traffic controllers nearly 30 years ago.

If the plan is approved as expected in Wisconsin, a number of other states where Republicans swept to victory in the 2010 elections could follow. Legislatures including those in Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Idaho, Tennessee, and Kansas have already been working on union curbs of their own.

The stakes are high for labor because more than a third of public employees such as teachers, police and civil service workers belong to unions while only 6.9 percent of private sector workers are unionized. Unions are the biggest single source of funding for the Democratic party.

Walker, 43, applauded the move, which came despite signs, including public opinion polls, that a growing number of Wisconsinites don't back the measure.

Walker never mentioned the proposal on his official campaign website nor debated it during his two-year campaign. It reverses long-standing policy in Wisconsin, among the first states to give public employees union rights.

"The Senate Democrats have had three weeks to debate this bill and were offered repeated opportunities to come home, which they refused," Walker said in a statement.

'OUTRAGE'

But Wisconsin Democrats blasted the move, whose speed seemed to surprise the missing Senators.

"In 30 minutes, 18 state senators undid 50 years of civil rights in Wisconsin. Their disrespect for the people of Wisconsin and their rights is an outrage that will never be forgotten," Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller said.

Miller and other Senate members said they would now be coming back to the state and continuing the fight.

"We have no reason to remain away and when the Assembly acts on the bill tomorrow we will be back in the state within a matter of hours," Democratic Senator Jim Holperin told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"We did what we could to delay the bill so people could know what was in it and to try to negotiate something less than the complete elimination of workers' rights."

Democrats say Walker is taking advantage of the state's current financial problems to attack organized labor -- traditionally a strong supporter of the Democratic Party and a critical player in any effort by Democrats to recover from the setbacks they suffered in the midterm elections last fall and to keep President Barack Obama in the White House in 2012.

Immediately upon being sworn as governor in this January, Walker convened a special session of the legislature to pass what he called a budget repair bill. Buried inside were the provisions slashing public employee union rights.

By stripping out the fiscal fixes in the bill and considering just the collective bargaining portions, the Senate Republicans were able to pass the measure on Wednesday without the absent Democrats.

The Senate measure requires public workers to pay health care premiums and contribute to their pensions -- concessions the workers had signaled they would accept if the collective bargaining restrictions were removed.

A conference committee made up of Republican members of the legislature on Wednesday separately approved a revised budget repair bill over the objections of Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, who called the meeting a violation of state law.


(Reporting by Jeff Mayers and David Bailey; Writing by James B. Kelleher; Editing by Jerry Norton)

 

[kozanne]

Statement from the Governor:

This afternoon, following a week and a half of line-by-line negotiation, Sen. Miller sent me a letter that offered three options: 1) keep collective bargaining as is with no changes, 2) take our counter-offer, which would keep collective bargaining as is with no changes, 3) or stop talking altogether.

With that letter, I realized that we’re dealing with someone who is stalling indefinitely, and doesn’t have a plan or an intention to return. His idea of compromise is “give me everything I want,” and the only negotiating he’s doing is through the media.

Enough is enough.

www.hotair.com

 

[kozanne]

Warnings going out that there is no security anywhere in the Capitol. Doors and windows have already been broken by some of the protestors.

So much for the new tone.

Tomorrow should be awful.

 

[RobinYyes]

The big bill that WI Senate Democrats fled the state to disrupt, had both spending items that specified how much various union workers would be paid, what pensions etc.; and also non-spending items like whether govt-employee unions would have the power to collectively bargain for pensions and benefits as well as wages.

Wisconsin law says that a quorum must be present in the Senate, for anybody to pass bills that do any spending. Democrats fled to prevent any voting on that big bill. They have said all along that they really object to the collective-bargaining provisions.

With the Democrats missing, Republicans stripped out all the spending parts of the bill, leaving just the collective bargaining parts. And then passed it out of committee and the full Senate voted on it a few minutes ago. It passed, 18-1.

Now they have to reconcile it with the (Republican-majority) Wisconsin Assembly. Shouldn't take long.

Tough titty, Demmies. You could have come back any time in the last two weeks. But you didn't, and now it's done.

Elections have consequences. And "we won".

-------------------------------

.

I hope Boener and the rest of them took notes. So far they aren't doing chit. Meantime I'm hounding several of them (Issa, and Boener) via twitter. heheehehhe

 

[Deena in GA]

The Dems are proving themselves to be nothing but liars and thugs. Disgusting!

 

[Red Baron]

DW and I were eating dinner when the story broke on live local TV at about 5:55 pm CST.

All the Milwaukee news stations carried it as it came down live. Except the always laggard Fox6. They missed the whole thing live and didn't get on the story until 6:30 pm. That's the same Fox6 that didn't carry the last shuttle disaster for a half hour after it happened. Even after I called their "News Tip" phone number. Apparently they don't have any staff on Saturday morning.

Bunch of losers .....

