Wisconsin's NEWEST Hero! Mr. D.Thomas Busch!!!

I told ya so!!! (here).  You REALLY should've watched it...  hehehe

Good Morning All;
After 2 more doctor appointments yesterday, I am not feeling any better.
Due to my migraine, I had to call and cancel my appointment for the 6 shots to my back on Monday.
No big deal. I can still move- just not as fast.
(But that's OK, the guns are still loaded and within reach).
Had to bring Punk to the vet yesterday also... She will be alright, but has 2 dental caries that need to be fixed/pulled.
How come EVERYBODY but me gets to have THEIR teeth pulled?!?!
But this all has nothing to do with my blog-
Besides, Casey is sicker than me and Punk put together.

Read on,  ♪ "on... Wisconsin"   ♪

Tue Jan 03, 2012 at 04:57 AM PST

Pulaski WI Marching Band 'Sticking to the Union' in Rose Bowl Parade
(Update)

by AnnieJo

The Pulaski High Marching Band, of Pulaski Wisconsin, made an awesome statement in yesterday's Rose Bowl Parade.

It was quite an honor for the Red Raiders from this small town (pop. approx. 3000) northwest of Green Bay to be marching in 80-degree weather in Pasadena, while their proud community looked on from windy 18-degree Wisconsin. (Me, Shivering).

The TV coverage started as they marched along playing "On Wisconsin," looking properly Badger-like in their red uniforms.

And then they got to the grandstand, at about 1:15 in the YouTube ... listen to what happened.
You Tube Link is HERE.
(I can't see it, but I hope it posted correctly)???

There once was a union maid, She never was afraid
Of goons and ginks and company finks
And the deputy sheriffs who made the raid
She went to the union hall, When a meeting it was called
And when the company boys came round
She always stood her ground

Listen to the announcers -- they have no idea what's going on, what the tune is, what statement is being made here. 
"They just stopped in the middle, this band, and they're gettin' down!" says the announcer. 
Oh yes, they're gettin' down -- (Me, ROTF)!

To Union Maid, written by Woody Guthrie!

Oh, you can't scare me,
I'm sticking to the union
I'm sticking to the union,
I'm sticking to the union
Oh, you can't scare me,
I'm sticking to the union
I'm sticking to the union
till the day I die

The cheers as they finish the song are great. 
I bet there were more than a few people in the crowd who realized what had just happened. 
"The crowd likes them!" declares the announcer, blissfully unaware.  (Me, ROTF)! & "duh!"

I hope it was the musicians themselves who selected this song, who planned this action. 
It would be reminiscent of the students from East High in Madison who determinedly marched out of school down East Washington last February to swell the protests at the Capitol.

My favorite verse of the song is one that was added in the 1980s, and is included in the Solidarity Singalong songbook.

You women who want to be free
Just take a tip from me
Break out of that mold we've all been sold
You got a fighting history
The fight for women's rights
With workers must unite
Like Mother Jones, bestir them bones
To the front of every fight!

The struggle continues here in Wisconsin.  Two more weeks to get those recall signatures -- rumor has it that we're over the top with the Walker sigs, but we're not stopping now! 
Onward to a million! (Me, "WOOT~WOOT)!

P.S.  UPDATE BELOW

Update:

Oh, my stars and garters. 
Type up a quick little protest-music diary before breakfast in the morning, come back after work to find a full-fledged public relations brouhaha in the works.

Hat tip to Gangster Octopus in the comments for alerting me to the fact that the uproar over this diary has caused the Pulaski school superintendant to release a statement disavowing any political content and claiming that the band director only knew of the song as "Red Wing."

Personally, I only knew the song as "Union Maid" this morning before breakfast.  There have been many fine comments since then with more information on the Red Wing version of the song.  There's probably a whole other diary to be written on the various versions -- the original Red Wing lyrics about the sorrowful Indian maid (interesting bit of white-America cultural arrogance to set such lyrics to a polka!), a parody about Charlie Chaplin, several more with risque lyrics that have the pretty Red Wing taking a Bowie knife to the privates of those who would molest her.  Or, apparently, one can play it as a polka and ignore the lyric-echoes altogether.

Taking the band director at his reported word, perhaps he's learned something about the origin of the Red Wing piece as well.  Or maybe we're seeing the playing out of a plausible-deniability strategy.  I don't know -- I haven't spoken to anyone in question here.  I'm just blogging from a distance, based on my observations from where I stand.

