*** UPDATE *** Rockford was briefly used as a hideout by those fleeing Wisconsin Democratic legislators, so now the city’s convention and tourism bureau is trying to turn the notoriety to their advantage with a new PR campaign. “Hide-Away in Rockford” has its own Facebook site and a new promo video featuring Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen, as well as other local types. Watch…
Illinois young republicans today called for Governor Pat Quinn to take action against the 14 Democratic State Senators who are hiding out in Illinois. The demand came in the form of a video released by the Illinois Federation of Young Republicans. […]
The ad, showing the 14 Wisconsin Senators as fugitives on the run, asserts that the individuals are avoiding making tough decisions and evading their responsibilities as lawmakers. The ad goes on to state that, “These democratic legislators must be returned to their home state to face their voters and force them to do the job that they were elected to do and the job that they were paid to do.” The ad ends with an appeal to call Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to tell him to return the Senators to Wisconsin.
Illinois Young Republican Chairman Dennis Cook said, “Governor Quinn should not allow Illinois to become a safe haven for legislators on the run. They were elected by the people of Wisconsin to do a job and they should own up to their responsibility. If our legislators fled to their state, we would want them to do the same thing.”
What’s Quinn supposed to do, send out the coppers to arrest the fleeing lawmakers for crossing state lines without a visa? I don’t get it. But, I’ve made plenty of jokes about rounding up the intruders and deporting them back to their inferior home states, so I kinda chuckled.
“Tell [Quinn] to return the fugitives to Wisconsin, where they belong.”
Ha!
…Adding… I put this in comments, but I figured I’d share it on the front page…
Maybe the CIA can do a “rendition.”
Can you imagine? Black helicopters descend predawn on a sleepy McHenry County town. The fugitives are immediately hooded and shackled and flown to Madison, where they are all promptly waterboarded and then forced to watch Barney episodes for days on end until they agree to vote “Yes” on Walker’s entire legislative agenda.
Perfection.
Also, those are some pretty slick production values for the Federation of Illinois Young Republicans. The Republican Governors Association has become involved with the Wisconsin protests, so money is flowing.
Let Governor Quinn know that you are OUTRAGED by his recent actions “welcoming” the Wisconsin State Senators into our state. We are NOT a safe haven for these fugitives. Send him a message TODAY!
The young republicans have a point, why look at how the IL gop have aggressively addressed our budget problems by, um by, sitting in their seats?
They also have a point about doing what they were elected to do… they were obviously electedto make sure legslation bad for their consituents passes by assuring enough bodies are present to pass it… oh wait…maybe thepeople who voted forthem wnt them to use the process to stop the legislation…so they are doing what they were elected to do….
- CircularFiringSquad - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 1:33 pm:
Ain’t it great when it is Imbecile Hour at the WingNut Barn. The Lil GOPPERs don’t understand that Ds ARE doing their job. Opposing LuneyTunes Walker is easy. Just take the play book used against NoTaxBill and Daddy’s Lil Deduction.
BTW have we heard from those two losers on this profound GOP issue?
Can you imagine? Black helicopters descend predawn on a sleepy McHenry County town. The fugitives are immediately hooded and shackled and flown to Madison, where they are all promptly waterboarded and then forced to watch Barney episodes for days on end until they agree to vote “Yes” on Walker’s entire legislative agenda.
“No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe… While the legislature is in session.”
That seems to be true in Illinois and all bordering states. I would hope that if our legislators fled Illinois to avoid legislating, that we would station State Police at our borders to prevent them from returning.
In Wisconsin there are are fake milk cartons with the “missing” senators being featured. That’s funnier. Unless, of course, you have no sense of humor and take umbrage because real missing children are on milk cartons.
C’mon. It’s politics, campers. Face it, both Dems and Repubs are using theatrics over Wisconsin to make points and raise money. Never let a crisis go to waste. (I think I’ve heard that somewhere before.)
I suppose the flip side is why isn’t Quinn hosting these working class heros, and poking Walker in the eye for those slams on Illinois and the tax hike?
If it’s good enough for Lincoln it’s good enough for Wisc. Democratic Senators.
How about a boycott of Wisc products until the gov offers a real settlement. Cheese, brats, Miller, Old Style, toilet paper. All gone from Illinois shelves.
Maybe the Governor will get lucky and the Wisconsin folks will stay long enough his new estate tax to apply- No one seems to be focusing on Illinois imposing a different exemption on its estate tax then what the Feds allow(first time ever that Illinois has a more punitive tax then what the feds require)- it is now much more expensive to die in illinois then in almost any other state in the USA
I believe this is the first actual documented “fleeing” of a state that we have seen in recent history. Despite all the rhetoric we have seen over the years out of the state GOP/Doug Whitley faction of chicken littles, it seems we are the flee-ees, rather than the flee-ers.
