Randy Hopper is a state senator in Wisconsin. A Republican. He is now holed up with his colleagues — his Republican colleagues — in the capitol. The Democratic senators have apparently fled the state. Hopper says, “None of my colleagues from the minority party decided to come to work today.”
The Democrats are denying the Republicans the quorum necessary to vote on key fiscal legislation.
Hopper says, “I spent two years in the minority, and I came to work every day, even when I didn’t like the bills the majority was passing. I thought it was my job.” The Democrats, he says, “have relinquished their duties. The people sent them here to do a job, and they are refusing to do it. They’re in hiding. They ought to be ashamed of themselves.”
Hopper has received threatening phone calls and e-mails. These are threats of a physical nature. “We are working with law enforcement in my district. They are watching my home and my business.” Other Republicans have had their homes and businesses threatened, too. The unionists have demonstrated outside those homes and businesses.
A menacing old phrase comes to mind (and has been used by others, in talking about events in Wisconsin): We know where you live.
Hopper says, “I’ve always said that they can threaten me all they want, but it’s not going to stop me from doing what the people elected me to do.” And he says more than once, “We’re still here.” The Republicans have not run anywhere.
They have been pushed around (literally), screamed at, etc. The capitol is surrounded. The signs carried by the protesters are “vicious,” says Hopper. There are comparisons of Gov. Scott Walker to Hitler, of course. And there are other signs “I won’t describe to you.”
Hopper says, “I can’t tell you how much respect I have for my colleagues,” operating in an extremely hostile atmosphere.
I ask whether he is going home tonight, to sleep. He says, “We’re not disclosing that. My colleagues and I are not talking about that. We’re working with law enforcement” on the matter.
But “I can tell you that I’ll be here tomorrow. We will do our jobs. I said, at the beginning of this session, that what will determine the course of events here is political courage.”
I look forward to the response from MSNBC, CNN, and the other news outlets tonight. I'm sure Krugman has a column already written for tomorrow's NY Times decrying the anger and threats of violence.
Ah, what am I thinking. Palin isn't part of this, so the media is not really that interested.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOne of the GOP should switch and change parties = presto they can hold the vote.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe only question is, "which pocket of the government union are the Wisconsin Democrats in?"
Loathsome cowards. Gov. Walker, stand firm.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWisconsin Republicans run for office, the Dems run from office. Stay Strong!
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuseif they have effectively resigned their duties, can the gov appoint new senators? what would be funny. wont have to worry about those troublesome dems anymore. he's gonna wash those dems right out of the state...one party rule. always a good thing....uh yeah....
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAxelrod - I don't think it has anything to do with party, it's all about numbers. They need 20 for quorum and there are only 19 Republicans.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhew, good thing the Dems and their union supporters are just threatening and bullying people rather than putting up a map showing which political districts should be contested; I can't imagine the apoplectic fit that the MSM would throw if the teachers/Dems/unions dared to put up a map!
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"One of the GOP should switch and change parties = presto they can hold the vote."
It's not an affiliation problem, it's a math problem. They need one more senator to hold the vote. It could be a republican or democrat.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseProgressives:
Those who fool people into thinking they care about "progress". Is THIS their definition of "progress"?
It seems these supposed adults who call themselves "Democrats" and "union members" have DIGRESSED all the way backwards in their behavior to a point of immaturity infinitely higher than they possessed when they were age 5.
And their notions of how to organize civil society, and how the government should operate vis-a-vis the people who gave them their authority? They've ALL been tried, in ALL corners of the globe, and have resulted in abysmal failure every time.
That is the PERFECT definition of REGRESSIVE!
So much for accuracy in language, huh, Mr. N?
Digressive, regressive petulant adults make me SICK!
Neal Peart, the drummer for Rush, wrote a lyric, "Witch Hunt", that aptly describes the pathetic human debris on display in the birthplace of regressive politics with their digressive tactics reminiscent of the DARK AGES:
". . . Features distorted in the flickering light,
faces are twisted and grotesque.
