March 19, 2011

Wisconsin protesters branched out to an anti-war rally just as President Obama takes us to war with Libya.

Today's rally was planned before the news came of Obama's shift on Libya:
Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War will be coming from around the Midwest for the Saturday protest.......

The Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice helped publicize Saturday's rally and its members will be hitting the pavement as they have every weekend in recent weeks, says program director Steve Burns.

"People were asking what is the march this weekend," says Burns. "It was nice to have something to slot people into."

Burns says it's an honor for Wisconsin workers to have their struggle recognized by a national veterans organization in this way. He says the goal of his group "has always been to encourage people ‘to connect the dots' between the challenges we face at home and our endless wars abroad.
Did any of the speakers attempt to deal with the news about Obama and Libya? I don't know, but Meade confronted a few of the protesters, like this woman with the classic "War Is Not Healthy for Children and Other Living Things" sign:



Listen for the "oh, well." (Meade wants me to link to Fleetwood Mac.)

And then there's this man with a Hitler-and-Scott Walker sign:

76 comments:

The Crack Emcee said...

Ronald Reagan. Scott Walker. Adolf Hitler.

But of course!

The Drill SGT said...

Blame Libya on Bush. That's what Obama would do. No reason your average demonstrator can't be as agile.

Bush made us do it :)

Seriously, you wonder why there aren't any Iraq or A-stan or Paki, or Libyian demonstrations? It's obvious. There are a few honest anti-war types, but for most, it's just a front group for the DNC, like global warming, or civil rights

PaulV said...

Co-President Hillary took us to war, Obama voted present

Carol_Herman said...

What is keeping the pizza box tops on the ground? At first, I thought I'd see tape. But it looks like any wind that comes along can blow these box tops up in the air ... Maybe, if someone runs over to the "STRING" ... they can take some ... and then tie these box tops together?

jr565 said...

I love how now that we're about to put the smack down on Libya that the last of the talking points about how we could never attack Iraq are put by the wayside.
BUT BUT BUT LIBYA DIDN"T ATTACK US! THIS WILL ONLY INCREASE TERRORISM. NO BLOOD FOR OIL IT HAS TO PASS THE GLOBAL TEST. WHY SHOULD WE ATTACK LIBYA WHEN THERE ARE OTHER DICTATORSHIPS WE'RE NOT ATTACKING. (Add your own...)
All bullshit.
And how much do you want to bet that there is no talk of this by antiwar crowds and the vast majority of libs simply go along.

When is Ritmo and/or Garage going to jump in and say how Obama is not getting involved with other countries?

Tyrone Slothrop said...

The longer this goes on the more I get a sense of desperation from these people. It's really the only explanation for the death threats, the Hitler comparisons, the violent occupation of the capitol, etc. Their backs are to the wall. As we say in California-- bitchen.

Fen said...

$20 buck for the first Libtard with a "No Blood For Oil" sign.

$5 for the first "We won't fight your racist war!"

shiloh said...

Since you voted for Obama, you must feel like a complete idiot, eh.

'nuf said!

iftheshoefits said...

Didn't Obama win some peace award thingy or something?

Is this the same guy? I guess I haven't been paying attention.

Phil 314 said...

The second video:

cacophony

Wince said...

The unions are sadly mistaken if they think they gain public opinion synergies by coalescing with other leftist movements.

iftheshoefits said...

Anyone want to bet that this is the meme we'll be bombarded with, starting within a few hours?

From a Washington Post article by R. Jeffrey Smith, posted today:

Over the past several weeks, Western reconnaissance satellites have been focused on a small garage at a remote site in the Libyan desert.

In the garage, south of the city of Sirte, the Libyan government keeps around 10 tons of mustard gas in roughly a half-dozen large canisters. If he chose to do so — and could determine how — Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi could use the caustic chemical to kill untold numbers of his own people.


Gaddafi has WMD! This time it's for real, not like Iraq!

In a garage, even!

Bruce Hayden said...

The unions are sadly mistaken if they think they gain public opinion synergies by coalescing with other leftist movements.

