Friday, February 25, 2011

I'm very proud of the Democrats in the Assembly

Parliamentary procedure is the body of rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations of clubs, organizations, legislative bodies, and other deliberative assemblies.

The question I have is if a body can just toss out the rules . . . . why even have Parliamentary procedure.


I'm not a big fan of Parliamentary procedure in the first place. Oh I see it's function in government and larger organizations but it is completely counter productive in small local groups!  It's a huge time waster and all it does is make people think they have more power then they actually do.

A small group will often form several committees and rather then everybody pitching in and working together they will tend to keep to themselves.  Then once the committee finally has a plan instead of actually DOING the plan it's voted on and deliberated and changed and then back to the committee for more planning and nothing really gets done. 

Parliamentary procedure slows the process of progress because in a small group there is typically a strong leader/friend that controls the votes!  People tend to not think for themselves.  Another flaw is that instead of getting SOMETHING done with small mistakes and errors the group is so concerned with getting everything PERFECT, that nothing ever gets done.

But then there is what happened earlier this morning in the Wisconsin Assembly.  The republicans decided that the rules of Parliamentary procedure really did not apply to them! The filibuster, which everyone who grew up in America learned about in school, is no longer valid because you can just vote, get up and walk out!  WHO KNEW!!!

If they knew you could do that Mr. Smith Goes to Washington would have been a much shorter movie!

Anyway -  Walker has once again acted like a baby and threatened that 200,000 children will lose medicaid unless the Democrats return!

So while the Assembly passed the bill (at the moment) to me it looks like the Democrat's won the battle. The Bill was suppose to be rubber stamped anyway.  A no brainer quicky vote. But in reality the Republicans broke the filibuster rules and to most everybody thinks they looked pretty bad.

BTW - every time I see Walker "urging lawmakers to return"  I actually see Walker "begging lawmakers to return" as this continues to spin out of control for him!     

While we applaud the Wisconsin 14 I am very proud of the Democrats in the Assembly - WELL DONE!! 

In other States what is happening in Wisconsin is having huge effects on other Republican Governors!  Indiana's governor urged GOP lawmakers to give up on a "right to work" bill for fear the backlash could derail the rest of his agenda. In Ohio, senators plan to soften a bill that would have banned all collective bargaining by state workers. And in Michigan, the Republican governor says he'd rather negotiate with public employees than pick a fight.

And in all this - Where the f*ck is Obama!   

Rod

29 comments:

  1. Obama doesn't give a crap about Wisconsin, he is too busy having Motown stars over for a party. I think the Democrats who have run away are doing a disservice to the voters who in good faith went out on voting day to vote them in. I am sure the voters did not vote for them to not show up for work. If you believe in something stay and fight for it, not run away like a bunch of wimps. Hope and change, baby, hope and change.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I feel that the Dems were standing up for what they believed in by running away. That was the only option they had to fight this bill. They are indeed serving their constituents by running away. For the record, I am a Republican. Not for long.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am SOOOO PISSED right now. I just watched that video of the "vote". http://www.channel3000.com/localvideo/index.html?v=33907

    Also...2007: Barack Obama Promises He'll Walk a Picket Line If Workers Are Denied Right to Unionize. Well where the FUCK is he?!?!?!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA9KC8SMu3o&feature=player_embedded

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for your passion, Jenny. I'm worried that you're going to force Sydney to come home before she's ready. Deep breathe, girl....:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kathy, you are spot on. No Democrats with a chance ever run in my district, so I did not personally vote for any of the "14"--but I am pleased, as a proud American citizen, that they have been taking advantage of the single option that has been left open for them by a frightening governor who is beholden to his billionaire backers, and who honestly believes that he will be annointed the next Ronald Reagan. He's full of mockery, too... anyone who disagrees with him is lazy, or crazy. (Reread what he says in that phone call. The fact that an unsavory person instigated the call is not relevant; Walker MADE THE STATEMENTS.) He answers to the Kochs, but not his constituents.

    "My" senator is Fitzgerald, and he is no more representing my views than would an absent Democratic lawmaker. So there's no difference.

    Kathy, you're not the only one who is disenchanted, of course. I've never been so disappointed with the President I've supported. But only for the *facts* in this matter-- he has been practically invisible. I am eagerly following the news cycle to determine why he has been reticent. But I'm stunned that he has been so.

    I applaud those who have been posting here who may be angry, but who have used facts and reasoned speech in making their statements instead of descending into bitterness and the mockery of parroted sound bites.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great Blog!!!

    I do not think that The Wisconsin 14 ran away like Whimps!

    They did what they felt was necessary to let the People of Wisconsin know what is going on~

    "A Harsh Bill that will affect ALL of Wisconsin."
    Not just a few...
    They are keeping tabs on all that is going on..And I feel are doing the right thing for all of us.

    Now if Walker would do the same.


    Jenny~ Sydney will come out sooner then later. Like Kathy said Breathe~ Take it easy Hon...
    Don't want anything happening to you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Maybe Obama will run away and we can vote in a President who can actually act like a President. I still don't believe that you should run from a fight. Are these legislators being paid while they are not on the job?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Callie, just wondering... why do you read Rod's blog if you totally disagree with everything he says? It would be like me watching Fox News...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Actually there are still on the job.

    You know~ With today's technology, cell phones,laptops and Ipads?

    People all over the world work from home.
    So just because they are not in the building that they usually work at does not mean they are not working.
    Plus, They have been on TV numerous times.........
    I am sure you have seen them.
    and on the telephone.

    Just saying~

    ReplyDelete
  10. Rod, as someone who's been involved with student governments-- I could not agree with you more about parliamentary procedure. It is a fatal time-waster for small units, but important for the organization of larger units. Especially so for formal nationwide and statewide governing bodies.