It’s simply poltical theater regarding what could become a political/electoral game-changer. If teachers are no longer compelled to join the union and contribute their mandatory dues it could change the balance of power between Democrats and Republicans. Let the kids have a little fun.
It’s an old parliamentary tactic, used by Abe Lincoln himself once in 1840 to try to save the state bank (a good idea in hindsight). There’s nothing illegal or immoral about it, but it rarely works. Rather than chase them out of Illinois, and given what’s going on in the entire country, I think Illinois should use it as part of its tourism pitch, fill up those empty hotels and restaurants with disgruntled state reps and senators from every state attacking its people, and increase revenues to our state coffers so we can pay our folks here at home.
YRs in Illinois have never been known for sound judgment. Now add ” sense of humor.” I would have preferred video of them portrayed as the Cheddar Chickens, stocking up on cheese and Packer paraphernalia while fleeing, but trying to fake us out by wearing Bear scarves while here. If you want a criminal element, call them the “Cheddar Chicken Gang”, put them in sunglasses, and ask the public to keep an eye out for this public menace, etc. Mocking them would have been much more effective. This is a bit creepy.
You should take a look at some of the posters being waived by the protesters in Madison and the rhetoric being spouted. Lots of swastikas and bullseyes - comparisons to Hitler abound.
I think that restraint period was understandable but unrealistic. Politics is a battlefield, hence all the military metaphors that come to mind. Political violence is a terrible reality, typically perpetrated by the mentally unhinged and has little, if anything, to do with the images on those posters. It won’t be stopped if everyone is singing kumbaya.
“forced to watch Barney episodes for days on end until they agree to vote ‘Yes’ on Walker’s entire legislative agenda”
Now that would be genuine torture and probably a violation of the (Lake) Geneva Conventions
Seriously, though… how is what the YRs are doing any more “creepy” than the Massachusetts Dem who said pro-union protesters should “get a little bloody”? I realize he probably didn’t intend to be taken literally either, but, it goes both ways.
Well, one thing is certain, the stupidity of the GOP in IN and WI - funny as it is - is affecting GOP in IL. It is a dangerous disease that will, if unchecked, threaten the Republic.
And btw., since we have no use of our IL GOP, except for Topinka (the only GOPer who doesn’t play dead), can’t we make a video asking IN and WI to take them off our hands? At least they would be useful for the first time in their lives as they support with their expenses WI and IN in the government made financial crisis…
- What's in a name? - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:40 pm:
There’s nothing scarier than a Young Republican! All crew cuts and polo shirts. Lot’s of beige.
When you believe you are in possession of the absolute truth its a short walk to terrorism.
That said, I’d like to believe they are joking but not very good at it yet. Mike Tryon’s deal yesterday about taxing them was much more elegant.
The reality is that as President Obama once said “elections have consequences and I won” when talking about his legslative agenda- The Dems have a chance in two years to convince the Wisconsin electorate to throw the R’s out- until then- they have an obligation to return to the state and allow the legislature to act on the pending legislation- anyone who argues otherwise doesn’t believe in our system of government
There’s probably some weak-minded gun-toting t-bagger who would take this seriously!
These guys ARE doing their jobs…they are representing the people who voted for them to stop the crazy irrational destruction that the inmates are imposing on the asylum.
Wisconsin legislators need to go home and take the vote. When Illinois Republicans were faced with a 67% state income tax hike vote, they didn’t flee to Iowa. They debated and casted their vote. We believe in a democracy, majority rules, Wisconsin legislators need to accept their position, go back home and cast their votes.
I’m sorry but what a joke. Once
again the young repubs waste their time on useless sound bytes to get attention instead of proactively working to advance their party’s agenda. You never hear from these folks unless theyre on the front page of the red eye
or trying to make headlines about something with zero relevance to Illinois and it’s issues.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:55 pm:
The Young Republicans do a funny parody of an “America’s Most Wanted”. And last I heard, in politics it is perfectly acceptable to make fun of those legislators who elected to bravely run away and hide with State Troopers hot on their trail.
It is also perfectly acceptable in politics to ridicule Democrat legislators who cast votes in the middle of the night during a lame duck session.
Now Democrats point to Lincoln once jumping out a window and Republicans point to FDR’s anti-public union stances.
Funny? Ironic?
As Sarah Palin would say, “You Betcha!”
(couldn’t resist fanning a few flames!)
