Wisconsin comes to Washington

by Henry Farrell on March 16, 2011

A few photos shot with my phone from the “demonstration outside the Wisconsin GOP fundraiser”:http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/as-wisconsin-sens-head-for-dc-labor-brings-the-war-to-them.php?ref=fpblg this evening.

{ 4 comments }

1

Lee A. Arnold 03.17.11 at 2:06 am

After the bipartisan financial bailout, plus their partisan insistence on extending the useless tax cuts for the wealthiest, the Republicans have now decided to balance the budgets on the backs of the teachers and the poor! In other words, three months after the election, the Republicans have managed to wear out their welcome! This may be a new world record for reversal of public opinion…but that’s America for you: always innovating! I had been hoping for something zany and nincompoopish from the Republicans. This I think may qualify.

Now, in response, everybody with a functioning brain is going like “You mean I have to LEARN stuff?”… I have to start thinking about the monetary value of the personal cost-savings that is accomplished by government institutions?… I have to articulate that the nonpredictability of complex systems such as the climate is not a license to ignore these systems?… At some point you understand the notion of abrupt change as you listen to your own body. I had to stop going to my favorite diner, because the grease they use on the grill is starting to lard my innards. Not to mention guzzling coffee: Welcome to the REAL Green Tea Party.

2

BJN 03.17.11 at 1:56 pm

From the look of your pictures, I was standing next to you at some point, completely unaware (23 year old caucasian male, orange backpack, black coat).

Here is a picture from later when we briefly occupied the Chamber of Commerce building. http://img683.imageshack.us/i/0316011841.jpg/

Don’t know how long you stuck around. About 7:00 or 7:30 the head of the Wisconsin firefighters union spoke, followed by all the Wisconsinites in the crowd giving a short talk. Even though we were barred from the building, the (unionized) janitor staff turned on the lights for us as the sun went down. The guy in a green coat and a cheese hat above was a fantastic ringleader for the whole thing, keeping the crowd pumped, keeping us moving, and keeping the whole thing interesting.

3

Harry 03.18.11 at 2:42 am

It is starting to look as if my fellow Wisconsites have unleashed something that has legs. Lets hope it has teeth. Thank you to everyone across the States and beyond for supporting us — but much more importantly thank you for emulating us.

When summer comes and I can get my act together I’m applying for citizenship at last. A long deceased Irish friend of mine arrived in 58, and refused to apply for citizenship till the Vietnam War was over. I’d like to think that she is watching from wherever people go and feeling glad that she finally did it.

4

Henry 03.18.11 at 5:36 pm

BJN – I was there but not as long as I would have liked to have been (small children at home and the minding thereof, beckoning). Tall, prematurely grey, could stand to lose a few pounds. I thought it all went very well (and agree on the excellence of the cheese guy).

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