Report from Recall Walker Rally in Madison, Nov 19 … Warning: Pic Heavy

[Scuba]

Absolutely fantastic turnout in Madison for the Recall Walker rally. Using my very unscientific method of trying to count the rows and columns, I estimate the turnout at 125,000 - plus today. Wisconsin rocks!!!! If each person who attended the rally can get five other signatures, we should have over 600,000 (540,208 needed).

I wish I had an eye-in-the-sky cam. This doesn’t do justice to the numbers.



As always, the creativity of Wisconsin protesters is awesome to behold. Here’s just a few of the great pictures I took today.







Nice to see this gentleman there.







Despite it being late November, the palm trees are still all around. No comment needed.







Perhaps the best two signs I saw.





The Raging Grannies were there, as always. Love the grannies.



Ed was there too. Needless to say, everyone wanted a piece of his time, but I did get to speak with very briefly and was able to thank him for his work. Ed’s a treasure.



I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Community. No billy clubs. No pepper spray. No paddy wagons. Just cordial, supportive interactions between LEO’s and protesters. And many off-duty LEO’s were there, marching with their neighbors.

I have lots more great pics. I'll try to post more later.

Thanks to everyone who came out today.

[postulater]

1. And it looks toasty warm there today.

No blaze orange?

[Scuba]

4. Worth noting that today is "Opening Day" ....

... of the gun deer season, only slightly more hallowed than Christmas in Wisconsin.

That means that 600,000 potential protesters were in the woods and not on the square.


Thanks for reminding me.

[seacaves]

16. I plan on nabbing a few of those

hunters although it will be a tough road. Walker played it right to put the gun issue just before the recall. So many think all Dems are against all guns and they just shut down-and will not even listen.

[livetohike]

2. Thanks for being there and thanks

for posting these wonderful pics! :hi:

[graywarrior]

3. Most excellent!

[flamingdem]

5. Props for the pink slip and the diaper signs! nt

[mascarax]

6. Thanks for the update & pics!

I figured Ed would be there...so nice to see everyone there again!

[K8-EEE]

7. K&R!!! WONDERFUL!!!

Big warm hug from Los Angeles for you guys out braving the elements and fighting the good fight!

[Scuba]

8. Mid 40's, with a light drizzle late. No big deal for us Cheeseheads. n/t

[Remember Me]

9. QUESTION --

I forgot the joke re the palm trees -- refresh my memory?

LOVE the pink slip and indeed all the photos. Thanks!

[Scuba]

11. Refers back to last spring.....

...when Fox News attempted to smear the protesters by showing video of "riots" in Madison. The video was of riots, all right, but the palm trees swaying in the background gave away their lie.

[catgirl]

10. Those are some seriously amazing signs!

Wisconsin was organized and ready for battle! Keep up the great work. We're cheering for you!!

[alterfurz]

12. view from slightly higher up...

Many thanks for posting these, Scuba!

[Scuba]

13. Much better, and still shows less than 1/4 of the Square!!! n/t

[Chiquitita]

14. Thank you for posting!

Those signs are so smart.

[seacaves]

15. Wonderful pics. Thanks. Go Wisconsin!

[blaze]

17. K&R!!! Great pics! Thanks! nt

[ladjf]

18. "On Wisconsin". We're with you. nt

[ladjf]

19. Wisconsin and Ohio are blazing trails out of their political mess while

Iowa and Indiana are still sucking up to the lunatic right and Corporate money. nt

[11 Bravo]

20. NICE! Thanks for sharing.

[barbtries]

21. what a great state.

i LOVE the signs!

[Bozita]

22. Outstanding pics, terrific home-made signs! ... Thanks, Scuba

[ThatsMyBarack]

23. That is HUGH! I am SERIES!

Hope it works! :patriot:

[Stuart G]

24. Thanks for being there, and for posting the pics...nt

[countryjake]

25. Thanks for posting these! n/t

.

[Scuba]

26. Self-kick for Monday morning DUers.

[Bragi]

27. What is the basis for this recall?

Seriously, Walker is a right wing tool for the 1%.

He is also an elected tool.

So why exactly is he being recalled?

I hope the answer is something more than "because we don't agree with his policies."

[Scuba]

28. Here's a bit....

First, "Mark from Wisconsin Rapids" said it far better than I can when he repled to Walker's "I'm not responsible for the recall" comment...

“In this time of economic distress you have chosen to abandon the working poor 
and the middle class in favor of the privileged few. At the behest of corporations and
 sinister plutocrats you have chosen to suppress democracy. You have chosen to 
make it harder to vote, to make it harder to earn a decent wage, to make it harder
 to obtain decent health care, to make it harder for citizens to express their First 
Amendment rights, to make it harder to give our children a decent education and
 a decent future. You have made your choices abundantly clear. Now we, the working people of 
Wisconsin, are making our choice.”



If you want more specifics, check this link...


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2286175


Finally, the framer's of the Wisconsin State Constitution made clear that recalls could be based on policy differences, although it's clearly much more in this case.

[Bragi]

29. Hmmmm

Thanks for that. I agree that everything Mark from Wisconsin wrote (above) is true, which is exactly what people ought to expect when they vote for right-wing Republicans.

Whoever wrote the recall laws, though, and made it legit to over-turn an election based on "policy differences" was wrong to do so.

I can see why Repugs with little attachment to democratic traditions would support this kind of second-guessing of electors, but I don't see why our side should.

However, the law being what it is, I guess it is too tempting to wait until the next election.

Since the right wing will have the same opportunity, I guess this means that it will be a long time until Wisconsin has a stable government. In fact, why bother with an election when you can always just wait for the recall.

[Scuba]

30. The recall laws are established in the State Constitution. Our founders didn't provide....

... for a means to recall a bill, like Ohio or Maine.


Instead, they chose to provide voters with a means for recalling elected officials. In my opinion, both have their pros and cons. But as we used to say in business, "it is what it is".

[Bragi]

31. Yes, it is indeed what it is!

:)