Although representatives deny any connection to the recent prank call on the governor, two legislators began circulating a bill Monday that would ban making trick calls masking the caller’s true identity.…posted by thebestsophist at 1:56 PM on March 1, 2011
The bill language forbids a caller from intentionally providing a false phone number and convincing the person receiving the call that it comes from someone other than the actual caller.
Capitol update: building still locked down, as it has been for 2 days and longer. I was not allowed to exit to greet thousands of people outside. When I finally got out, I couldn't get back in. I had to climb in through a colleague's window to get back to my office.posted by thebestsophist at 7:31 PM on March 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
A unionized public employee, a teapartier, and a CEO are sitting at a table. In the middle of the table is a plate with a dozen cookies on it. The CEO reaches across and takes 11 cookies, then looks at the teapartier and says "Watch out for that union guy, he wants a piece of your cookie!"posted by gc at 3:35 AM on March 2, 2011 [9 favorites]
As of 5 pm there were no members of the public in the queue for the Joint Finance Executive Session. Only one person asked to be allowed in so far. The indivdual was granted access. Ninety-nine more will be allowed if they queue at King Street. The Session is scheduled to last approximately 5 minutes from 6 pm to 6:05 pm.They weren't allowing anyone in, at all. I was there. I wanted in.
"When one political party gets control of everything, and they sort of forget the main mission… you know, you wonder why people don’t have any faith in the political process."posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 12:05 PM on March 2, 2011
I really think five years from now most of these people will have a real job and be voting Republican," Grothman said.posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 12:48 PM on March 2, 2011
Groups filed notice with the GAB today that they intend to try recalling six GOP state senators.posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 1:51 PM on March 2, 2011
Those targeted include Rob Cowles of Green Bay, Alberta Darling of River Hills, Luther Olsen of Ripon, Randy Hopper of Fond du Lac, Glenn Grothman of West Bend and Mary Lazich of New Berlin.
They join five Dems already targeted for recalls: Spencer Coggs of Milwaukee, Jim Holperin of Conover, Mark Miller of Monona and Dave Hansen of Green Bay.
what, if anything, is happening at the capitol this coming saturday
Ppl keep asking if anything is planned for Sat. Pretty simple, go 2 Cap starting @ noon! We'll rally all day. Spread the word!That's basically it, I don't foresee people all leaving the Capitol building any time soon, so just show up. Others will be there.
#wiunion
Frankly if Rassmussen has these numbers I wouldn't be shocked if the actual numbers are 3%-5% more in favor of the Dems.
Given that one of the first things Walker did when taking office was to publicly taunt and troll the Illinois governor, I can't imagine that Illinois will bend over backwards to help him out.
[A]t least one of the fleeing Democrats asked the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, the state's key interpreter of campaign and ethics laws, for an opinion on whether Democrats can use campaign funds to pay their expenses in exile. The Board said yes.(As a side note, Washington Examiner, I will punch you in the face for attaching shit to my copied text.)
[A]t least one of the fleeing Democrats asked the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, the state's key interpreter of campaign and ethics laws, for an opinion on whether Democrats can use campaign funds to pay their expenses in exile. The Board said yes."
In the case of the fleeing Democrats, Kennedy said the Board based its opinion, at least in part, on two news releases from Republican Gov. Scott Walker's office which "characterized the actions of the Democrat senators in Illinois as being related to campaign fundraising and that the state Senate Democratic Committee has raised close to $300,000 in the past two weeks."So, Walker fucks himself over by calling it "campaigning" which now allows them to consider this campaigning so they can use campaign funds. Schadenfreude, that's what they call this feeling?
Fitzgerald said an Oconto County case brought by a constituent of Sen. Jim Holperin was the impetus for a resolution. The constituent claimed that Holperin's absence leaves the Senate district without representation.posted by zennie at 11:29 AM on March 3, 2011
Fitzgerald said though the case was dismissed, the judge said that the Senate had not exhausted all the remedies available to it to compel the Dems to return.
Fitzgerald said if no Dems arrive by 4 p.m., he will ask the governor to order law enforcement to assist in the apprehension of the senators. While Fitzgerald admitted the senators' actions aren't criminal, the state constitution gives the Senate and Assembly the authority to compel members to attend sessions, and the order is "very similar to a warrant."
"It's the same as an arrest. It is an arrest," Fitzgerald said. ... The order to arrest the senators does not cross state lines, but Fitzgerald says he's confident the Dems have been going back and forth from their homes here to Illinois.
Said they had to turn ringers off of phones because they were lit constantly
Estimates from architect Stevens who just did cap restoration. Gives brief history of cap, 33 types of stone. Tape "could" damage.Further, he says that tape is an unapproved material (per building code), and has never been used on Capitol surfaces.
