A left-wing ‘temper tantrum’ to short-circuit elections and their consequences
Three years ago, the combination of a $787 billion stimulus and multibillion-dollar bailouts sparked the first tea party rallies. The tea partyers protested, yes, but most importantly they pledged to “remember in November” — that is, November of the following year, when the next congressional elections would be held.
Liberals, confident the tea parties would fail, called it a “temper tantrum.” That “tantrum” wound up sweeping many a Democrat out of office. Now, liberals are throwing a fit of their own. But they aren’t waiting for the next elections. They want their way, now.
That’s the upshot of both the threatened boycotts of a conservative legislative group’s corporate sponsors and the attempted recall of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. The left, having lost last time, is too impatient to bide its time.
The conservative group in question, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), has been around since 1973. It has been quite active in Georgia since Republicans took the reins here a decade ago.
By ALEC’s count, each year one in five bills based on the group’s model texts becomes law. That rate hardly signals a rampant rubber-stamping of laws written in secret and railroaded through statehouses.
The two ALEC-approved laws at the heart of the boycott threats are one requiring voters to provide photo identification and the “stand your ground” self-defense law that gained national notoriety after the shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.
But states began passing voter ID laws nearly a decade ago. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2008 upheld Indiana’s version, one of the strictest, noting plaintiffs presented no one denied the vote because of the law. “Stand your ground,” meanwhile, is a century-old legal concept long approved by courts. In recent years, it has been codified by a number of states — including eight with Democratic governors at the time.
Now, suddenly, these court-approved laws have made ALEC public enemy No. 1. Companies that donated to it are shrinking in the face of boycott threats. What changed? Why now?
Permit a theory: The urgency stems from the conservative wave that swept over numerous statehouses in 2010. Republicans now control 26 statehouses and 29 governor’s mansions. That’s a stark change from before the 2010 elections, which produced the largest loss of statehouse seats for one party in decades and the most GOP state legislators in 82 years. Suddenly, ALEC has a lot more influence. And the left doesn’t want to wait for the next elections — and to have to win a reversal at the polls — to stop it.
In Wisconsin, labor unions aghast at the changes Walker and GOP legislators enacted — including limiting collective bargaining rights for some public workers and requiring them to contribute more toward their health care and pensions — will try to recall him in an election next month.
Never mind that Walker campaigned on most of these changes, won the election and followed through. The unions want to remove him from office more than two years early. There’s talk Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder could face a recall as well due to his union-limiting law.
Fledgling democracies mark a significant milestone when they transfer power safely from one group to another. We haven’t fallen that far.
But it is disturbing to see some groups try to lessen the effect of their electoral losses by making threats and seeking to remove officers carrying out an electoral mandate. They tread on dangerous ground.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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327 comments Add your comment
carlosgvv
April 21st, 2012
8:21 am
Kyle, the key two words in this essay are “corporate sponsors”. Profit is the one and only thing they care about and now, sensing how fed up the people have become with the Tea Party, these rats are deserting the ALEC ship as quickly as possible. Voters now realize how badly they were taken in by slick Tea Party propaganda and can’t wait to vote these dangerous losers out of office. I can’t wait either.
Recalls are perfectly legal and have been around for many years. They are part of our democratic process. If this were a Democratic Gov. facing a recall, you would be singing a different tune, so do us a favor and lose the hypocrisy.
GT
April 21st, 2012
8:28 am
Justice is served, a constitution was written to stop political Jihads. The state of Wisconsin unlike our state is not bought and sold to the highest bidder. Romney could have been a communist with a war-chest and he would have been elected in Georgia, money wins elections here, not majorities. If the majority didn’t buy in to the actions of a hijacked government they are the boss not a paid announcement from a far off land.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
April 21st, 2012
8:46 am
carlosgvv: Voters…can’t wait to vote these dangerous losers out of office
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Nothing is more dangerous to Democrat politicians than reducing the size, scope, and spending power of government. That’s what the Tea Party is all about. Merely slowing the growth of government has liberals threatening violence against any politician that doesn’t knuckle under to their radical, selfish, anti-American agenda.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
April 21st, 2012
8:50 am
More Democrat civility:
—————–
Rev. T. Ray McJunkins of Springfield’s Union Baptist Church and USAction’s William McNary engaged in violent rhetoric to rile up a union crowd of thousands just yards away from an Illinois appearance by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
McNary challenged Walker to “knuckle up” while McJunkins said they’re going to “cut your head off,” likening Walker to Goliath.
http://freedomeden.blogspot.com/2012/04/cut-off-scott-walkers-head.html
GT
April 21st, 2012
8:52 am
Violence is shooting a unarmed kid walking home and hiding behind a ALEC generically made law.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
April 21st, 2012
8:56 am
All Americans owe ALEC a huge thank you for protecting their Second Amendment rights.