If there are still things to be learned about the repertoire, I should point out that it was reported on the Solidarity Singalong Facebook page that the Pulaski band also has in its repertoire, and played along the Tournament of Roses Parade route, "Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

Those would also be known as "There Is Power in a Union" by Joe Hill (more recently recorded by Billy Bragg) and "Solidarity Forever," written for the International Workers of the World by Ralph Chapin in 1915.

However you want to interpret the selections, there's no denying that the Pulaski Red Raiders Marching Band did a fantastic job in the parade, and represented Wisconsin well.  If you would like to donate to defray the cost of their Rose Bowl trip ($300,000 all told!), please do so at the following link:

Pulaski Music Boosters -- Donate Now!
(h/t to my partner in protest and in life, A FIB in Cheddarland, for the link>)

Originally posted to AnnieJo on Tue Jan 03, 2012 at 04:57 AM PST.

Also republished by Badger State Progressive, Protest Music, J Town, Democracy Addicts, and Daily Kos Labor.

Tags

• Pulaski
• RECALL
• Recommended
• Rose Bowl
• Rose Bowl Parade
• Scott Walker
• Solidarity Singalong
• Union Maid
• Wisconsin
• Woody Guthrie
  ________________________________________
  ...End quoted material
  

All of the above taken from Daily KOS- (Do the click).
And all links should work.

Now, as I have already stated elsewhere:

And remember that CaseyAnne was PHS Captain of the Color Guard for a few years! 

"Seriously Folks, I ♥♥♥ Mr Busch!!! 
And now, I ♥♥♥♥♥♥ him even MORE!
You GO, PHS!
Wisconsin and God love Mr. D. Thomas Busch!!!"

XOXO
Anne  (Me, "WOOT~WOOT")!!!!     
aka "I told ya so"

Photo Gallery, Tournament of Roses Parade 1/2/12, Photo Gallery Images
http://www.pulaskimusicboosters.com/tournament-roses-parade-1212

Our Classy GOP in Wisconsin

Wisconsinites Collecting Walker Recall Signatures Get Death Threats

The campaign to recall Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is going swimmingly well -- so well, in fact that it must be making someone (or a group of folks) incredibly nervous.

Raw Story reports:

Police in Sun Prairie, Wisc. said Monday they were investigating reports of death threats made against two activists supporting the recall of Gov. Scott Walker (R).

Wisconsin residents Heather DuBois Bourenane and Tom Peer, who live in Sun Prairie and Madison, respectively, said they received early morning phone calls on Thursday of last week warning that they would be murdered.

Peer says he was told, "If you don't stop circulating recall petitions, we will kill you."

You can check out this interview with both Peer and Bourenane on Daily Kos.

Let's hope that authorities take this seriously and find whomever is responsible for harassing and threatening law abiding citizens who are participating in our democracy. Or what's left of it. It's fine to disagree passionately and peacefully about politics, but to threaten someone's life over an election is absolutely heinous.  

By Tara Lohan | Sourced from AlterNet

Posted at November 21, 2011, 4:55 pm

Hi Everyone!
It takes all kinds to make the world go 'round- But this is taking it all way out of proportion.
DEATH THREATS? C'mon-
Our "Grand Ole Badger State" seems to have a wart, or ten, on its nose.

Methinks someone is increasingly paranoid, and very very worried and intimidated.
These people issuing death threats need to be imprisoned for a long time.
Maybe they will learn how to play fair there...

XOXO
Me

Do the clicks- They do work.

Facts for my Teacher Friends, From Wisconsin

For everyone who sent the original email to me, read this and weep...

A baker’s dozen lies in the “Walker was right” viral email

If you have any wingnut relatives, friends or co-workers, you’ve probably received an email containing the Washington Examiner post below.  The post asserts that Wisconsin’s Gov.Scott Walker’s attack on teacher’s unions have been proven correct by the wonderful results.

I sense you’re thinking “bull excrement.”  Such a thought is spot on.

The post is not long, so the lies are densely packed.  I’ll unpack them for you. 

