# Govenor Scott Walker (R) WI **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 17, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743 "2011-02-17T20:56:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/21 "2011-02-18T03:50:44Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > [http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/wisconsin-gov-walker-ginned-up-budget-shortfall-to-undercut-worker-rights.php?ref=fpb](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/wisconsin-gov-walker-ginned-up-budget-shortfall-to-undercut-worker-rights.php?ref=fpb) > > From _Talking Points Memo_, without which no citizen can hope to be truly informed… > > TL:DR…the budget shortfall which necessitated this “fix” was due to Republican tax cuts that turned a fiscal situation in WI from adequate to dire. > > Sic 'em, cheeseheads! Tear 'em a new one! Of course out of control spending couldn’t have anything to do with it :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/22 "2011-02-18T03:57:09Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Be honest now… would they have offered concessions? I’d like to see the union that proactively offered concessions instead of initially telling the employer to pound sand. How about giving the benefit of the doubt? ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/23 "2011-02-18T04:13:02Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > How about giving the benefit of the doubt? Goes right along with “The check’s in the mail” & “I promise not to \*\*\* in your mouth” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/24 "2011-02-18T04:41:29Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Of course out of control spending couldn’t have anything to do with it :rolleyes: If you have facts to offer to contradict the conclusion, you are free to offer them. Or confine yourself to sarcasm, depending on your limitations. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/25 "2011-02-18T12:22:14Z")
But…but! He’s a [Godlike Genius](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_Escape_in_the_Sky:_The_Godlike_Genius_of_Scott_Walker)! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/26 "2011-02-18T13:58:40Z")
> [@furlibusea](#): > > Apparently most of the students at my daughter’s high school walked out of school fourth hour and went and protested outside the school. I am so proud. Some high school students skipped a class. That’ll show 'em!! ---
**Author:** ![born\_too\_late](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@born\_too\_late](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/born_too_late)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/27 "2011-02-18T14:49:06Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Some high school students skipped a class. That’ll show 'em!! There was a huge demonstration at the capitol. [The Democratic state senators all skipped town when the vote/discussion of the bill came up yesterday](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/us/18wisconsin.html?_r=1&hp). ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/28 "2011-02-18T16:47:25Z")
Nice scam the Republicans have there, provide tax breaks for corporations, bemoan the sudden revenue shortfall, blame the public workers unions, decertify… profit! ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/29 "2011-02-18T17:42:56Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Be honest now… would they have offered concessions? I’d like to see the union that proactively offered concessions instead of initially telling the employer to pound sand. My brother’s teacher union did (willing to take a raise much less than the CPI/COLA, and pay more of their own healthcare), and got told they were getting budget cuts (to the point where the board’s proposal expressly included the idea that teachers were morally obligated to pay up to $2500/yr out of pocket for classroom expenses) and no raises anyway. The independent auditor’s report (rejected by the school board as irrelevant and prejudicial) asserts the district is making a large surplus and has a $5mil slush/savings fund already. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/30 "2011-02-18T18:17:46Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It has begun. There will be cannibalism before it’s over. Johnsonville Brats is _ **PEOPLE** _!!! ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/31 "2011-02-18T18:28:47Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Of course out of control spending couldn’t have anything to do with it :rolleyes: Actually the problem is a sharp decrease in revenues due to the recession. That is why nearly every state, including Texas, is in trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/32 "2011-02-18T18:30:48Z")
> [@born\_too\_late](#): > > There was a huge demonstration at the capitol. [The Democratic state senators all skipped town when the vote/discussion of the bill came up yesterday](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/us/18wisconsin.html?_r=1&hp). That’s the most encouraging thing I’ve seen in ages. If all the people being screwed by Republicans would come out and start demonstrating maybe the message would get out that tea party morons are not the majority. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/33 "2011-02-18T18:59:55Z")
I grew up in Wisconsin and still consider it “home,” despite living on the East Coast for the last eleven years. For a midwestern, agricultural state, Wisconsin has traditionally been fairly liberal, but seems to have taken a conservative swing over the past decade or so. Frankly, part of me thinks this is what the state deserves for voting out Feingold, but I realize that’s not fair. Give that jackass governor hell, Wisconsin! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/34 "2011-02-18T19:07:13Z")
The Wisconsin Democrats are still holed up in Illinois today. The Wisconsin Legislature can’t vote on its odious little union busting bill without them. Governor Wanker has impotently ordered the state police to arrest the AWOL Dems and bring them by force, but obviously the Wisconsin cops can’t go to Illinois to get them. So there they sit, all itching and eager to start destroying the lives of the working class and dismantling their education system, but they can’t do a damn thing unless the Democrats come back and sit their obediently while they do it. Kudos to the Wisconsin Dems. Wait these motherfuckers out as long as it takes. Show them what a “party of no” really fucking means. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/35 "2011-02-18T19:23:12Z")
See, I don’t know how I feel about this. I really don’t. I hated when Republicans used the filibuster as a legal, but slimy, means of stifling debate. The point of being in the minority is that you should get your voice heard, not be able to stifle the majority from letting their voice be heard. How is this any different? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/36 "2011-02-18T19:27:19Z")
It’s not. There’s nothing wrong with the filibuster either. Either tactic can be abused. The difference really lies in why they’re doing it. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/37 "2011-02-18T19:29:09Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > See, I don’t know how I feel about this. I really don’t. I hated when Republicans used the filibuster as a legal, but slimy, means of stifling debate. The point of being in the minority is that you should get your voice heard, not be able to stifle the majority from letting their voice be heard. > How is this any different? Republicans used the filibuster to stop every single Democratic initiative in Congress. They’re using something reserved for desperate measures as a matter of course. Democrats in Wisconsin are refusing a quorum call to stop union busting. They’re using desperate measures for a truly good reason. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/38 "2011-02-18T19:30:02Z")
I don’t think it matters why they’re doing it. They’re still subverting the democratic process because they don’t like the result. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/39 "2011-02-18T19:32:12Z")
No, they’re representing their constituents to the best of their ability. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743/40 "2011-02-18T19:33:31Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > See, I don’t know how I feel about this. I really don’t. I hated when Republicans used the filibuster as a legal, but slimy, means of stifling debate. The point of being in the minority is that you should get your voice heard, not be able to stifle the majority from letting their voice be heard. > How is this any different? They’re on our side? 😉 In this case, I’d say it was Governor Walker who tried to stifle debate by announcing the bill just three days before the vote and threatening to call out the National Guard on any striking protesters. Because we’ve all missed the good old days of the Industrial Revolution. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/govenor-scott-walker-r-wi/571743.md?page=3)