Protesters leave Wisconsin Capitol after 17-day sit-in

Once the collective bargaining rights are gone expect to be beat up even more by the elitists.

Walker said he won’t compromise on the collective bargaining issue or anything that saves the state money.

Taking money out of the economy will not "save" the state any money. The hit to revenue will end up being as big or bigger.

"Wisconsin Gov Scott Walker said Thursday that he will issue layoff notices to 1,500 state workers on Friday if his proposal forcing them to pay more for benefits and taking away nearly all their collective bargaining rights isn’t passed by then."

Tantamount to blackmail, and add the fact that he's threatened police action on the people's right to basically strike and it's looking more and more like a police state every day. And this guy wants MORE control handed to him? Talk about a fascist.

smithinjapan: it's looking more and more like a police state every day. And this guy wants MORE control handed to him? Talk about a fascist.

Uncontrolled emotional outbursts isn't going to solve anything.

Cutting money to schools? What an idiot. He should cut his salary to 0

I`d have to agree with smithinjapan.

Wisconsin has just became a police state.

Good job Walker. It's about time to end the union mafia's grip on taxpayer dollars.

Walker’s budget proposal hinges on the state saving $330 million over two years from forcing state workers to pay more for their benefits.

Why not scale back on the tax-giveaways to business, Walker? Is it because you've gotten paid, or that you've got a job lined up after your time in office?

Well, I wanna tell you who are for Tea Party and Republican, your friends Koch Brothers and other oil billionnaires including FOX news are celebrating their victory over "Oil Subsidaries Bill" this week. These riches successfully bought out "Energy Commission" in congress and successfully kept this bill to stay alive. The money does not go to susidaries, instead it goes to political campaign for politicians (R and TP). I am sure you have been aware the fact our tax money over Trillion has been going out to these corrupt billionnaires who want to control little guys like us.

They are trying to bust unions as the Politicians (D) are with little guys and unions. The money from these poor teachers, policemen, firefighters, nurses and private corporate union workers have given very little to their political representatives, compared to the billionnaires . It is just a penny in a bucket.

I wanna ask you if you have a moral courage and concience to do it right and fair for us underdogs who have very little while we are a law abiding citizen in society; sending kids to school, doing our jobs in our profession, being a bread earner and paying tax.

Isn't it a time for you to see what you are really fighting for?

globalwatcher -

please stay on topic. the topic is "Walker said Thursday that he will issue layoff notices to 1,500 state workers on Friday".

Good for Walker trying to end the Dem/union cartel.

Bust up the unions. There is no place for those mobsters in our (the people's) workplace.

This guy is a "LEMON" and a lier, RECALL!

1) he is negotiating with Democrats....??

No, he is not aking any calls from Democrats.

2)he is negotiating with Democrats about a deal that could get them to come??

By handcuffing and dragging them to Madison.

3) the problem is we thought we were close the past couple days??

Heck No, he is not taking any calls from Dem. members.

Gov. Walker, the people support you! :-D

You go gov walker... Even if you get it through it won't last for what ? Two years? Do something the people don't want and ....

Do something the people don't want and ....

the only people who don't want it are the union mafia. The populace, however, overwhelmingly support Walker.

"With a group hug, and singing “Solidarity Forever,” about 50 protesters grabbed their sleeping bags, pillows and drums and left through two rows of Democratic state lawmakers and others who thanked them for their efforts."

Hahahaha, it looks like the 49 students will have to sleep in student housing tonight. Where are the bused in BarakObama dot com thugs?

The populace are unfortunately "reality TV loving cattle" who are too brainwashed to realize that their freedom is on the way out. It was wasted tax money by the suits that has created the debt problem. I wouldn`t consider collective bargaining to be mafia related.

globalwatcher - Isn't it a time for you to see what you are really fighting for?

The taxpaying voters are taking back control of their State governments. The government union leaders are losing their grip on the taxpayers wallets.