First, here’s the manure pile:

Remember the violent and disgusting demonstrations over Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker doing away with the collective bargaining for teacher’s unions? The results are in. Some school districts went from a $400,000 deficit to a $1,500,000 surplus as a result. Why? It seems that the insurance company that provided all the “so-called” benefits to the teachers, was an insurance company owned and operated by the teacher’s union. Since they were guaranteed to get the insurance business from the teachers and the State had to pay for it, and not the teachers, they were increasing the annual costs every single year to become the most expensive insurance company in the state.  Then the insurance company was donating millions and millions of dollars to their favorite democrat politicians, who when they got elected, guaranteed to keep funding the unions outrageous costs. In other words, the insurance company was a “pass through” for Wisconsin taxpayer money directly to the democrat politicians. Nice racket, and this is the racket that is going on in every single State that allows collective bargaining. No wonder the States are taking it away. Now that the State of Wisconsin is free to put the insurance contract out for bid, and lo and behold, they have saved so much money it has turned deficits into surplus amounts. As a result, none of the teachers had  to be laid off, everyone got a raise, etc., etc., and the taxpayers of Wisconsin don’t have to pay more taxes to fund the union’s political ambitions. If you weren’t aware of the reasons why Gov. Walker was fighting to take away collective bargaining, it gives you an idea of the problem the Republican Party has. Outside of one or two, none of them know how to speak up and explain properly what the problem was. We could sure use a Ronald Reagan now, someone who could explain things for people to understand, since we know that people don’t like to read anymore.

My my, where shall we begin?

Let’s start with the lie that is the heart of the matter: that schools are saving millions thanks to Walker’s union busting.

First, busting the unions — that is, killing collective bargaining — was unnecessary if what Walker wanted to do was change the way some teachers bought health insurance.

Second, I said “some teachers” because at the start of this year, WEA Trust, the 40-year-old not-for-profit organization that’s made out to be the villain here, insured only 35% of Wisconsin’s teachers. Gee whiz, you’d think they’d need a much larger market share than that to be a monopolistic monster destroying the state budget.

Third, it was not the union busting or the change of an insurance plan that saved money for the Kaukauna school district, the one the Examiner used as its example to “prove” Walker correct, but a host of other cuts.

Kaukauna, like all school districts in the state, will recognize cost savings as a result of the budget bill’s requirement of employees to pay an increased portion of their insurance coverage and pensions (something to which the unions had readily and repeatedly agreed), but according to Kaukauna’s 2011-2012 operating budget, the greatest portion of its deep cuts has little to do with the provisions in the budget bill and, sadly, will have a direct and negative effect in the classroom. (Update: Here’s the district’s own document spelling out the cuts. They start about page 14.)

Kaukauna’s greatest cost “saving” — $1.5 million — is from taking away the jobs of 61 employees. Another chunk — almost $307,000 — came from a drastic modification of  the kindergarten program for 4-year-olds.  Other cuts: $275,445 from buildings and grounds maintenance; $248,064 from IT; $180,000 from student transportation; $127,500 from “other district operations”;  and $95,121 from reconfiguring the administrative assistance.  That’s more than $2.7 million in cuts for the district with nary a word about the employee benefit package provided by the WEA Trust.  Note that the $2.7 million in cuts is considerably more than the $1.9 million turn around celebrated — and falsely attributed to insurance cuts for teachers — by the Examiner.

Fourth, when the Examiner says the insurance company, WEA Trust, is “owned and operated by the teachers’ union,” WEAC, the Examiner is lying.  They are separate legal entities.  The WEA Trust is a not-for-profit insurance company regulated by the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. I verified this with Wisconsin’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance; I wonder why the writer in the Examiner did not.  No, I don’t wonder — I know:  The writer wanted to give you false information to fool you into buying his political lies.

Fifth, when the Examiner writes the WEA Trust was “guaranteed to get the insurance business from the teachers,” the Examiner lies.  As noted earlier, WEA Trust covered only 35% of the state’s teachers, not the 100% it would have were it “guaranteed to get the insurance business from the teachers.”  With collective bargaining intact, school districts bargained their benefits with the union at the local level.  The insurance carrier  had to be agreed upon by both the district and the union at the bargaining table.  WEA wins and loses business all the time, as do its competitors.

Sixth, when the Examiner writes “the insurance company was donating millions and millions of dollars to their favorite democrat politicians,” the Examiner both lies and shows it doesn’t know basic grammar, something you’d expect from news outlet.

“Democrat” is a noun and cannot be used to modify the word “politician” (or any other word).  The adjective the writer should have used is “Democratic.”  But the Right has been using this juvenile attempt to slight the party to the Left for years, and the Examiner is merely marching along in lock step.

More importantly, the insurance company has never donated a single thin dime to any politician or any political party.  I verified this through the online database at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, an organization that tracks who gives money to which politician and in what amount.

