One Liberal Criticizes Boorish Behavior

At least there is one… good for CAFFEINATED POLITICS.

While the bill was contentious, and one that I would argue does not have solid environmental protections, the outbursts and foul language used by protesters in the gallery to make their point was totally out-of-bounds.  The wholy inappropriate cursing at Republicans, draping of a banner, and the pounding on assembly doors made the whole lot of them more buffoons than serious-minded citizens.

Something very unhealthy to democracy has been unleashed at the Capitol over the past year, and unless it is reined in it only has the potential to become more unwieldy and perhaps even dangerous.  What we are witnessing has nothing to do with free speech, but instead is just boorish behavior that makes everyone looks bad.

It is not just the protestors who are to blame, but also legislators who really must conduct themselves in a fashion that underscores the responsibilities they shoulder.

While I am very opposed to Governor Scott Walker and his position on collective bargaining I am also very troubled with the antics of Representative Mark Pocan.  The Madison Democrat put a large anti-Walker banner in his office window at the Statehouse to make a political statement.  There is no way that is acceptable, unless some very tight rules were modified since I worked in the assembly.  I strongly suspect they were not, and this is but one more example of bad form in highly-charged times.

There is a time for frothy debate and hard-nosed political campaigning.  But far more often under the dome there should be level-headed civility and unity when serving in what is be a most impressive building, and (in theory)legislative body.

1. And had Capitol Police, Dane County DA, or any other number of law enforcement agencies actually taken this stuff seriously and undertaken serious steps to curtail this kind of crap when it started, instead of letting the thugs get away with trashing the capitol, dumping beers on legislators, make death threats with impugnity, intimidate anyone they chose, etc we wouldn’t be sitting here wondering when this is going to evolve into something more dangerous for lawmakers and average citizens.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 27, 2012 at 0907 hrs
   
   
   

2. It wasnt “very anti walker” it was a statement of fact.  I dont get why you guys are so anti 1st amendment.

   Posted by Jeff Simpson on January 27, 2012 at 1022 hrs
   
   
   

3. Jeff Simpson’s kind of 1st amendment is why we have the 2nd amendment.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 27, 2012 at 1939 hrs
   
   
   

4.   The dems are slowly figuring out that this is not civil discourse or compromise and are turning on themselves.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 27, 2012 at 2057 hrs
   
   
   

5. I see you have less of an understanding the 2nd amendment than you do the first

   Posted by Jeff Simpson on January 28, 2012 at 0957 hrs
   
   
   

6. By the way still waiting for anyone on the right wing to denounce the “boorish behavior’ on the right.  Did I miss the tommy thompson should apologize post?

   Posted by Jeff Simpson on January 28, 2012 at 1002 hrs
   
   
   

7. Glad to see there’s at least one adult on the left side.  Hopefully this becomes a trend.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 28, 2012 at 1032 hrs
   
   
   

8. Now let’s see a conservative question the spoon-fed Walker camp response to the John Doe investigation. Oh! I’m sorry, see Widgerson Library and Pub. It’s not going to happen on this blog.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 31, 2012 at 0844 hrs