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How Leadership Can Trump Demagoguery…Every Time, Watch Wisconsin

Note: We have the best labor union coverage in America right here at RedState, with LaborUnionReport and his crew, and this business in Wisconsin is 95% bullet-point labor issues. I’ll leave that to our experts. But considering the worldwide surfacing of “American-style, street-based labor issues” in downtown Tunis, Cairo, Amman, Manama, hell, even Tripoli, the last three weeks…and then all of a sudden, in Madison, Wisconsin, home of the Badgers, who just beat #1 Ohio State, and Donna Shalala, cutting buddy of Janet Reno, closing that square becomes a little more difficult.

Is this part of a grand plan, or has something gone awfully wrong?

A strange thing is happening in Madison right now, and I don’t think it’s playing out as the public employee unions there want it to. In fact, if scripted as US labor has been in guiding their brothers in the Middle East, this show in Madison has taken on an aspect of the Improv Theatre on Monday night when everyone’s still hungover. Who’s in charge? Better still, who’s the dispatcher? Who’s sending these people out into the streets to make fools of themselves?

This is only a heads up, as there are events still to develop, but pay close attention to what’s going on in Wisconsin the next few days. So far the teacher’s unions, the state senate’s democrats (cowards all), many of who in voting “absent” may well have put themselves out of a job by scramming out of  town, and yes, even Obama and the White House, seem to be doing everything wrong.

They are close to screwing the pooch. On a long, four year road to the Big Rock Candy Mountain, they just may have hit a sink-hole, thinking it was only a pothole, sinking with it much of big labor’s long term plans in the US.

So pay close attention to how the media plays this, for the stronger Governor Scott Walker plays his cards, the more people will see the real purposes of the public employees, and even in a liberal state such as Wisconsin, and even in a leftist city composed mostly of state employees such as Madison, people can still add and subtract.

There is no way the unions can win an argument in the court of public opinion as to whether they should have to pick up maybe 12% of their own health insurance and retirement benefits…when the people who are paying these little piglets’ health and retirement benefits are paying twice as much for their own, and earning on average only 20% less in salaries. Those days are over, and they can learn this with some sense of the “jig is up”, or by their ankles. (I don’t care, but I suspect Gov Walker should.)

I assume Gov Walker is not (or should not) be playing to the Madison gallery only in making his case. I hope he sees America is watching…and rooting for him.

But the whole state is watching, too, and they will see that the people who are in charge of their children (the teachers) are pigs. You can see it all over the internet. Yes, pigs, and they can compare the piglets’ comportment, hygiene and and litter habits with the manners of tea partiers, whose histories also have been recorded. The union cause will sink beneath the congregated effluvia of its own filth….for Wisconsonites are a tidy bunch, all in all.

More importantly, Walker is making a helluva case to the rest of America. Hundreds, no, probably thousands of Americans are watching, in cities, townships, counties, and a few governors, looking for an ounce of backbone.

For you see, Scott Walker, Wisconsin’s new governor, took his mandate seriously and is seriously trying to “simply balance his budget”. He seen his job and he done it.

You also see that the unions are busing in outside help, but to do what? This isn’t an election, they can’t beat people up, run people away from the polls. All they can do is fill the street with more ugly signs, noise and debris and reminders that the shooting of Gabby Gifford came from their side of the fence, and the media won’t be able to help them one bit…if the governor will not budge.

Now I’m not putting Scott Walker up for the president in 2012. He’s a regular guy. But he strikes me as a man of honor and fortitude who is simply going to carry out his job under the state constitution, and his oath…by God. A man of Integrity.

Suddenly a power issue is at stake here that no one really saw coming. The Mideast is in flames, at the hands of several countries’ national unions, under American labor tutelage, plans were going forward, and suddenly American public employee unions find themselves going all-in in Madison, Wis-damn-consin, over an issue they cannot possibly win. They have gone all-in way too soon. And Obama must back them. And now their whole game can unravel.

We need to send this simply message to Gov Walker: Leadership is catching, and leadership is built on a few very well-known, but hard to demonstrate qualities, among them, truth of purpose, fortitude, courage, and honor.