Further, he says that tape is an unapproved material (per building code), and has never been used on Capitol surfaces.Stevens had stepped down, and it was the DOA Secretary Heubsch.)
Heard on Stephanie Miller RADIO_ WCPT Chicago 9:25 Thursday am.
"Andrew Brightbart & Michelle Malken r encouraging Tea Partiers 2go2 Madison & get Protesters 2assault them To SWING PUBLIC OPINION against!"
Is there any actual evidence of that?
Its been said these are extraordinary times. The constitution doesn't diminish during extraordinary times. State can't overstep.It looks like the judge is going to rule that the people staying overnight in the Capitol building must go at night, but the building *must* be reopened during the day.
Members of the Rotunda Communityposted by thebestsophist at 3:53 PM on March 3, 2011
Today, I have ruled in favor of the Plaintiffs concerning the issues before me on access to the State Capitol of Wisconsin. After three days of testimony, the record establishes that the recent protest was unprecedented of the history of the State of Wisconsin. Thousands of people peacefully protested for two weeks and no injuries or damage to personal or government property occurred.
I credit that to the restraint and discipline of the protesters. I further commend law enforcement supervisors and every individual policeman or policewoman for the discipline and restraint shown during these unusual times.
The Order that I will issue granting the Plaintiff's relief will contain what I consider to be a reasonable restraint on the time, place and manner of future demonstrations and protests. The restraint as follows. Staying after the building is closed, is prohibited. Protests and demonstrations can be held at any time when the Capitol is open during normal business hours and, of course, if either house of the legislature is in session or any public hearing is being held.
I have attached a copy of a Notice requiring that you peaceably vacate the State Capitol after business hours today. My intent is to facilitate the reopening of the Capitol consistent with the free assembly and free speech provisions of the Wisconsin Constitution as well as the parallel provisions of the U.S. Constitution.
Thousands of people peacefully protested for two weeks and no injuries or damage to personal or government property occurred.
Greed has poisoned men's souls - has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.
We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in: machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little: More than machinery we need humanity; More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost...
You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let's use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age and security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfil their promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfil that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness.posted by drezdn at 8:39 AM on March 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Bill Hicks - Life is just a ride...
The World is like a ride in an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it you think it's real, because that's how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and round and round, and it has thrills and chills and is very brightly colored, and it's very loud. And it's fun, for a while.
Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they've begun to question, 'Is this real, or is this just a ride?', and other people have remembered, and they've come back to us and they say 'Hey, don't worry. Don't be afraid, ever, because this is just a ride.' and we KILL THOSE PEOPLE.
"Shut him up! We have alot invested in this ride! SHUT HIM UP! Look at my furrows of worry. Look at my big bank account, and my family. This has to be real."
It's just a ride.
But we always kill those good guys who try and tell us that. You ever noticed that? And let the demons run amok. But it doesn't matter, because ... It's just a ride.
And we can change it anytime we want. It's only a choice. No effort, no work, no job, no savings of money. A choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear wants you to put bigger locks on your door, buy guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love, instead see all of us as one.
Here's what we can do to change the world right now, to a better ride:
Take all that money we spent on weapons and defense each year and instead spend it feeding, clothing, and educating the poor of the world, which it would many times over, not one human being excluded, and WE CAN EXPLORE SPACE, TOGETHER, BOTH INNER AND OUTER, forever ... in peace.
-- Bill Hicks (1961 - 1994)
This seems like a softening of the Democratic position. Erpenbach even concedes in this article that the collective bargaining restrictions would have more of a chance to get passed in the two-year budget. However, there’s a wild-card there, and that’s the recall elections which could change the makeup of the State Senate. If Democrats were to gain control through winning a series of recall elections, suddenly Scott Walker would have no opportunity to ram through this collective bargaining plan. And those elections could happen by the summer, around the same time that the two-year budget would be up for a vote.It seems like they are playing a fake here. They can still leave again to stall the budget, so by moving the CB to the budget they can come back and pretend things are normal for a while until the recalls are complete.
Republicans should be willing to meet Democrats halfway on aspects of collective bargaining that have little or no monetary impact, longtime Republican Sen. Rob Cowles said Monday evening.posted by edgeways at 11:09 AM on March 8, 2011
In a telephone conversation with the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Cowles, R-Allouez, said Republicans already got the lion's share of what they were looking for from unions in pension and health care contributions, and a compromise with Democrats on the rest of Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill is expected soon.
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posted by drezdn at 12:18 PM on March 1, 2011 [1 favorite]