- the Other Anonymous - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:55 pm:
The’s a line in the video that says the legislators should return to Wisconsin “to face the voters.” Strange thing is that the video portion shows the crowds of protesters at the Wisconsin Capitol, presumably the same people who are supporting the Senators who left and would want them to stay.
I would think the Young GOPers would defend rather than oppose “states’ rights,” in which not only the feds but each state should butt-out of others’ legislative matters. Oh, well.
To answer your question, Rich, I found both videos equally hilarious. My sentiments are with the fugitive Democrats, but poking fun at them is great, as far as I’m concerned. I think the GOP will only suffer by inflating them into escaped criminals, which is a joke - which is why it’s funny.
I am uncomfortable with the description of those photographs as mugshots. They look like photos from the legislators own websites.
The WI dem senators gotta get some rocks and go back and face the vote. Obama agrees that you don’t get to do as much when you lose an election. That’s what elections are for. Even if you lose you can come back at the next cycle. The WI senators lost control of the senate. GET OVER IT!
wow, in times of nearly catastrophic budget problems, the Illinois Republicans want to expend valuable state resources to track down some tourists from Wisconsin and send them back to Wisconsin?
Tourists who, by the way, are spending money in Illinois (and bringing in sales tax revenues, hotel tax revenues, etc).
If anything, we should put the word out that there are plenty of hotel rooms near O’Hare and Midway if any legislators want to flee other states and hole up.
42: I hope the visitors don’t butt-out of here until they’ve dropped a little more of their money on local hotels and restaurants and Illinois sales tax!
Yeah, well I’m kinda uncomfortable with the concept that some elected representatives of the people of Wisconsin think that hiding out in another state is a legitimate tactic to stall legislative action they disagree with. Its unethical and un-American.
- dumb ol' country boy - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:23 pm:
ha ha ha way to go Young Republicans…you are out there and you do exist….Fuuny very funny…But on a serious note the voters of Wisconsin and Indiana should be outraged that they are fleeing like little kids who are afraid they are not going to get their way. For the love of god…You are adults act like it!
I’m so sick of these Republicans and the silly games and gimmicks. No substance whatsoever. And then they’ve got the nerve to ask for money to fund more games and gimmicks.
All the while they hope everyone ignores the fact the GOP in Illinois has nothing resembling a serious plan. They’re sitting around hoping the state tanks so they can get some political benefit, even though that same “plan” failed miserably once again in November.
2012 is going to be a bloodbath for the IL GOP with redistricting and Obama on the ballot. And the response is to mock what’s happening in other states. Unbelievable.
IL YRs (not all, but at least some of the statewide and Chicago leadership) seem to exist only for scandal and drama. I say this as a young(ish) person and a GOPer. They ought to be out there growing the party, raising money and helping local candidates. Not doing this crap.
–You should take a look at some of the posters being waived by the protesters in Madison and the rhetoric being spouted. Lots of swastikas and bullseyes - comparisons to Hitler abound.=-
DD, BS.
There have been some signs, (maybe some of those agent provactuers Gov.Walker talked about with “David Koch”), but in more than a week of massive protests, there have been no arrests, no violence and no one has gone to jail.
No GOP lawmaker has been molested, yet the Fitzgerald boys (Senate president, Assembly speaker) are quoted that they’ve been “ordering” Wisconsin troopers to track down Senate Dems.
How does a legislator order the state police to knock on elected officials doors in the wee hours? When the head of troopers is your daddy, I guess.
Gee, I can’t imagine where some of that police state imagery is coming from.
This tactic is probably as effective for Young GOPers in party building as posting stock photos of topless chicks was for the Chicago GOP.
How about buying a pair of shoes and knocking on some doors?
- great to be here - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:53 pm:
Both videos don’t bother me. what bothers me is these people skiped out on doing their elected job. I mean it isn’t like Illinois Republicans ran out of state to avoid the vote on the tax increase.
These Young Republicans must think they are still trying totake over student government at their colleges. Too bad they haven’t taken a course explaining the U. S. Constitution.
I am not thrilled with the idea of folks calling the Governors office and tying up his phones as part of this stunt. Seriously, I think his office has better things to do than deal with this mess.
It is hard for me to think that you, Rich, may believe that the ad is a serious attempt to encourage anybody to kidnap anybody. Too much caffeine today?
Looked at the photos again. I wonder how photos could be posted without being thought of as mugshots. Maybe they should have used candid shots of the senators at the beach last summer. That, however, would have been labled as icky since it would be obvious that the senators were being stalked.