And most of the violence done against unarmed kids who “look like Trayvon” is done by kids who look like Trayvon.
Duke Lacrosse, anyone?
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
April 21st, 2012
9:13 am
Stupid is commenting on a shooting when there have been no facts produced in evidence.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
April 21st, 2012
9:17 am
Speaking of undoing political acts:
————————
In an op-ed for the ages in the Massachusetts Medical Devices Journal this week, [Elizabeth] Warren came out against ObamaCare’s 2.3% excise tax on medical device manufacturers that kicks in next year. Such a levy has no place in a “fair tax system,” she says, and she favors repeal.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303425504577355851365704514.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_AboveLEFTTop
——————-
Elizabeth Warren: Sellout to the health care industry.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
April 21st, 2012
9:17 am
I have no problem with recall elections. Didn’t work for the Dems when they tried to recall the state senators they didn’t like and likely won’t work at the governor level Even if they do succeed, the laws enacted are still in place and working effectively with a legislature unwilling to overturn them.
So have your hissy-fit, Wisconsin Democrats. Way to waste even more government money with special elections that won’t matter.
Joe the Prophet
April 21st, 2012
9:21 am
Tiberius – Your lightning rod of hate!
April 21st, 2012
8:10 am
Joe the Prophet at 7:57
Don’t worry, Joe. Stay at home.
We don’t need morons casting votes. That’s how we got this current Disaster-in-Chief.
———————————————————-
I will pray for you……My biblical suggestion is Matthew 7, the whole chapter….Mark 11: 15-19….and 1 Timothy 2-5…….HAVE A BLESS DAY….;-)…..!!!!!!
Now with Ten Percent More Flavor
April 21st, 2012
9:26 am
Congratulations to the Tea Party members. May you get everything you deserve.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
April 21st, 2012
9:26 am
“I will pray for you”
Please don’t. I do not need nor want the prayers of a bigot.
carlosgvv
April 21st, 2012
9:29 am
Barry – 8:46
Is this the same pro-American Tea Party who wanted to let our country go into default and wreck the entire economy rather than raise the debt limit?
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
April 21st, 2012
9:32 am
Is this the same pro-American Tea Party who wanted to have a substantive debate about controlling Obozo’s disastrous spending and debt increases before agreeing to raise the debt limit?
——————–
Corrected, and yes, it is.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
April 21st, 2012
9:36 am
Just a little payback for what the MSM and the Dens do on a daily basis, Ten Percent.
What’s your point?
killerj
April 21st, 2012
9:36 am
Bring it on!,exposes union,s true mandates,money,power,influence to control,sad what started out to help workers has turned into a joke……..a joke on the worker,s now!,just look at all the automakers coming south now because of it,Detroits a more than proven case,take note my southern friends when a rep show,s up at your work place to promise you the world.
Now with Ten Percent More Flavor
April 21st, 2012
9:54 am
I noted quite an interesting history of the Tea Party in citation number 63. It seems to conflict with Lil’s recollection.
Now with Ten Percent More Flavor
April 21st, 2012
10:00 am
Just a little payback for what the MSM and the Dens do on a daily basis, Ten Percent.
What point are you trying to make. My 9:26 post has nothing to do with MSM or the “Dens”.
Oblama
April 21st, 2012
10:09 am
Oblama looked around and said “Clowns to the left of me – Jokers to the Right “….. but unfortunately he’s far left of the middle. Labor Unions are run by thugs that live off of the sweat of it’s members. Unions in the public sector should be illegal.
Joe the Prophet
April 21st, 2012
10:10 am
Tiberius – Your lightning rod of hate!
April 21st, 2012
9:26 am
“I will pray for you”
Please don’t. I do not need nor want the prayers of a bigot.
——————————————————
Heaven’s Gate was an American UFO religion based in San Diego, California, founded and led by Marshall Applewhite (1931–1997) and Bonnie Nettles (1928–1985).[1] On March 26, 1997, police discovered the bodies of 39 members of the group who had committed suicide[2] in order to reach an alien space craft which they believed was following the Comet Hale-Bopp, which was at its brightest.[3]
You are so right….I apologize….Here’s just some good stories…without the bigoted commentary….