So, we have a bunch of liberal nitwits who come together to protest whatever their pet peeve is right now. Some against the war. Some against Walker. Some for the teachers. I suppose some against Sarah Palin and the Koch brothers. Oh, and then maybe global warming, animal cruelty, etc.

By allowing the protests to get distracted and diffused, they lose the urgency and their connection, whatever it is, with the citizens of Wisconsin.

Lukedog said...

that woman said "oh well, what can you say?"

She was probably thinking... I'm here in a crowd, attempting to listen to this speaker, why won't this man leave me alone.

The fact that you said "listen for the oh well" suggests you think she appears unaffected by the situation in Libya? because she doesn't feel like launching into her feelings about it with a complete stranger? while she's trying to listen to someone else speak?

A day spent mocking teenagers and veterans (and their families and friends). Are you a tiny bit embarrassed?

Anonymous said...

Our biggest problem in Woodstock, and apparently in Madison too, is how to get our activists and world savers to STFU and go home.

They're a pain in the ass.

It's long since I found them colorful and interesting.

Michael said...

I have to be honest. The more I see of the people of Wisconsin the more sympathetic I am with their desire to unionize. They are clearly too fucking stupid to fend for themselves, negotiate for themselves.

Unknown said...

"Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War"

Care to bet how many of them really are?

Ann Althouse said...

Today's rally was planned before the news came of Obama's shift on Libya:

Oh well, consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.

Or something like that.

shiloh said...

It's long since I found them colorful and interesting.

Apparently AA finds them interesting.

TmjUtah said...

PDH -

"coalescing"?

I think you are a little late to the roundup, partner. No offense.

Unions started out Red. At the turn of the last century they were literally on the barricades. As their financial clout grew, they became more valuable as a farmed resource, which meant that instead of breaking legs they instead just kept silent every time they got a pay stub with a fat number in the "union dues" box...

ACORN ceased to exist as ACORN once it became politically dangerous to fund it. Now public sector unions are finding out that there is no moral "there" there at the foundation of their relationship to those who pay their salaries.

Their inflated wages and ridiculously generous pensions and benefits were NEVER about the rank and file. It's simple math - pay them more, and the percentage they are compelled to give DEMOCRATS goes up.

I once looked at how much the abortion industry paid the Left during any given election cycle. That number dwarfed what energy and pharma pay to both parties combined.

Milwaukee said...

As a frustrated graduate student in Education, it seems nothing is true. We can reject the null hypothesis, but we can not accept it. We can say 'there isn't enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis'. Every statement must be couched with "most", "some", "usually", and the like. Dietrech Bonhoefer wrote the book "Here I Stand". It wasn't about feeling good, it was about absolutes. No wonder the left is lost. They have no absolutes. This must be where liberal America lives: a never-never land of relative morals. A God-less place. Indeed, to believe we have inalienable rights endowed by our Creator means we believe we have a Creator who loves us enough to give us those rights. The left seems to believe whatever is popular today, right now. They will protest this war but not that one for nuanced reasons. Floating in the wind, they know nothing.

My children have advised me that under no circumstances am I to use the expression, as they do, of "Whatever", in or out of their presence. They told me that to use that appropriately I must make it sound as if I don't care, and the problem is that I do.

chickelit said...

How's the war playing over on Kos?
Could somebody check for me please?

Thanks

shiloh said...

My children have advised me that under no circumstances

It's good that you have advisers! ;)

garage mahal said...

I have to be honest. The more I see of the people of Wisconsin the more sympathetic I am with their desire to unionize. They are clearly too fucking stupid to fend for themselves, negotiate for themselves.

Unlike the geniuses in your industry that traded toxic shit and passed it off as expensive perfume, tanking Americans portfolios and retirement accounts. Dumb, crooked, or evil? I think the jury is still out.

Anonymous said...

Proof positive that the education system is broken and/or 'core' subjects - like History for instance - are not being taught or taught well.

Hitler is like Hitler. Pretty much that's it.

