MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell and Fmr. Union Boss Agree, Labor Movement On the Rise
On Monday's Andrea Mitchell Reports on MSNBC, fill-in host Norah O'Donnell touted "court challenges and recall efforts now that Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has signed a bill into law restricting collective bargaining rights." Turning to former SEIU President Andy Stern, she proclaimed: "100,000 protesters took to the [Wisconsin] capital this weekend....That's a huge rally."
Stern argued: "...that is enormous and I think it just makes the point this is not over....People are very angry and this has become quite a symbolic moment." O'Donnell then lamented: "And yet, the Governor was able to sign this bill into law." She later added: "You think actually there's been a backlash that has mobilized all the pro-union forces, as a result, all across the country." Stern responded: "I think it's an American moment where people say, 'We understand we have to share in the pain when things are bad but we don't think we have to lose our rights, lose our unions, and have large corporations and some of the members of the Republican party act in such a destructful [destructive] manner.'"
O'Donnell then bizarrely brought the potential of an NFL players strike into the conversation. Stern equated the situation with that of Wisconsin and ranted: "It seems like CEOs and people always do well and workers are always asked to pay a price. I don't think America likes that anymore and the football situation is so clearly about that."
Agreeing with Stern, O'Donnell claimed that an NFL strike would cause Americans to become more pro-union: "A lot of people like the NFL, a lot of people like to watch football. And if they start hearing they're not going to have their football come the fall they're going to ask why and I can tell you probably most people are going to end up siding with the players over the owners."
Referring to the multi-millionaire pro-football players, Stern asserted: "I think people feel like these players work hard. They only have two or three years of real experience to earn a lot of money, then they, a lot of times, get injured. They deserve something better than this."
Here is a full transcript of the March 14 segment:
1:46PM ET
NORAH O'DONNELL: Pro-union supporters are refocusing on court challenges and recall efforts now that Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has signed a bill into law restricting collective bargaining rights. An estimated 100,000 protesters took to the capital this weekend. Andy Stern is the former president of the 2 million-member Service Employees International Union. Andy, good to see you. 100,000 protesters. That's a huge rally.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Fight for Labor Rights; Pro-Union Supporters Building Recall Efforts]
ANDY STERN: Yeah, I mean, that is enormous and I think it just makes the point this is not over. It was not like we signed a law and everyone's going to move on. People are very angry and this has become quite a symbolic moment.
O'DONNELL: And yet, the Governor was able to sign this bill into law.
STERN: Yeah, I think clearly it did not end as perfectly as the unions wanted but I think the point is not ending. We have a recall now going on of senators. We have an opportunity in the 2012 election to be able to make Wisconsin a state that does represent workers rights. And I think, you know, most importantly around the country people are beginning to say, 'What was the purpose of all of this? This wasn't good government, this was a political payback.'
O'DONNELL: You think actually there's been a backlash that has mobilized all the pro-union forces, as a result, all across the country.
STERN: I don't think it's just the pro-union forces, those 100,000 people, there were farmers yesterday in their tractors and pickup trucks. I mean, I think it's an American moment where people say, 'We understand we have to share in the pain when things are bad but we don't think we have to lose our rights, lose our unions, and have large corporations and some of the members of the Republican party act in such a destructful manner.'
O'DONNELL: Of course, on Friday, we saw the NFL move forward and shut out the players. This is really significant.
STERN: Oh I think it's huge, and it just makes the point. Here we have Wisconsin, where I think people said, 'Okay, when things are going bad, workers have a responsibility, like everyone else, to share in the pain.' Here we have the NFL, 'It's doing phenomenally well, but we're not supposed to share in the gain. We're again supposed to share in the pain.' And it seems like CEOs and people always do well and workers are always asked to pay a price. I don't think America likes that anymore and the football situation is so clearly about that.
O'DONNELL: I actually think the NFL situation can have farther reaching complications, because so many people watch football. Not everybody knows Wisconsin or knows what's going on in Wisconsin, they may not be part of a union. But a lot of people like the NFL, a lot of people like to watch football. And if they start hearing they're not going to have their football come the fall they're going to ask why and I can tell you probably most people are going to end up siding with the players over the owners.
STERN: Yeah, I think so too. And you know, when you think about how much taxpayers have contributed to the stadiums all over the country – and it's not just how much people pay for the advertising and watch it – I think people feel like these players work hard. They only have two or three years of real experience to earn a lot of money, then they, a lot of times, get injured. They deserve something better than this.