Now with Ten Percent More Flavor
April 21st, 2012
10:31 am
Will Kyle be in attendance.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
April 21st, 2012
10:32 am
I noted quite an interesting history of the Tea Party in citation number 63. It seems to conflict with Lil’s recollection.
———————
How so?
And while you’re focusing on footnote 63 of 300+, how about reading the first paragraph on the page?
Talk about missing the forest for the trees, Ten Percent…
————————
The Tea Party movement (TPM) is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009. It endorses reduced government spending, cutting taxes, reduction of the national debt and federal budget deficit
tiredofIT
April 21st, 2012
11:01 am
I can help but remember the state of the country under Bush during the fall of 2008. Good Times.
Now with Ten Percent More Flavor
April 21st, 2012
11:36 am
How so?
According to citation 63, the Tea Party movement began in December of 2007 during the Ron Paul campaign. Your 8:10 post incorrectly attributes the formation of the Tea Party to unprecedented spending by someone you label as “Idiot Klown”.
carlosgvv
April 21st, 2012
11:39 am
Barry – 9:32
Incorrect. The Tea Party made it abundantly clear they would NOT vote to raise the debt limit unless totally unacceptable and irrational measures were enacted.
The Fresh Prince of Bill Ayers
April 21st, 2012
11:43 am
Unions are awesome! How else can cleaning people and garbage collectors make more than computer nerds in the private sector, and control large blocks of voters?
Rick in Grayson
April 21st, 2012
11:51 am
The right to vote in federal/state elections is available only to US citizens. How could the Supreme court do anything but uphold that provision since it under control of federal/state laws.
If you can not prove you are a US citizen, you are not permitted to vote in a federal election. That means you have to PROVE you are a US citizen. We don’t vote in Russia, India, Mexico, Canada, why should their citizens be allowed to vote in our federal elections.
The burden of proof is on the individual, not the state/federal government.
Citizens of Wisconsin can do whatever they want, but unions do without a doubt provide their members with higher wages. In other words, they add to income inequality amongst the working class.
In the state of New York, 1 of every 4 workers is a union member. In the state of Georgia, only 1 of every 20 workers is a union member.
Taxes in NY are very high and many are leaving the state for that reason. Public and private union pensions are driving labor rates even higher and local taxpayers will not be able to pay for these pensions. Politicians have promised and promised things to unions, fully aware that they will not be around when the bills come due. Well, those pensions will be called in soon enough and local taxpayers in the NY/NJ area will not be able to pay. I used to live in NY and I have relatives still there that complain about the high taxes. They will be moving out as soon as they retire from their UNION (”I don’t have to know anything, they have to train me”) jobs and collect their pensions (Gas and Electric utilities and Electrical workers unions). Note: their wages are ultimately paid for by non-union workers.
Companies will have much lower labor costs in the Southeast largely due to lower union membership and they will relocate jobs to these kinds of locations.
Rates of union membership by state: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.t05.htm
Now with Ten Percent More Flavor
April 21st, 2012
11:52 am
Unions are awesome! How else can cleaning people and garbage collectors make more than computer nerds in the private sector, and control large blocks of voters?
You could always clean up after yourself and quit generating so much garbage if you think that’s where the problem lies.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
April 21st, 2012
11:55 am
“The Tea Party made it abundantly clear they would NOT vote to raise the debt limit unless totally unacceptable and irrational measures were enacted.”
Unacceptable and irrational to whom?
You? The Disaster-in-Chief who wouldn’t compromise one bit? Nancy Pelosi?
Please tell us how cutting spending which would STILL increase the deficit and trying to remove tax loopholes without raising overall tax rates could remotely be described as “unacceptable and irrational” given our economic situation, carlos.
Rafe Hollister
April 21st, 2012
12:03 pm
Joe the Prophet
Get a clue, before you go all bigot on polygamy that runs in families. You do know that Barry Oblamers father had three wives, no divorces, and that his grandfather supposedly lived with multiple wives. It is hard to find too many facts about the mystery man’s background, but I believe his ancestors being polygamist is documented.
So, you guys are quickly running out of ammunition. Both have dog stories they are not proud of, both are from polygamist families, both are extremely rich, both have changed their positions on multiple issues, and both do not connect well with Joe Sixpack.