By the way, the teachers’ union, WEAC — not the insurance company, WEA Trust — has given tens of thousands of dollars in contributions to dozens of Republican candidates.  Something the Examiner wishes you not to know.

Seventh, when the Examiner writes  ”the insurance company was a ‘pass through’ for Wisconsin taxpayer money directly to the democrat politicians,” it repeats the error of grammar and creates another lie.  WEA Trust does not funnel — “pass through” — money into WEAC to be used for political contributions, because that would violate state and federal laws and would easily be detected by the regular audits to which it is subjected via the regulations of the Wisconsin office of Insurance Commissioner.

Eighth, when the Examiner writes “Now that the State of Wisconsin is free to put the insurance contract out for bid…” it is lying by implication. As noted earlier, WEA Trust covered only 35% or our teachers — meaning about two thirds (that’s most) teachers got their insurance elsewhere.  How would that happen if there was no competition for  these contracts?

Ninth, when the Examiner writes “the State had to pay for it (the benefits package), and not the teachers,” it is lying.  The benefits package is part of the teacher’s compensation package — that is, part of their pay for the vital work they perform.  The money could go directly into their  individual pockets, or they could pool their resources to be smart buyers (which is what they did through their union), but either way, it’s the teachers’ money.

Tenth, this — “none of the teachers had  to be laid off (and) everyone got a raise” — is a lie.  Nearly 500 teachers were laid off at once, and that was just in Milwaukee. There have been extensive layoffs in districts all around the state, in addition to a flood of retirements and positions that are not being filled.  Every teacher in the state has also taken a pay cut as a result of the mandated increase insurance and pension contributions — in addition to salary freezes in most districts.

Eleventh, this — “As a result…. the taxpayers of Wisconsin don’t have to pay more taxes to fund the union’s political ambitions.” — is a lie by implication.  It implies that prior to Walker’s union busting, tax payer money was funding teacher union political contributions, which we already know is completely false.

Twelfth, the implication that the teacher’s union (not the insurance company) is giving “millions and millions” in contributions to “favorite” political candidates is false.  A lie.  The database at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign shows that over the past decade the teacher’s union — WEAC, not the insurance WEA Trust — has given just $698,748 to candidates. That’s a bit over $69,000 a year.  That’s not a lot in political spending terms, especially spread over 10 yaers.  What’s more, they made 589 contributions, which means a hell of a lot more than a few “favorites” received contributions.  It also means the average contribution was under $1,200. In political terms, that’s peanuts.

Finally, when the Examiner writes that Wisconsin protests were “ violent and disgusting,” it lies in the extreme. The fact is that the protesters produced no arrests and the local police actually publicly thanked the crowd for its civility.   Over the past five months — a time when there have been tens of thousands of protesters (sometimes more than 100,000) at the Capitol — there have been only two violent incidents reported.

Both occurred during the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice-sponsored Solidarity Sing Along, and both were perpetrated by Capitol insiders: one by a former Republican state senator and one by a middle manager in the Walker Administration.

Walker’s guy appears to have bloodied himself while stabbing a protester’s balloon and then roughing her up (when we outlaw balloons, only outlaws will have balloons?). We also had Gov. Walker fantasizing about violent acts against Democrats and considering instigating violence against the protesters.

Perhaps the Examiner is merely following the example of Fox News when it lied — repeatedly — to cast the protesters as violent, rude “thugs.”  So desperate was Fox that it comically tried to a pass off as being from Wisconsin in March a video of a scuffle that had  palm trees in the background!

Whatever the reason behind the Examiner‘s impressive pile of bull, there is no justification for it, no truth in it, and everyone involved in producing it has earned our disdain.

_____________________________________________

Hi All;

This article is posted in reply to an email I received. A very bad email, FULL OF LIES.
It is posted to set the record straight.

I have too many friends in the Teaching Profession to let that bull~crap email go viral. (Not from MY computer).

Thank you!

XOXO
Me

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PASS THIS ON.

rebuttal from here.

Walker's Wisconsin. (Not mine).

Good Afternoon All;
I am (kind of) sitting here with Casey as we read up and wish we didn't have to learn ANY more than we already do about this crap and lie s(h)ituation going on in our beloved state.

1.

New State Law gives nice deal to Brookfield.
(Maybe that’s what Prosser and Walker discussed the day after the election)? 

No wait, this bill was written before the election but….

Hmmmm.
Subject: gee, wasn't it Brookfield that just delivered an election to Prosser...?

