Cheeseheads Behaving Badly, Day 28 (at least)

Yeah, I know, this is a Minnesota-based blog, but as a guy who grew up in Wisconsin what's been happening there is too interesting to ignore. We have two things to think about this morning.

First, Ann Althouse provides a lovely scene back at the Capitol, in which schoolteachers encourage their charges to provide rote chanting of WEAC talking points. Nice stuff. At some point you'd want to consider whether or not to go the next step and get the kids some matching blue neckerchiefs, as one of Althouse's commenters mordantly suggests.

Using kids as political props is always morally questionable behavior, but for teachers to do so is beyond the pale, especially since these kids are the ones who will be on the hook to pay for the pensions of the teachers. I suspect that at least some kids will remember this field trip years later as they write the checks.

Next, we have the continuing saga of the Clock Tower 14, a/k/a the "Fleebaggers." They returned to the ardor of their adoring masses of the Chanting Class at the Capitol over the weekend, but now they aren't getting much love from Senate Leader Scott Fitzgerald:

In a sign that Republicans are still smarting from the exodus of Democrats during deliberations on the budget, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) told his caucus on Monday that Democrats remain in contempt of the Senate.

That means, he said, that Democrats can't vote on bills or amendments.

Fitzgerald wrote: "When taking roll call votes on amendments and bills during executive sessions, Senate Democrats’ votes will not be reflected in the Records of Committee Proceedings or the Senate Journal. They are free to attend hearings, listen to testimony, debate legislation, introduce amendments, and cast votes to signal their support/opposition, but those votes will not count, and will not be recorded."

Not surprisingly, the Conquering Retreaters aren't pleased about this:

Sen. Robert Jauch (D-Polar) said the letter appeared to be a "mean-spirited response from a man who lost the battle of public opinion."

Jauch said the issue of the senators' presence is moot: The budget bill was passed last week and signed by the governor.

"I am not sure what purpose this serves," Jauch said.

I can think of two -- first, there's no reason why the Fleeing 14 should get by with what they did. They aren't conquering heroes at all -- they are shameful individuals. I saw another quote elsewhere in which one of the 14 complained about how his constituents aren't being represented because of Fitzgerald's decision. Hell, you'd think those constituents would be used to it by now.

Second, it beggars belief that the Democrats can complain about mean-spiritedness, considering the behavior of their allies over the last three weeks, including multiple death threats. Do you feel any sympathy? I might, but it's hard to express it over the top of the chanting.