We all have these, but rarely under the wilting glare of power the forces of the Enemy can muster. This is where Scott Walker finds himself today. Send him every ounce of encouragement you can. Let him know he is not alone. And let him know that if he succeeds there, little Scott Walkers will be born across the country, and the Enemy will find itself in hasty retreat.

Sometimes it only takes one.

When Leadership stands up to Demagoguery, Demagoguery doesn’t just retreat, if often surrenders.

I didn’t pick this place, Scott Walker didn’t pick this place, but this battle is still one of our choosing. It can start here. I can smell it.

COMMENTS

  • http://www.800cart.com Ron Robinson

    The WI fled town to Rockford, IL so WI State Troopers could not round them up and return them to their elected duties. The Rockford Teal party discovered them at the Clock Tower Hotel (resort, really) in Rockford IL and called a flash rally: http://www.facebook.com/rockfordteaparty?sk=wall

    While derelict of their duties in WI, the WI Dems still tried to ‘govern’ in absentia with a list of demands from out-of-state: http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/17/awol-wisconsin-democrat-calls-cnn-with-list-of-demands/

    Rockford TP Video ambush in Rockford (link in updates at the bottom): http://www.redstate.com/elronaldo/2011/02/17/real-time-in-wisconsin-capitol-leveraging-kids-for-dem-dirty-work/

    • http://westforwestwing2012.com heartlander

      That would be Rockford, IL, as in the home of Chronicles magazine, the flagship publication of the paleoconservatives, right?

      BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA !!!!!!

      • http://westforwestwing2012.com heartlander
  • pamela1631

    You can hear the threads of union bondage start to unravel.
    The woof and warp, which has been continuously patched and overlaid, reached Wisconsin’s citizens tolerance limit.

    Governor Walker has grit and is made of stern stuff from what I can see. Blow the horn and bring down those union walls.

    I love the smell of reality when it strikes in the morning.
    Time to sober up people.

  • Kyle-MI

    A whole lot of other Governors in other states are watching as also are a whole lot of public unions. If the unions fall there, it puts them in danger everywhere else. (OK, maybe not CA, but nearly everywhere else.)

    • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine
  • Newton E. Mchuckney

    this is more like running over the shark in your SUV and dragging the carcass under the vehicle for a few miles before you realize, “hey, whats that funny noise?”

    • 6eorge Jetson

      nt

  • nick2000

    There are several things in play here. Basically, the governor of Wisconsin wants to prevent public employees from joining unions. Many people are applauding for their own different reasons, be it “stick it to the lazy union people”, or “cut the liberals’ funding sources”, …
    One thing that still comes out is that a right (not an obligation, mind you) that workers had fought heavily for in the 1930s is being reconsidered (at least in the case of the public employee). This begs the question: is a public employee the same as a non-public employee? Should they have the same rights because they happen to be paid with our taxes? (by the way, the waitress at the restaurant is paid with the tip you leave and what you pay for the food)

    It seems that a lot of people forgot to think about the implications while cheering.

    We can indeed decide that, since they serve us (public servant, etc…), then the rules for them are different and that they are not allowed to complain. After all, they can always change job. It seems to have worked when Reagan did it to the Traffic control.

    So, here is my question: what rights should public employees have? Or maybe what rights should they lose compared to non-public employees?

    • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

      issued an executive order allowing for public sector employees to organize a union. Even after that order, they have never had the right to strike. Before that order they had the right to a hearing if fired or demoted. They always have had the right to complain, ie speak under the 1st amendment and lobby their employers, ie the voting taxpayers for more pay. They are not similarly-situated with private sector employees whose unions must be cognizant of company profits.

      • Diogenes314

        “There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, any time. ”

        And you could update it to say public welfare as well.

    • Newton E. Mchuckney

      the governor of Wisconsin Does Not want to prevent public employees from joining unions…he wants them to contribute more to their own retirement and more to their own health insurance

      and we’re applauding because a governor is actually standing up to Democrat/union thuggery

      try again

      • nick2000

        He wants to reduce the cost of the employees by effectively reducing their pay. This is a valid action point to reduce overall cost and any income comparison between public employees and non-public ones is valid.

