The high-stakes labor fight in Wisconsin gets more intense
Wisconsin has seen a lot of political drama over the last couple of months, but in many ways the real fight there has barely begun.
Wisconsin Democrats, for example, are trying to force recall votes against eight Republican state senators, and they claim to be succeeding. They need to throw out three Republicans to regain control of the state Senate, and as the Washington Post reports, they sound pretty optimistic.
“We’re well ahead of schedule,” said Graeme Zielinski, Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesman. “I think in mid-summer, you will have a Democratic Senate.”
That would be quite a turn of events.
However, Wisconsin voters won’t have to wait until summer to make their sentiments known. As it turns out, state Justice David Prosser is up for re-election on April 5, a fact that ordinarily might not mean much. But back in December, shortly after the victory of Gov. Scott Walker, Prosser had aligned himself closely with the new governor, telling Wisconsin voters that his re-election to the court meant “protecting the conservative judicial majority and acting as a common sense complement to both the new administration and legislature.”
With Walker now down in the polls, acting as a judicial complement to the governor suddenly isn’t all that popular. It didn’t help matters when it was revealed last week that in court deliberations, Prosser had called the state’s chief justice “a total bitch” and promised to “destroy” her. He later explained that while he might have overreacted, “it was entirely warranted,” blaming his colleague for “deliberately goading people into perhaps incautious statements.”
In other words, she had it coming.
Finally, there’s the story of one Carlos Lam. On Feb. 19, he sent Gov. Walker an email, lauding him for his stance against unions and offering a bit of advice. Drawing upon his 18 years of experience in politics, Lam suggested that Walker stage on attack on himself, perhaps by someone using a firearm, to discredit the union opposition.
There are a lot of crazies out there, but in this case, the man advocating the staging of a felony attack on a public office is — or more accurately, was — a deputy prosecutor in Johnson County, Indiana. Lam resigned that post yesterday after initially denying, then admitting, that he had indeed sent that email.
It’s impossible to know how often such “false flag” operations are actually carried out. For example, it’s interesting to note that a couple of weeks after the Lam email was sent, while union protests continued at the Capitol, Capitol police reported finding dozens of .22 caliber hollow-point bullets secreted at three entrances to the building.
Nobody knows who put them there, or why. But these days, you can’t take anything at face value.
– Jay Bookman
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636 comments Add your comment
George W
March 25th, 2011
9:57 am
Jay,
Did you write that letter?
Walker's Scooter
March 25th, 2011
9:58 am
Prosser who.
Scott
March 25th, 2011
9:58 am
Recalling Republican Senators. For what? Actually doing their jobs which is in sharp contrast to the Democrats who decided to run away from their job and hide….all on the taxpayer’s dime. Unbelievable.
stands for decibels
March 25th, 2011
9:58 am
You would prefer they go about their dirty business without your knowledge?
What “dirty business” would that be, @@? You mean the ACORN people who did nothing illegal, most of whom either threw out that trolling scum O’Keefe or reported him to the cops afterward? You mean the Planned Parenthood folks who also did nothing wrong?”Or perhaps you mean the NPR fundraiser guy, who told the pretend-Muslims that 5 million dollars wasn’t going to buy influence in NPR’s programming?
. . .
And by the way, in case someone wants to play the “phony Koch call” card, I found that somewhat amusing, but there was no smoking gun there, other than to reveal to the world that this nutcase Governor actually considers union-breaking to be part of an ongoing effort to fight totalitarianism. That’s one thing I actually didn’t know until the phony phone call audio was released. (In its unedited ENTIRETY, from the get-go, I might add, and not doctored to make it sound like the governor said something he didn’t.)
/drive-by
jm
March 25th, 2011
9:58 am
Recalling is not Granny’s forte.
George W
March 25th, 2011
9:59 am
Hey Jay…
Here just another article about your “peaceful” Muslim brotherhood!
stands for decibels
March 25th, 2011
9:59 am
messed up the link @ 9.58–here tis again:
http://pandagon.net/index.php/site/lila_rose_big_time_liar_and_all_around_horrible_person/
Granny Godzilla
March 25th, 2011
9:59 am
jm
Thanks for posting what I have read several times…
can you point out where it says “As has been pointed out, a conservative of such stature as FDR admonished against the idea of public employee unions.”
