February 20, 2011

"I would've come yesterday but I had to work."

A sign at the Tea Party side of yesterday's demonstrations:

P1060898

Other signs on display in this picture: "Scott Walker for President! Balance the Federal Deficit too! Stick with Walker and we're behind you!" and "PASS THE BILL" and "What DO you do when you're out of other people's..." (presumably: "money").

I can't guarantee that everyone in this picture is on the pro-Scott Walker side. I mean, I've been walking around everywhere, lending my body to the mass of humanity that reads as support from whatever the surrounding signs say. You tell me: Do you think the shaved-headed young man in the sunglasses and North Face jacket is a Tea Partier? If not, why not?

50 comments:

Joy McCann said...

Why not, indeed?

Triangle Man said...

He's a moderate who came to see what's up and to hear what people had to say.

PaulV said...

Looks like he has a job, so yes.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Walker should name his legislation "The Affordable Government Employee Reform Act". The media loves bills thatinclude the words "reform" and "affordable".

RuyDiaz said...

He's snappily dressed, that's all I see. Having asked to guess, I'd guess he's a Tea Party supporter or sympathizer who loves to look cool.

MaggotAtBroad&Wall said...

Of course they're all Tea Partyers. They're all white. And we've been told by our betters like Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann that the Tea Partyers are a "mono-chromatic" group of white folks, exclusively.

Oh wait. The pro-union protestors are an all white, mono-chromatic group, too.

Now I'm really confused.

Anonymous said...

Let's see, here's another:

* white
* racist
* skinhead
* anarchist
* payroll fraudster

Nope, not a Tea Partier. Must be a union thug.

Unknown said...

This is the go to blog for the Wisconsin union protests.

Thanks for your hard work, Ann.

roesch-voltaire said...

Another union slug heard from: STATEMENT FROM GREEN BAY PACKER CHARLES WOODSON IN SUPPORT OF WORKING FAMILIES IN WISCONSIN
Last week I was proud when many of my current and former teammates announced their support for the working families fighting for their rights in Wisconsin. Today I am honored to join with them. Thousands of dedicated Wisconsin public workers provide vital services for Wisconsin citizens. They are the teachers, nurses and child care workers who take care of us and our families. These hard working people are under an unprecedented attack to take away their basic rights to have a voice and collectively bargain at work

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

If he is wearing the sunglasses to hide the fact that his eyes are glazed and he's high, then he's a teacher.

:p

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

Woodson - I'm glad you finally got your ring, but you're a damned tool.

Unknown said...

Nice riposte.

roesch-voltaire said...

Another union slug heard from: STATEMENT FROM GREEN BAY PACKER CHARLES WOODSON IN SUPPORT OF WORKING FAMILIES IN WISCONSIN
Last week I was proud when many of my current and former teammates announced their support for the working families fighting for their rights in Wisconsin. Today I am honored to join with them. Thousands of dedicated Wisconsin public workers provide vital services for Wisconsin citizens. They are the teachers, nurses and child care workers who take care of us and our families. These hard working people are under an unprecedented attack to take away their basic rights to have a voice and collectively bargain at work


No, another overpaid and overprivileged union slug.

jr565 said...

I direct anyone watching this debate check out the movie Matewan which talks about the beginning of a union in a mining town. And there the head bosses hire pinkerton toughs to intimidate and murder anyone who decides to unionize.
But does anyone compare employment back then to now? Bosses to slit the throats of workers who unionize. If you don't like a company you move somewhere else.
It just shows how the union might have served a purpose back in the day, but the world has moved on. The unions now are simply baggage keeping a company from becoming more productive. I can also see why union members who got really exhorbitant packages that they would never get in the real world don't want to give them up. But they are simply putting themselves above other workers not so blessed. I don't belong to a union, I have to pay for my benefits at a rate far higher than they do. I have no sympathy for them and their travails.

I'm Full of Soup said...

He looks too disinterested to be one of the anti-Democracy protestors IMO [do you like how I have twisted the pro-union faction into a negative ?].

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

@jr565 - also, to be fair, I don't see any of the union supporters blowing stuff up or killing anyone who opposes organizing either.

Both sides were pretty damned violent and murderous back then, just to be fair :)

KCFleming said...

I cannot wait for the coming week, to see what parliamentary methods can be used to replace at least one Democratic party senator who has, literally, left office.

ChicagoBoyz had a post on how to do it. Should be interesting.

Alec Plumb said...

I don't know why you think he's young or that a shaved head means he's not a tea partier. He's clearly a man in his 30s making the best of his balding situation. If I were a few (tens of) pounds lighter, that could be me.

Anonymous said...

The bald guy looks like my younger brother, who hung a Gadsden flag in front of his house before the Tea Party came into existence.

Drew said...

