Chris Larson
Wisconsin Dem: No, we have no plans to come back soon
Sen. Miller’s comments are taken out of context in the Wall Street Journal article just released. Dems will return when collective bargaining is off the table. That could be soon based on the growing public opposition to the bill and the recall efforts against Republicans. Unfortunately, the WSJ fished for the quote they wanted, skipping this key step in logic: we won’t come back until worker’s rights are preserved.
Blowback
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Amber Alerts for the absconders looking better and better…
Christien on March 7, 2011 at 12:23 AM
Frankly if I lived in Minn I would be pissed at this point. The only bone of contention here is the collective bargaining. The republicans have it within their power to resolve that issue now without the democrats. Prolonging this thing when you have it within your power to resolve it simply looks like pathetic CYA at this point.
Rocks on March 7, 2011 at 12:26 AM
If WSJ took Miller’s quotes out of context then why isn’t Miller the one setting the record straight tonight? Sounds like the fleebaggers might not all be on the same page.
Mark1971 on March 7, 2011 at 12:28 AM
Illinios Fish and Game could make a mint selling tags for Wisconsin democrats. Hell, they’re in season.
viviliberoomuori on March 7, 2011 at 12:31 AM
Don’t know why, as this is happening in WISCONSIN.
Just throw down the gauntlet and pass the collective bargaining w/o the Democrats separate from the budget.
englishqueen01 on March 7, 2011 at 12:31 AM
Say, where are all the Democratic politicians and affiliated commentators that spoke out against the filibuster now?
David Shane on March 7, 2011 at 12:32 AM
Walker and WI Republicans need to end this. PASS the collective bargaining part separately already! and it WILL be off the table, because it will be done.
American Elephant on March 7, 2011 at 12:36 AM
Wisconsin owes Minnesota money and it isn’t a small chunk of change and getting the funds to pay them is part of the repair bill.
journeyintothewhirlwind on March 7, 2011 at 1:02 AM
Not surprised.
The polls are in their favor, so why should they come back now?
I don’t believe they will come back of their own will until after the recall elections.
WisCon on March 7, 2011 at 1:06 AM
Dissension in the ranks.
It only takes one to go back and its over. Sounds like this guy is a newly elected rookie who isn’t in the loop.
I agree though, the GOP should split off the collective bargaining and pass it. Take whatever hit there is – minimal when people see the sky doesn’t fall – and end the national media circus.
Curmudgeon on March 7, 2011 at 1:09 AM
What a total brain fart! Duh! thanks!
Rocks on March 7, 2011 at 1:16 AM
At this point they have already taken the hit. The only way they could make it worse is too piss off their own supporters too at this point.
Rocks on March 7, 2011 at 1:18 AM
When ONE SINGLE missing Dem state senator is willing to discuss the $10K/plan discrepancy between the “union owned” plans and the same plans offered by Blue cross, the I’ll listen to them. There are 6K teachers in Wi. There are 300K public employees in WI. Just switching the teachers over to bluecross for the same benefits will save up to 60 million.
viviliberoomuori on March 7, 2011 at 1:48 AM
The cheeseheads owe us a boat-load of money and the longer this goes on, the later we get paid.
BTW I hate the Packers.
Nelsen on March 7, 2011 at 2:09 AM
Agreed. But then again, the Democrats of Wisconsin really don’t give a rip who they owe or where they get the money. We also owe millions to the state patient compensation fund. It’s the fund doctors pay into that goes to cover patient lawsuits. The previous administration illegally raided the fund to play shell games with our financial woes.
Another alarming aspect of this debate (aside from the liberal attempts to overturn a valid election simply because they don’t like Walker won) is that it’s clear liberals/Democrats don’t care how broke we are. Their platform is “Spend spend spend” and consequences be d@mned.
Bully for you, but where’s the Lombardi Trophy again? The only historical artifact MN can brag about is that dinosaur known as Favre.
englishqueen01 on March 7, 2011 at 6:00 AM
morning joe is now insisting that the gop has lost the message…
______________
dang it…the hypocrisy on the left is just infuriating…they get away with just about anything they can (crucifying the gop if they do the exact same thing for one day), this will emboldened them even more…
cmsinaz on March 7, 2011 at 6:28 AM
this just shows that you can take your ball and go home and nothing will be done to you if you are a lib….heroes on the left, evildoers on the right…
i feel for you wiscon….wisconsin will have to hit rock bottom before anything will be done…same for the rest of the country, we will have actually hit rock bottom…this country appears to be reactive instead of proactive
cmsinaz on March 7, 2011 at 6:31 AM
Workers’ rights my a$$. Public sector collective bargaining today is nothing more today than a weapon used against taxpayers to financially benefit those who don’t create profit. It matters not whether these Dem senators have been bought by the union, or whether they actually believe the phony union lies and promises. Either way, they’re wrong. The Republicans should end this charade, even if they themselves suffer for it in the end. It’s the right thing to do.