After all the frivolous issues are put aside, you are going to be left with looking at their records and the issues. Romney wins that argument, big time.
Now with Ten Percent More Flavor
April 21st, 2012
12:03 pm
It would appear that the efforts of those supporting ALEC go much deeper than stand your ground or voter’s rights. Perhaps those two issues are intended as diversions from the whole story.
carlosgvv
April 21st, 2012
12:15 pm
Barry
The “cutting spending” you refer to reflects the Tea Party’s desire to enact massive cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicad. The only tax changes they want to make are those which would benefit their wealthy sponsors. The Republican Party is of the rich, by the rich and for the rich. They are counting on evangelical tools like you to stay in power.
yuzeyurbrane
April 21st, 2012
12:19 pm
Lil’ Barry, re your rant about “military-industrial complex”, the phrase was first made famous as a warning to the country by that loathsome Communist, Dwight Eisenhower, in his farewell address to the nation.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
April 21st, 2012
12:45 pm
“The “cutting spending” you refer to reflects the Tea Party’s desire to enact massive cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicad.”
And yet during the debt ceiling crisis, nothing was mentioned regarding thos.
Except by Democrats who were willing to lie on order to give a soundbite to the MSM.
“The only tax changes they want to make are those which would benefit their wealthy sponsors.”
Yeah, ’cause making them pay higher taxes on the front end in order to reduce taxes on the other end is just so exteeeeeme . . .
Steve Dunbar
April 21st, 2012
12:56 pm
Let’s go a little deeper on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Industries write, produce and direct legisaltion that is truly one-sided. Their lobbyists in the state houses, armed with campaign contributions (cash), troll the legislative hallways looking for receptive, open pocket legislators. Then under the banner of “model legislation endorsed by “ALEC”, industry gets exactly what it wants. Only in today’s Republican Party can such a procedure be referred to as ‘model’ legislation.
For Kyle to refer to a group opposed to this hijacking of government as falsely making “ALEC” public enemy number one is intellectually dishonest.
Now with Ten Percent More Flavor
April 21st, 2012
12:56 pm
Yeah, ’cause making them pay higher taxes on the front end in order to reduce taxes on the other end is just so exteeeeeme . . .
The only talk I have seen from Republicans in support of higher taxes has been regarding their support to end the cut in payroll taxes. Otherwise, they continue to support making the Bush tax cuts permanent and to introduce yet more tax cuts for the wealthiest. One thing the Republicans fail to do is explain in detail how they will accomplish all of these tax cuts while also increasing spending on the military, not impacting Social Security recipients or Medicare recipients, and eliminating the deficit and paying down the debt. I suspect they have to push through a substantial increase in payroll taxes in order to fund their plan since they clearly have no objections to those taxes. Likely because they have such a minimal impact on the wealthiest.
AmVet
April 21st, 2012
1:15 pm
Now, suddenly, these court-approved laws have made ALEC public enemy No. 1. Companies that donated to it are shrinking in the face of boycott threats.
Outstanding.
Coke, Pepsi, Kraft, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Intuit, Reed-Elsevier and others have left that reprehensible organization.
And it will be great fun watching the fed up people in Wisconsin help the job killers Scott Walker, Rebecca Kleefisch and four Republican state senators find work in the private sector…
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
April 21st, 2012
1:17 pm
Now with Ten Percent More Flavor: According to citation 63, the Tea Party movement began in December of 2007 during the Ron Paul campaign
————–
I guess that’s why no one heard of it until 2009.
Actually, Santelli on CNBC sparked it. That was after your Idiot Klown started spending and borrowing at obscene, unprecedented levels.
AU Liberal in ATL
April 21st, 2012
1:17 pm
Hey Kyle Wingnut, do you know what it means when someone says you’re the pot calling the kettle black?
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
April 21st, 2012
1:24 pm
“One thing the Republicans fail to do is explain in detail how they will accomplish all of these tax cuts”
———————
One thing your Idiot Klown fails to do is explain how we’re going to pay for the $1 trillion cost overrun of his health care power grab.
Old timer
April 21st, 2012
1:31 pm
Good article.
Michael H. Smith
April 21st, 2012
1:32 pm
Tiberius – Your lightning rod of hate! @ 12:21 am
The benefits the brainless uneducated socialist union people lay claim to securing for the workers of this country were obtained by an UNORGANIZED LABOR MOVEMENT whose efforts and success preceded them.