You tell me: Do you think the shaved-headed young man in the sunglasses and North Face jacket is a Tea Partier? If not, why not?

Sure. Why not? You've been to Tea Party rallies, right? They look like everyone.

Drew said...

STATEMENT FROM GREEN BAY PACKER CHARLES WOODSON IN SUPPORT OF WORKING FAMILIES IN WISCONSIN

Which working families? The private-sector ones who have been suffering with low wages and no benefits for years, or the public-sector ones who are suddenly feeling what the rest of us know all too well.

I'm getting really pissed off that "working families" has such a narrow definition.

Jason (the commenter) said...

Althouse: Do you think the shaved-headed young man in the sunglasses and North Face jacket is a Tea Partier? If not, why not?

Don't make me put my sunglasses and North Face jacket on!

Jason said...

I think good old #21 should worry about the labor problems in his own workplace. Last I checked, he might not be playing football this year.

Anonymous said...

"STATEMENT FROM GREEN BAY PACKER CHARLES WOODSON"

Gee, it's nice to know which side the millionaires are on.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Unions under attack? I think the tax payers are under attack, and they are finally starting to fight back.
We are forced to worship at the feet of educators with whom we disagree. We are forced to pay them whatever they want because the union/democrat machine is not transparent and is not accountable to anyone.
This isn't about respect for teachers and other public sector workers; this is about fairness and accountability. This is about restoring balance and establishing transparency and fiscal discipline. Also, why does everyone assume all government employees want to be part of the union? I think they should have a choice to opt out of union dues. Also, the rest of us have no choice but to take a cut
when times get tough, so too should everyone. Obama himself has called for shared sacrifice.

RuyDiaz said...

And now, for a moment of levity, Lisa Simpson's Union Power song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrJWpkrEpN8&feature=related

...especially the stance about folding like umbrellas.

Anonymous said...

Now we're assuming young, well-dressed men are pro-union Socialists? Or was that question meant to bait the obviously bigoted Tea Partiers who might be lurking on your blog? Heh!

He looks like many men we've seen at Tea Parties and 8/28. Often they are in the military, or are veterans, but not always. MSM prefers to focus upon the Boomers and elderly people who attend because, I guess, they're easier to dismiss. But plenty of younger people gather, too, because they are also concerned about the direction of our nation. After all, they won't always have their parents' support. Eventually, they inherit the entire mess.

William said...

A lot of the pro union people look fuzzy and plush, like stuffed toys. The tea partiers look like they have sharper edges. He looks more like a tea partier to me, but it is extremely difficult to develop a workable stereotype out of people on different sides of such a blah issue....I bet a lot of the tea partiers are into ice fishing. They all look like ice fishermen.

Freeman Hunt said...

Do you think the shaved-headed young man in the sunglasses and North Face jacket is a Tea Partier?

Yes. Further, were he from here I'd put the odds at 80% that he goes to a non-denominational, evangelical church. That jacket is the uniform for such men in these parts. That hairstyle is the standard hairstyle here for the young and balding.

Lincolntf said...

Wow, an ex-Raider throwing his intellectual weight around. I'm almost as impressed as when Brad Pitt shared his views on Global Warming.
You Libs and your celebrities. It's funny.

roesch-voltaire said...

Jr565, I have sympathy for your plight, but why try to reduce wages and benefits of nurses, teachers, police etc, when you should be pushing to improve yours? The unions have said that they will make concessions and pay more, but Walker does not want to talk. Frankly I do not understand why conservatives what to drag wages earners to the bottom.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

"I would've come yesterday, but I had to work."

Obviously, that evil teabagger is a private sector nazi.
He is not part of the holy Roger Ebert government union alliance of holy and proud government union workers. He is not a real working man.

My dad was right. "The Republican Party is against the working man."
--Roger Ebert; glittering jewel of colossal ignorance.

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

Frankly I do not understand why conservatives what to drag wages earners to the bottom.

Actually, I do not understand why unions want to drag taxpaying wage earners to the bottom.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

have sympathy for your plight, but why try to reduce wages and benefits of nurses, teachers, police etc, when you should be pushing to improve yours?

Just where do you think that the money to pay the wages and benefits for public employees comes from RV? A magic money tree in the back yard? The money fairy?


No. It comes from private industry, taxpayers through government fees and taxes that are assessed in ever higher levels.

Where does the money from private industry come from? Do you think that there is an ever increasing amount of profits that can be squeezed out of the private sector. Into Infinity and Beyond!!!!

Liberals are such blind idiot fucking tools. The answer is just go get some more money????

There. Is. No. More. Money.

We. Are. Broke.

Anonymous said...

These hard working people are under an unprecedented attack to take away their basic rights to have a voice and collectively bargain at work

Yawn.

There is no "right" to be in a public sector union.

But of course when you can't speak to the facts, hyperbole will due.

