A Setback for the Walker Administration's Union-Busting

When Gov. Walker's union busting bill was passed by the state legislature and signed into law, there was only one thing standing in the way -- Secretary of State Doug La Follette. The law would need to be published by the office of Sec. La Follette and the Secretary decided he'd publish it at the latest date allowable by law, which was ten days after signing.

This was, apparently, nothing new. "I'm doing what I normally do," he explained to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which was publish the law at the latest possible date, in order for opponents to have a chance to file legal challenges. La Follette estimated at the time that this was the case with 96% of the bills that come through his office. If it's not an emergency, it cools off for a bit.

It turned out to be a good practice today, as a judge put a halt to implementation of the law:

Wisconsin State Journal:

A Dane County judge Friday issued a temporary order blocking implementation of Gov. Scott Walker's controversial measure limiting collective bargaining rights for public employees, saying a legislative committee likely violated the state Open Meetings Law when it rushed passage of the bill March 9.

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Real Populism Blooms, Right Wing Media Fumes

Last night, a loose, disorganized coalition of Marxist rebels, street gangs, and union thugs stormed the Capitol Square in Madison, Wisconsin, seizing the Capitol itself and occupying it. The air was thick with smoke as the rebels destroyed everything they could find. Local residents cowered in their basements, hoping the rampaging maniacs wouldn't find them, as the grim specter of death stalked this once proud city under the cover of night. Prayers for salvation went unanswered and it seemed even God had abandoned the populace.

At least, that's the impression you'd get if you were watching Fox News at about 4:00 central yesterday.



Fox's coverage was so extreme and so over-the-top that people were tweeting Fox's account to get updates on the death toll.

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Walker's Folly

Last night, the citizens of Wisconsin were subjected to a power-drunk madman threatening to shoot his hostages. I give you the man I've started calling the Governor of the State of Denial.



Frankly, I'm a little lost on why he even bothered. It's just the same old crap he's been saying over and over for days. But I guess it's that old Republican impulse; if something isn't working, it's not because it's a bad idea, it's because you're not doing enough of it. "Tax cuts didn't help the economy? More tax cuts!" -- that sort of thing. Conservatives seem to be missing a failure recognition node in the reality acceptance portion of their brains.

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