If you want to do it on a body count basis, then you could add Stalin and Mao. But it's a short list of 'xxxx is like Hitler'.

Anyone claiming otherwise is 'poorly' educated (to be charitable). And all the more proof that teachers need less union protection and more accountability for student performance. Clearly, they're doing it wrong.

Anonymous said...

"By allowing the protests to get distracted and diffused, they lose the urgency and their connection, whatever it is, with the citizens of Wisconsin."

Which is another difference with the Tea Party. They have a laser focus. It's on the irresponsible and extravagant growth of government and government spending. That's it. It's open to all who feel that way. Members can have differences of opinion on other issues (and there are plenty of them) but the Tea Party is not about those issues. It's about spending and too big government. Of course, lefties don't understand that. They keep trying to make it something it's not. It's not one-size fits all on every issue like most lefty rallies turn out to be.

Joe said...

(The Crypto Jew)

By allowing the protests to get distracted and diffused, they lose the urgency and their connection, whatever it is, with the citizens of Wisconsin."

Blair's Law:
"the ongoing process by which the world's multiple idiocies are becoming one giant, useless force."

vbspurs said...

Second video, in the sign with Reagan and Hitler, Walker is caught mid-sentence, giving him a goofy appearance. Dubya had a famous photo like that, too.

It's to make people make them think they're like this creature.

Van Halen said...

As we launch War #3,

No peace protests.
No Code Pink.
No 'No Blood For Oil' chants.
No 'War is Not the Answer' chants'.
No 'Not in Our Name' chants.

Strange. It's as if the Liberals like war being declared on poverty-stricken non-white North Africans.

Anonymous said...

Unlike the geniuses in your industry that traded toxic shit and passed it off as expensive perfume, tanking Americans portfolios and retirement accounts. Dumb, crooked, or evil? I think the jury is still out.

You shouldn't talk about Barney Frank that way, garbage.

People will start to question your progressive credentials.

Unknown said...

Finally people are starting to "get it" about the fact that what we are experiencing, and have been experiencing, is a fascist takeover.

Any time that you have corporate control of government, enabled by religion--- combined with private armies, government control of the media, misogyny, and demonization of the intelligentsia (teachers), it's fascism.

The same religion that enabled Hitler is the same one that's enabling the Tea Klan and Scott Walker.

Anonymous said...

The same religion that enabled Hitler is the same one that's enabling the Tea Klan and Scott Walker.

Jesus, Marcia, you're a complete dingbat.

Live in Madison?

Certainly, trying to reign in the pay and pensions of public employees is the same as starting WWII and prosecuting the Holocaust.

Exaggerate much?

SGT Ted said...

IVAW is not a respected veterans organization at least from most war vets POV. It is akin to the VVAW which was a radical leftist anti-US organization in the 60s.

Michael K said...

" As we say in California-- bitchen."

That was 1950s California talk. I was there. I haven't heard that term in 30 years. Dating your self.

The rallies are now trotting out the usual leftists who live to attend rallies and carry signs. It shows that the energy is gone but the DNC is trying to keep up the spirits in hopes the recalls will work.

By next week, we will see A.N.S.W.E.R signs.

SGT Ted said...

Jeez Marcia can you be anymore of a leftwing cliche.

Unknown said...

Marcia said,

Any time you have "demonization of the intelligentsia (teachers), it's fascism."

Snort, cough...sorry, I just threw up a little bit. I will admit, though, that the "Hi everybody, fuck you" sign was spelled correctly.

rhhardin said...

So, we have a bunch of liberal nitwits who come together to protest whatever their pet peeve is right now. Some against the war. Some against Walker. Some for the teachers. I suppose some against Sarah Palin and the Koch brothers. Oh, and then maybe global warming, animal cruelty, etc.

You may not be aware of Blair's law of the left, the world's multiple idiocies joining to form one giant, useless force.

Anonymous said...

So, we have a bunch of liberal nitwits who come together to protest whatever their pet peeve is right now. Some against the war. Some against Walker. Some for the teachers. I suppose some against Sarah Palin and the Koch brothers. Oh, and then maybe global warming, animal cruelty, etc.

