Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

Walker really has no good moves. If he capitulates, he looks weak, but if he stays resolute, he looks like he doesn't care about voters' opinions (and depending on who you ask, around 53-67% are opposed to stripping collective bargaining rights).

I guess these revolutions just...

-puts on sunglasses-

aren't being televised.

His only good move now is step down from politics and wait 3 years before writing about this debacle. Many people are now aware that he's trying to appease the Koch brothers so they can fund his play for presidency and power.

Presidency?

Sara Palin has a better chance of becoming President at this point.

And thats saying something.

I think he went on Colbert and said to him, in all seriousness, that he would make Colbert his VP.

And that really is.

edited 27th Feb '11 11:00:14 PM by Enkufka

Scott Walker for President 2012.

We must have him assassinated and bring Coblert to power.

Stephen would like to point out that its COLBERT! You UNAMERICAN FASCIST!

yes, but the Democrats will bring in Whale Wars dude and...Jon Stewart!

Here's what I would do if I were Walker:

1. Send termination notifications to the teachers, etc., as required by law.
2. Tell the police that they are not authorized to join the protest while on duty, and thus are considered off duty, and those who refuse to return to duty within 48 hours of their next scheduled check - in will be relieved of duty or terminated.
3. Propose to remove all anti - union components of the bill in return for the Democratic members of the senate to return to work within 48 hours.

Of course, his opponents would still not accept that compromise. In hindsight, he would have been better off making WI a right to work state instead.

No one would ever believe that he'd actually do #3, or even bring it up, except as a cynical and obvious ploy.

^^

And terminating teachers and cops in droves accomplishes... What?

Look, I'm a pro-union guy, my dad was a teamster his entire life. But... I think what the Senators are doing is wrong, as it totally impedes and undermines the democratic process. I'm morally opposed to this whole "Let's all hide and not do our jobs" business.

Because now the Republicans have realized that they can do this too, and nobody can really cry foul once they do it.

edited 28th Feb '11 5:41:16 AM by Barkey

I'm pretty sure that they were aware of that tactic beforehand.

edited 28th Feb '11 5:43:23 AM by EnglishIvy

I would definitely agree with the "and now Republicans can do it too" thing, except for the fact that they'd have to have a large amount of public support in order to do it and not look like idiots, and if there's ever a level of public outcry that approaches what's happening with regard to WI, then I'd say they would be justified in leaving the state to postpone a vote.

Well, that too. Someone, somewhere has used it as a tactic before. We just haven't seen such things as widely publicized as this incident has been.

edited 28th Feb '11 5:50:36 AM by darksidevoid

He has the option rescind the "termination papers" if everyone cooperates. If they don't, he may have to call out the guard anyway. Of course, either way some people will walk no matter what happens, out of sheer disgust.

It's mentioned earlier in the thread in Texas... trying to find the details.

And yeah, this could start a trend, and any time a legislature is put in this position where either side faces a bill they REALLY don't like, they'll look at walking out as a legitimate tactic rather than an absolute last resort, thereby placing legislative progress at a state level on the back burner.

edited 28th Feb '11 6:02:54 AM by FrodoGoofballCoTV

The last time this tactic was used was the Texas/Tom Delay redistricting thing, which was several years ago. Don't know if it was used before.

Sadly, even with the ability to walk out being a commonly used tactic, the state senates would still be less dysfunctional than the U.S. Senate.

I'd say it would put them at about equal.

So, if the national guard were called in, whose side do you think they'd be on? And how long would it be before they fired on protesters? And how much further would Walker's popularity crater?

edited 28th Feb '11 8:29:05 AM by GlennMagusHarvey

There's no way they'd fire on protesters.

Well, okay, rubber bullets and tear gas.

I think if they actually did that, the subject I started this topic on (i.e. a recall) would be pretty much inevitable. But that's just me. I do think that would really, really sink his popularity.

Can the Feds do anything if this gets too out of hand? Like declare emergency in the state or something?

There has been talk of the state shutting down should the democratic senators not return soon.

Personally, they should tear up the bill as it has little to nothing to do with the budget and has a lot to do with auctioning off governmental power and wildlife preserves and giving power to the Governor.

I think the pro union side is just waiting for the governor to crack.

Every day the protests go on and life is made more difficult, his numbers go down.

What bill would do:

1) Eliminate collective bargaining rights for most public workers. So while unions still could represent those workers, they would not be able to seek pay increases above those pegged to the Consumer Price Index unless approved by a public referendum.

2) Unions also could not force employees to pay dues and would have to hold annual votes to stay organized.

3) Local police, firefighters and state troopers would retain their collective bargaining rights.

4) Public workers would have to pay half the costs of their pensions and at least 12.6 percent of their health care coverage. That represents an average of 8 percent increase in state employees' share of pension and health care costs.

In exchange, public employees were promised no furloughs or layoffs. Gov. Scott Walker has threatened to lay off up to 6,000 state workers if the measure does not pass.

Courtesy of MSNBC

I'm not seeing the "auctioning off government power" nor "giving power to the governor."

edited 28th Feb '11 5:00:06 PM by Swish