O'DONNELL: But you do fully acknowledge, like in Wisconsin, that private sector unions – excuse me, public sector unions – and public employees are going to have to pay more when it comes to health care and pension and everything else?
STERN: Yeah. And I think we're seeing that. I think people understand that when things are bad everyone has to share. The question is when things are good, like the Football Players Association, what's that about?
O'DONNELL: Andy Stern, good to see you. Thanks so much for joining us.
STERN: Thanks.
— Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. You can follow him on Twitter here.
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Comments
UHHH
Submitted by Pickles and Peppers on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 6:34pm.
So when an NFL rookie signs a 4 year, $60 million deal before he ever steps foot on the field, O'dumbdumb thinks this isn't enough? Maybe she's looking at the financials from the 60s... I also think it's worth a mention that the issues problematic for the state of Wisconsin differ greatly from that of the NFL. Wisconsin union members are fighting to keep their benefits, while the NFL players are asking for more. See the difference yet? Okay, how about this? The NFL is in no danger of going bankrupt should they agree to the players' terms, where as the state of Wisconsin is in that very same danger.Boom
Submitted by 10ksnooker on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 6:39pm.
Winning ...→ Norah, Norah, Norah!
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 6:48pm.
I guess you failed to take note of the millions of people in Wisconsin who did not choose to protest Gov. Walker?I am sure she thinks they were present
Submitted by Boudin on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 7:01pm.
In "spirit", kinda like she was100,000 "really large crowd"
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 6:50pm.
And of course, it never occurred to her to ask how many of these people were bussed in from other states? No, of course not.
Seeing how these union protesters get paid to protest, what the heck? I'm surprised it wasn't "bigger'!
No one is buying this pro-union nonsense, no matter how hard the media twists and turns. Florida's up next. I can't wait!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
yep
Submitted by MidAmerica on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 9:32pm.
Take I-90 out of Chicago and right up to Madison. Plenty of out of work union members needing some day labor cash.I think those two....
Submitted by almostacowboy on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 6:52pm.
may be engaged in some mutual mental......umm........shared delusions.What? No Sarah Palin bashing today MSNBC?
Submitted by MightyMouth on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 6:55pm.
Ha it's tag team conservative bash! Scott Walker you're it! MSNBC is so far up Obama's butt...that...well ...you provide your own punch line!tag team conservative bash
Submitted by CarlosS on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 7:38pm.
Just another, well-scripted..., "interview". I wonder how many "takes" the director had to talk them through to get it right "tag team conservative bash, Take number 32" "tag team conservative bash, Take number 42" "tag team conservative bash, Take number 52"Sorry Norah
Submitted by Maytag on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 7:00pm.
I had to work ,I support Walker 1000 % My taxes are too damn high and i am pissed . Most of the guys I work with are, Moore Jackson, Trumpka, are you for real. We work they ,party and play. obama golfs ...what is wrong with these people..........and according to
Submitted by Miss_Me_Yet on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 7:06pm.
.........and according to them. us conservatives are suppose to be the dumb ones.
Liberals ... we can't live with them, they couldn't survive without us ...
Boy, talk about papering over
Submitted by jdhawk on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 7:11pm.
Boy, talk about papering over a resounding defeat! These two are "great" at it! The SEIU and the rest of unions got hammered. They lost big time. The unions gambit of getting people to join their unions, forcing all in their unions to mandatory dues paying directly from of their employer's, turning that money around and pouring it into dimocrat candidates that look on them favorable, sitting down with those same representatives that they put in office and getting sweetheart wage and benefit packages is over - at least in Wisconsin. Finally, the taxpayers are going to get a break. But, Stearn and O'dufus, you just keep thinking that you have aroused people to your cause. I think that many many more people see unions for what they are. While Stern was president of the SEIU he was pulling down $300,000 + a year (his secretary only made $48k - each according to his ability; each according to his need). His organization stuffed duhbama's campaign fund with over $28 million dollars. The largest single contribution from any organization to any single candidate. All payed for by you the taxpayer indirectly through union workers that have no say in how much their dues are or what happens to the money that they pay to the unions.NORAH O'DONNELL - TED BAXTER IN-A-BRA
Submitted by Sgthulka on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 7:12pm.