    Still waiting for that story to make noise nationally... [crickets]...

    ReplyDelete
  11. The WI 14 are the smartest, bravest people in this state. We can never repay them for services in this Walker Wrangle.

    As for President BO. I've never been a fan. As the days pass he's further and further down on my list.

    UAW Local 578 from Oshkosh Truck has buses going down Saturday. I can't go (I belong to UAW Local 2132, also in Oshkosh) so I'll be sending a donation to Ian's Pizza to help feed the front lines.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Are you saying I can't come on here unless I agree with everything Rod says?

    ReplyDelete
  13. No, I just wonder why you continue to read his blog? That's all...

    ReplyDelete
  14. By leaving the state, senate democrats gave people time to read the bill. Something the republicans clearly didn't want.

    ReplyDelete
  15. You know I can hardly believe what I am reading on your blog, Rod. I haven't piped in because I didn't want to get into a screeming match with any of you but I think you should all reread what you guys are saying and substitute the democrats for the republicans and it is EXACTLY what happened on the national level, except the Republicans stayed in Congress where they should have and voted on the Obama healthcare plan. I wonder what you all would be saying about the Republicans if they had all snuck out of Washington and hid out somewhere so they wouldn't have had to vote on it. You would have all been raising Holy Hell! Just because you don't like the way something is going to happen, you can't just leave. It always seems like the dems can break any rule to get their way. It really says they believe we will get our way no matter what.. They believe everyone needs to see it their way or else. In our Democracy, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose....you don't always get to have things the way you want it. You may think
    that "everyone" sees it your way but there are a whole lot of people out there who don't agree with you. You need to get out of Madison once in a while and realize Wisconsin is made up of a whole lot of diverse thinking people.

    Jenny, I guess Callie and I read this blog because we like to hear all sides of a story, not just a narrow minded view of everything. Maybe you should watch Fox news once in a while, just to know there are two sides of a story. I have always enjoyed Rod's sense of humor and have purchased one of his pictures, but it is getting frustrating to see how politically charged it has gotten. Maybe it it is time for me to stop checking in.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I know I am in the minority here, but I just think it is WRONG for those Democrats to have cut and run. How wimpy is that? Stay and fight for what you believe in. With them running away that tells me they don't feel they have a good argument. Like Cathy just commented, can you imagine if the Republicans had done that?

    ReplyDelete
  17. callie Dems ran because it's 100% clear that Walker is pro-corruption - I will guarantee that - watch the blog in the next few days if you want proof!

    This piece will also be going to the news agency's. Plus - I HOPE you guys have NOTHING to do with government helping you in the next few months.

    Agencies are becoming crippled with retirement and since no one has been hired in 10 years there is no knowledge from younger workers - seriously.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have no problems with people disagreeing but the next time someone mentions that FOX news is actual news that post will disappear.

    FOX is 100% propaganda.

    Plus - I agree with the Obama talk and am disappointed but - really - who has been better? Sarah?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Rod, have you ever listened to the regular Fox News? I'm not talking about the talking heads which are not news, they are opinion hours. Every station has their segments like that (Rachel Maddow, Chris Mathews, Sean Hannity,Bill O'Reilly). I'm talking about the straight news. They are very accurate and timely. They don't give opinion, they give the news. I guess I am confused why you lump them all in together.

    And, just so you know, I absolutely do not support Sarah Palin for President. In my opinion, she would not be the right person for the job. Just because I am not a Democrat, does not mean I support her.

    I prefer to focus on the facts instead of just supporting a news agency. All of them have some bias.

    Can't wait to see the facts that you say will be coming out soon...

    ReplyDelete
  20. This is bigger than just the democratic party vs. the republican party. It's about what is right and what is wrong. That is why you see groups like police and firemen, who initially supported the governor, now switching sides and protesting against him. Many people didn't realize the impact this Bill was going to have on the state and it's citizens. I applaud the democratic legislators for leaving the state in order to give the citizens time to really take a look at what Scott Walker is trying to do.

    There are both democratic and republican teachers, state workers, parents, professors, students, nurses, policemen and firemen fighting against this bill. Scott Walkers calls these people special interest groups. I call them the foundation of our communities.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Will the Democrats running from their responsiblity set a precedent for lawmakers in the future? Is that what we will see from now on, when lawmakers don't like something they will run to another state and hide out? How sad.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm sorry, but I don't see the democrats leaving the state as running away from their responsibility, I see it as living up to their responsibility. It's not like they are just sitting around watching tv and eating twinkies. They have been in constant contact with their fellow legislators, informing the public of what is going on, and doing their daily work as they would in the capitol. The only thing they are not doing is voting on the most controversial bill in our state's history. They also arn't attending commitee meetings anymore, but only because Scott Fitzgerald and Walker have banned them.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Callie - sometimes you have to do what you have to do - the republicans are cheating correct? They broke parliamentary rules, rules in lace for hundreds of years. No governemnt has EVER broken thos rules - EVER.

    They have been pulling these kind of bully stunts for years - but now that the Democrats want to play the Republican game - you call UNFAIR?

    ReplyDelete
  24. and callie - you are only saying the same things over and over causing trouble.

    Until you have a real argument and actually read and TRY to understand what is happening I fear YOUR students are getting the short end of the knowledge stick.

    ReplyDelete
  25. What rule have the Republicans in the Assembly broken exactly?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Charlotte, Rod is talking about Parliamentary procedure... It is the body of rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations of clubs, organizations, legislative bodies, and other deliberative assemblies.

    It was the first paragraph of his blog post

    ReplyDelete
  27. I don't understand how my preschool special needs students are on the short end of the knowledge stick. I have been on the job for over twenty years and my superiors and parents have always been very happy with my work. I am proud of what I do in the classroom!!

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.