Wanted: Red Or Restrained

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Wisconsin Republican leaders are law and order types indeed. Unhappy that fourteen Democratic state senators are boycotting Governor Scott Walker’s union busting party, they have authorized the Senate Sergeant at Arms to round-up the legislative desperadoes “with or without force.” The Gang of 14, of course, are holed up in the neighboring Illinois badlands but Sheriff Walker wants to get his men (and his agenda railroaded through) so niceties like democracy and respect for the rights of the opposition need  not be  observed.

Not everyone is enamored of this novel approach to forced bipartisanship. Wisconsin Professional Police Association Executive Director, Jim Palmer, slammed the contempt order saying, “Politics aside, encouraging the forcible detention of duly elected lawmakers because they won’t allow you to dictate with a free hand is an unreasonable abuse of police power.”

Governor Walker and henchmen are undeterred — and in no mood to compromise. Walker said he will issue layoff notices to 1,500 state workers today if his proposal, which also would force the workers to pay more for benefits, isn’t passed. The love of money , it seems, is the highest ideal in this Kremlin on Kegonsa Lake.

Source: Portland Press Herald