Anonymous said...

The unions have said that they will make concessions and pay more

A "concession" to them is paying 1% more in health care benefits.

Try another pathetic approach please.

Hagar said...

Will Rogers said - and this had to be before 1937 - that he had attended one of them labor-management negotiations, and as far as he could see, the only differences between them were that the union representatives tended to smoke more expensive cigars and be a little better dressed than the management types.

Anonymous said...

but why try to reduce wages and benefits of nurses, teachers, police etc,

Because the state is out of money maybe?

Why should any nurse be in a public sector union?

And if any of these folks don't like the new normal, perhaps they should find a new job.

Anonymous said...

Jr565, I have sympathy for your plight, but why try to reduce wages and benefits of nurses, teachers, police etc, when you should be pushing to improve yours?

If you don't have bread to eat, why don't you eat cake?

Sofa King said...

Is this a new thing, or have leftists always looked to professional athletes as fonts of ideological wisdom?

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

Is this a new thing, or have leftists always looked to professional athletes as fonts of ideological wisdom?

Only if they say the correct things, IE they agree with the leftists.

Alex said...

Jr565, I have sympathy for your plight, but why try to reduce wages and benefits of nurses, teachers, police etc, when you should be pushing to improve yours?

Yeah let me know when there's a software engineering union where I can push to get my 6-figures and pension.

cubanbob said...

"roesch-voltaire said...
Jr565, I have sympathy for your plight, but why try to reduce wages and benefits of nurses, teachers, police etc, when you should be pushing to improve yours? The unions have said that they will make concessions and pay more, but Walker does not want to talk. Frankly I do not understand why conservatives what to drag wages earners to the bottom.

2/20/11 12:14 PM'

You can't be serious. Or you must be delusional.
You really think that people that pay an average of 20% of their gross for their benefits, pay 15.9% of their wages in social security and medicare/medicaid taxes, get two weeks vacation and have to work 40 or more years are going to be thrilled to pay more in local taxes so people who get 4 months a year off paid, plus benefits equal to salary and get to take a full and higher retirement than they do after only 30 years of service?

They can cut the teachers salaries in half along with their benefits and for probably 80% of the teachers that still would be a better gig than they are capable of earning in the private sector. Right now Governor Walker and the WI state legislature (republicans) have done more to tackle the looming government debt crises than Obama and the congressional democrats.
Walker has already demonstrated better leadership skills and qualification to be president than Obama has to date. This looks like the beginning of another 1968 for the democratic party and Obama is starting to look like a very weak and incompetent version of Mayor Daley.

Marilee said...

The northface guy...defintely a tea party sympathizer. He looks just like my son, a well dressed, hip, good conservative. He works for a living. Long hours, little pay, big taxes. Yup, tea partier.

Toad Trend said...

I'd say he's a Tea Party supporter.

He looks like a regular guy, and unless you haven't been paying attention North Face Denali jackets have been/are en vogue.

Not sure if I buy Freeman's assessment that these jackets are standard issue for evangelicals, but I will say I too have one and also complement the look with shades when appropriate.

I don't think a Tea Party member has a certain 'look', other that being absent from protesting between about 9am and 5pm Mon-Fri.

MadisonMan said...

I think it's rude to judge someone on their clothing.

JAL said...

A friend of mine in small group at church this morning said her WI resident sister went to the anti-rally yesterday and left after an hour, she was so discouraged by the union people who --exa-- words , were from all over including Minnesota and Illinois.

Who was it ... FLS? who was appallingly naive and self-righteous about -- sniff -- the possibility of bringing in people (tea party and other pro walker positioned people) to Milwaukee to protest.

Hang in there Walker.

Bruce Hayden said...

I don't know why you think he's young or that a shaved head means he's not a tea partier. He's clearly a man in his 30s making the best of his balding situation.

Yeh, 20-30 years ago, you could expect that anyone shaving their head was a skin head or military. These days? Most likely someone going bald - which is obvious in this case looking at his hairline.

It is actually quite a statement - going overboard the other way from the comb-over answer to baldness. I can't decide though who shows more insecurity over his hair - the comb-over guy, or the intentionally bald guy.

I say this as someone who still has all his hair - though I probably went gray a bit early. So, that was one decision I never had to make.

john marzan said...

he looks like a jared loughner type with that bald head. definitely not a tea partier.

Mickey said...

Wow, I'm impressed. It took a whole six posts for someone to say, "skinhead."

Sometimes a bald libertarian is just a bald libertarian.

-- a bald libertarian

Unknown said...

It is obvious to me that he just came back from a week in the Carribean. On the last full day there, he fell asleep on the beach, and ended up with a dreadful sunburn on the left side of his face. The camera captures him as he realizes this is an opportunity to catch some rays on the right side to balance his sun kissed look.