Every time I see her I try to imagine the GE execs she's hadf to sleep with to get where she is."Ted Baxter in a bra"
Submitted by UpNorth on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 9:16pm.
Now, that's just funny. Sadly, Ted would have out-shone any of the a$$hats at MSNBC, at his worst..Norah Does her Best Work on her Back
Submitted by daveinboca on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 11:13am.
Ted Baxter in a Bra or a butch version of Mary Tyler Moore. Norah is so hard to parse if one is a normal American.Norah O'Donnell Union Member
Submitted by Avitar on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 7:42pm.
Part of the distorted coverage of Madison is that it is being done by New York union members. New York does not look like America and the union members do not realize that they are the six percent elitists in America. We the people are really grtting tired of their boot heel.Ditzy
Submitted by ferv888 on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 7:43pm.
She has the dumbest laugh of all time and it goes with the addled brain she pretends to have. Where was the fawning when Beck had his rally? Where was the fawning when people came to DC in droves over HC? Where is the stories on the downside for THE ONE over this, as Walker supposedly has over this. Did she miss the part where Wisconsinites turned over the Governor, the house, and the Senate, and turned Finegold out in Novemember? FERV888No Moderator Just Two Union Advocates
Submitted by Boil It Down on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 9:52pm.
Well, the unions didn't have to fork out any money for that protracted pro union advertisement on MSNBC, did they?. Did O'Donnell receive extra compensation for this little performance? She certainly earned it. What they failed to say was that opposition to public sector unions is on a sharp rise as well. I suspect they raised the ire of more than a few viewers.
In my part of the country professional athletes are always harshly derided for their union disputes. What kind of benefit for unions do they see in that? The opinions toward the athletes are always diminished even by some ardent fans. Conversations center primarily around the greed of the players, not the owners.
Speaking of opinions, my respect for O'Donnell was never high, but inviting Andy Stern on and helping him promote unions against the taxpayers lowered her into the sub-basement as far as I am concerned.
You're right, Norah O'Dummy, the labor movement is on the rise..
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 8:06pm.
...as it is rapidly moving to the top of the list of things real Americans are pretty much fed up with.
But you just go on pushing that load of BS if you want.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Collective Bargaining Rights
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 8:09pm.
I have yet to see anyone, anywhere, make a cognitive argument as to why collective bargaining is a right. Yet the "taking away of rights" is the most repetitive argument I see from the left. Just how is collective bargaining a right?
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
Americans
Submitted by Pickles and Peppers on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 8:18pm.
Have the right to associate in groups to advocate their special interests to their government. I know we're no longer "free," but we do still have this freedom.So if the rest of us want to reverse
Submitted by Boudin on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 8:49pm.
The confiscation of our money from "special interest" groups. Is this not the same? Have we not the Right?Yes we do
Submitted by Pickles and Peppers on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 9:46pm.
Look, I'm coming around on my position on public sector unions, but it can only be an either or. For example we can't tell the teachers to go take a hike, but continue to keep our fire and police unionized. How far do we take it?Agreed. Dump 'em all. Make
Submitted by bkeyser on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 10:24pm.
Agreed. Dump 'em all. Make potential workers compete and productivity in every area will increase. And employers who don't pay a reasonable wage simply won't find the best employees under their hire. Hence, they won't be able to compete. Everybody wins - instead of the merely largest gatherings of the most listless among us.Like I said
Submitted by Pickles and Peppers on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 12:14pm.
All or nothing. Teachers unions infuriate me, even though I have several family members in the field. At one point in college 3 of 5 my department's full time professors left on sabbatical, leaving fewer key classes many students required to graduate. Teacher's pay should be performance based, period. You teach well, and you are rewarded. If not, work harder.Too bad your pay is not performance based.
Submitted by The Vet on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 12:26pm.
A white childless atheist sissy union shill that works on a well known Hollywood children's show that spends most of his day posting on NewsBusters rather than meriting that paycheck he receives.
When are you going to explain your angry black man jpeg you got in your about me page? Why does a white 20 time retread troll have a jpeg called angry black man as his picture?
What part of Pickles &
Submitted by Miss_Me_Yet on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 12:40pm.
What part of Pickles & Peppers posts on this thread, or any others for that matter have once more incensed you to the point of launching into another one of your unwarranted ad hominem attacks?
I'm guessing while in the Navy, you held the rank of ' PETTY ' officer.
