[excon]

This was the section of the law that the Senate used to issue arrest warrants on the truant Senators.

946.12 Misconduct in public office. Any public officer or public employee who does any of the following is guilty of a Class I felony:

946.12(1)
(1) Intentionally fails or refuses to perform a known mandatory, nondiscretionary, ministerial duty of the officer’s or employee’s office or employment within the time or in the manner required by law;

Hello again, tom:

I got it. If there ARE "known mandatory... DUTIES, or TIME frames", required of state senators, they're PUBLISHED. SHOW ME!!

Until you do, it's ALL MADE UP.

excon

[speechlesstx]

Passed? PASSED??? For a fellow who said the Dems rammed through the health care plan, you don't recognize RAMMED.

As I recall, Republicans in congress stuck around and did their jobs during the 'debate' on Obamacare, they didn't cut and run like these fleebaggers did.

[tomder55]

Clearly it is a debatable issue. The Attorney General would have to prove obstruction, and hope that the courts are amenable.

[talaniman]

ABC News.com,
Meanwhile, polls have shown a public divided on how to rein in the state budget, but hungry for compromise. The latest poll from Wisconsin conducted for Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, a conservative think tank, by University of Wisconsin Professor Ken Goldstein and released over the weekend found just 33 percent wanted Gov. Walker to "stand strong for the plan he has proposed no matter how long the protests go on" versus a whopping 65 percent who want to see the governor "negotiate with Democrats and public employees' unions in order to find a compromise solution."

Seems it ain't all about just the unions, or the White House, But the Wisconsin public at large who are not happy with the way things are working out with this "elected" government. Tom, you started this with a reference to being broke in Wisconsin, well explain how you take all the surplus, turn it into a deficit with tax cuts to the rich, blame it on the unions, and destroy the middle class? Wait we have seen this before haven't we? Standard right wing power grab, and its always about the money going to "corporate friends", that we in the middle class pay for.

I am not against the rich, but in a capitalistic society, it don't work when the money isn't circulated to everyone, the ones who make you rich, and buy what your selling. Hoarding it never works. When people take to the streets, you better pay attention, President, Governor, or CEO.

[tomder55]

Yawn... I rarely cite polls because they can be manipulated simply by how they are worded .

[excon]

Clearly it is a debatable issue. The Attorney General would have to prove obstruction, and hope that the courts are amenable.

Hello again, tom:

If there are NO job performance requirements of state senators, then it's NOT debatable at all. It's made up. You just don't like their tactics. Steve neither. Bummer for you.

excon

[talaniman]

yawn... I rarely cite polls because they can be manipulated simply by how they are worded .

Thousands of people in the streets in all the major cities is not a poll either, but it paints a picture doesn't it?

So why do REPUBS like to dictate, and NOT TALK?

[tomder55]

Talan;
Obligations to unionized public service workers are destroying state budgets around the country .Why isn't the left railing against Andrew Cuomo who has also taken a hard line against the unions ? I think the Dems know the right path to take ;but are too afraid to lose union support.

[smoothy]

Hello again, smoothy:

Couple things.... I'm a RULES guy. I LIKE rules. If you KNOW the rules, you KNOW what you can DO. I KNOW the rules WELL. I USE the rules, and I use 'em HARD. I do it with NO shame or embarrassment. In fact, MOST people don't know the rules, and that's why I make mincemeat out of them.. You should be familiar with that.

Politics is a contact sport. Being a rules guy, I actually LOVE it when the rules are used against me. I don't get upset when that happens - I get even. But, one can't MAKE UP the rules, because I'll catch 'em. You should be familiar with that.

Speaking of RULES and DUTY (tom calls it their SWORN duty), rules are published. If you use the google, if these "duties" are there to be found. You COULD find 'em and post a link.... But, they're NOT there, are they??? You're just flapping your gums... In fact, those Democrats violated NO rules and did their duty to their constituents.

excon

Gee... actually showing up for work is optional if you are elected?

[smoothy]

Hello again, tom:

If there are NO job performance requirements of state senators, then it's NOT debatable at all. It's made up. You just don't like their tactics. Steve neither. Bummer for you.

excon

Actually showing up is clearly a requirement. Even for politicians.

[Synnen]

As I recall, Republicans in congress stuck around and did their jobs during the 'debate' on Obamacare, they didn't cut and run like these fleebaggers did.