 

[Dennis Olson]

"In 30 minutes, 18 state senators undid 50 years of civil rights in Wisconsin. Their disrespect for the people of Wisconsin and their rights is an outrage that will never be forgotten," Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller said.


what do unions have to do with CIVIL RIGHTS?


Oh, NOTHING....

 

[Red Baron]

There is no Constitutional "right" to any -public- employee union at the local, state or federal level. It is a -privilege- granted by government and is a privilege that may be altered or removed by government legislative action.

Here is the joint Committee hearing that allowed the State Senate to immediately vote on the bill. The lone Democrat on the committee is from the House, not the Senate. After a big fuss, watch the Republicans vote and walk out on him.

Winning!

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/117702453.html

 

[33dInd]

I wonder why they didn't do this 2 weeks ago and spared some of the initial drama?

I believe it was done for maximum national public exposure.................show the unions for what they are

 

[gelatinous]

Calls are going around for a "general strike". Hell most of them are to busy protesting to go back to work, so what difference will it make.

One in this video from tonight had the GALL to say this was "unconstitutional"! Perhaps a brick needs to fall on his fat head about Obamacare to knock some sense into him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTwOcb5l1lY&feature=player_embedded#at=190

 

[Grantbo]

Just yesterday the governor came out with a bunch of compromises. I thought for sure the repubs were going to cave. Looks like he was just covering his bases so he wouldn't be accused of not willing to bend (not that he won't be blamed anyway). The dirty liberals didn't move so he moved to end this madness.

Good for him.

 

[LouKy]

In other words, make themselves out to be targets of opportunity??

I was thinking of sending them free Viagra till their balls explode or their brains.

( full story at link )
http://www.examiner.com/strange-new...-union-screw-the-taxpayer?cid=parsely#parsely

Viagra, helping the teachers union screw the taxpayer
* August 6th, 2010 6:07 pm ET
Viagra: helping the union screw the taxpayer (AP)

As if those in the teaching profession aren’t suffering from a poor enough image (National Education Association idiocy regarding merit pay and school vouchers, the new NEA Drag Queen caucus, daily stories of sex with students and the half trillion tax dollars eaten annually for a high school graduation rate that is less than 70-percent), the Milwaukee teachers union has just raised the absurdity ante.


http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/two-thirds-wisconsin-public-school-8th-g

Two-Thirds of Wisconsin Public-School 8th Graders Can’t Read Proficiently—Despite Highest Per Pupil Spending in Midwest
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
By Terence P. Jeffrey

(CNSNews.com) - Two-thirds of the eighth graders in Wisconsin public schools cannot read proficiently according to the U.S. Department of Education, despite the fact that Wisconsin spends more per pupil in its public schools than any other state in the Midwest.

In the National Assessment of Educational Progress tests administered by the U.S. Department of Education in 2009—the latest year available—only 32 percent of Wisconsin public-school eighth graders earned a “proficient” rating while another 2 percent earned an “advanced” rating. The other 66 percent of Wisconsin public-school eighth graders earned ratings below “proficient,” including 44 percent who earned a rating of “basic” and 22 percent who earned a rating of “below basic.”

 

[readerb]

Was at a Tea Party meeting when this broke. Sen. Grothman was supposed to be there to speak after a viewing of The Cartel. As we arrived we got word about this happening, so he wouldn't be able to make it. It wasn't long after, that we got an update that the vote had taken place & that windows were being broken at the Capital building. When we got home, we heard on the news that the Senators & Walker were escorted under police protection - out of the Capital & told not to return to their homes, that the police could not guarantee their safety. So, tonight.. we now have our Republicans also in undisclosed locations. Tomorrow, this goes before the Assembly. I imagine TSWHTF in short order. Deep divisions in Madison.. lots of tension, lots of rage. We lay low, very low. Still, am glad this went to vote & hope it passes tomorrow in the Assembly.

 

[Kook]

The ugliness that is coming is only a shadow of the reality of our future. Most people simply refuse to believe that the old sow is milked out and the teats are dried up. When the government milche cow runs dry the screaming really starts. And this from a population that no longer knows how to do for itself, how to provide for itself and how to make do what what they have. Yes, the banksters and money men of the world have the responsibility for the mess we are in but as individuals we have to deal with it....adapt or die. Going to be a lot of rioting, looting and dying in our future unfortunately.

When the DotGov money dries up, the cities will burn to the ground, and there will be no money to rebuild them. That's why I live out so far in the sticks we get the grand old opry on Tuesday night.

 

[Ravekid]

Was at a Tea Party meeting when this broke. Sen. Grothman was supposed to be there to speak after a viewing of The Cartel. As we arrived we got word about this happening, so he wouldn't be able to make it. It wasn't long after, that we got an update that the vote had taken place & that windows were being broken at the Capital building. When we got home, we heard on the news that the Senators & Walker were escorted under police protection - out of the Capital & told not to return to their homes, that the police could not guarantee their safety. So, tonight.. we now have our Republicans also in undisclosed locations. Tomorrow, this goes before the Assembly. I imagine TSWHTF in short order. Deep divisions in Madison.. lots of tension, lots of rage. We lay low, very low. Still, am glad this went to vote & hope it passes tomorrow in the Assembly.