Over the top stuff, here. The senators have shirked their sworn duty. What they are doing is cowardice, pure and simple. Chicken-livered poltroons is what they are. Yellow-bellied wimps. If it were legal in Illinois and the GOP senators ran away from the tax increase vote the dems on this site would be howling. As they should, BTW.
I believe that gov Walker is looking towards changing the pay structure for elected officials. Unapproved absences of more than 3 days would result in the elected official having to pick the check up personally. I don’t think they will be handing them out at the Clock Tower Hotel, tho.
I don’t endorse kidnapping or any action by Illinois to force them back to Wisconsin, and I think the Republican ad is stupid. Ideally, the Wisconsites’ guilty consciences should be sufficient motivation to force them back to their own state.
C’mon Rich, easy! Who needs these videos? Just tell them there is a great Friday Night Fish Fry and beer-fest in Beloit tonight. They won’t be able to resist.
so the young republicans want to spend our tax dollars on using our state police to apprehend tourists and drive them across the border - maybe they should call for Quinn to build a wall along our northern and eastern border instead?
Rather that Quinn “returning the fugitives to Wisconsin”, Quinn could meaningfully contribute to this situation by saying that, although he is sympathetic to the positions of the legislators on the bill Wisconsin is considering, he does not support shutdown of debate by their physical relocation out of state, and he would advise any Illinois legislator against trying something similar.
–The senators have shirked their sworn duty. What they are doing is cowardice, pure and simple. Chicken-livered poltroons is what they are. Yellow-bellied wimps.–
DD, how’s your caffeine intake these days, since you’re concerned about Rich’s?
The Wisconsin Senate Democrats are standing by their principles, working within the rules, and living on the run. God bless them. They’re welcome in my home right now.
The Wisconsin Assembly Democrats stood by their principles and refused to shut up for more than 60 hours in continuous session until the youngest Fitzgerald boy (the Speaker) pulled a fast one at 1 a.m. today. His brother, the Senate president, and his daddy, the head of the Wisconsin Patrol, then sent the troopers to round up the Senate Dems.
In the United States in 2011.
DD, you have the nerve to call these folks cowards and worse, while you sit in your union-protected state job, blah, blah, blahing on the taxpayer dime? Pretty sweet to get the gravy while having no guts.
–I mean it isn’t like Illinois Republicans ran out of state to avoid the vote on the tax increase.–
Duh, read the rules on quorums.
Seriously, did you think Illinois Republicans wanted to skip a vote against tax increases — that they knew would pass without them?
Since you’re so mesmerized by the Illinois GOP legislators’ work ethic, take some time this weekend to read their alternative budget proposal. Won’t take long.
“…then forced to watch Barney episodes for days on end..”
Amateurs everywhere…
First off, the subject is placed in a windowless room with a 24/7 diet (rotating) of Christina Aguilera or Captain & Tennille (”Muskrat Love” does it every time).
- Ghost - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 1:33 pm:
The young republicans have a point, why look at how the IL gop have aggressively addressed our budget problems by, um by, sitting in their seats?
They also have a point about doing what they were elected to do… they were obviously electedto make sure legslation bad for their consituents passes by assuring enough bodies are present to pass it… oh wait…maybe thepeople who voted forthem wnt them to use the process to stop the legislation…so they are doing what they were elected to do….
- CircularFiringSquad - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 1:33 pm:
Ain’t it great when it is Imbecile Hour at the WingNut Barn. The Lil GOPPERs don’t understand that Ds ARE doing their job. Opposing LuneyTunes Walker is easy. Just take the play book used against NoTaxBill and Daddy’s Lil Deduction.
BTW have we heard from those two losers on this profound GOP issue?
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 1:36 pm:
Nothing “strange” about partisan political activity. Living in Illinois should have taught us that by now.
- MikeMacD - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 1:43 pm:
I’ve been led to believe that kidnapping is a criminal act.
- Quacktastic - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 1:45 pm:
Where were these clowns in August, September, October, or November, when we were trying to win some statewide or legislative races?
- amalia - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 1:45 pm:
itty bitty IL GOPers with itty bitty brains. waste of time and money.
- Bobby Hill - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 1:46 pm:
==complete with mug shots==
Those aren’t mug shots. Doctoring those pictures into mug shots would have been funny.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 1:48 pm:
MikeMacD, maybe the CIA can do a “rendition.”
Can you imagine? Black helicopters descend predawn on a sleepy McHenry County town. The fugitives are immediately hooded and shackled and flown to Madison, where they are all promptly waterboarded and then forced to watch Barney episodes for days on end until they agree to vote “Yes” on Walker’s entire legislative agenda.
Perfection.