Liberals ... we can't live with them, they couldn't survive without us ...
Oh look. One retread gets the back of another retread.
Submitted by The Vet on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 12:49pm.
Wazzamatter ProfanityBoy, got bored waiting to get banned again?
Miss_Me_Yet/barack_must_go the NASTIEST retread troll EVAH: ...Comedy Central Suck Barack Obama's C&ck Extravaganza...
Catch more of the sickness that is Miss_Me_Yet at ----
Troll Alert -- The most vulgar profane troll NewsBusters has ever seen - Barack_must_go is now back as Miss_Me_Yet
Now. What were you complaining about again?
Let me explain*
Submitted by cajun2 on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 12:54pm.
B_M_G or whatever you call yourself these days is exactly the thing that Pickles does that angers NBers. Pickles is the "userofathousandpostnames". He is known to most of us as "deddy" or ADK. He has numerous "persona", one was once a black woman with children. What part of liar and fraud dont you get? Just because he will sometimes posts comments that you, of all people, may agree with, doesnt mean he is being honest. He is a masocist. He enjoys making inciteful remarks, get bashed, information promptly refuted and embarrassed. He loves that. The best thing to do with deddy is ignore him and that will force him to come back here with another post name. The fact that you would defend this fraud says more about you than it does about deddy or The Vet.
I see many, as you call them
Submitted by Miss_Me_Yet on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 1:32pm.
I see many, as you call them NBers. interact with many posters, not the least of which is Pickles and Peppers, which you choose only to attack without provocation or with any regard for their stated point of view. Why do you and the ' PETTY ' officer ( vet ) falsely profess to be the voice of and de facto representatives of NewsBusters when that clearly is not the case?
If you do not care for a fellow poster here at NewsBusters, just ignore them. Constant ad hominem attacks are not only counter productive, they are explicitly against the rules. ( Terms of Use ).
I for one welcome different ideologies and points of view. They teach me something new every single day. Mostly they teach me of just how dysfunctional our government actually is, which causes the seemingly irreconcilable differences between the races and classes that are tearing this country apart.
If posters on a sight like this stubbornly refuse to even attempt to interact, or at least ignore those they disagree with, how do we as supposed Americans ever expect our elected officials to stop bickering and do what's right for America and ALL Americans, even Pickles & Peppers and myself.
As far as I can tell, just from the overwhelmingly hateful attitude toward others, right here at NewsBusters, our reps in Washington really are fulfilling their promise to carry out the Will of the People.
Liberals ... we can't live with them, they couldn't survive without us ...
there you go again BMG*
Submitted by cajun2 on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 2:51pm.
You missed the whole point of my post. We here at NB are interested in learning just not from lying liberal one line trolls. We have liberals at NB that are often engaged in lengthy and meaningful, respectful debate. Posters who are deliberately inciteful, demeaning and arrogant deserve a thrashing . Read deddys post a little more carefully. You will notice not a single one of them have any substance whatsoever other than inciteful. That is his entire purpose here. If we are to ignore lying by any entity, then what the hell are you doing at NB?
I suggest you purchase a full
Submitted by Miss_Me_Yet on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 3:10pm.
I suggest you purchase a full length mirror and take a long hard look before you offer up one more post such as this, seriously.
Liberals ... we can't live with them, they couldn't survive without us ...
Try again BMG*
Submitted by cajun2 on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 3:28pm.
Again you fail to comprehend. Look up at the Masthead. It says Exposing and Combating Liberal Media Bias. That is the reason people come to NB. We recognize and are intolerant of LIES. Be it from the media or posters who are frauds.
cajun---
Submitted by matthewdean on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 1:58am.
Miss_Me_Yet - Barack_Must_Go - pantryman.
The username makes no difference; whether it is ADK - Teddy - deddy - arkansas zippers ---
or the clown above with only three names so far; the stench gives 'em away every time.
This one is especially repulsive because he proclaims himself a conservative, but sides with a well known liberal troll as a way of trying to justify going after conservatives who called him out when he was, and will call him out when he is, out of line.
MD
I'm guessing the resident
Submitted by Miss_Me_Yet on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 2:56am.
I'm guessing the resident TROLLS haven't gotten the memo yet.
The unions have been busted, tenure is a thing of the past.
It's no longer first in, last out, in the real world for now. ,
It's just a matter of time before the same applies in this, not so secret anymore, world.