Oh, yes people, WE THE PEOPLE MUST READ IT...

http://legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/data/SB-21.pdf

_______________________________

A few of their own "supporter~sent" own comments:

A.
And what about all his unqualified campaign workers/supporters getting cushy government jobs? 
Wonder if their bargaining rights are intact!

B.
The abuse of power is so blatant!  Scary! 
Is it because he thinks we are so stupid.... or because he is???

_______________________________

2. 

Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 8:37 PM
Subject: hi all..

We just got the greatest news that we have collected enough signatures for calling for a recall election for our state senator, Bob Cowles.

We needed near 16,000 signatures in sixty days and have more than that now.  We feel excited to have made such progress in so little time.  What a great group of people we have met and worked with in Shawano and Green Bay.

Our neighbors in the Clintonville area have also gotten the signatures they needed for the recall of their Senator, Luther Olsen.!

Maybe now Walker and his crew will begin to think twice about ruining our schools, cutting aids to counties and reducing healthcare for our vulnerable folks and seniors.

Thanks to all for your support!
{K & J} 

PS
The 1st is a note from my sister-
PLEASE read the pdf formatted link she sent; should you wish to face a few truths...

The second is also from herself- For those of you who might think she has NO experience in dealing with these matters.
Intelligence and compassion run very high -on her side of the family. hehehe.

Funny too, re: my comments section below:
(Later) you will find out more about our 'wunnaful Wisconsin' republic. 
Sorry to have to ruin your weekends with it all...

Will be back later-
Casey and I have to run to town for a while; a few home repairs that are driving me crazy to even LIVE with.
_____

Private PS to Polly;
I did receive your beautiful letter- and appreciate ALL of your own efforts on my behalf.  I promise to reply soon- (much easier just doing these short notes for now filled with a whole lot of copy/paste stuff).
We will talk on Sunday if not before...
All my love. Always.
XOXO
Me

Gov. Scott Walker Reportedly Planning Financial Martial Law In Wisconsin

http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/04/16/gov-scott-walker-reportedly-planning-financial-martial-law-in-wisconsin/
- Rick Ungar - The Policy Page - Forbes

Is the key word above "reportedly"...
... Or could we be so fortunate as to add a key word to be 'RECALL"

Be very aware....

XOXO
Me

* new FV blog soon...

On WISCONSIN!!!!

VOTE TODAY!

We do NOT need anymore of what has transpired since last November.

Hi All;
I plan on trying to get dressed and heading to the polls very shortly.
From my wheelchair to that voting booth will be a trial of mammoth proportions for me.

If I can do it. So can YOU!

There are some of you who do not realize exactly what importance your vote holds today- (Far too many also, who do not even realize that there IS an election)!

At any rate, please take a moment to consider these few points.
Hopefully all of the enclosed links will work for you...

XOXO
Anne

PS
Special thanks to Laurie, Kris, and all who helped me put this together.

_____________________________

1. Remember Patrick Lucey, former governor?
Please read this as he has changed his own vote, AND he has also resigned as Co-Chairman of David Prosser's own campaign...
(Very very smart man)...

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Former Gov. Patrick Lucey is withdrawing his support for Justice David Prosser for Supreme Court and is throwing it to Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg.

Statement from Patrick J. Lucey
March 31, 2011

“As a former Governor who appointed to Wisconsin's Supreme Court two quite different but equally principled Justices – Shirley Abrahamson and Roland Day – and who has over the years endorsed several more Justices, I have followed with increasing dismay and now alarm the campaign of Justice David Prosser, whom I endorsed at the outset of his campaign and in whose campaign I serve as the Honorary Co-Chairman."

“I can no longer in good conscience lend my name and support to Justice Prosser's candidacy. Too much has come to light that Justice Prosser has lost that most crucial of characteristics for a Supreme Court Justice – as for any judge – even-handed impartiality. Along with that failing has come a disturbing distemper and lack of civility that does not bode well for the High Court in the face of demands that are sure to be placed on it in these times of great political and legal volatility."

“At the very same time that my confidence in Justice Prosser has waned, I admire and have continued to be impressed with Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg. She has adhered throughout the campaign to even-handedness and non-partisanship and has exhibited both promising judicial temperament and good grace even in the heat of a fierce campaign."

For these reasons I have today resigned as Honorary Co-Chairman of Justice Prosser's campaign, and I endorse Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg for the Wisconsin Supreme Court on April 5, 2011.”