Translation:

Those who don't believe in God will believe in anything.

Lukedog said...

Iraq War Vets planned a march to the Capitol today because it is the 8th anniversary of the war.

Don't minimize their cause. Many of those marching today have lost friends or family members.

Crimso said...

"Any time that you have corporate control of government, enabled by religion--- combined with private armies, government control of the media, misogyny, and demonization of the intelligentsia (teachers), it's fascism."

You need not read entire books (though many have been written) to know what either fascism or Fascism is. The definitions are readily accessible. Here's a hint: "corporate control of government" is quite ass backwards. The religion part is a little suspect as well. And there were far more members of the intelligentsia that either actively or passively went along with the Nazis than were demonized by them. Quite a few saw it as a wonderful opportunity. Try reading Richard Evans' three volume history of Germany and the Nazis. It's really quite illuminating. Try not to peddle bullshit. It weakens your argument.

If I'm being pedantic, well, that's my schtick. I'm nothing if not a pedant.

Synova said...

Protesting is fun.

It's spring. It's getting warmer. People in the frozen north like an excuse to get out and do stuff.

In a few more weeks it will be time to garden.

vbspurs said...

Marcia wrote:

Any time that you have corporate control of government, enabled by religion--- combined with private armies, government control of the media, misogyny, and demonization of the intelligentsia (teachers), it's fascism.

And any time you have State control of the economy, government takeovers of private corporations, class warfare rhetoric from the powers-that-be, and declarations of war without approval of the legislative branch, it's Communism.

Except it's not.

You see, Marcia, even though many of us may be conservative-leaning, we don't come to ridiculous, overblown conclusions, like you did.

Joe said...

(The Crypto Jew)


Don't minimize their cause. Many of those marching today have lost friends or family members.

Or not, given the "records" of so many anti-war "Veterans."

Lukedog said...

"Those that don't believe in God will believe in anything"

The G.K. Chesterton myth...

very original

kadın said...

http://www.gozdekadinlar.com

wordsmith2 said...

So how many of the Iraq war vets who had planned their protest for a calendrically based reason actually support the public sector unions, and how many of them are irritated that these pampered government employees are screaming about being abused, when the military certainly has no unions?

coketown said...

Mmm mmm mmm
Barack Hussein Obomb-a.

Kenya give peace a chance?!

kent said...

Any time that you have [...] demonization of the intelligentsia (teachers), it's fascism.

Saying "NO," firmly, to the excesses of public service unions = "demonization of the intelligentsia."

Heh.

Heh-heh-heh.

BWAAAAAAAAAAH-ha-ha-haaaaaaaa -- !!!

Unknown said...

Not entirely OT, but I just realized - where's Joe Biden demanding an exit strategy?

Automatic_Wing said...

They told me that if I voted for McCain, the US would start bombing yet another Muslim nation.

And they were right!

roesch-voltaire said...

Okay this was on one sign, but I also attended the capital today in support of the students raising money for the victims of the Tsunami in Japan and what I observed was this wonderful Bakhtin- like carnival. A Koto trained drummer was helping a five year old keep rhythm, young kids on stilts dressed in customs wobbled by as fire fighters marched in parade with drums and bagpipes leading the way while Vietnam Vets looked on, and several women from up-north were gathering signatures to recall a Republican. And yes there were Walker as Hitler signs, along with other more generic ones, and the crowds of folks came and went talking of politics and weather and the NCAA game the Badgers will play tonight.

Phil 314 said...

Which is another difference with the Tea Party. They have a laser focus.

I would disagree. Clearly a core Tea Party issue is tax and spend. However, I've read stories regarding Tea Partiers protesting immigration, abortion and other non-fiscal items.

Given the lack of a central organization, I'm not surprised and generally I'm glad we have a grass roots movement regarding deficits, the size of government and taxation.

But I do wish they could keep a laser focus on the fiscal issues.

MisterBuddwing said...