The populace are unfortunately "reality TV loving cattle" who are too brainwashed to realize that their freedom is on the way out.

and liberal elitism rears its ugly head. "The people are soooo stupid"... uh ok. Right...

The taxpaying voters are taking back control of their State governments. The government union leaders are losing their grip on the taxpayers wallets.

The cartel is being broken up. :-)

I love reading the posta of bubble living true believers. This is what the people want! I don't care what the polls say!!! Lol :0

This is what the people want! I don't care what the polls say!!!

Dude, check out the polls (not the internal union surveys). The people overwhelmingly support Walker.

I have checked the polls. One says they support him and all the rest says they support the union. Hope you're enjoying the bubble... ;)

junnama - then you didn't actually check. :-)

It's time the union mob is busted.

ONe pro-union supporter says "The populace are unfortunately "reality TV loving cattle" who are too brainwashed to realize that their freedom is on the way out"

The other pro-union supporter says "I have checked the polls. One says they support him and all the rest says they support the union."

The union side needs to get their stories straight - or maybe the strategy is a flexible argument?

moa, you think posters coordinate with each other?!? Lol

Much like before you can't name the poll which says the people of wi support walker..... I'd post some more good bubbling quotes but the mods will surely delete :(

junnama -

oh, I know the polls. That's why I can proudly say the people support Walker. :-)

coordination? of course you guys don't have to coordinate. But you'd think people on the same side would agree the most basic point - do the people support the unions, or are the unions against the wishes of the people? (correct answer: against the wishes of the people)

Hehe, there's been 20 odd polls done on this with all essentially the same conclusion, but hey if you like the bubble more power to you... :0

junnama - I like the people. I don't like the union mobsters. So, solidarity for the people against the union rackets.

If you don't like rackets stay away from any organization. They're all the same. A union just happens to be one for the "stated" purpose of advancing its members benefits.

Wisconsin has just became a police state.

Right. The cops, also unionized, have turned on their own and declared martial law. It's Germany in the 1930s !!!!!!

This is as childish, uninformed and silly as smithinJapan saying the democratically elected governor is a "fascist", when the office of governor, by design, does not afford any man or woman anything near that kind of power. It is clear that the posters above using the term "fascist" do not even understand it, and throw it around for what they mistakenly think is shock value.

It's all the more ridiculous in that anyone who knows the first thing about U.S. politics knows WI is a very liberal state, one that chose the Hope and Change candidate in our last presidential election.

A union just happens to be one for the "stated" purpose of advancing its members benefits.

Well said. Unions advance the benefits of a very limited number of workers. It has been proven that as with the minimum wage law the unintended effect is that poor unskilled workers suffer the most - the very ppl Dems and progressives claim to stand for get shafted first and most frequently, just as innocent kids suffer the most when Dems hinder through the same vote-buying and shameless jobbery free choice in education.

Hah, what is the "stated" purpose of a corporation? Does it look out for its own? Is there corruption? Do companies pay politicians for favorable treatment? It's all the same-human nature. Nobody is talking about curbing corporate rights, as a matter of fact in lobbying they have been expanded...

Nobody is talking about curbing corporate rights, as a matter of fact in lobbying they have been expanded...

Obama certainly isn't - after he suckered enough voters to get him into the WH. When Obama said 'lobbyists will have no place in the White House' he meant they could not come to 1600 Pensylvania, but he would be more than happy to meet them elsewhere, which he has been doing.

But how to explain to ppl like junnama that pro-big biz is not the same as pro-free markets...

Protesters leave Wisconsin Capitol after 17-day sit-in

and Wisconsin taxpayers get the bill - 7.5 million dollars to clean up the mess they left and repair the physical damage done to the capitol buildings and grounds.

Stay classy, "progressives"!

Quite a contrast with the tens of thousands of Tea Party particpants who left the Washington Mall spotless after their "protest."

Just a minor thing in regards to this great reporting by the A.P.