_____________________________

2. Walker; (& his Buddy'$ young son)...
Walker administration questioned about hiring of lobbyist's son
CLICK HERE, or simply do your own search.
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20110404/OSH0101/110404169/Walker-administration-questioned-about-hiring-lobbyist-s-son

Tue Apr 05, 2011 at 01:53 AM EDT
Walker hires uneducated, inexperienced, 2 time drunk driver, son of lobbyist for $80k+ job

One thought posted in that story... "Walker gets his undies all bunched up about those damn educated teachers making $35k and yet he gives this two time drunk dropout a job paying $81,500!?!?  Walker is a criminal."
******** I am thinking I quite HEARTILY agree with those words...

For more on THAT story: CLICK HERE:   or simply do your own search.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/04/963311/-Scott-Walkers-administration-gave-a-state-job-and-a-26-raise-to-the-son-of-a-major-supporter

From JS Online:
"Wisconsin Republicans claim that their state is broke, and have used that claim to justify stripping state workers of their collective bargaining rights. And yet, even though they claim to be broke, Scott Walker's administration just gave a state job, and a 26% raise, to the son of a major supporter who has no college degree, no relevant experience, and two drunk driving convictions." 
http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/119159584.html

_____________________________

3. Wisconsin SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

Tuesday, April 5, 2011 6:07 AM

From: "Daniel Mintz, MoveOn.org Political Action"
<moveon-help@list.moveon.org>

This sender is DomainKeys verified

Dear Anne;

VOTE JOANNE KLOPPENBURG TODAY

Today is Election Day for the State Supreme Court. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Many progressives don't know about today's election or how it's our first chance to fight back against Governor Walker, so please forward this email widely. Click here to find your polling place: Find your polling place

Dear Wisconsin MoveOn member,

Today is Election Day. We want to make sure you, and all your friends, are planning to get out and vote for JoAnne Kloppenburg for Wisconsin Supreme Court today.

In an off-year election like this one, turnout will make the difference, but many of your friends and family may not even realize there's an election. 

Progressives in Wisconsin are incredibly energized. MoveOn members helped collect more than 22,000 signatures to force a recall vote of State Senator Dan Kapanke in record time, and recall petitions for seven other Republican senators are doing really well.

Much of the fight over Governor Walker's anti-worker laws will likely end up in court, and electing Kloppenburg would tip the balance of the Supreme Court toward progressives. So it's up to all of us to make sure that all our progressive friends, family, and co-workers in Wisconsin know they need to go and vote for JoAnne Kloppenburg TODAY. 

Please forward this email far and wide.
Thanks for all you do.
–Daniel, Eli, Milan, Carrie, and the rest of the team

_____________________________

4. SOLIDARITY

Brothers and Sisters, The day is TODAY and the time is NOW. If you haven’t already, please be sure to vote for working family candidates including JoAnne Kloppenburg. Wisconsin has stood united against political attacks by Scott Walker’s cronies for months. We cannot let another Walker ally, David Prosser, be voted into office. Prosser has voted with Walker 95% of the time. He is not on the side of Wisconsin’s union members and Wisconsin’s middle class. Prosser is simply another rubber stamp, ready to do Scott Walker’s bidding. JoAnne Kloppenburg is the best candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court. She will bring the needed impartiality, level-headed judgment and judicial demeanor that our courts deserve. Be sure to spread the word at work and around your neighborhood that today is the day to vote. It is crucial that everyone take the time to go to the polls today. In November, many of us were silent and we are now paying the price. Thankfully, today we have the opportunity to change the shape of Wisconsin’s future for the better. Vote and help rock the vote for working families by clicking here for a list of times, ways and location to spread the word. We have been united in the streets for months and we now must be united at the ballot box! Click here for a list of GOTV activities. In Solidarity, Phil Neuenfeldt, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer

To find out more about the AFL-CIO, please visit our website at www.aflcio.org.

_____________________________

5.  Healthcare
Save for adding to it, to change any part of healthcare plan is a death knell for too many Americans; -
 - including my daughter and myself.
This is exactly what most, if not ALL Republicans, GOP,  and Tea Party people, wish to do...

_____________________________

6.  This YouTube WILL make up your mind-
(As if there could be any questions remaining)?

This is one of the best ads I've seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g7DALO8uP0

Most people will not see it unless it's distributed person to person. So please send it to your contacts, post it on your Facebook page, do whatever you can to make it go viral.

 

I've been told more than $2 million has been spent this week alone attacking JoAnne, so we need everyone to help spread this. 