OOPS! Not in there.
He does say ” All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service.”….and it hasn’t been…..Public service employees cannot strike.
Get it yet?
George W
March 25th, 2011
9:59 am
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/24/thousands-christians-displaced-ethiopia-muslim-extremists-torch-churches-homes-2057387870/
Scottie
March 25th, 2011
9:59 am
Where’s my Koch. I need a drink.
DebbieDoRight
March 25th, 2011
9:59 am
Kayaker71: Debbiie, “Edifying?” I think it sounds a little stupid. If you think that we will return to sweat shops and child labor because the union thugs in WI are not getting what they want from the state, that 18 yr old horse is still for sale.
No I think we’re going to return to sweat shops and child labor because the oligarchy that runs America actually want it that way. Why else are they systematically going after the unions & government employees in America? They say unions are not needed, however unions are the one entity that stopped America from turning into Czarist Russia’s serfdom / 1919 revolution. If not for unions the working American, tired, hungry without money or healthy work conditions; would’ve risen up and taken over the counry, and all the money that the Getty’s, Carneigie’s etc., accrued would not have saved them from that old fashioned revolution that was a coming.
You think Unions are “thuggish”; however the coal miners who recently died in WV because of management’s non-response to dangerous working conditions are what? Saints?
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:01 am
Granny G – nice selective reading. See that part about collective bargaining? That’s the fight occurring in Wisconsin. And FDR would’ve been on Walker’s side. Since you’re left of FDR, I’ll anoint you the resident communist.
Doggone/GA
March 25th, 2011
10:02 am
“however the coal miners who recently died in WV because of management’s non-response to dangerous working conditions are what? Saints?”
Martyrs
buck@gon
March 25th, 2011
10:02 am
Jay,
You are a typical Bookman, Ignore the fact that the Democrats who vacated their legislative seats during the union controversy are fighting their own battle against recall. With liberals you can count on half-truths regularly without an ounce of shame for their effusive propaganda, even in a “news”paper.
The more I ponder your absurd columns, the more I deem it to be an intentional artifice, a sleight of hand disguising what is hard-left propaganda as hard news. I think somewhere under that greying mop of yours you have an inkling of what the truth is.
You just refuse to acknowledge it when it involves your job and this newspaper.
poison pen
March 25th, 2011
10:03 am
Doggone, not saying it’s right or wrong, just sayin that Corporations will go where they get tax breaks. That’s a fact of life. You & I would do the same thing.
poison pen
March 25th, 2011
10:04 am
Buck, Amen!
Granny Godzilla
March 25th, 2011
10:04 am
jm
again…..I highlighted the part of collective bargaining above….
All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service
Collective bargaining as usually understood HAS NOT been translated into the public service unions. They cannot strike.
FDR woulda’ held Walker up to public ridicule for his actions in a fireside chat.
Do you get it yet?
DebbieDoRight
March 25th, 2011
10:04 am
Love the, “Oh
hethe tea partiers MUST be telling the truth becausehe’sthey’re old andblack” defense. I’m surehe’sthey’ve NEVER lied.There – I fixed YOUR typo. Don’t thank me. I do this out of love for my fellow man.
carlosgvv
March 25th, 2011
10:05 am
DebbieDoRight
Well said!!!
1811/1801 - 0311/0317
March 25th, 2011
10:05 am
“buck@gon
March 25th, 2011
10:02 am
Jay,
You are a typical Bookman, Ignore the fact that the Democrats who vacated their legislative seats during the union controversy are fighting their own battle against recall. With liberals you can count on half-truths regularly without an ounce of shame for their effusive propaganda, even in a “news”paper.
The more I ponder your absurd columns, the more I deem it to be an intentional artifice, a sleight of hand disguising what is hard-left propaganda as hard news. I think somewhere under that greying mop of yours you have an inkling of what the truth is.
You just refuse to acknowledge it when it involves your job and this newspaper.”
Hey guys ………. that was not me ……. I promise !