Protesters have been demonstrating in and around the Capitol building since Feb 15 against a bill pushed by the state’s new Republican governor, Scott Walker, that would strip most public employees of nearly all of their collective bargaining rights.

Walker contends that the legislation, which also calls for the public employees to cover more of the costs of their pension and health plans, is necessary to balance the state’s budget and to give local municipalities the flexibility they need to deal with pending budget cuts.

Ummm...I guess calling the duly elected Governor of Wisconsin as Governor Walker is at of the question......Nice

Pro free markets? What is that?? Who does that??

Pro free markets?

Agreed, no such things, I differ markets to you. Your call to set prices.

and Wisconsin taxpayers get the bill - 7.5 million dollars to clean up the mess they left

A figure brought to us by the same people who told us Obama's trip to India would cost over $200 million a day.

People who couldn't tell the truth if their lives depended upon it.

I heard it was actually 6 billion to clean up....

yabits - A figure brought to us by the same people who told us Obama's trip to India would cost over $200 million a day.

What do you think it cost the U.S. taxpayer to send a fleet of U.S. Navy vessels to accompany Obama on his trip to India? Plus the cost of a fleet of jumbo jets, armored vehicles, building (and removing) a protective tunnel so Obama could walk 300 meters between buildings on top of the usual costs for the Presidential entourage.

7.5 million to clean up the Capital building seems cheap considering it's at government union rates.

The biggest problem with scapegoating is that after you are successful, you have to find a new scapegoat. I get it, public sector unions are "What is killing America (TM)". OK, so who is next? Gotta move up the food chain here boys.

Junnama, Free trade! You've got it. Japan should be ready for it as it is coming! A big time! What's going to papasan/mamasan stores in Japan?

Hehe, 6 billion.... I was kiiiidng

It was 6 trillion :)

One Dem. congress man who was returning to capitol was violently tuckled and handcuffed while he was trying to show his ID to get in. Wisconsin is turning into China and former USSR.

What do you think it cost the U.S. taxpayer to send a fleet of U.S. Navy vessels to accompany Obama on his trip to India?

As it relates to the cost of the clean-up, the Navy vessels are costing money each and every day regardless of where they are deployed.

Why do conservatives constantly put forth these gross distortions of the truth? Why do they cheer on and promote the Big Lie every chance they get? Is it because if they took a vow to speak honestly, they would fear turning into liberals?

The Wisconsin capitol was not damaged in any substantial way. If it had been, police would be looking for and arresting the perps. (The place is wired with video cams everywhere.)

yabits, thank you for reminding me to stay focused on the core issue. I am guilty of that too. Yapee, they love to shift a focus to something irrelevant and often distort the truth. An ability to compartmentrize each issue is an important element in every day life. It takes pretty good self decipline in critical thinking process. Yapee....

@globalwatcher:

Using the extreme falsehood of a "damaged" Wisconsin Capitol requiring a ludicrous amount to clean and repair is another part of the Big Lie that conservatives love to fabricate and spew against their fellow Americans.

The lie is not very original: Recall the tales spread about how the departing Clinton team supposedly trashed the White House prior to George W. Bush's moving in. Totally false, right down to the missing Ws on the computer keyboards.

I am who believes that events in Wisconsin are more evidence of an America that is ever-so-slowly morphing into a police state. And, like other police states, there isn't a shortage of "patriots" cheering on the destruction of freedoms, the democratic process, and a fair balance of powers.

Forcing people to give up their freedom to collectively bargain using the excuse to balance a budget is about as fascist a move as any I've witnessed in my nation. I am certain more will follow.

@yabits, I am on the same page. A ten-four and Amen for that!

Do you know people do not see Economics and Law go hand in hand, and Capitalism and Democracy go hand in hand. It takes a solid higher education to understand to see they are all inter-related in a big picture.

And yet this dictator, Walker, is eliminating 900 million dollars from public schools, while giving tax money to private school bouchers for rich kids. Public college students are forced to pay 15-20% tuition hike.