- Lefty - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 1:49 pm:
How about an entire legislative trade? Ours for theirs?
- Aldyth - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 1:50 pm:
“No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe… While the legislature is in session.”
That seems to be true in Illinois and all bordering states. I would hope that if our legislators fled Illinois to avoid legislating, that we would station State Police at our borders to prevent them from returning.
- Responsa - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 1:50 pm:
In Wisconsin there are are fake milk cartons with the “missing” senators being featured. That’s funnier. Unless, of course, you have no sense of humor and take umbrage because real missing children are on milk cartons.
C’mon. It’s politics, campers. Face it, both Dems and Repubs are using theatrics over Wisconsin to make points and raise money. Never let a crisis go to waste. (I think I’ve heard that somewhere before.)
- Bill Baar - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 1:51 pm:
I suppose the flip side is why isn’t Quinn hosting these working class heros, and poking Walker in the eye for those slams on Illinois and the tax hike?
- frustrated GOP - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:01 pm:
If it’s good enough for Lincoln it’s good enough for Wisc. Democratic Senators.
How about a boycott of Wisc products until the gov offers a real settlement. Cheese, brats, Miller, Old Style, toilet paper. All gone from Illinois shelves.
- Sue - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:02 pm:
Maybe the Governor will get lucky and the Wisconsin folks will stay long enough his new estate tax to apply- No one seems to be focusing on Illinois imposing a different exemption on its estate tax then what the Feds allow(first time ever that Illinois has a more punitive tax then what the feds require)- it is now much more expensive to die in illinois then in almost any other state in the USA
- Emanuel Collective - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:02 pm:
It is not the job of the Governor or the State Police to use our resources to enforce Wisconsin’s laws.
- George - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:05 pm:
I believe this is the first actual documented “fleeing” of a state that we have seen in recent history. Despite all the rhetoric we have seen over the years out of the state GOP/Doug Whitley faction of chicken littles, it seems we are the flee-ees, rather than the flee-ers.
Maybe we aren’t that scary after all.
- One of the 35 - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:05 pm:
Soon to be proposed Illinois legislation: Political Extradition Treaty with State of Wisconsin!
- George - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:05 pm:
And also… “State’s rights!!!!!!!”
- Truth Seeker - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:09 pm:
It’s simply poltical theater regarding what could become a political/electoral game-changer. If teachers are no longer compelled to join the union and contribute their mandatory dues it could change the balance of power between Democrats and Republicans. Let the kids have a little fun.
- EllenBethGill - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:14 pm:
It’s an old parliamentary tactic, used by Abe Lincoln himself once in 1840 to try to save the state bank (a good idea in hindsight). There’s nothing illegal or immoral about it, but it rarely works. Rather than chase them out of Illinois, and given what’s going on in the entire country, I think Illinois should use it as part of its tourism pitch, fill up those empty hotels and restaurants with disgruntled state reps and senators from every state attacking its people, and increase revenues to our state coffers so we can pay our folks here at home.
- Reality Check - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:23 pm:
The ‘fugitive’ tactic is uncomfortably close to Sarah Palin’s gunsight trained on Gabrielle Giffords’s district.
- 42nd Ward - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:26 pm:
YRs in Illinois have never been known for sound judgment. Now add ” sense of humor.” I would have preferred video of them portrayed as the Cheddar Chickens, stocking up on cheese and Packer paraphernalia while fleeing, but trying to fake us out by wearing Bear scarves while here. If you want a criminal element, call them the “Cheddar Chicken Gang”, put them in sunglasses, and ask the public to keep an eye out for this public menace, etc. Mocking them would have been much more effective. This is a bit creepy.
- foster brooks - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:29 pm:
The republicans are becoming a joke on this matter
- dupage dan - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:34 pm:
Reality Check,
You should take a look at some of the posters being waived by the protesters in Madison and the rhetoric being spouted. Lots of swastikas and bullseyes - comparisons to Hitler abound.
I think that restraint period was understandable but unrealistic. Politics is a battlefield, hence all the military metaphors that come to mind. Political violence is a terrible reality, typically perpetrated by the mentally unhinged and has little, if anything, to do with the images on those posters. It won’t be stopped if everyone is singing kumbaya.
- Secret Square - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:35 pm:
“forced to watch Barney episodes for days on end until they agree to vote ‘Yes’ on Walker’s entire legislative agenda”
Now that would be genuine torture and probably a violation of the (Lake) Geneva Conventions
Seriously, though… how is what the YRs are doing any more “creepy” than the Massachusetts Dem who said pro-union protesters should “get a little bloody”? I realize he probably didn’t intend to be taken literally either, but, it goes both ways.