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:06 am
So sad that our presidential nominees have to be “good looking” nowadays. Ala, Obama, Huntsman, Romney.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
March 25th, 2011
10:06 am
poison….you falsely assert that tax breaks are the sole consideration when a company is considering a location for a plant or office. In fact there are a great deal of factors other than taxes that come into play. The oversimplification by the Republicans is in fact a deception.
Jay
March 25th, 2011
10:07 am
Damn, Buck, you nailed me.
I am, sad to say, a typical Bookman. Must be genetic or something.
DebbieDoRight
March 25th, 2011
10:07 am
kayaker71: Debbie, Granny, Bookman,Again, put yourself in Walker’s place and pretend that you would like to be fiscally responsible (that might be quite a stretch, however)
You’re right. Fiscal Conservative is an oxymoron. Right up there with “Compassionate Conservative”.
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:07 am
Granny G – keep making things up as you go. Collective bargaining is a point about collective bargaining, not about striking. Although, incidentally, FDR was against that too.
Reading comprehension, not Granny G’s forte.
@@
March 25th, 2011
10:09 am
Mrs. Godzilla:
I’m looking at the recent bill.
When I google your selected excerpts, I’m directed to left-wing sites making your claims.
When I google “[294.021. No child under fourteen years of age shall be employed or permitted to work at any occupation at any time; except as provided in this chapter.].” however, and access a U.S. Law site, I get this:
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. Missouri may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
I’m off to help our physical therapist put the kids thru torture.
Doggone/GA
March 25th, 2011
10:09 am
“not saying it’s right or wrong, just sayin that Corporations will go where they get tax breaks. That’s a fact of life. You & I would do the same thing.”
Maybe. But the question is: if those same corporations have been doing just fine in WI BEFORE the tax breaks, why would they need one? Especially if it’s neccessary to pay for it on the backs of public service employees?
George W
March 25th, 2011
10:10 am
Jay….please watch the language….
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:11 am
Granny – let me help you out since your reading skills are lacking. The first para is about how PEU’s shouldn’t limit government’s flexibility on how to operate, hire, fire, and compensate gov’t workers. Para 2 is about striking, and how that is particularly abhorrent.
FDR was obviously against both. But feel free to make up the facts as you read. Granny, I applaud you for having a vivid imagination and engaging in selective interpretation. Marvelous.
joe
March 25th, 2011
10:13 am
There are idiots on every side of every issue, but at the root of this problem is the Unions…nobody employed in the private sector reaps benefits like those of the unions. Unions have been a driving force in the collapse of the middle class, because of their sky high wage, benefits and pension demands, they have single handedly destroyed the steel industry, rail industry and auto industry. When you have bus drivers making six figures with 12 weeks off each year, something is amiss. I hope Scott Walker can kill every union in his state and I hope every other state follows suit. Now if we could just have some action on illegal immigration…
kayaker 71
March 25th, 2011
10:14 am
Debbie,
Czarist Russia? 1919 Revolution? You make my point very well. BTW, I have not seen one non-union automobile plant in the US rioting because thier “rights” are being violated. There has not been one person terminated in this recession in any of the non-union Mercedes, Honda and Hyundai plants in Alabama. Not one. Their wages and benefits equal or excel those of union members in Michigan. We could take a lesson from foreign car manufacturers who produce product in this country. They refuse to hire union workers. Ever wonder why?
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:14 am
Oh, by the way, what were those teachers doing in Wisconsin? Um, striking. I mean, sorry, they really were all sick. Bad flu going around in WI. I think the recent strain among government workers is called C0SEIG (Communism or socialism, either is good).
Atlanta 1
March 25th, 2011
10:15 am
You get points for pointing out the bullets were found. You lose points for just now pointing this out (like most of the media that leans to the left). If this has been a Tea Party rally or protest and those bullets had been found – it would have been on the Front Page of every left leaning newspaper (and that’s most of them) in the country and Big News on all the Major Networks.
Labor Unions that are in contractual agreement with Private Companies should be able to colletive bargin. Their leadership understands that there is a ‘point of no return’ where their employees are ‘at risk’ if they as for more than a company can afford.
