Ed Schultz reporting from Madison on the eve of the recall elections.  

“Will the Democrats take this as a chance to go on offense?  Will national Democrats take a lesson from Wisconsin Democrats?” —Rachel Maddow.

Outstanding coverage of the FAA shutdown and union rights, plus a look back at Reagan’s firing of air traffic controllers.

Internship opportunity with State Senator Lena Taylor’s office.  I don’t know anything about this opportunity beyond what is listed above but thought I would post it in case anyone had an interest in following-up with Senator Taylor’s office.

Today is the last day to vote. 

I sometimes wish national Democrats would be more like Wisconsin Democrats by showing leadership, making their voices more clearly heard, and actually taking a stand.

They are free to cast votes to signal their support/opposition, but those votes will not count, and will not be recorded.

Must read & must watch.  Update: A better-quality version of the video can be found here.

drwh0:

Meanwhile, a fire still rages in the heartland.

You just have to watch this video of a farmer named Tony Schultz in Wisconsin talking to the crowd about what is happening at his local schools and to his own community because of the governor’s tax-cuts-for-corporations, budget-cuts-for-the-people budget:

This video of farmer Tony Schultz speaking captures the feel of the rally today better than anything I’ve yet seen. (But be careful with your volume. The screams and cheers will bust your eardrums!)

I found it at this Daily Kos diary, Wisconsin farmer on fire! Awesome video, by strobusguy, who writes,

State Assembly Democrats cheering from the windows of the capitol as the Wisconsin 14 spoke.

Tomorrow all 14 of us will head to the capitol, where we’re going to thank the people of Wisconsin for stepping up. We’ll be marching to the capitol. It is a homecoming.

This doesn’t end anything. It intensifies the will to restore collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin.

In thirty minutes, 18 State Senators undid fifty years of civil rights in Wisconsin. Their disrespect for the people of Wisconsin and their rights is an outrage that will never be forgotten. Tonight, 18 Senate Republicans conspired to take government away from the people. Tomorrow we will join the people of Wisconsin in taking back their government.

 John Oliver heads to Illinois to find the Wisconsin 14.  There’s even a Blago appearance…fucking golden.

The effort to recall the Republican 8 got a little national attention! 

A short piece from the Huffington Post and an important reminder of the sacrifices the Wisconsin 14 have made. Linked above.

The Madison Fire Department has issued a statement saying the whole welding-of-the-windows thing isn’t true. 

In other news, Senator Scott Fitzgerald (of the Family Fitzgerald) made a motion to cut off the copy privileges of the Democratic Senators’ staffers.  Yes, you read that correctly; he wants to deactivate the codes staffers use for the copy machines, (so… they’ll have to scan stuff more often?).  That’ll show ‘em, Scotty!