_____________________________

Politics, wisconsin, walker, etc...

Feel free to borrow any of these.
hehehe

XoXo
Me

Walker Wants Part of Rejected High-Speed Rail Funds Back | AFL-CIO NOW BLOG

http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/03/30/walker-wants-part-of-rejected-high-speed-rail-funds-back/

ROTFLMFAO!

One word: "JACKASS"
Do the click...

XOXO
Me

From Madison, WISCONSIN ---Say "YAY" (Just "IN")...

Judge again blocks implementation of (Wisconsin) collective bargaining law #politics #news
Judge again blocks implementation of (Wisconsin) collective ...‎ - democraticunderground.com


Judge Sumi said " There should be no further implementation of the law"
That the previous restraining order "has been ignored" or was "misunderstood"
(Yeah, right).

More later... I'm sure.
hehehe

XOXO
Me

From their links "Tweet of the day"

http://gogreenteaparty.com/blog/
(Link stolen from Skeezicks).
Thank you Sweet Mary!



NaomiAKlein from Twitter:

"Hey Scott Walker: this is not your air traffic controllers moment, it’s your Waterloo."



hehehe

XOXO
Me

IMPORTANT (to me). I do REALLY need your help on my post from last night

http://flintville.multiply.com/calendar/item/10022/Madison_Wisconsins_BIGGEST_RALLY_YET

Do the click?

Please, if you haven't been there already, I could use your ideals and your help.
I have to run for now, and cannot babysit all these people that I don't even know...
I am trying to keep up -and just cannot...

For everyone (Well, except for My beloved Snotball) hehehe...
To send your own friends there too; if they are of a like mind anyway-

I have to fly for a little while, while my pills are still working-

My love to all

XOXO
Me

PS
A very VERY special debt of gratitude to my Sweet Suzy- who stayed up and held her ground -and her position, seemingly all alone at times. Thank you Susan!

Madison Wisconsin's BIGGEST RALLY YET!

Start:	Mar 12, '11 3:00p
Location:	State Capitol, 2 E. Main Street, (in Madison, Wisconsin).

Better- (almost late), than never...
Plans for Saturday, March 12th, 2011? Make them now!

Do it for the teachers, the bus drivers, the prison guards, the snowplow operators, our nurses, our firefighters, the clerks, and our police officers...

This weekend, thousands of Wisconsin farmers will be driving their tractors in a mass tractorcade in support of public employees at the state Capital in Madison.
Three statewide farm organizations are organizing the tractorcade March 12 to protest Gov. Scott Walker’s state budget and proposal to end collective bargaining rights for state employees.
From here.

From my inbox today...
"Daniel Mintz, MoveOn.org Political Action"
<moveon-help@list.moveon.org>


Dear MoveOn Member,

If Scott Walker and the Republicans in the state legislature thought jamming through their anti-union bill would end the protests and outrage in Madison, boy were they wrong.

Recall campaigns are gaining steam, appeals challenging the legality of the bill's "passage" are being filed, and tomorrow Madison is going to see its biggest rally yet.

At 3 p.m., the heroic 14 Democratic state senators who left the state to stop the bill are returning and will be addressing the crowd.

*** Can you show up tomorrow to welcome them home and help make sure Gov. Walker—and the whole country—knows that we are NOT backing down?

Here is the info:

WHAT: Wisconsin's largest rally yet
WHERE: State Capitol, 2 E. Main Street, in Madison
WHEN: TOMORROW, Saturday the 12th, at 3 p.m.

The national and local media are going to be out in full force and it's crucial that we have a huge crowd at the capitol as a show of strength and support.

Wisconsinites are pulling out all the stops to make the rally unforgettable.

Just one example: Farmers from across the state are going to create a huge "tractorcade" surrounding the state Capitol. Yeah, that's right, tractors.

People from every corner of the state will be in Madison tomorrow to send a clear message: "Attack workers and middle class families, and there will be consequences."

We're just getting started.

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Tate, Milan, Marika, and the rest of the team

________________________________

Oddly enough...

I have also come across a few articles- soon to be posted in a blog.

I thought it appropriate to include this one here 
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_1904eb06-4bdc-11e0-92dc-001cc4c002e0.html

Capitol reopens; no sessions scheduled Friday for Senate, Assembly

BILL NOVAK | The Capital Times | bnovak@madison.com madison.com | (21) Comments | Posted: Friday, March 11, 2011 8:05 am

Following a tense and emotional Thursday at the state Capitol, the building was quiet overnight and could see a return to normalcy on Friday.