Labor Unions should not be able to collective bargin with Governments. The difference being that politicians and the unions tend to ‘tie in’ together and work up a plan that has the Tax Payer paying the bill.
The average teacher compensation (when benefits are factored in) is over six figures. The average Federal Employee average wage is now over $70,000 per year. Both of these figures ‘far exceed’ non government workers compensation and benefits.
It’s time to cut back here, just like private enterprise has been forced to do so. You can do it through contributions, change in salary or layoffs – but it needs to be done. Otherwise, you continue to add to the tax burden of the ‘very people’ that support those salaries that ‘out index’ their own.
Fair is Fair.
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:15 am
Strong people lining up behind Huntsman…. interesting.
Del
March 25th, 2011
10:16 am
When the left can’t win through votes by the people, they’ll attempt to win through activist judges.
SheerLunacy
March 25th, 2011
10:16 am
My prediciton is that Scott Walker will resign, and attempt to follow the same path of Sarah Palin to fame and fortune. He will use his “union-busting” law as something that establishes his expertise and credibility among the conservative crowd, and they will fall for it. (Remember, Palin’s claim of energy expertise.) Walker will travel around the country, charging outrageous speaking fees, and will make outlandish, and sometimes stupid, comments to generate publicity and increase his popularity. He will be touted as a serious Vice-Presidential candidate, but unlike Palin, he will decline to keep making $$$$. Voila, a new multi-millionare, conservative hero is born.
Atlanta 1
March 25th, 2011
10:16 am
Apologies – Average Teacher Compensation w Benefits was for Wisconsin – not the National Number.
George W
March 25th, 2011
10:17 am
Sheer…..jealous?
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:17 am
Atlanta 1 – “Labor Unions that are in contractual agreement with Private Companies should be able to colletive bargin”
I disagree, but for reasons unrelated to the particularly bad concept of PEU’s. PEU’s stink.
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
10:17 am
I won’t believe that either side has an edge in this thing until petitions are turned in with proper and verified signatures. I’m not buying the “we’re ahead of schedule” thing.
As to David Prosser calling the Chief Justice a “total bitch”, I have no problem with that, as long as the description is accurate. Since I don’t know here, I’ll have to go by his judgement.
That Lam guy? Lawyer. No need to be redundant and use the dirt-ball analogy.
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:19 am
Del – or going on strike
FDR would’ve lambasted the Dem legislators. He thought public workers going on strike was offensive. Now you have a whole party going on strike to stop government. Talk about government shut down. The Dems are up to their necks in hypocrisy. The Republicans, just up to their knees in it.
George W
March 25th, 2011
10:20 am
Hey Dems…..are you all for impeaching Obama for going to war without the Congress approval?
Granny Godzilla
March 25th, 2011
10:20 am
jm
Well, you remain wrong.
Thanks to Media Matters:
But Roosevelt Signed Groundbreaking Legislation Protecting Collective Bargaining Rights
The National Industrial Recovery Act Of 1933 Guaranteed Collective Bargaining Rights For Unions. From the act:
SEC. 7. (a) Every code of fair competition, agreement, and license approved, prescribed, or issued under this title shall contain the following conditions: (1) That employees shall have the right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and shall be free from the interference restraint, or coercion of employers of labor, or their agents, in the designation of such representatives or in self-organization or in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection;(2) that no employee and no one seeking employment shall be required as a condition of employment to join any company union or to refrain from joining, organizing, or assisting a labor organization of his own choosing; and (3) that employers shall comply with the maximum hours of labor, minimum rates of pay, and. other conditions of employment, approved or. prescribed by the President. [Transcript of National Industrial Recovery Act (1933), accessed 03/01/11, emphasis added]
The Tennessee Valley Authority Act Recognized Collective Bargaining Rights. In 1933, Roosevelt signed the Tennessee Valley Authority Act, which recognized the rights of employees to negotiate wages through “collective agreement.” From the act:
In the event any dispute arises as to what are the prevailing rates of wages, the question shall be referred to the Secretary of Labor for determination, and his decision shall be final. In the determination of such prevailing rate or rates, due regard shall be given to those rates which have been secured through collective agreement by representatives of employers and employees. [Tennessee Valley Authority Act, accessed 03/01/11]
The National Labor Relations Act Of 1935 Prohibited Employers From Barring Workers From Bargaining Collectively. The act also established the National Labor Relations Board to investigate unfair labor practices. From the act:
RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES
Sec. 7. [§ 157.] Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, and shall also have the right to refrain from any or all such activities except to the extent that such right may be affected by an agreement requiring membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment as authorized in section 8(a)(3) [section 158(a)(3) of this title].
UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
Sec. 8. [§ 158.] (a) [Unfair labor practices by employer] It shall be an unfair labor practice for an employer–
(1) to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in section 7 [section 157 of this title];
(2) to dominate or interfere with the formation or administration of any labor organization or contribute financial or other support to it: Provided, That subject to rules and regulations made and published by the Board pursuant to section 6 [section 156 of this title], an employer shall not be prohibited from permitting employees to confer with him during working hours without loss of time or pay; [National Labor Relations Board, National Labor Relations Act, accessed 03/01/11]
Roosevelt Also Campaigned In 1936 Promising To Continue Support For Collective Bargaining
Roosevelt: “Of Course We Will Continue Every Effort … To Support Collective Bargaining.” From a speech Roosevelt delivered on October 31, 1936:
Of course we will continue to seek to improve working conditions for the workers of America–to reduce hours over-long, to increase wages that spell starvation, to end the labor of children, to wipe out sweatshops. Of course we will continue every effort to end monopoly in business, to support collective bargaining, to stop unfair competition, to abolish dishonorable trade practices. For all these we have only just begun to fight. [Roosevelt's Speech at Madison Square Garden, 10/31/36, via the University of Virgina's Miller Center of Public Affairs]
In Fact, Roosevelt Touted Collective Bargaining As A “Splendid New Agreement” Between Labor And The Federal Government
Roosevelt Celebrated The Role Collective Bargaining Played In “The Biggest Consolidated Construction Job Ever Undertaken Directly By The National Government.” From Roosevelt’s speech at the Chickamauga Dam Celebration in 1940:
This national holiday – Labor Day – has been appropriately selected, because in the miracle that man has wrought, labor has played a vital role. In all of those seven years, in heat and in cold, men have drilled and blasted through solid rock, they have poured ton after ton of concrete and they have moved mountains of earth. They have worked with the strength of their hands, and they have operated complicated machinery with every form of modern skill. Never once in these years, in this the biggest consolidated construction job ever undertaken directly by the national Government, has there been a substantial interruption to the continuance of your labors. This Dam, all the dams built in this short space of years, stand as a monument to the productive partnership between management and labor, between citizens of all kinds working together in the public weal. Collective bargaining and efficiency have proceeded hand in hand. It is noteworthy that the splendid new agreement between organized labor and the Tennessee Valley Authority begins with the words “The public interest in an undertaking such as the TVA always being paramount …”
It is appropriate, therefore, that we recognize this signal achievement on the day when the whole nation pays tribute to labor’s contribution to the democracy that we are not preparing to defend. To all of you, therefore – all of you who have contributed to make these structures possible throughout this beautiful Valley of the Tennessee – I extend the Nation’s thanks. [Address at Chickamauga Dam, 09/02/40, via the University of Michigan's Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States]
more on the subject here
Sorry jm, but you remain flat out wrong…and I managed not to insult you in the process.
kayaker 71
March 25th, 2011
10:20 am
Granny, Debbie and Bookman,
You’re dodging the bullet. Let’s have some constructive suggestions on how to solve WI’s debt problems. The silence is deafening.
Doggone/GA
March 25th, 2011
10:21 am
“You’re dodging the bullet. Let’s have some constructive suggestions on how to solve WI’s debt problems”
How about this for a start: repeal the tax breaks for business passed in January
Del
March 25th, 2011
10:23 am
jm, Agreed the Republicans aren’t angels but the Dem party has been ruined by its take over by the far-left. Unfortunately, it’s destroying our country from within.
George W
March 25th, 2011
10:23 am
Doggone….arent these the same companies that you want to create jobs?