        However, the method he employs is by taking away bargaining rights. Bargaining rights can be used for more than simply pay or cost. Safety, work conditions, etc… can be covered.

        I applaud the “reducing the cost” goal but I question the method.

        • Newton E. Mchuckney

          in fact their bargaining rights for salary remains the same…he wants them to contribute more to their own retirement and health benefits

          and if you’re suggesting that he’s going to start reducing the quality of ‘Safety, work conditions, etc’….you’re reaching

          • http://thesandsinstitute.org Vassar Bushmills

            …and we’ll have more to say about this later, unless Wisconsins makes much of it moot, but I firmly believe public unions, serving necessary public purposes should be decertified. And I would use some of the same arguments labor union use themselves in denying their own employees the ability to organize.

            If that is too severe, then they should not be able to use union funds to support political campaigns, as the powere/ability of public employees, who live off taxpayers, the power to influence the raking over of those taxpayers’ wallets is an affront to the every working citizen.

            Several other “compromise” solutions come to mind, such as the bargain for wages only, and let the employer determine retirement and insurance rates.

            You ask good questions, for the cat is officially out of the bag today

          • flannery

            While everyone seems to be focusing on wage and/or benefit reductions in the WI bill there are two provisions that are much more important to the Union bosses.

            The bill ends Employer deduction of union dues from the employees’ paychecks. Now, by operation of statute without any bargaining, the Union, once certified, can require the Employer to deduct Union dues from the check of every person represented by the Union. Just like a withholding tax, the Union gets its money up front, without the employee being able to decide whether to pay it or not. If this bill passes the Unions will have to get their money from the employees after the Employer pays them. The Unions will be choked.

            The bill also requires that the Union be recertified annually. That means that the employees will decide whether the Union will continue to represent them every year. The Union will be required to prove its value to its members. They will not be grandfathered in for decades because some employees selected them in 1959. Much more work and accountability for the Union.

            These are the real issues that the Union bosses cannot accept. They will have to collect their own money and prove their worth to the members. A burden too great for many of them to carry.

          • Newton E. Mchuckney

            even more reasons for the Governor to stick to his guns

            the changes he laid out should be a template for Governors across the country….or did Vassy say that already? :)

        • congressworksforus

          He’s taking away their monopoly.

  • http://www.conservative-outlooks.com ladyimpactohio

    Things are heating up in Columbus as well, as new regs are on the table from Kasich & other state legislators. At least I didn’t see anyone yelling “Fox Lies.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2NWuCaWEcY&feature=youtu.be

  • http://www.conservative-outlooks.com ladyimpactohio
  • http://westforwestwing2012.com heartlander

    From Washington Examiner:

    Even President Franklin Roosevelt, a friend of private-sector unionism, drew a line when it came to government workers:

  • phenne

    are truly clueless to what the citizenry around them feel about their ‘entitlement’ mentality.

    I’ve seen rage in the eyes of common community folk when they read news articles on the unwillingness of unions to “share the pain” of cutting back to make ends meet.

    The only “government” that serves the daily needs of the ‘productive society’ —- is local municipality/city governments. My city runs a tight ship, and the results are a pleasant quality of life for the citizens. Of course, the other end of the spectrum — the City of Bell, CA. — is a bunch of criminals who will rot in jail. But, I digress. The County of Los Angeles is bloated, LA Unified School System is crappola, and our state is the Greece of America.

    I have to go get a stiff drink now …….

  • Common_Cents

    No matter what, they cannot defend leaving kids without an education. Working parents will get tee’d off as what are the supposed to do w/ their kids at home during the day. Kid’s won’t be happy when they hear they’ll have to go a few days longer in the summer or cut into any remaining off days to make up.

    • http://theminorityreportblog.com Repair_Man_Jack

      CHildren are home w/ their parents on days they were supposed to be in school. That means a lot of parents CANNOT go to their jobs. I’m thinking some resentment is beginning to build in the countryside. That resentment won’t be aimed at Gov. Walker.

      A class action lawsuit on behalf on parents who start losing jobs because these teachers went on strike and messed up their child care isn’t beyond the pale. The Union would like this done before Monday.