I would highly advise getting some good night vision cameras and posting near the homes/property of those elected officials. Calls need to go out to neighbors who can be trusted. Video cameras need to be set-up in bedrooms, etc. filming any retaliatory attacks. I would even say that neighbors/community watch groups should arm themselves. My understanding is that WI is an open carry state..stay within the law. Those who have the numbers should camp out in cars down the road, etc. If they get notice that a bunch of union thugs have showed up, arrive in car and start filming while the police should have also been called as soon as the thugs show up. If the cops are there, continue to film from afar...don't interfere with the cops. Try your best to get face and license plate info on tape.

 

[dogmanan]

Just a nother dot to get things going, I still say this will be a very interesting summer very interesting indeed.

Now the rep's in d.c. need to get going.

later

 

[Treasurer2345]

RE: Windows & Doors Broken - Not True

DOA spokesperson stated: Donovan said that they've received reports of protesters entering through broken windows and getting through doors, but they don't know where the damaged windows are. Donovan later said that those reports of broken windows and doors may not be true. Donovan said he walked around the building and didn't see any broken glass outside.

http://www.channel3000.com/news/27140935/detail.html

 

[FREEBIRD]

As far as "civil rights" and unions go, they look like these:

---freedom of speech

---freedom of press

---freedom to peaceably assemble

---right to vote.

Nothing in any legislation interferes with any of these.

However, I don't quite like the argument that "collective bargaining is not an enumerated right, therefore it's not a right at all", as most of us here argue (and correctly) that the rights of citizens are not limited to only those rights specifically enumerated.

* Nothing in this comment should be construed as being pro-union (I used to be but no longer, after having family members threatened by their union "brothers"), but the path of "enumerated rights are the only rights" is a dangerous one, IMO. Even if collective bargaining were to be seen as a right, it does not follow that unions have a right to bankrupt either governments or private business, nor that they have the right to bend societies to their will by violence, threats of violence, or power plays such as the ones seen in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio.

 

[Red Baron]

How to keep up with this fast developing story,

SHOCK AND AWE
By Charlie Sykes
Story Created: Mar 10, 2011

(Story Updated: Mar 10, 2011 )

As the Official Station of the Wisconsin Revolution, we will be jumping deep into the electrifying events of the last 12 hours....with comemntary, special guests, calls, on site reporters, and live audio of this morning's Assembly debate.

Endgame.

Christian Schneider: How the senate passed Walker's Bill.

A letter Democrat Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller sent the governor today, indicating Miller’s unwillingness to further negotiate any details of the bill, was what prompted the GOP’s decision to take the bill to the floor.

“It was like, ‘I’m in the minority, and I’m going to dictate to you what your options are,’” said one GOP source about Miller’s letter. It was just three days ago that Miller had sent Fitzgerald a letter urging more negotiations, despite the fact that Governor Walker had been negotiating with at least two Democrat senators for nearly a week. “With his recent letter, it became clear that all he wanted to do was stall,” said the GOP source.

Another action that provoked the GOP senators to act was Democrat Senator Lena Taylor’s very public decision to have a spring election absentee ballot sent to her in Illinois. The spring election is scheduled for April 5th, which indicated Taylor’s desire to stay out of the state for another month. “That sure didn’t help,” said one GOP source.

Catch Charlie live every morning at 8:30 am to 12:00 pm CST here,

http://www.620wtmj.com/home/ondemand/44930432.html

 

[Ravekid]

RE: Windows & Doors Broken - Not True

DOA spokesperson stated: Donovan said that they've received reports of protesters entering through broken windows and getting through doors, but they don't know where the damaged windows are. Donovan later said that those reports of broken windows and doors may not be true. Donovan said he walked around the building and didn't see any broken glass outside.

http://www.channel3000.com/news/27140935/detail.html

Interesting. Maybe nothing was "broken." I believe I was watching a Fox News report that showed folks crawling in the building through a window. I don't know if it was "broken" or just open.

Here is what is said to be live streaming video from inside the building:

http://www.livestream.com/theuptake?utm_source=lsplayer&utm_medium=ui-play&utm_campaign=click-bait&utm_content=theuptake

It appears they have a few different cameras inside. Nothing but chants so far. There is no date or time stamp, so I'm not really sure if it is "live" or not.

 

[rafter]

When the DotGov money dries up, the cities will burn to the ground, and there will be no money to rebuild them. That's why I live out so far in the sticks we get the grand old opry on Tuesday night.

We need a like button!

 

[Cyndryn]

Watching the protestors on tv..they act like straight up heathens. Just animals.

 

[Dennis Olson]

Though Wisconsin is an "open carry" state, actually attempting to DO SO will net you arrest and jail time. And you'll get roughed-up in the process, particularly in the liberal hell-hole that is madison.