Liberals ... we can't live with them, they couldn't survive without us ...
One down.
Submitted by The Vet on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 3:13am.
One to go.
Drunk posting again are you barack_me_yet?
I'm thinking Ol' Miss_Me_Yet_must_go is waxing---
Submitted by matthewdean on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 3:31am.
philosophical.
Either that or he just wants to get all nasty like pantryman did but is afraid of the logical end result, so he ends up having to settle for vague threats.
Out with the old, in with the new; seniority don't mean jack around here anymore.
Impressive.
MD
If you actually believe what
Submitted by Miss_Me_Yet on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 3:56am.
If you actually believe what I posted is in anyway a threat - you might be a liberal.
Just the facts ma'am
Liberals ... we can't live with them, they couldn't survive without us ...
" Petty O ", you of all
Submitted by Miss_Me_Yet on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 4:05am.
" Petty O ", you of all people ought not be accusing others of typing drunk. Even you're buddy warned you to delete your incoherent diatribe the other night, but you were too out of it to heed his warning.
Liberals ... we can't live with them, they couldn't survive without us ...
What?
Submitted by The Vet on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 4:28am.
Stick to profanity. You are better at it. You are still making little sense.
Who told me to delete what, when, and where? Retard.
Go accuse someone of molesting children again. You bore me. Hell, even the worst of the worst of the liberal trolls aren't as boring as you are on your best day.
Dude has lost his---
Submitted by matthewdean on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 6:56am.
mind.
MD
Fire and police are two
Submitted by MrShy on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 10:29pm.
Fire and police are two things that are absolutely necessary. Just those two. That's how far we take it.
What are you, an idiot? Or a zipper? Or both?
- Shy Vinyl
Join Mr. Shy and The 1* Percent
OIC
Submitted by Pickles and Peppers on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 12:07pm.
We like THESE government unions but not THOSE government unions. You can't have it both ways.Explain both ways pliz.
Submitted by The Vet on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 12:29pm.
You are a 20 time loser bigot that has been banned again and again FOR CAUSE. Including threatening women by incessantly inquiring as to the location of their children.
Now you are back pretending to be a completely new user. Looks like you want it both ways.
Little man
Submitted by Pickles and Peppers on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 12:41pm.
Excuse me, puny man. Reality is calling on line one. Says you're barking up the wrong tree. Says you're not getting to P&P, not with your daddy refs, your sand packing refs, your women, children, stalker, blah blah blah blah blah...
As an admitted stalker, how do you differentiate between your kind of stalking and your claim of my stalking history?
The 20 time retread troll thinks I will answer his questions.
Submitted by The Vet on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 12:56pm.
Too bad my only purpose here is rattling the trees of retread trolls.
Say, 20 time retread troll, what were you discussing here again? Looks like your happy funny jokey fun time throwing little Dead Zipper bombs ain't working on this thread. Come to think of it, it ain't working anywhere.
Is this what you wanted on your 21st trip?
As far as I can tell teachers
Submitted by Miss_Me_Yet on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 2:06pm.
Mr Shy,
As far as I can tell teachers are just as important to a viably functioning society as are police and fire departments. I would ad EMT and rescue services to the list.
While at the same time the corrupt unions which represent the various entities, are not an integral part of the equation no matter how you slice it.
In fact, as the recent events bear out, they only add to the cost, lack of effectiveness & overall safety ( due to the keeping of inferior personnel ) and build a wall that artificially pits rank & file against brass by fostering an atmosphere of animosity that would not otherwise exist.
The safety and well being of both the government employee ( that's actually what they are ) and the citizens they serve and protect are much better off interfacing face to face, rather than through some union hack that gets paid to create controversy.
The day of the government employee union, each and every one, has pretty much gone the way of the dinosaur, they're just too darn stubborn and connected at the hip to the democrat party to face reality. That's OK though, because the American people have intervened to face that inevitability for them.
Liberals ... we can't live with them, they couldn't survive without us ...
Freedom to Assemble
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 8:58pm.
Freedom to associate. Go for it. No one took that away. Petition the government. Go for that too, still exists.
Collective bargaining rights? Never existed.
If you want to form a group together and approach your employer to seek a certain collective salary structure, or whatever, then go for it. The employer has an equal "right" not to listen to you.
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
That's it.
Submitted by Ashrak on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 9:10pm.