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:23 am
George W 10:20 – the dems apparently are
(although they’ve recently backtracked. apparently they’re only willing to remove one of Obama’s testes, though I’m not inclined to believe he has any) 
Granny, can’t read for yourself a relatively simple letter and feel compelled to reference a biased source? lose, lose lose….
George W
March 25th, 2011
10:23 am
Del….AMEN!
George W
March 25th, 2011
10:24 am
jm…..great. You know Joe Biden believes he should be impeached. I even have video of him saying it!
Doggone/GA
March 25th, 2011
10:24 am
“arent these the same companies that you want to create jobs?”
Companies don’t create jobs…their customers do
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:24 am
“Repeal the tax breaks”
That’s the best business plan of all time. Appropriate capital away from the private sector to the public sector until there isn’t anymore capital left. See also. Zimbabwe.
kayaker 71
March 25th, 2011
10:25 am
Doggone,
That’s a start. Next?
Doggone/GA
March 25th, 2011
10:26 am
“That’s the best business plan of all time. Appropriate capital away from the private sector to the public sector until there isn’t anymore capital left”
Were those companies hurting BEFORE those tax breaks were passed?
George W
March 25th, 2011
10:27 am
Doggone….you are delusional!
Doggone/GA
March 25th, 2011
10:27 am
“That’s a start. Next?”
I don’t live in that state. It’s up to them to decide what’s next. I made MY suggestion. You next?
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:27 am
Sorry Granny – I was just referring to the letter you wanted to cite. FDR wasn’t opposed to union’s negotiating things like worker safety, for instance. But you continue to somehow think FDR was ok with collective bargaining over wages, hiring-firing, process management, etc. and he was not.
Doggone/GA
March 25th, 2011
10:27 am
“you are delusional!”
And your proof is?
Joe Mama
March 25th, 2011
10:28 am
Kayaker 71: “Perhaps Bookman and all of the lib posters might offer suggestions as to how WI is supposed to pay for the demands of these union thugs without raising taxes on an already taxed to death state.”
What demands? They ALREADY gave in to everything Governor Walker asked for EXCEPT giving up their collective bargaining rights.
Are you even following this story at all, or are just just parroting what others tell you?
@@
March 25th, 2011
10:28 am
Mrs. Godzilla:
They cannot strike.
In the real world where you choose not to live:
“There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, at any time,” declared Massachusetts’ Governor Calvin Coolidge when he broke the Boston police strike in 1919. “A strike of public employees is unthinkable and intolerable,” added President Roosevelt in 1937. On pain of one year’s imprisonment, federal employees are forbidden even to belong to a union that advocates strikes; other bans against public-employee strikes are on the books in eleven states, ranging from New York to Hawaii. And even without specific laws, the country’s courts have almost universally upheld Government authority and enjoined public-employees’ strikes throughout U.S. history.
Despite all these precedents, New York City last week was paralyzed by a massive strike of public-transit workers (see THE NATION). As in other recent New York strikes involving teachers and welfare workers, no official dared invoke the Condon-Wadlin Act, the nation’s toughest state antistrike statute. The law requires that all striking public employees be fired, forbids those that are rehired from getting pay raises for three years, and puts them on probation for five years. Since all this virtually guarantees that strikers will never go back to work, the law has rarely been invoked since it was passed in 1947. Meanwhile, the state has suffered more than 22 public-employees’ strikes.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,835012,00.html#ixzz1HcZCOSiQ
The hour is upon me, I’m, gone.
Del
March 25th, 2011
10:28 am
Investment that produces and grows a customer base creates jobs. Discourage investment and guess what happens.
kayaker 71
March 25th, 2011
10:28 am
Everything should be on the table in WI from corporate tax breaks to union collective bargaining. Everyone should be willing to give up something. No sacred cows. See Christie…. New Jersey.
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:29 am
Yeah capitalism!
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:29 am
Boy. Romney really really really wants to be President. Inquiring minds want to know: why?
Doggone/GA
March 25th, 2011
10:29 am
“Investment that produces and grows a customer base creates jobs”
And if the customers don’t respond by buying, no jobs are created. Demand creates jobs, not the goodness of the company
George W
March 25th, 2011
10:30 am
Doggone….if a company is out of business it has no customers. Get it yet?