Silent and stern in the sweltering night -
The mob moves like demons possessed . . .
Confident their ways are best . . .
The Righteous rise - with burning eyes -
Of Hatred and Ill Will.
Madmen fed on fear and lies -
To Beat and Burn and Kill . . .
Those 'who know what's best for us' -
MUST rise and save us from ourselves . . .
Quick to judge, quick to anger, SLOW TO UNDERSTAND . . ."
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse@Beau Jangles RE: "It's not an affiliation problem, it's a math problem."
Indeed. I'm wagering it is a math problem that the electorate can solve next go-around, too. :)
Can't wait to see the commercials at campaign time.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTo quote AP: "Elsewhere, some Democrats applauded the developments in Wisconsin as a long-awaited sign that their party was fighting back against the Republican wave created by November's midterm election.
'I am glad to see some Democrats, for a change, with a backbone. I'm really proud to hear that they did that,' said Democratic state Sen. Judy Eason-McIntyre of Oklahoma."
That "fighting back" and "backbone," of course, consist of fleeing the state to thwart the will of Wisconsin voters. In case anyone still doubts that Democratic politicians today are utterly without principle.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis must be how they will Win the Future.
Pathetic.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI am sure no constitution calls for a Democrat to be present, not even Wisconsin. It is the matter of a quorum. If someone attempts a vote without a quorum, someone else must "call a quorum", that interminable thing we must watch ad nauseum in C-Span coverage of the Senate. (My God! How many of those have been called in the Senate? What a thing to study!)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf noone asks for a quorum call, who's to say there isn't one?
Call a vote. I dare ya'.
I double dare ya'.
Grow a pair, boys (and girls).
"Fair" is a Democrat concept meaning, "I'm not getting my way"
If no one stands now, someone will have to, later, and it might not be pretty. Think Neville Chamberlain.
I look at these crowds and all I see are predominantly white middle-aged men and women. If they were wearing tri-corner hats, the MSM would be apoplectic.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThanks Mr. Nordlinger for the work.
Senator Hopper said of the Wisconsin Dems, "They’re in hiding. They ought to be ashamed of themselves."
Shame? Dems? The Dems in Wisconsin are elected by the same people who voted for Obama because he was going to give them "Obama money"...Dems have no shame...you are who voted for you!!! Shame...good luck...
What fun!!!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm so glad that dissent is once again the highest form of patriotism. Does the Governor have any power to fire these people?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis reminds me of the last time Democrats down here in Texas pulled such a stunt - during the redistricting battles in 2003. Eventually, they came back, some compromises were made, and the Republicans who stood fast got their way for the most part. People have remembered that now in Texas: 2/3 of the House is Republican, and the GOP has a commanding majority in the Senate.
Democrats who fled Madison are cowards, and want to forget who won the last election. I also want to tell Barack Obama that, too. He should keep his big fat nose out of Wisconsin's affairs.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSomeone suggested: if only one Democrat is needed for a quorum, why don't one Republican change party affiliation temporarily?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think this is actually a legitimate political fight between two contending parties - I side with the Governor and the Republicans regarding their effort to reform the public employee unions, but I think that the Dems have to do what they are doing. (union bully tactics aside) - This is a struggle in the most classic sense of American political life.
I think that what the Dems are doing will rebound strongly against them and help the fight for reform across the nation take further growth - but, as far as the Dem's running to Illinois - Texas republicans did it to avoid getting hammered during redistricting - I consider a legit political tactic - one that will fail, but legitimate..
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's a sad spectacle when the noble, under-paid, under-valued, disrespected public teachers of yesteryear (remember, it wasn't that long ago) are finally revealed to be what they really are - greedy, self-centered, "what's in it for me?" robots for the unions that control them.
Nice example to set for the kids, Teach!
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