The right to bargain collectively wasn't taken away. The ability to have that collective wield unchecked power sure has though and that is what Norah and her ilk don't want to admit.
We The People are indeed a union of sorts and we collectively bargain every time we go to the polls. Government itself draws its power from the consent of the governed but even that power has to be checked. This is done, with a republican form of government, with inalienable rights.
Even the majority of the governed has limited power and authority. And that is what Norah and her crew are so scared of. They are Democrats and they think in terms of direct Democracy -where the will of the majority is all powerful.
Accepting this defeat in Wisconsin would mean undermining the very core of their beliefs, which is why we witness the foolishness this article is about.
I'm shocked that so many here are still missing the point
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 10:47pm.
The "right" to collectively bargain for BENEFITS was stripped.
Essentially, the MANDATE that the state buy all of it's teachers union members' insurance from the UNION TRUST was abrogated. That's it. The union and its membership can still negotiate for salaries, but can no longer force the state to buy insurance coverage directly from the Unions!
THAT is what they don't want any of us to know.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Yep,
Submitted by Boudin on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 10:51pm.
In fact, they will start negotiate with local communities instead. Just watchThe real crux of the Wisconsin battle
Submitted by bkeyser on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 10:58pm.
The really big thing that has been damaged within the unions was their health insurance arm. I can't find the link but I know HotAir blogged about during the "struggle". Apparently, the PEU's in Wisconsin were so rich, they created a satellite industry -WEA Trust- providing health care to it's members. And since the state was picking up so much of the tab, they charged outrageous fees for the service. But even with the higher overall premiums, the union members paid significantly less out of pocket than their private sector compadres. All this extra taxpayer money was then being funneled back to Democrat politicians via campaign donations. The new law effectively puts an end to this racket; a racket Al Capone would be extremely jealous over.
BK....we started a forum on the topic
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 11:12pm.
....a few weeks ago. It's under "Latest News". Shivas Iron Redux posted the original thought on another thread, so I encouraged him to start a forum.
Since then, there has been so much information....it's a great place for all related links and whatnot.
As always, the old axiom holds true. FOLLOW THE MONEY.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Pickle sucker,
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 10:16pm.
That doesn't give government goonion members a right to my money.
Just because these people have government positions doesn't make them special.
In fact, they should be thanking the taxpayers for having let things get this far.
Believe me, theirs stinks just like everybody else's, and they should be no more immune to the laws of economics and finance than anyone else.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Nora, you ignorant slut!
Submitted by MikeB on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 8:22pm.
Nora, you ignorant slut! While you are entitled to your own opinion, you are not entitled to your own facts. Here are some facts about unions and unionism in the United States: In 1945, more than 33% of workers were members of unions. In 1979, that percentage had fallen to 24.1% of the workforce. In 1998, only 13.9% of workers were union members. 22 states have right-to-work laws. The NLRB and the courts have ruled that union members can withhold that part of their dues that are used to back political candidates the member opposes, or that oppose candidates the member supports. While Jugears has supported card check legislation, Congress did not pass such a law ... even when the Commucrat Party had majorities in both houses of Congress. Your contention, Nora, that Union membership and power are on the rise is purely wishful thinking on your part. The source for the above facts is the U.S. State Department. http://economics.about.com/od/laborinamerica/a/union_decline.htmMike, Let a girl think with
Submitted by Hunter12 on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 8:40pm.
Mike, Let a girl think with her heart. She knows if she says it and wishes really hard, it will come true. Just look at what a great president Barack Obama has become through hers and similar efforts from the lame stream media. For eigth years they shredded a guy with statistics at least twice as good as PBO, and they don't complain or critique a single thing their man does. It has to be due to wishful thinking"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Norah. So hot. So very
Submitted by Van Halen on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 9:11pm.
Norah. So hot. So very dumb.yet not any comments about
Submitted by dirtydan64 on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 9:18pm.
what Governor Snyder did this past Friday to the Teachers & SEIU Unions where he basically pulled an Obama by appointing a Czar to be given full power to recind any or all contracts between any or all Union Public employees, close down any or all schools still operating, fire any public employees union or not but what Governor Snyder, Kaisch, Daniels has done the Union thugs are all fine with huh ?? My guess is they have committed themselves to us here in Wisconsin as they do not have enough professional Protestors to go arou d coupled with IMO Wisconsin is somewhat more important than the other states come 2012Dan, the unions were busy
Submitted by UpNorth on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 6:52pm.
today(Tuesday) so they dragged out the tired legions of AARP to protest in Lansing. Most will hear of "thousands" arriving in Lansing, but some of the local outlets didn't get the memo. WoodTV reported that there "may" have been 700 or so at the capitol. And, it was all, "I don't mind paying my fair share but _________ should pay more". I sat there, wondering how many jobs any of those in the "massive" crowd would create, but they want the people and businesses who actually do hire people to pay more, so they won't have to.If these two idiots are agreeing...
