They're baaack!
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Unbowed and unrepentant, 14 Democratic state senators returned to the Capitol on Saturday and received a tumultuous welcome from tens of thousands of pro-labor demonstrators.
Despite last week's passage of Gov. Scott Walker's budget-repair bill, the senators said they did the right thing by fleeing to Illinois last month in an unsuccessful bid to block the legislation.
And they vowed to fight the law in the courts and at the ballot box in a longer struggle to restore the collective bargaining that was eliminated for most public employees.
As they made their way up the steps of the Capitol, they heard the roars of a crowd that clogged Capitol Square, and listened as chants of "thank you, thank you" rained down.
Video, from the MacIver Institute:
Video, from FOX 6:
Listen to Lena Taylor scream, "POWER TO THE PEOPLE!"
It's like nails on a chalkboard.
View photos of protesters, taken yesterday by Ann Althouse in Madison.
More photos here.
The Hollywood/celebrity contingent included Susan Sarandon, Tony Shalhoub, and Chris Shiflett of the Foo Fighters. Of course, Jesse Jackson was there. There was a strong out-of-state presence.
Former out-of-staters, the 14 AWOL Democrat senators, were the stars of the event.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald issued a statement to "welcome" them back to Wisconsin.
“Today, the most shameful 14 people in the state of Wisconsin are going to pat themselves on the back and smile for the cameras. They’re going to pretend they’re heroes for taking a three-week vacation.
“It is an absolute insult to the hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites who are struggling to find a job, much less one they can run away from and go down to Illinois – with pay.
“Their appearance at the Capitol today is in direct violation of the contempt order issued by the state Senate earlier this month, and it proves their absolute disregard for the institution of the Senate and the constitution they took an oath of office to serve.
“But the people of Wisconsin won’t forget what they were really doing these past few weeks.
“Sen. Tim Cullen refused to come back to save 1,500 jobs.
“Sen. Bob Wirch refused to come back to save countless middle-class jobs at the state and local levels.
“Sen. Mark Miller refused to come back even to make sure his own staff were safe in the Capitol he abandoned.
“Sen. Fred Risser refused to come back out of respect for the institution and dignity of the state Senate.
“Sen. Bob Jauch refused to come back even though our side was negotiating in good faith to try to find a reasonable compromise.
“Sens. Jon Erpenbach, Chris Larson and Lena Taylor were all too happy to pat themselves on the back and smile for the cameras in Illinois, never mind their constituents here in Wisconsin.
“And Sens. Dave Hansen, Kathleen Vinehout, Tim Carpenter, Spencer Coggs, Jim Holperin, and Julie Lassa refused to come back to actually do the job they were elected to do.
“To the Senate Democrats: when you smile for the cameras today and pretend you’re heroes, I hope you look at that beautiful Capitol building you insulted. And I hope you’re embarassed to call yourselves senators.”
The Senate Dems' egos have swelled massively.
They think of themselves as folk heroes and historic figures. I wonder if they entertained the thought that they're more popular than Jesus.
The fact is the 14 AWOL Dems made a mockery out of the 2010 elections and spit in the faces of millions of Wisconsinites when they ran away to Illinois.
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