- Alice - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:40 pm:
Well, one thing is certain, the stupidity of the GOP in IN and WI - funny as it is - is affecting GOP in IL. It is a dangerous disease that will, if unchecked, threaten the Republic.
And btw., since we have no use of our IL GOP, except for Topinka (the only GOPer who doesn’t play dead), can’t we make a video asking IN and WI to take them off our hands? At least they would be useful for the first time in their lives as they support with their expenses WI and IN in the government made financial crisis…
- What's in a name? - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:40 pm:
There’s nothing scarier than a Young Republican! All crew cuts and polo shirts. Lot’s of beige.
When you believe you are in possession of the absolute truth its a short walk to terrorism.
That said, I’d like to believe they are joking but not very good at it yet. Mike Tryon’s deal yesterday about taxing them was much more elegant.
- anon - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:41 pm:
I believe the Texas Dems ran to Oklahoma some years back in a similar fashion. That I think was over Tom DeLay’s redistricting plan.
- Sue - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:48 pm:
The reality is that as President Obama once said “elections have consequences and I won” when talking about his legslative agenda- The Dems have a chance in two years to convince the Wisconsin electorate to throw the R’s out- until then- they have an obligation to return to the state and allow the legislature to act on the pending legislation- anyone who argues otherwise doesn’t believe in our system of government
- D.P. Gumby - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:53 pm:
There’s probably some weak-minded gun-toting t-bagger who would take this seriously!
These guys ARE doing their jobs…they are representing the people who voted for them to stop the crazy irrational destruction that the inmates are imposing on the asylum.
- Ring - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:53 pm:
Wisconsin legislators need to go home and take the vote. When Illinois Republicans were faced with a 67% state income tax hike vote, they didn’t flee to Iowa. They debated and casted their vote. We believe in a democracy, majority rules, Wisconsin legislators need to accept their position, go back home and cast their votes.
- sal-says - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:54 pm:
One might think that “Illinois young republicans” might have some better ways to spend their time HELPING ILLINOIS?
- anon - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:54 pm:
I’m sorry but what a joke. Once
again the young repubs waste their time on useless sound bytes to get attention instead of proactively working to advance their party’s agenda. You never hear from these folks unless theyre on the front page of the red eye
or trying to make headlines about something with zero relevance to Illinois and it’s issues.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:55 pm:
The Young Republicans do a funny parody of an “America’s Most Wanted”. And last I heard, in politics it is perfectly acceptable to make fun of those legislators who elected to bravely run away and hide with State Troopers hot on their trail.
It is also perfectly acceptable in politics to ridicule Democrat legislators who cast votes in the middle of the night during a lame duck session.
Now Democrats point to Lincoln once jumping out a window and Republicans point to FDR’s anti-public union stances.
Funny? Ironic?
As Sarah Palin would say, “You Betcha!”
(couldn’t resist fanning a few flames!)
- the Other Anonymous - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:55 pm:
The’s a line in the video that says the legislators should return to Wisconsin “to face the voters.” Strange thing is that the video portion shows the crowds of protesters at the Wisconsin Capitol, presumably the same people who are supporting the Senators who left and would want them to stay.
Just saying, cognitive dissonance.
- Linus - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 2:56 pm:
I would think the Young GOPers would defend rather than oppose “states’ rights,” in which not only the feds but each state should butt-out of others’ legislative matters. Oh, well.
- Thomas Westgard 12836 /2011/01/13/cullerton-to-walker-bring-it-on/ - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:09 pm:
To answer your question, Rich, I found both videos equally hilarious. My sentiments are with the fugitive Democrats, but poking fun at them is great, as far as I’m concerned. I think the GOP will only suffer by inflating them into escaped criminals, which is a joke - which is why it’s funny.
- quicknote - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:10 pm:
Any ad that features Surrender is automatically a hit, IMHO.
- 42nd Ward - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:11 pm:
Linus, we’ll butt out when they get their butts out of Illinois.
The Rockford piece was pretty clever.
- OneMan - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:14 pm:
Anytime you get Rick Nielsen it is guaranteed brilliant. But that is really funny..
- dupage dan - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:16 pm:
I am uncomfortable with the description of those photographs as mugshots. They look like photos from the legislators own websites.
The WI dem senators gotta get some rocks and go back and face the vote. Obama agrees that you don’t get to do as much when you lose an election. That’s what elections are for. Even if you lose you can come back at the next cycle. The WI senators lost control of the senate. GET OVER IT!
- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:18 pm:
===I am uncomfortable with the description of those photographs as mugshots.===
Yeah, well, I’m kinda uncomfortable about their demand that the governor kidnap people and send them across state lines.
Just sayin…
- jerry 101 - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:19 pm:
wow, in times of nearly catastrophic budget problems, the Illinois Republicans want to expend valuable state resources to track down some tourists from Wisconsin and send them back to Wisconsin?
Tourists who, by the way, are spending money in Illinois (and bringing in sales tax revenues, hotel tax revenues, etc).
If anything, we should put the word out that there are plenty of hotel rooms near O’Hare and Midway if any legislators want to flee other states and hole up.
Roll out the welcome mat!!!
- Linus - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:22 pm:
42: I hope the visitors don’t butt-out of here until they’ve dropped a little more of their money on local hotels and restaurants and Illinois sales tax!
- Bluejay - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:22 pm:
Yeah, well I’m kinda uncomfortable with the concept that some elected representatives of the people of Wisconsin think that hiding out in another state is a legitimate tactic to stall legislative action they disagree with. Its unethical and un-American.
- dumb ol' country boy - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:23 pm:
ha ha ha way to go Young Republicans…you are out there and you do exist….Fuuny very funny…But on a serious note the voters of Wisconsin and Indiana should be outraged that they are fleeing like little kids who are afraid they are not going to get their way. For the love of god…You are adults act like it!
- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:24 pm:
I think kidnapping trumps foiling a quorum call, Bluejay.
lol
- just sayin' - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:24 pm:
I’m so sick of these Republicans and the silly games and gimmicks. No substance whatsoever. And then they’ve got the nerve to ask for money to fund more games and gimmicks.
All the while they hope everyone ignores the fact the GOP in Illinois has nothing resembling a serious plan. They’re sitting around hoping the state tanks so they can get some political benefit, even though that same “plan” failed miserably once again in November.
2012 is going to be a bloodbath for the IL GOP with redistricting and Obama on the ballot. And the response is to mock what’s happening in other states. Unbelievable.
- lawyerlady - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:27 pm:
IL YRs (not all, but at least some of the statewide and Chicago leadership) seem to exist only for scandal and drama. I say this as a young(ish) person and a GOPer. They ought to be out there growing the party, raising money and helping local candidates. Not doing this crap.
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:30 pm:
–You should take a look at some of the posters being waived by the protesters in Madison and the rhetoric being spouted. Lots of swastikas and bullseyes - comparisons to Hitler abound.=-
DD, BS.
There have been some signs, (maybe some of those agent provactuers Gov.Walker talked about with “David Koch”), but in more than a week of massive protests, there have been no arrests, no violence and no one has gone to jail.
No GOP lawmaker has been molested, yet the Fitzgerald boys (Senate president, Assembly speaker) are quoted that they’ve been “ordering” Wisconsin troopers to track down Senate Dems.
How does a legislator order the state police to knock on elected officials doors in the wee hours? When the head of troopers is your daddy, I guess.
Gee, I can’t imagine where some of that police state imagery is coming from.
- dupage dan - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:30 pm:
Rich,
Listened to their ad and didn’t hear the word kidnap. Must be goin’ deaf.
- just sayin' - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:30 pm:
Also, did Lincoln become a “fugitive” when he jumped out of that window to prevent a quorum?
- siuprof - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:30 pm:
Can we deport Young Republicans?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:31 pm:
===Listened to their ad and didn’t hear the word kidnap.===
“Tell [Quinn] to return the fugitives to Wisconsin, where they belong.”
How else is he supposed to do it?
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:43 pm:
This tactic is probably as effective for Young GOPers in party building as posting stock photos of topless chicks was for the Chicago GOP.
How about buying a pair of shoes and knocking on some doors?
- great to be here - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:53 pm:
Both videos don’t bother me. what bothers me is these people skiped out on doing their elected job. I mean it isn’t like Illinois Republicans ran out of state to avoid the vote on the tax increase.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:54 pm:
===I mean it isn’t like Illinois Republicans ran out of state to avoid the vote on the tax increase. ===
That’s all they could’ve done. Avoid the vote. The Constitution requires only a simple majority for a quorum here.
- Elliott Ness - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:55 pm:
These Young Republicans must think they are still trying totake over student government at their colleges. Too bad they haven’t taken a course explaining the U. S. Constitution.
- wndycty - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:59 pm:
I am not thrilled with the idea of folks calling the Governors office and tying up his phones as part of this stunt. Seriously, I think his office has better things to do than deal with this mess.
- Deep South - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 3:59 pm:
Love the Rockford vid…but I prefer to hide out in Southern Illinois.