Dee2008 on March 7, 2011 at 7:00 AM
It isn’t hypocrisy. It is Alinsky’s rule that you force your opponent to play by his own rules while you don’t play by any rules, save for Alinsky. The GOP must at least understand what is going on if not to start doing this as well.
Kafir on March 7, 2011 at 7:06 AM
its infuriating to say the least…
cmsinaz on March 7, 2011 at 7:22 AM
I’ve commented too many times: Walker has blown this.
The PEUs got exposed the first week when they loudly whined about the financial hardship of Walker’s proposed requirement for their contributions. Then, if the left and the media had to admit that Walker wasn’t seeking the moon. But on that score, Walker allowed the PEUs to argue that that was their “concession.” Screw that. Those changes were going to be dictated to the PEUs whether they liked it or not. Those changes were NON-negotiable.
In some regards, I think it was okay for Walker to allow the left to rant the second week about collective bargaining. The PEUs looked absurd as they trashed the WI statehouse and the fleebaggers fled. But Walker didn’t use that week explaining specifically how ending most of the collective bargaining privileges (not rights) would help Wisconsinites. Every time I saw him interviewed, he resorted to talking points about the contribution issues, when the PEUs had already conceded those issues. Walker fumbled a great opportunity to explain how those collective bargaining privileges hurt WI and its local governments.
Unfortunately, Walker also allowed the Assembly to pass the big bill after a fair amount of debate, while the fleebaggers remained out of state. As things stand, it’s like a turd floating around in a pool, and no one wants to go near it. After the second week, Walker should have divided the big bill into the collective bargaining and contribution components. In the WI senate, they should have scheduled a lot of time for the debate the collective bargaining component to give both sides a chance to air out their sides. I’d have even considered breaking up that component into discrete-issue bills. For example, get Dems on record specifically opposing the ending of union dues withholding, remitting, and recordkeeping by the state. Flush the Dems out for the corrupt pieces of sh*t that they are. In the end, the collective bargaining component could be passed in the senate without the 60% quorum. And while the Dems are there, pass the contribution component. If the fleebaggers were to flee again, Walker and the GOP could reasonably argue that the Dems are protesting points that the Dems had conceded and, indeed, were going to happen in all events. If the Dems didn’t return, they’d get blamed for any layoffs.
I’m rooting for Walker, but I still think he screwed this up.
BuckeyeSam on March 7, 2011 at 7:43 AM
I sincerely hope you’re wrong, but I agree that he may have let his best opportunities slip by.
Dee2008 on March 7, 2011 at 7:53 AM
Maybe, but we have found another message we like better…pay attention Joe.
jeanie on March 7, 2011 at 9:15 AM
The question I have not seen answered is: “Why are the republicans so insistent to attach the collective bargaining, etc to a budget bill?”
WHY?!?!?!?
If they want it done, DO IT!
BierManVA on March 7, 2011 at 9:29 AM
And you base this on your reaction to what you’ve seen on”Morning Joe.” And in previous threads you’ve been saying that the Democrats are winning, the GOP is gonna cave, etc. because of something you saw on MSNBC.
Can I give you a bit of friendly advice? Stop watching MSNBC for a few minutes and take a deep breath. If you’re so concerned about living in a reactive nation, stop spending so much time reacting to what you see on a left-wing propaganda channel.
Mr. D on March 7, 2011 at 9:32 AM
Democrats are cowards who cut and run if they can’t force taxpayers to funnel money into Democrat campaign coffers.
GardenGnome on March 7, 2011 at 9:43 AM
Walker’s got to stay strong, but the Republicans are really squandering an opportunity to do some real reforms and cripple the Dems in Wisconsin. They could split the union busting bill, make Wis. a Right to Work state, pass election reforms, and a whole host of other non-financial/tax related reforms, but they’re just twiddling their thumbs. That’s the mistake. They’ve got to be seen as acting, regardless of what the dems do.
Iblis on March 7, 2011 at 9:58 AM
How many days have these chicken shi-ite Democrats held the state of Wisconsin hostage?
They need to be held in contempt.
I certainly find them contemptible…
MSDNC is wrong. The message has gotten out that public sector unions are a ruse to take money from taxpayers and funnel it back to the Democratic party.
Hang tough, Wisconsin! Don’t give in to these selfish, lawless Democrats.
Fallon on March 7, 2011 at 10:00 AM
We saw this in Congress and now we are seeing at the state level. You are correct.
Fallon on March 7, 2011 at 10:03 AM
This insane melodrama needs to come to an end. Pass the bill and let the courts decide whether the bill is legal or not. In my opinion the legislative process should not be held hostage by “missing” senators.
SC.Charlie on March 7, 2011 at 10:47 AM