The building opened at 8 a.m. Friday. Visitors will be able to use the North Hamilton and South Hamilton entrances.

Both the Senate and the Assembly will not be in session on Friday; the legislative calendar shows the next regular sessions won't start until April 5.

Gov. Scott Walker said on Friday he will sign the budget bill sometime during the day, but the time and location was still to be determined as of 8:45 a.m.

The Capitol closed at 6 p.m. Thursday, but protesters took their time leaving, and the doors weren't locked until about 6:30 p.m., police said.

Four people were arrested for refusing to leave the building at closing time, and two people were arrested earlier in the day, police said.

The Capitol will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

___________________

Hmmm...  

With respect to the scheduled with Madison "seeing it's biggest rally yet",  methinks they might be in for a little surprise?

Added 3/14/2011

Madison Wisconsin's BIGGEST RALLY YET!

Boy! Were we right about that?!?!

hehehe
I am SO proud!

Photo from here

roman,times,serif;color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">

XOXO
Me

Wisconsin GOP Bypasses Democrats On Vote

" We must close union offices, confiscate their money, and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries, and take away their right to strike."


It is a grievous day for Wisconsin...

Note:
This link will take you to Wisconsin's LAW on this type of "government"

This is not just a rule.   IT IS LAW!


In honor of the disrespectful, maladjusted, and disobedient GOP's in my beloved state of Wisconsin; my own guess is that since these people have obviously broken the law that there should be ramifications of such.
If not, then what the hell are we teaching our children?!?
_________________

AFSCME Members File Unfair Labor Practice Complaint Against Walker
by James Parks, Feb 28, 2011

Wisconsin public employees who are members of AFSCME Council 24 have filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the state labor board against Gov. Scott Walker.
The complaint alleges that since he took office, Walker has violated his legal duty to bargain in good faith. The workers have agreed to all of Walker’s concessions on wages, benefits and pensions, but he is refusing to sit down to bargain a compromise to get Wisconsin moving forward again and creating jobs.
In a press release, Council 24 Executive Director Marty Beil said:
    "This governor has never made any attempt to contact the unions he is attacking, much less negotiate in good faith as required by law.
    Instead of trying to find real solutions to the challenges facing the state, the governor is attempting to dictate terms.  This not only is ineffective, it’s against the law."

“It is time for the governor to be held accountable. 
He is ignoring the court of public opinion, with hundreds of thousands of peaceful protesters and 74 percent of Wisconsin voters opposing his attacks on bargaining rights.  If he continues to ignore the public, we have no choice but to turn to the courts,” Beil said.

For a full copy of the complaint, click here.
http://wisaflcio.typepad.com/WSEU-CBA-ULP.final.pdf

Note the date of that article.
Methinks (hopes) that the AFSCME will be filing even more complaints today.
www.afscme.org
____________

The "title" above is taken from NPR,
http://www.npr.org/2011/03/09/134405862/wis-gop-bypasses-democrats-on-vote
Wisconsin GOP Bypasses Democrats On Vote
by NPR Staff and Wires, March 9, 2011

____________

Also from our Press Gazette comes this article, 
 Written by Scott Bauer   9:58 PM, Mar. 9, 2011

Wisconsin Republicans approve separate bill curtailing union rights

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20110309/GPG0101/110309152/Wisconsin-Republicans-approve-separate-bill-curtailing-union-rights?odyssey=mod|mostview


“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.”

____________

I am more angry than sad- yet...
If I were to say more on any of these points right now, many of you would drop me, -or your browser would not accept my emailed blog. 
<img src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/102.gif"></p>


To my friends in Wisconsin, and for all the ruthless and barbaric states that may try to replicate this ugly idea, my heart goes out to ALL of you.

Let's not forget that this trash applies to more hardworking people than our teachers-


My friend Laurie made a wise decision to retire very early.
She has been a guard at GBCI for many many moons.

There are bus drivers, prison guards, snowplow operators, nurses, firefighters, county and state clerks, PLUS our police officers, etc etc etc

AND...
For all the people on my email list who sent me your <blatantly untrue> emails of what Wisconsin's teachers supposedly make, here is the link for your verification purposes.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/99999999/WIS0110/399990901

Now you see what happens when you spread your malicious lies?!?

XOXO
ANNE



PS-
The quote I began this entry with came from here.
It is a quote from Adolph Hitler, 1933.