- dupage dan - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 4:00 pm:
It is hard for me to think that you, Rich, may believe that the ad is a serious attempt to encourage anybody to kidnap anybody. Too much caffeine today?
Looked at the photos again. I wonder how photos could be posted without being thought of as mugshots. Maybe they should have used candid shots of the senators at the beach last summer. That, however, would have been labled as icky since it would be obvious that the senators were being stalked.
Over the top stuff, here. The senators have shirked their sworn duty. What they are doing is cowardice, pure and simple. Chicken-livered poltroons is what they are. Yellow-bellied wimps. If it were legal in Illinois and the GOP senators ran away from the tax increase vote the dems on this site would be howling. As they should, BTW.
I believe that gov Walker is looking towards changing the pay structure for elected officials. Unapproved absences of more than 3 days would result in the elected official having to pick the check up personally. I don’t think they will be handing them out at the Clock Tower Hotel, tho.
- Bluejay - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 4:00 pm:
I don’t endorse kidnapping or any action by Illinois to force them back to Wisconsin, and I think the Republican ad is stupid. Ideally, the Wisconsites’ guilty consciences should be sufficient motivation to force them back to their own state.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 4:06 pm:
===Too much caffeine today?===
OK, then please inform me what “Tell [Quinn] to return the fugitives to Wisconsin, where they belong” means. He’s supposed to do that how?
- washedmyhands - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 4:16 pm:
Rockford - one sweet ad! YRs…uh….better luck next time….
- 42nd Ward - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 4:17 pm:
C’mon Rich, easy! Who needs these videos? Just tell them there is a great Friday Night Fish Fry and beer-fest in Beloit tonight. They won’t be able to resist.
- Robert - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 4:18 pm:
so the young republicans want to spend our tax dollars on using our state police to apprehend tourists and drive them across the border - maybe they should call for Quinn to build a wall along our northern and eastern border instead?
- Cheswick - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 4:19 pm:
I’m having visions of Pat Quinn riding into Rockford on his trusty steed, wearing chaps and a 10 gallon hat, looking for Wisconsinites to lasso.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 4:20 pm:
===maybe they should call for Quinn to build a wall along our northern and eastern border instead? ===
Now, that’s something I could support!
lol
- Jaded - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 4:21 pm:
That was a pretty good ad by the Rockford Chamber. Almost made me want to go to Rockford…almost.
- Bluejay - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 4:22 pm:
Rather that Quinn “returning the fugitives to Wisconsin”, Quinn could meaningfully contribute to this situation by saying that, although he is sympathetic to the positions of the legislators on the bill Wisconsin is considering, he does not support shutdown of debate by their physical relocation out of state, and he would advise any Illinois legislator against trying something similar.
- Robert - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 4:30 pm:
hey - someone just passed by my window with a Union-Yes t-shirt and a Packers hat - does that give me probable cause to detain and deport?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 4:31 pm:
Yes! There could be a bounty.
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 4:38 pm:
–The senators have shirked their sworn duty. What they are doing is cowardice, pure and simple. Chicken-livered poltroons is what they are. Yellow-bellied wimps.–
DD, how’s your caffeine intake these days, since you’re concerned about Rich’s?
The Wisconsin Senate Democrats are standing by their principles, working within the rules, and living on the run. God bless them. They’re welcome in my home right now.
The Wisconsin Assembly Democrats stood by their principles and refused to shut up for more than 60 hours in continuous session until the youngest Fitzgerald boy (the Speaker) pulled a fast one at 1 a.m. today. His brother, the Senate president, and his daddy, the head of the Wisconsin Patrol, then sent the troopers to round up the Senate Dems.
In the United States in 2011.
DD, you have the nerve to call these folks cowards and worse, while you sit in your union-protected state job, blah, blah, blahing on the taxpayer dime? Pretty sweet to get the gravy while having no guts.
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 4:55 pm:
–I mean it isn’t like Illinois Republicans ran out of state to avoid the vote on the tax increase.–
Duh, read the rules on quorums.
Seriously, did you think Illinois Republicans wanted to skip a vote against tax increases — that they knew would pass without them?
Since you’re so mesmerized by the Illinois GOP legislators’ work ethic, take some time this weekend to read their alternative budget proposal. Won’t take long.
- Judgment Day - Friday, Feb 25, 11 @ 5:07 pm:
“…then forced to watch Barney episodes for days on end..”
Amateurs everywhere…
First off, the subject is placed in a windowless room with a 24/7 diet (rotating) of Christina Aguilera or Captain & Tennille (”Muskrat Love” does it every time).
They’ll be begging to go back home…..