Nice intentional misspelling :)

[talaniman]

Andrew takes a hard line, but he is talking. And you can't blame unions for the state budgets, because they are more than willing, and have done what it takes to help the state budgets, even after the New Republican governors have created the shortfalls in the budget with tax cuts. For the rich. Where in history has that created jobs in AMERICA?

Obviously few know how pensions, and job security, and workplace rules, and health insurance, work in a union. We pay for those things, and go without raises to afford them. When these things bust a budget (according to the repubs), its because somebody had already screwed up the money, and didn't do what they said they would, OR doesn't want to.

Come on, even you can see where this is all going, corporate privatization of all the jobs, with low paid workers, and big profits. Like in the rest of the world. Like Walmart, and McDonald's, or Nike. Like the health insurance companies, and the banks. When you leave decisions and policies to a banker, it always about his money. He thinks its all his money to make. That's the business model isn't it?

That's why you need a union, because the boss can work the crap out of you, to get rich, and give you nothing. That's the whole war against the middle class, because there is a whole world full of cheap labor to build stuff and send it here.

Follow the money, and learn. You know that goes for middle class repubs too don't you? You are just a willing slave who believes in doing what your told by the master, because one day, you hope to be master, when you can afford slaves right??

Maybe I am prejudiced, being a independent middle class union person, from a middle class union family, who believes a honest days work for an honest days pay, and some dignity, and respect. Lets be clear though, I got no love for the dems either, they can be a sneaky lot too!

[tomder55]

They are more than willing, and have done what it takes to help the state budgets

Not in NY and NJ. They've opted for layoffs over give backs. Face it. Long term liabilities due to mandated funding of pensions and other union benefits are breaking state and local budgets around the country . You CANNOT tax your way out of it.

[speechlesstx]

Nice intentional misspelling :)

Thanks, but I can't take credit. I like it though. :)

[speechlesstx]

Thousands of people in the streets in all the major cities is not a poll either, but it paints a picture doesn't it?

Astroturfers.

So why do REPUBS like to dictate, and NOT TALK?

Wait a minute, it was just yesterday y'all were talking about these emails from the governor where he was trying to talk to the fleebaggers. It was just yesterday the news was reporting he caved and was rying to meet some of their demands. And besides, you can't talk to people who flee the state instead of joining the debate.

[talaniman]

And besides, you can't talk to people who flee the state instead of joining the debate.

The debate was over when they left. They left to stop the vote. Not the debate.

[speechlesstx]

They left to obstruct. BO should remind the fleebaggers that "elections have consequences" and they lost.

[talaniman]

Yes they do, and we will see who pays the consequences.

[speechlesstx]

After watching those thug protesters breaking into the capital, jumping through windows and such, they're not looking too good. Neither are Democrats who refused to do the jobs they were elected to do.

[excon]

After watching those thug protesters breaking into the capital, jumping through windows and such, they're not looking too good. Neither are Democrats who refused to do the jobs they were elected to do.

Hello again, Steve:

Not surprisingly, we disagree. I'm a believer in the constitutional right to assemble. We HAVE that right because demonstrations matter. Seeing the people gather together is powerful and American as apple pie... I LOVE demonstrations. I LOVE being in the face of my government... What?? You don't?? Excuse me?? Dude! Can you spell Tea Party?? Although I disagreed with SOME of the Tea Party's platforms, I LOVED that they did what they did. It's AMERICAN. It's GOOD. It's DEMOCRACY. Most importantly, it WORKS!

Calling these guys thugs is like calling the Tea Party racist. If you want to criticize the other side for calling names, maybe you shouldn't either. You should elevate yourself above the slime instead of wallowing in it. It's NICE up here. From this perch, I can be really righteous.

Next item. I'm still waiting for ANY of you winger dudes to supply me with the WRITTEN job description of a state senator from Wisconsin.. Until you do, all your BS about "refusing to do their jobs", is TOTALLY made up. In fact, they DID their jobs, and they did them WELL. Yes, they lost the battle, but won the war.

I was wondering what happened to the liberals of America. I'm surprised they showed up for THIS battle. Who knew the public service unions had so much support? I would have though they'd show up for the wars... But, nahh. I'da thought they'd show up for gay marriage.. But, nahhh. I'da thought they'd show up tax cuts for the rich, but nahhh... But public service unions?? Dude!

You pushed just a tad too far.. The 20th Century was the home to some epic progressive movements. Civil rights, labor, Social Security & Medicare, and anti war just to name a few. I know you want to, but you can't turn 'em ALL over. It ain't going to happen.

excon