I believe these kids who are denied to a quality education will not be able to compete in global economy.

All kids are guaranteed to have an equal access to quality education. This is a core American value guaranteed in the constitution.

This guy named Walker (I am intentionally eliminating his title here) makes Charlie Sheen (tiger blood) look like a pussy cat.

In my humble opinion and I am very confident that everything will eventually backfire. We are fighting for the right cause and it is worth it as our kids are very important business to us.

President Obama will Join Jeb Bush in FL and deliver speech on education any moment. This is a win/win for the president showing his strong committment for Education and Innovation in the speech of the State of Union he delivered in 2011. Walker, Palin and Huckabee (Tea Party)now fight alone for education budget cut.

This is a big Tea Party moron to me.

I'd like to correct someone calling union as a mafia. This is an ignorant comment and a fault. Actually, they are skilled corporate lawyers representing corporation side and other skilled lawyers representing labor side. (I have been retired from the top 10 major US corporations). FYI

Globe, let's put it this way, the tea-party and the republicans are very concerned about balancing the budget deficit while very conveniently forgets who got us into this position to begin with ( to them the big meltdown happened in 2010 )

so they are going to cut education and social programs AND the tax cuts for the super-rich stays...........

what's up with that ?

Here is another "Yapee" to oberst. Well said, oberst.

globalwatcher - One Dem. congress man who was returning to capitol was violently tuckled and handcuffed while he was trying to show his ID to get in.

HAHAHAHA, Rep. Milroy was videoed trying to force his way past security personel and was wrestled to the ground. Only then did he produce his ID. Even Milroy admits this.

Milroy also "claims" that he was just trying to retrieve some "clothes" from his office but who "forces" their way past armed security to get a clean shirt?

yabits - Using the extreme falsehood of a "damaged" Wisconsin Capitol requiring a ludicrous amount to clean and repair is another part of the Big Lie that conservatives love to fabricate and spew against their fellow Americans.

That was very expensive, custom marble that the hippies and students were defacing. Restoration is not as simple or cheap as wiping down the seats in the SEIU buses.

oberst - let's put it this way, the tea-party and the republicans are very concerned about balancing the budget deficit while very conveniently forgets who got us into this position to begin with ( to them the big meltdown happened in 2010 )

The housing bubble, that led to the recession, began in 2000 under Clinton when the US House Financial Services Committee created the sub-prime, no-money-down, ARM's that eventually became 40% of the mortgage market in 2006 and eventually burst. The Progessive Democrat Caucus fought tooth and nail for 8 years to prevent several attempts to regulate the industry or investigate Fannie and Freddie. Rep Barney Frank, chairman of the committee, said that he, "wanted to roll the dice a little more on this issue."

globalwatcher - tell it to your PM Kan to handcuff all defected DPJ members to come back to sessions.

Come back and show me your reasoning with conclusion just like you do for college papers.

What are you talking about now?

That was very expensive, custom marble that the hippies and students were defacing. Restoration is not as simple or cheap as wiping down the seats in the SEIU buses.

Defacing how?

Are conservatives so gullible and stupid as to actually believe that someone can come in and give a credible repair estimate in the scale of multiple millions of dollars in less than 24 hours after this supposed "damage" was first examined? Or is it that they just enjoy acting as a ventriloquist's dummy in repeating whatever crazy talk their handlers want them to spout?

globalwatcher - do you think PM Kan has a power to arrest all defected DPJ members to pass fiscal budget policy of 2011?

Please come back with your reasoning and conclusion.

I've come to the conclusion that you need to buy a world map if you think Kan and the DPJ are located in Wisconsin, USA.

Are conservatives so gullible and stupid as to actually believe that someone can come in and give a credible repair estimate in the scale of multiple millions of dollars in less than 24 hours after this supposed "damage" was first examined?

Witness Yabits, champion of the noble government worker who would be called in such cases, questioning both their competence and integrity.

Witness Yabits, champion of the noble government worker who would be called in such cases, questioning both their competence and integrity.