Submitted by johnsonl on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 9:25pm.
...then it must be a lie. I'd love to see how they pass out the talking points memos.Not A Moment
Submitted by rammingspeed on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 9:32pm.
They said the Tea Party was a phony "astro turf" movement. They were wrong. It was a movement of people who'd been firsthand victims of government abuse. They say the pro union movement is the real deal. They're wrong. No one in a union has suffered, nor will they. This is a money/MSM moment.Just wait
Submitted by octavioj on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 9:35pm.
Just wait until the workers realize they no longer need to contribute their hard earned money to unions. Each and every worker will have to make a determination: is what I am getting from the union really worth the thousand bucks a year I pay them? Am I happy with the political activities the unions have been supporting instead of using that money towards the union members? My bet is that many, many members will not be so happy with this and will decide to leave the unions.Union protests in Maryland
Submitted by bkeyser on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 10:40pm.
Yep. About 15,000 of them were on the rise tonight in Annapolis protesting the Democratic Governor of Maryland for proposing to increase the PEU's contribution to their own health care and pension benefits. They're also upset that an increase in public school funding may be on hiatus in the next budget, which, according to the Baltimore Sun, would result in a $15M and $16M decrease in the projected funding for Baltimore and Prince George's County Schools, respectively. (These, by the way, are the two locales with the highest number of black residents. I don't know if this is relevant, but I suspect it is.) This is not a cut in the literal sense; this is a cut in liberal sense; a reduction of proposed funding, not a reduction in year-over-year funding.
It's a ruse though; surely (D) O'Malley has no intention of making the unions sacrifice. In the end there'll be another spike in property taxes (yes, my property taxes were based on an increased assessment of my hom last year. Yeah. Last year. The value of my home, according to the state of Maryland, increased by about 10% last year. 2010. Increased.), along with the proposed 10¢ gas tax hike (yeah, that's our legislature. TIMING anyone?) and probably another % on the sales tax. That way the PEU's can still retire at 50 with a 50% salary -and up from there- and maintain their taxpayer-provided ObamaCare for life.
Only 15k, wanna get a real reaction? 3 little words
Submitted by Boudin on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 11:10pm.
Right To Work!This weekend my cousins kid
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 12:23am.
This weekend my cousins kid was telling me about the woes Texas teachers were having. Apparently Texas is making cuts and the schools are feeling the pinch. In Texas teachers are paid by the individual school system and the state gives the school district money. So the state doesn't pay the teachers.→ Wow, Dan!
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 12:28am.
You mean teachers are LOCALLY responsible? What a concept!
WOW!!! This news people are
Submitted by Liberallies on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 3:13am.
WOW!!! This news people are truly and honestly out of touch!!!!!!! While we all like our Football and the NFL, we the American people, average joe and jane aren't idiots. Football players make millions, they are poor little workers who are being abused...WOW Most of us know that these are spoiled brat rich boys and we see the unfairness of their strike! This NFL thing is the filthy rich against the filthy rich, spoiled filthy rich football prayers against the NFL teams owners. But somehow, O'Donnel and her co-host think this is about the poor NFL player, who earns millions and deserves so much more. Sad, truly sad. If the NFL players truly go on strike, I hope there are replacement players who do better, earn less and the idiotic filthy rich spoiled brat players are booted off the NFL and their contracts shreded.What Did you Expect?
Submitted by mojavemark on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 10:50am.
Some sort of intelligent and truthful banter from two media puppets? And you thought prostitution was against the law! Feels like I'm at the carnival and ready to walk into the tent with the two headed goat. I'm excited to see something really strange and yet I know that I will be repulsed at the same time. That's the sense I get when you watch most of the liberal media controlled crap nowdays.Nora running for Teamsters President in 2012
Submitted by redright88 on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 5:04pm.
She needs more exposure than she's getting now at NBC