How's the war playing over on Kos?
Could somebody check for me please?


I only glanced, but my impression is that a majority of Kossacks are good with this military action, because it's aimed at protecting rebels from being killed by an evil dictator. As for any comparison between President Obama and President Bush, the feeling seems to be that Obama's motives are pure, and that Bush's weren't, and that's why this action is justifiable and can't be compared with the Iraq War.

Of course, some others at KOS are taking a contrary view.

WV: ackbu. (Gesundheit.)

Michael K said...

"However, I've read stories regarding Tea Partiers protesting immigration, abortion and other non-fiscal items."

Of course, you have. You've also read stories about them bringing guns to town halls (Although CNN cut the head off the photo of the fellow with the long gun because he was black), and being racists spitting on Emmanuel Cleaver (In spite of 20 videos of the incident with no sign of spitting). I'm sure you can find anything you want to read about the tea parties.

But have you been to a rally ?

vbspurs said...

Phil, agree with that.

I love the Tea Party when they are being fiscal conservatives. If they branch out to other topics, they'll lose more than just focus. They'll water down their message.

The reason people do not take leftist protests movements seriously is that they're ALL over the place (they're professional whiners); case in point, like today.

Milwaukee said...

Marcia said,

Any time you have "demonization of the intelligentsia (teachers), it's fascism."


Just because they are paid to teach doesn't mean they belong to the intelligentsia. That is a knee-slapper. Evidence abounds that teachers at both the undergraduate and graduate level are not the brightest students on campus.

Public education is one of the most socialist, government controlled things out there. In Wisconsin last year, Planned Parenthood got their Democratic allies to push through a Human Growth and Development curriculum with was to Planned Parenthood's liking. One Sheriff offered that if anybody used that curriculum in his county he would arrest them for child abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and a few other things. Talk about ramming values down the throats of innocents. I understand lessons were also available about ramming a variety things into a variety of places. Not what every parent wants for their children.

Do you know how teachers spell change?



Cha-cha-cha-cha-change?

Unknown said...

Garage. If the people who borrowed the money had paid it back as agreed there would have been no financial meltdown. But instead morons like you borrowed more than they could repay ane bought bass boats and fancy cars with home mortgage proceeds So you can fuck yourself and your stupid lefty ideas. Go get a union to help you figure out how to live.

Carol_Herman said...

This is just shooting fish in a barrel. It's being done under the UN Flag. And, france went in with jets.

The whole idea is to scare Ghaddafi. And, to get him to stop killing his own civilians.

Given how Reagan got Ghaddafi's attention with one missile into his tent (that killed his daughter). And, then he gave up his nuke program. Putting pressures on the crazy Ghaddafi seems like a winner-winner.

Will it be over by the time hillary stops being our acting president?

Ghaddafi doesn't present a "war." He presents a "riot problem." He didn't want to listen. So, with the french in the lead, force is being applied.

Anti-war jesters notwithstanding.

Murph said...

It would be refreshing if the perpetually pissed off lefties could find a theme that lasted more than a few days.

The New Left is like a day care center minus adult supervision - children all screaming and sniffing each others poo. Smelly, noisy and utterly infantile.

Anonymous said...

"Any time you have demonization of the intelligentsia (teachers), it's fascism."

I've heard Pol Pot called plenty of things, but never a fascist. However he sure did demonize the intelligentsia, going so far as to murder tens of thousands of them, teachers and all. Or just people wearing glasses, because that qualified them as part of the intelligentsia (which would probably cover a fair number of less than gifted portion of Wisconsin teachers). In any event, you're way over the top in your generalizations, along with being inaccurate.

SukieTawdry said...

In other words, Wisconsin has descended into a typical lefty free-for-all with the usual suspects in attendance. And so ends the general public's interest.

SukieTawdry said...

...fire fighters marched in parade with drums and bagpipes leading the way...

Leading what way? Are you saying firefighters were there as a formal unit in uniform to protest the government?

Carol_Herman said...