The problem is that no government worker was called in to provide an estimate of the alleged "damage." Dishonest right-wingers -- if you'll pardon the redundancy -- simply concocted an absolute worst-case fantasy scenario to use to smear decent Americans engaged in peaceful demonstration. There was never any willful attempt by the vast, vast majority to cause any harm to the Capitol building.

Dishonest right-wingers -- if you'll pardon the redundancy -- simply concocted an absolute worst-case fantasy scenario to use to smear decent Americans engaged in peaceful demonstration.

Being an avid, obedient follower of the State media yabits obviously missed the arrest of the peaceful Democrat activist who phoned in a bomb threat to an aviation business where Gov Walker the same day held a conference.

"protester" Patrick J. Knauf, 43, of Eau Claire WI was arrested on Wednesday for the violation of making a bomb scare under WI state statute 947.015.

Being an avid, obedient follower of the State media yabits obviously missed the arrest of the peaceful Democrat activist who phoned in a bomb threat to an aviation business where Gov Walker the same day held a conference.

Being an avid, obedient follower of the Truth, yabits points out that anyone phoning in a bomb threat could never be considered "peaceful" by any but violence-loving and dishonest right-wing fanatics. When Governor Walker was telling the prank caller -- whom he thought was one of his financial backers -- that he and his staff were considering inserting "troublemakers" into the mix of protestors, perhaps people like Knauf were who he had in mind.

When Governor Walker was telling the prank caller -- whom he thought was one of his financial backers -- that he and his staff were considering inserting "troublemakers" into the mix of protestors, perhaps people like Knauf were who he had in mind.

Oh noes!, the right wing in WI is also using Alinsky-ite tactics??

Oh noes!, the right wing in WI is also using Alinsky-ite tactics??

What the scum on the right improperly try to attribute to Saul Alinsky actually finds its home in their own rodent heritage of David Segretti, Roy Cohn, and those who preceded their ilk.

Once again the Tax Payer is stuck with the clean up bill.

sailwind - Once again the Tax Payer is stuck with the clean up bill.

Correct. The Democrats, students and government union members don't care how much it costs to clean up the Capital. It's not like it's "their" money. It's taxpayer dollars. When that runs out they'll just demand another tax hike to cover it.

yabits - Defacing how?

Check out the backgrounds of the various youtubes showing the writing and posters on the marble and defacing the veterans memorial plus the hippie stench that soaked into the marble floor. Who know's what the homeless people did to the bathrooms. That's not a simple wipe down by government union employees. Restoration requires experts and many of those expert come from Europe. Experts have had 17 days to watch the destruction and estimate the costs.

yabits - What the scum on the right improperly try to attribute to Saul Alinsky......

Does resorting to name calling mean that you think you side is losing the discussion?

Experts have had 17 days to watch the destruction and estimate the costs

Wisconsin/Milwaukee newspapers are already reporting that state officials are backing WAY off the ludicrious estimate-amounts being spewed by the right-wing minions.

what the homeless people did to the bathrooms......

It is again irrelevant. Bathroom, cleaning cost of the mess have nothing to do with real issue here.

Since you are disrespectful to those who believed they had to be there for a right cause, I am here to defend on behalf.

It is so amazing how story has been distorted. But it is not your fault as you are in Japan. They (teachers, lawyers, nurses, firefighters, college students) go to a shit house (obenjo) just like you do. They slept on cold marble floor in snowy days (-35f degree). They are a far from homeless people you were told.

They have earned my respect advocating what is just and fair.

Also, I need to emphasize again the capitol belongs to everyone.

Too bad you are living in a political apathy in Japan.

This is our way; American way.We stand tall against what is not fair and just.

yabits - Wisconsin/Milwaukee newspapers are already reporting that state officials are backing WAY off the ludicrious estimate-amounts being spewed by the right-wing minions.

Did you actually read any of the Wisconsin/Milwaukee newspapers?