Needless to say the non-union workers of this country by a majority see unions as harmful to American labor.
Then again Tiberius, I hope these uncouth clowns keep it up. The more they threaten and attempt to extort the more they lose favor with the American public.
Oh, by the way, how’s the U.S. Postal Service doing these day?
Just saying…
Reformed Rightie
April 21st, 2012
1:32 pm
Kyle, you voted for Newt…you rationalized it…you encouraged others to vote for Newt…you have no credibility.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
April 21st, 2012
1:34 pm
Steve Dunbar: “industry gets exactly what it wants”
——————
Guess how many votes ALEC or “industry” have in legislatures. Zero.
If you have a problem with the legislation your representatives pass, vote for someone else.
And if you have a problem with “industry”, don’t work for it, don’t invest in it, and don’t purchase its products, hypocrite.
AmVet
April 21st, 2012
1:41 pm
I hope all of you faux conservatives here remember to thank the people who brought you the weekend – the labor unions.
Joe the Prophet
April 21st, 2012
1:53 pm
Rafe Hollister
April 21st, 2012
12:03 pm
————————–
You justify your sin as much as you want to….I’m not even talking about politics….In fact, I’m as conservative as you are……Please read Matthew 7 (all of it), especially the part about hypocrisy and false prophets…..
Seriously…what has happened to America..!?!?….You have a rampant polytheist giving a speech at a Christian university about the evils of homosexuality…!!!! They are both sins…!!!!!!
And as far as I know, President Obama does NOT support any polygamist nor polytheist organizations…regardless of his father…..Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of Governor Romney…..
And as far as the “White Horse Prophecy”….I have no intention of bringing that to reality…!!!!
Michael Szedon
April 21st, 2012
1:53 pm
Typically, Mr. Wingfield, you neglected to mention a few salient facts, as they shed more light on WHY Walker is facing a recall.
He denies women equal pay for equal work.
He replaced duly-elected town officials with all-powerful, non-accountable Juntas to do his bidding.
He signed an anti-abortion law so vague and intrusive that now, thousands of women in his state will be unable to receive the health-care they need.
He signed an abstinence-only sex-ed bill, which is the best way to increase the number of pregnant teenagers, especially given Walker’s war against Planned Parenthood.
And, of course, he cut the pay of public workers and eliminated their right to collective bargaining.
AND, Mr. WIngfield, you also neglect to mention that several republican politicians have already promised to IMPEACH Obama should he be re-elected.
As usual, Mr. Wingfield, you neglect to mention pertinent facts in your trash-piece column, and if you don’t like the idea of recall elections, why, that’s just democracy in action whether you right-wing hypocrites like it or not.
Joe the Prophet
April 21st, 2012
1:56 pm
Where is Ralph Reed to condemn this heresy…!?!? Frank Graham…!?!? They’re pretty quick on the draw when it comes to homosexuals and trans-vaginal ultrasounds…..but let a heretic attack 1 Timothy 2-5, then it’s (”well, were not electing a pastor-in-chief”)…..
Please forgive me for standing up for my Christian faith…..!!!!!!!
@@
April 21st, 2012
2:00 pm
Unions?
More of a hindrance than a help THESE days.
There was a time when America needed labor unions to organize for worker’s rights, but federal and state laws prohibit workplace atrocities of the past. Moreover, the payoff for high-profile class action litigation is such that any large employee groups capable of getting the attention of union lawyers could just as easily get their own attorney to take the case.
….over the years, there were issues involving worker safety in manufacturing facilities, but those were effectively dealt with in the courts. That aside, high-tech employees are typically treated well and if they’re not, there are always state labor boards and lawyers to intervene on employee’s behalf.
So here we are in the 21st century and we still have all these unions for teachers, nurses, truckers, airline employees, construction workers, and yes, automotive workers. But are they really needed? Do they really help employees? Or do they just diminish America’s competitiveness in an increasingly global marketplace?
That was certainly the case in the automotive sector, regardless of the union’s spin. I’m not sure about the role of unions in the airline industry, but I do know that there are very few U.S.-based airlines that have never filed for bankruptcy protection, and that hasn’t been good for anyone, least of all airline employees.
If you don’t trust government and greedy lawyers, why vote Democrat?
schnirt
@@
April 21st, 2012
2:04 pm
Oops!
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-28243022/do-we-need-labor-unions-anymore/