  • c17wife

    Do we really want to ban people who contribute to the bigger picture of actions so well?

    I hope rumor mill is wrong and this author isn’t really gone. Because that would be a loss we really don’t need right now.

  • vmo335

    I would read, reflect, then reread his tapestries. i’m a bit of a lurker and i have posted only a smattering of diaries. i was encouraged, and found my courage, to get involved with local political volunteerism by reading many a contributor who is no longer welcome here. Frankly, it saddens me that this has come to pass.

    • powertothepeople

      do not help anyone nor does it help the site and the remaining members move on and get back to business. People make choices, choices have repercussions, the rest of us just need to make whatever decision we are going to make and if that is staying on the site, we need to drop the issue, let the site police itself which is its right, and let dead dogs lay. The spattering of “this can not be real” comments do nothing but stoke the flames and drive more people into taking sides which does not help anything.

      I like Vassar as well. In my opinion, he was one of the best writers here. I wish I had a quarter of his talent when it comes to putting words on paper. If I had a quarter of the talent, maybe a few of my own pieces would get the recos, but it is what it is. But I also respect the mods, Aaron, their opinions and when they say we do not know the back side of what went on, I accept it and move on. And since I respect the sites right to do as it pleases more than anything, I have no quarrels with what went down. We should all do the same and move on.

      • gekster
        • powertothepeople

          routine. And since I never mentioned flaming, even with the compulsory “well said” you could not resist the barb. If my “flaming” rhetoric ever becomes too much for the site, I would take my ban as a man, but not sure why you feel the need to follow me around acting as my left shoulder figure.

          My only point, contrary to your comment, was addressing the spattering of comments that keep this whole thing going. No one outside the upper echelon circle know the whole story, so taking sides one way or the other is pointless and does nothing for the cause this site represents. And since the site has the absolute right to grant or refuse service to whomever it pleases, it matters little why they were banned whether it was for reason or no reason at all. We all allow who we want in our own homes and we deny access to whomever we want us well. We have no right to attempt to deny the same to this site or act as if they have no right to do the same.

          Now back to filling up my gas can, I can see I may need it filled.

          • proudmarinemom

            Could you go over that whole “the site has the absolute right to grant or refuse service to whomever it pleases” concept again? We’re all a little slow here.

            I am teasing you, but you really might want to take your own advice about “moving on.”

            No offense intended.

          • gekster

            you are very quick to jump on other posters who do not see things “your’ way.
            You do try to discredit and demean those who are not in lock-step with you.
            You do claim a “we” don’t do this or that, when you are speaking of yourself, and not the whole of RS.
            Heck, read your own posts.
            Not a criticim, just an observation.
            And you do carry a large can. ;)

            example: your critique of my “car anology”.
            Ment to demean me in no uncertain terms.
            And you didn’t mention flaming, but what exactly were you trying to say to the poster, if not to just belittle them.

      • vmo335

        thanks for the insight. i did not intend to step on anyone’s toes. i’ll just keep my focus on the Va-05 district and help out the local elections this fall. When a guest is reminded they are a guest, they are being reminded where the door is.
        I got out from behind the computer and volunteered this past election season.i was the apathetic coservative everyman, then i found this site.
        i even was able to get my kids not only involved, but excited about politics.
        It feels as though something really, really sad happened here. and if i can’t express that, whereas before it was encouraged, then it is time for me to thank Mr. EE, the proprietor, and wish him Godspeed.
        We are all on the same team, lets not forget that we are all conservatives.

        • proudmarinemom

          that comment from pttp. Not sure what the negativity is about.

          I hope you stay here and continue to inspire others to step away from the computer from time to time to get involved (I’m in Va-11 and am working on it — lots of senior petrified country-club Republicans to deal with to get there.)

          Your input is valued here.

  • LisaDe

    I will remain speechless on the matter because I can find no words proper enough or classy enough to express my thoughts on this loss.

  • vmo335

    If some of the most prolific writers on this site were presented with the banhammer, why are their profiles and essays still available? why is the ghost permitted to live on? if you are going to go all in, then go all in.