It was Cari Anne Renlund, chief legal counsel for the Department of Administration, who said in court Thursday that costs for a full cleanup and restoration at the Capitol COULD reach $7.5 million.

"It's important to note that the $7.5 million described in court was the information I had available to me based upon estimates provided me by the Division of State Facilities," said Michael Huebsch, secretary of the Department of Administration

A section of the memo provided an explanation for the $7.5 million estimate. It said that 240,000 square feet of the Capitol MIGHT need to be cleaned or repaired at a cost of $25 per square foot for a total cost of $6 million. The memo also estimated that there might be $1 million in work needed on the Capitol grounds to re-sod grass, replace 44 shrubs and fix "possible damage" to the irrigation system.

The administration provided a memo saying the $7.5 million estimate had been done AFTER consulting with a specialist in building restoration and an employee of J.P. Cullen and Sons Inc., the contracting firm that handled the massive $145 million Capitol restoration completed in 2001.

globalwatcher - It is so amazing how story has been distorted.

What's amazing is how many things you get wrong and how difficult it is to read your posts. What college do you think you went to? I think they owe you a refund.

They wouldn't have left if that Mike Ditka-lookin' national union head thug hadn't told 'em that leavin' was in their best national interests. Surrounded by fellow thugs, he believed the wind was blowin' his way but finally wised up.

America was fed up with these already over-compensated whiners two weeks ago.

Did you actually read any of the Wisconsin/Milwaukee newspapers?

I certainly do. And, oh, how they reveal the lack of common sense of the right-wing loonies, as well as the craven dishonesty of conservatives who treated the $7.5 million figure as a fact rather than the over-extended, 100x-worst-case estimate it actually represents.

Anyone who understands anything about marble restoration -- such as was done in 2001 -- knows that a sealant will be applied to prevent damage from things like your normal, ordinary tape. (And if they didn't apply a proper sealant, the people got totally ripped off and should be taking their contractors to court.) Anyone who has ever handled tape knows that it's going to take an astronomical amount of it to cover anywhere near 240,000 square feet of marble surface area.

But the conservatives try to foist on gullible and dumb people that they are the side with morals -- while at the same time they contemplate using goons to infiltrate the ranks of peaceful demonstrators to "stir up trouble," and lie through their teeth about the actual damage caused to a public building. Just as they grossly "exaggerated" about Obama's India trip, and just about every other issue they touch.

America was fed up with these already over-compensated whiners two weeks ago.

Au contraire. American can't get enough of people standing up to the conservatives' culture of corruption and lies.

yabits, check out both American liberal and conservative polls and you'll see you're wrong. Really wrong.

Don't you yourself believe union members should contribute more to their health and pension plans the same as their non-union fellow citizens?

Over-compensated union thugs and parrots speak of 'rights'.

Yabits, what 'rights' are they in danger of losing?

'Collective bargaining' which benefits some union members but not the taxpayers is not a 'right'. Federal workers don't have 'collective bargaining' because it's not a 'right' and they make out very well. Extremely well.

I'm waiting for Yabits' closing argument:

"I for one am happy to postpone my retirement till I am 75 so cops can retire at 45 and have their pension checks mailed to 'em in Belize."

yabits, check out both American liberal and conservative polls and you'll see you're wrong. Really wrong.

I trust in polling done by the Pew organization. (The organization founded by Sun Oil Company.) Pew shows Americans clearly siding with the unions on this one. True Americans understand why the right-wing wants to falsify this result.

yabits - The problem is that no government worker was called in to provide an estimate of the alleged "damage." Dishonest right-wingers -- if you'll pardon the redundancy -- simply concocted an absolute worst-case fantasy scenario to use to smear decent Americans

IF you had "actually" read the Wisconsin papers you wouldn't have resorted to "actually" smearing decent Americans by CLAIMING that "dishonest right-wingers SIMPLY CONCOCTED an absolute worst-case FANTASY scenario to use to smear decent Americans...", or would you?

