WISCONSIN: Andrew Breitbart Tells Pro-Union Protesters To "Go To Hell"

As he prepared to introduce Sarah Palin over the boos of Wisconsin's pro-union protesters, wingnut blogger and GOProud backer Andrew Breitbart told labor supporters, "Go to hell!" Because "class warfare" (which, hello, is what the Tea Party stands for) is "un-American." Raw Story has a much better clip (non-embeddable) taken from the rear of the crowd.

WISCONSIN: Judge Issues Restraining Order Against Union Busting Bill

A Wisconsin judge has issued a temporary restraining order against the bill stripping state employee unions of their collective bargaining rights.

The decision, issued by Judge Maryann Sumi of the Dane County Circuit Court, temporarily bars Wisconsin’s secretary of state from publishing the controversial law, one of the procedural requirements for it to come into effect in the state. Publication had been expected late next week, but Judge Sumi’s ruling delays that until at least March 29, when she plans to hold a full hearing on a lawsuit that questions the validity of the collective bargaining law based on the speedy manner in which it was carried out earlier this month. An appeal is possible even before then. Opponents of the measure said they hoped the decision was but the first of many that would ultimately undo a measure that has split the state and has drawn tens of thousands of demonstrators to the state capital over a matter of many weeks. Supporters of the measure, however, said that the judge’s decision was merely a blip, certain to be overturned as various legal efforts make their way fully through the court system.

The bill was signed by Gov. Scott Walker last Friday.

Now Running On CNN

Karl Rove's astroturf group American Crossroads has been running the below anti-union ad for about a week. Note the clever way they excise the speech of an NEA spokesman.

A Teabagger's View Of Unions

WISCONSIN: Republicans Break Law To Strip Collective Bargaining Rights

Things begin to go nuts at 2:30.

OHIO: Anti-Union Bill Has Hidden Anti-Gay Provision Against Partner Benefits

On Wednesday the Ohio state Senate narrowly voted to strip state employee unions of most of their collective bargaining rights. And buried in that bill is a clearly unrelated provision that prevents the state from for offering any benefits to the partners of gay employees. Think Progress has the text:

Sec. 3101.01 of S.B. 5: … A marriage may only be entered into by one man and one woman. Any marriage between persons of the same sex is against the strong public policy of this state. Any marriage between persons of the same sex shall have no legal force or effect in this state and, if attempted to be entered into in this state, is void ab initio and shall not be recognized by this state. The recognition or extension by the state of the specific statutory benefits of a legal marriage to non-marital relationships between persons of the same sex or different sexes is against the strong public policy of this state. Any public act, record or judicial proceeding of this state, as defined in section 9.82 of the Revised Code, that extends the specific statutory benefits of legal marriage to non-marital relationships between persons of the same sex or different sexes is void.

Same-sex marriage has been banned in Ohio since 2004, so it's unclear exactly what the aim of the above provision may be.

Now Back To Your Diversions...

WISCONSIN: State GOP Senator Calls Union Protesters "Smelly Slobs"

That Fox Reporter That Got "Punched"?

Never happened.

Union Workers Defend Their Rights As GOP Goose-Steps For Tea Party Billionaires

WISCONSIN: Pro-Union Protesters Sing Number From Les Miserables

Teabaggers are chortling about this on Twitter with comments like "You know the country’s gone to hell in a handbasket when Wisconsin protesters break out in a song based on a book about the French Revolution." Family Research Council douchenozzle Tony Perkins just tweeted out the video link with the message: "Funny or just sad?"

Selective Punishment

WISCONSIN: Fox News Reporters Complain About "Hateful" Pro-Union Protesters

WISCONSIN: Ad Slams Gov. Scott Walker Over Comments Made To Fake Koch

FLASHBACK: Ronald Reagan Declares Union Membership To Be A Basic Right

WISCONSIN: Assembly GOP Pulls Sneak Attack Vote To Ban Bargaining Rights

The vote took place at 1am with most of the Democrats out of the chamber, sending the entire room into chants of "Shame! Shame! Shame!"

Scott Walker Channels Charlie Sheen

Sign-Bombing CNN

The CNN reporter was unaware of the man parading back and forth behind her with his "Walker sucks Koch" sign. I had to dive for my camera and take a screen shot.

WISCONSIN: Black Gay Teabagger Denounces "Lazy Union Members"

Rod McCollum points us to this video shot yesterday in which a black gay Tea Party supporter tells pro-union protesters: "I've been a Republican all my life. And I've worked with unions and union members and they're all lazy." In other news, there are black gay teabaggers in the world.

WISCONSIN: Blogger Claims To Have Called Gov While Posing As David Koch

Mother Jones reports that New York-based journalist/blogger Ian Murphy claims to have had a 20-minute phone conversation with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker while posing as billionaire Tea Party kingpin David Koch. The Koch brothers were major backers of Walker's campaign and are known to have donated millions to astroturf groups posing as ordinary citizens.

According to the audio, Walker told him:
* That statehouse GOPers were plotting to hold Democratic senators' pay until they returned to vote on the controversial union-busting bill.
* That Walker was looking to nail Dems on ethics violations if they took meals or lodging from union supporters.
* That he'd take "Koch" up on this offer: "Once you crush these bastards I'll fly you out to Cali and really show you a good time."

Mother Jones isn't 100% convinced this is real, but most are saying that the voice on the tape does sound like Walker.


(Tipped by JMG reader Birdie)