DEA
March 25th, 2011
10:31 am
The voters of Wisconsin made their feelings clear last November. Governor Walker is doing exactly what he campaigned on doing. A nice change from politicians who say all the right things and then get into office and change their tune completely.
Mick
March 25th, 2011
10:32 am
Here’s my answer to all these state budget deficits instead of cutting education: ALL pay pay more and some pay a lot more in taxes. Three or four differnt tiers but just enough to solve the problem.
Del
March 25th, 2011
10:33 am
It’s not about goodness, it’s about investing and creating demand for products and services, so as to realize profits. Some on here like to talk as though they’ve started, managed and grown a business when they never have.
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
10:33 am
“Companies don’t create jobs…their customers do”
Off she goes, into the wild blue yonder!
George W. forget Doggone. She’s not worth any time spent by anyone trying to make a logical point.
kayaker 71
March 25th, 2011
10:35 am
Joe,
No, I have been following this story very closely. The willingness of the teachers union to be part of the solution and not part of the problem is evidenced by their present occupation of the state house and their attempt at recalling 8 WI Republicans in a effort to gain back Democratic majority in the state house, thereby restoring all of the things that the “evil” Republicans have taken away from them. Now that’s a constructive solution, wouldn’t you say?
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:35 am
Wowwwwwwwwwww. The press is just ripping the chosen one from all sides. This guy’s lost the liberals, the press, the moderates, and the independents. Favorability less than 50%, unemployment over 9%. If the election were held today, he’d be a goner. Will be interesting to see where he is in a year and a half.
retired early
March 25th, 2011
10:36 am
GOP did exactly what I predicted…once in charge they push their draconian agenda appeasing their equally draconian far right loudmouth base. Then, once the smoke clears and average ( independent ) voters see their true agenda, the tide swiftly turns against them. I predict that if Wi succeeds in the recall…the GOP will have been “gutted” and “benign” in future elections. Where’s the popcorn…this is going to be the best show ever.
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:36 am
A Mission Wrapped in Confusion (washington post)
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/03/25/a_mission_wrapped_in_confusion_109341.html
Doggone/GA
March 25th, 2011
10:36 am
“if a company is out of business it has no customers. Get it yet?”
And if a company has no customers it is out of business. Get it yet?
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:36 am
The Speech Obama Hasn’t Given
What are we doing in Libya? Americans deserve an explanation.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704604704576221142167651286.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:36 am
Is President Obama the weakest Commander-in-Chief in US history?
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100081318/is-president-obama-the-weakest-commander-in-chief-in-us-history/
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
10:37 am
““Companies don’t create jobs…their customers do”
Off she goes, into the wild blue yonder!”
Well Dave, would you care to explain how a business exists with no customers?
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:37 am
Morning Jay: Obama’s Achilles’ Heel? (the weekly standard)
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/morning-jay-obamas-achilles-heel_555476.html
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
10:37 am
Sorry Doggone, I hadn’t hit “refresh” yet for your 10:36 – but it seems we are on the same wavelength.
George W
March 25th, 2011
10:38 am
Doggone…..what comes first the company or the customers?
oldtimer
March 25th, 2011
10:38 am
NO to pblic employees union…..at all. The taxpayers foot the bill!
DebbieDoRight
March 25th, 2011
10:38 am
Kayaker71: BTW, I have not seen one non-union automobile plant in the US rioting because thier “rights” are being violated.
thank the union for that.
There has not been one person terminated in this recession in any of the non-union Mercedes, Honda and Hyundai plants in Alabama. Not one.
that’s due to the LEADERSHIP of those companies, not the employees, who btw don’t make decisions regarding which cars to design, implement and market; nor do they have any input into who leads the company either.
They refuse to hire union workers. Ever wonder why?
If that’s true, in America, that’s called discrimination (asking about Union status on an application); and if any of those people who weren’t hired because of their alleged involvement with a union want to sue on the basis of this discrimination, I know a good law firm who’ll be more than happy to start a class action lawsuit against these companies.