The fact remains that Wisconsin officials brought in experts to give them an "estimate" of the possible repair costs. You were either ignorant of that fact or deliberately lied about it.

The fact remains that Wisconsin officials brought in experts

The fact remains that dishonest right-wingers presented the $7.5 million figure as the amount that would be billed to the taxpayers. They did this in order to smear peaceful demonstrators.

Common sense -- which is a rare commodity on the right -- dictates that taping up banners would not cause any damage to properly sealed marble -- and certainly not 240,000 square feet of it. Claiming that tape would somehow damage that much marble is akin to the defense of the $200M/day figure that the loonies claim Obama's trip to India cost.

yabits - The fact remains that dishonest right-wingers presented the $7.5 million figure as the amount that would be billed to the taxpayers.

The fact remains that Wisconsin officials brought in experts to provide an estimate and you are now aware of that.

The fact remains that Wisconsin officials brought in experts to provide an estimate and you are now aware of that.

Anyone who gave the estimate of $7.5M and 240,000 square feet of damage due to masking tape is no expert. Common sense ought to tell most people that.

We'll just have to add these numbers to the list of grossly inflated exaggerations spewed by the right wing.

@arrestpaul,

I am pasting the repair cost listed below. This is dated 3/6/11 from local Newspaper in Madison.

Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch said the original $7.5 million estimate to repair marble damaged by adhesive tape from posters was a "high-end" estimate. An updated report from DOA said a majority of the nearly $350,000 would cover a crew to perform "very limited" restoration on marble as well as landscape restoration.

yabits - Anyone who gave the estimate of $7.5M and 240,000 square feet of damage due to masking tape is no expert.

Hahahaha. Of course, the "expert" can't possibly be an "expert" because if he was, that would mean that you were wrong when you said that the estimate was "simply concocted an absolute worst-case fantasy scenario to use to smear decent Americans".

I trust in polling done by the Pew organization. (The organization founded by Sun Oil Company.) Pew shows Americans clearly siding with the unions on this one. True Americans understand why the right-wing wants to falsify this result.

It was interesting that poll. It was also discovered that about 30% of those that were polled in that survey come from Union households, which basically means when you break it down, gives it the overall impression that the American people are for the Unions, which is a flat out lie. True though that most Americans both Union and Non-union workers don't want to see the Unions abolished, but overwhelmingly want to see their power curtailed. So you can spin all you want. I know you hate it, but the fact is, that MOST of the people in Wisconsin are totally fed up!

It was also discovered that about 30% of those that were polled in that survey come from Union households,

How is it possible that an independent, blind poll of randomly selected households could enable anyone to discover such a thing?

I trust that the Pew organization values its reputation and its integrity far more than the right-wingers who continually invent such claims. Unlike most Americans, these right-wingers do want to destroy unions -- a position fully consistent with their own lack of integrity.

It was interesting that poll.

As were the other 20-odd polls that came up with the same conclusion.

yabits - How is it possible that an independent, blind poll of randomly selected households could enable anyone to discover such a thing?

Pollsters are in the business of asking "specific" question and generally identifying who is answering those "specific" questions. An "independent, blind poll of randomly selected households" indicates that the "households" were randomly selected. Pollsters may then ask to talk to the male head of the household or highest earner in the household or the nearest brain-dead progressive liberal in the household.

Knowing what "specific" questions were asked is very important to understanding the results of that particular poll. Asking someone if they support unions is not the same as asking someone if they support "government" unions or asking if they think that "government" unions should have more control over legislative lawmaking than the taxpaying voters.

An "independent, blind poll of randomly selected households" indicates that the "households" were randomly selected.

And the statement that 30% of homes were "discovered" be Union homes would render the findings suspicious since it's a percentage that doesn't represent a cross-section of the population as a whole. Of course, Pew would have caught that long before any brain-dead right-wing source just had to invent some other story.