Meade, it amazes me how you find great stuff to photograph. Most people would have looked around, today, and not seen this. Let alone captured the lady and her sign so well, just bey asking her questions. Starting with "you thought she was a teenager."

Oh, and the wrapped stick! To make it easier to hold. I wonder how she got up on her perch. Didn't she have to use two hands to get up there? Did someone have to hold her sign for her, while she climbed up?

Is she local to Madison?

It's just like the "bullhorn nurse." You just have an art with a camera.

I think you and Ann should win a Pulitzer. (Meanwhile, I saw, today, that Cameron and Sarkozy may be recipients of Nobels, for taking action against Ghaddafi.

vbspurs said...

Carol_Herman wrote:

I think you and Ann should win a Pulitzer. (Meanwhile, I saw, today, that Cameron and Sarkozy may be recipients of Nobels, for taking action against Ghaddafi.

Great! Alongside Obama, who doubled troops to fight a war in Afghanistan a week after he got his Nobel for peace, this means that "war" is the new criteria for a Peace Prize.

shiloh said...

I think you and Ann should win a Pulitzer.

Well, Pia Zadora won a Golden Globe lol as her hubby at the time megamillionaire Meshulam Riklis, had a lot of influence w/the Hollywood foreign press ...

Soooo, anything's possible as the sky is the limit for "our" beloved rovin' "reporters".

Or not.

MisterBuddwing said...

Golden Globes = Pulitzers. Got it. (I'm sure Bob Woodward would be poud.)

WV: waxism.

shiloh said...

MB, your non sequitur notwithstanding, sarcasm can be a difficult concept ...

MisterBuddwing said...

Oh, I think you got it just fine.

WV: unawlme

DADvocate said...

Looks like we're going to have a protestation de jour now. Never mind if we know anything about the issues involved or have any other contact with reality. We must protest.

ambisinistral said...

By allowing the protests to get distracted and diffused, they lose the urgency and their connection, whatever it is, with the citizens of Wisconsin.

Bruce Hayden,

I talk about exactly that problem in my post We will throw our baseballs in your lawn
.

Essentially, to boost their numbers at protests the Unionistas have joined with Progressives of all stripes. Trumka has stated as much.

The problem with that is that the Unions won't control their own messaging. Rather, the loons they've called in as foot soldiers will scream louder and louder and end up drowning out the Union's messages.

Terrye said...

Marcia is a joke right? I mean no one really thinks like that...she sounds like a parody.

Hank Rearden_WI said...

Barack Obama - the Milli Vanilli of Nobel winners.

DADvocate said...

Any time that you have corporate control of government, enabled by religion--- combined with private armies, government control of the media, misogyny, and demonization of the intelligentsia (teachers), it's fascism.

Obama closely tied to Goldman, Sachs, GE, GM, Chrysler, etc.

Rev. Wright's liberation religion.

Obama's private armies of Organizing for America, unions, ACORN, etc.

The MSM being in Obama's pocket.

Misogyny??? Bwahahahahaha!!!

intelligentsia (teachers) - several others have shot that down. To repeat, teachers are generally the least intelligent and the poorest educated of college graduates. My kids' science teachers didn't fully understand the scientific method.

But, you're right. It looks like fascism. But, it's from your side, not ours.

JorgXMcKie said...

"Do you know how teachers spell change?"

Heck, I didn't even know most of them could *make* change.

The number of folks with Education degrees who could qualify as actual "intellectuals" is vanishingly small. And I just love the vehemence with which possessor's of EdD's *insist* on being called "Doctor".

And I'm reasonably sure that "shiloh" got some sort of gold medal at a "Special Intelligence Olympics" one time or another.

Porphyrogenitus said...

The most LoL thing about this is that it's, what, a week after these same protestors cheered Michael Moore's declaration of war?

SGT Ted said...

Yes, it is fitting that the IVAW are there to protest the liberation of 25 million people from Saddam Hussein.

Anonymous said...

obama/libya=bush/iraq
hang it up, you murderous warmongering
cocksuckers. You are not my government