Del
March 25th, 2011
10:38 am
Well its been a long recess. Work to do…catch y’all later.
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:38 am
retired early – keep dreaming dude.
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
10:38 am
“What demands? They ALREADY gave in to everything Governor Walker asked for EXCEPT giving up their collective bargaining rights.
Are you even following this story at all, or are just just parroting what others tell you?”
Joe Mama, meet your mirror some day. I suppose you don’t realize that they still have collective bargaining right for their salaries, don’t you? Who is the parrot now? And you do realize that having collective bargaining rights for things besides salaries (i.e. benefits) also causes costs for the state to go up, don’t you?
Ragnar Danneskjöld
March 25th, 2011
10:39 am
I’ve decided that Cox Communications is staffed by idiots hostile to the military. My son was shipped to Japan on 12 hours notice last week, asked me to suspend his cable service until he gets back, since his assignment is of indefinite length. Cox required me to appear at their office with a copy of his orders, or allow me to fax a copy. Since telephone lines are out in his section of Japan, I asked if he could scan and email them a copy of his orders, and they affirmed that email is unacceptable. Unbelievable – an internet company wedded to fax technology. You’d think just for the sake of appearances they would want to look like they are in the 21st century. Cox – delivering tomorrow’s needs with yesterday’s technology.
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:40 am
DDR – you don’t seem to know how the world works. You’re not a union member prior to getting a job…..
JohnnyReb
March 25th, 2011
10:40 am
Unholy Trinity – EPA, OSHA, and Unions. None of which would exist in their current, job and business destroying forms without the overly large, intruding, welfare fostering, unconstitutional Federal Government.
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
10:41 am
George,
What comes first the chicken or the egg?
George W
March 25th, 2011
10:41 am
Bosch….you didnt answer the question.
Harry Callahan
March 25th, 2011
10:42 am
“GOP did exactly what I predicted…once in charge they push their draconian agenda appeasing their equally draconian far right loudmouth base. Then, once the smoke clears and average ( independent ) voters see their true agenda, the tide swiftly turns against them.”
Let’s clean that up a bit, shall we?
Obama did exactly what I predicted…once in charge he pushed his extreme leftist agenda appeasing his equally extremist far left loudmouth base. Then, once the smoke clears and average ( independent ) voters see their true agenda, the tide swiftly turns against them. Hence the recent election results/democrat beat down in November 2010.
Del
March 25th, 2011
10:42 am
Bosch, quick question for you…how do companies begin? give you a hint it’s through $$$$. After which successful companies build what?
jm
March 25th, 2011
10:42 am
Ragnar –
A. I think you mean Comcast, not Cox.
B. Comcast does stink. Monopolies are awful things. Whether business, or labor unions.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 25th, 2011
10:43 am
WHY NO ARTICLES ON HOW OBAMA AUTHORIZED A WAR WITHOUT EVEN GOING THROUGH CONGRESS??
WHY NO ARTICLE ON HOW OBAMA HAS AUTHORIZED A WAR ON ANOTHER COUNTRY THAT POSES NO THREAT TO THE US??
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
10:43 am
“Well Dave, would you care to explain how a business exists with no customers?”
Sorry, Bosch, but I’m not going down Doggone’s rabbit hole today, and neither should you. However, in simplest terms, customers create DEMAND. But demand without product means nothing, therefore COMPANIES create jobs to satisfy demand. One is a desire or need, while the other is an action. One cannot exist without the other, but only one takes risks and provides jobs.
Harry Callahan
March 25th, 2011
10:43 am
I’d like to see DebbieDoRight working as an operations manager in a Teamsters shop for ONE DAY like I used to do.
LMAO
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
10:43 am
George,
A business opens on the presumption that they will have customers to sell their products to. Just because you open a business doesn’t automatically mean you will have customers. It’s the demand that keeps the business operational.
George W
March 25th, 2011
10:43 am
Del….he is not going to get it….his mind is already washed…
Ragnar Danneskjöld
March 25th, 2011
10:44 am
Dear jm. good morning, no I have a love-hate relationship with comcast, but Cox provides his cable and internet service in Norfolk. They generously told me I could appear at their Warner Robins or Macon office.