In fact, Pew did publish the facts related to its sample audience: Of 1,385 households, only 182 were those where either of primary breadwinners were in a union. So, I'm trying to understand how it was discovered that 182 into 1385 gives us "30%." Was the actual number of 13% simply too rational and honest for Republicans?

yabits - In fact, Pew did publish the facts related to its sample audience: Of 1,385 households, only 182 were those where either of primary breadwinners were in a union. So, I'm trying to understand how it was discovered that 182 into 1385 gives us "30."

Pew publishes a lot of polls. Could you be more specific?

Pew publishes a lot of polls. Could you be more specific?

C'mon now. Why don't you provide the specifics for the one where it was discovered that 30% were union households? Once you do that, I'll be glad to follow up with my specifics.

yabits - C'mon now. Why don't you provide the specifics for the one where it was discovered that 30% were union households? Once you do that, I'll be glad to follow up with my specifics.

It's odd that YOU want ME to provide the specifics of the very poll that YOU have been referring to. If you don't know what you're talking about, how could anyone else?

It's odd that YOU want ME to provide the specifics of the very poll that YOU have been referring to.

Not at all. I would like you to provide the specifics of the Pew poll that you said was discovered to have canvassed an audience composed of 30% of union households. Where are the specifics behind THAT claim?

Your ability to provide them would set a very good example to help me understand what you mean by "specifics." How much more specific do you need than to divide 182 households into of a total audience of 1,385 sampled in a Pew poll regarding general feelings about unions conducted within the past 60 days?

The funny thing is that the writing is on the wall. Walker is kicking butt, he is putting his taking aggressive action and liberals and the Unions can't take it, can't stop it and all the whining and temper tantrums and the Michael Moore's this time around will NOT succeed, thankfully. Again, I have no problems with Unions in general, my problem has always been with early retirements and forced Union dues. It's totally absurd! Once Walker crushes these Union thugs, it will send a huge wake up call to these minions and liberal base once and for all that the people are tired. So yabits, I know you can't stand it, it just irks you, but that's life and the people have spoken last November, but as I previously stated. This admin. had 2 years to change things and they have...for the worst! I'm not saying that the Conservatives are the answer to all the woes, but when it comes to being financially conservative when it comes to our sagging economy, they will curtail this out of control spending.

yabits - Not at all. I would like you to provide the specifics of the Pew poll that you said was discovered to have canvassed an audience composed of 30% of union households. Where are the specifics behind THAT claim?

You should start by showing me where I made that claim. Unless, of course, you can't provide that either.

Walker is kicking butt, he is putting his taking aggressive action

To paraphrase an old Naughty by Nature song, Walker's going to be backtracking and running away so fast he's going to be kicking his own butt.

who cares about whats happening in some state that most in Japan dont even know the location of???

To paraphrase an old Naughty by Nature song, Walker's going to be backtracking and running away so fast he's going to be kicking his own butt.

Doubt that very much, probably will be the other way around. Get these Unions hacks running back and into the cracks from which crawled out from.

You should start by showing me where I made that claim.

You mean you've even forgotten that you claimed that it was "discovered" that 30% of the households in the Pew survey were union households? Your claim is provided right in this thread. Just click on "Show All." Your claim will appear.

It must be convenient for you to "forget" the things that can't be supported.

Wasn't convenient at all. I was talking about "Union supporters" in general. Didn't forget anything. Don't do the typical liberal spin. It's childish.

yabits - You mean you've even forgotten that you claimed that it was "discovered" that 30% of the households in the Pew survey were union households? Your claim is provided right in this thread. Just click on "Show All." Your claim will appear.

You seem to be cOnFuSeD. I never made that "claim", Mr. Sheen.

Do the Pew questions just "appear" to you also?

@arrestpaul

I think yabits has some Adonis DNA, the fact that he feels like he's "winning" proves and explains his confused state.

Just over the airwaves! Senate approves bill to strip public employees of their collective bargaining rights. So even with the AWOL liberals out in hiding, the Republicans found away to pass the bill.