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Gov. Walker’s Latest Genius Idea

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Posted on Dec 2, 2011
AP / Morry Gash

As if the idea of designated “free speech zones” isn’t a skin-crawlingly bad enough test of the bounds of free speech, here comes Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to up the creepy ante: Why not charge protesters to exercise their First Amendment rights on state property? That’s just what Walker has proposed under a new policy that’s already in effect in his home state.  —KA

Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel:

The policy, which also requires permits for events at the statehouse and other state buildings, took effect Thursday and will be phased in by Dec. 16. Walker administration officials contend the policy simply clarifies existing rules.

State law already says public officials may issue permits for the use of state facilities, and applicants “shall be liable to the state … for any expense arising out of any such use and for such sum as the managing authority may charge for such use.”

But Edward Fallone, an associate professor at Marquette University Law School, said the possibility of charging demonstrators for police costs might be problematic because some groups might not be able to afford to pay.

“I’m a little skeptical about charging people to express their First Amendment opinion,” he said. “You can’t really put a price tag on the First Amendment.”

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Leefeller's avatar

By Leefeller, December 4, 2011 at 2:37 pm Link to this comment

For Republicans, lying is part of their daily constitutional, in fact this is only Constitution Republicans will support!

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By Druthers, December 4, 2011 at 9:41 am Link to this comment

“You can’t really put a price tag on the First Amendment.”

There is nothing these people cannot put a price tag on once they get their grimy hands on a parcel of power - another commodity to use and abuse.

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By Fearless, December 4, 2011 at 12:28 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

What a big government piece of shit. Just like most republican/conservative/country-club white middle-aged opportunist hypocritical pieces of shit. I love how they decry “big government” when it’s convenient and then pull shit like this. Anything that keeps them propped up and in power. The hard truth is, if they were in positions equal to the rest of us, they wouldn’t be able to stand on two feet. How do such weak fucking pathetic people find their way to power? I suppose the question answers itself.

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By Paul, December 3, 2011 at 10:37 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Will he try to bring back the poll tax next?

Even in redneck northern Wisconsin, I saw more “Recall Walker” signs than “Keep Walker” signs.

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Outraged's avatar

By Outraged, December 3, 2011 at 5:56 pm Link to this comment

More nonsense from the Repugs:

“Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus made a curious claim on MSNBC today, alleging that Wisconsin is a state “that was absolutely riddled with voter fraud.”

The problem? A recent study by the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice found just seven cases of voter fraud out of three million votes cast in Wisconsin during the 2004 election, a fraud rate of 0.0002 percent. All seven of these cases involved persons with felony convictions who weren’t eligible to vote after being released from prison.”
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/12/02/381172/reince-priebus-voter-fraud/

Trust me their nothing worse than living under the dictatorial “leadership” of these Republican Gang Bangers.

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By purplewolf, December 3, 2011 at 4:13 pm Link to this comment

I am thankful I do not live in Walker’s state. He is the lowest form of pondscum. If he thinks that the police need to monitor these events and as the protesters are not likely to think they need a babysitter, perhaps the idiot-Walker- should be the one and only one to pay for the police service he thinks he needs out of his own money. Ever since he was put into office he has been an underhanded snake, like others in his party. Walker is nothing but an arrogant pompous ass. I will celebrate his recall even though I live in Michigan.

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By RufferinAK, December 3, 2011 at 1:42 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Wow… next they’ll want to charge for the costs of answering a 911 call.  “Maam…
before I can take your statement, I’ll need a major credit card to charge my time to. 
You do realize that I had to run the siren on the way here and there will be a 10%
surcharge.”  WI… you have a seriously defective governor… I hope you do recall him.

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By upgradeyourlife, December 3, 2011 at 11:00 am Link to this comment

What we’re seeing by the day is fascism taking its place, we’ve had it for
awhile, but only now is it really asserting itself, with OWS and tools like
walker. The neocons destroyed the country, now what do you know, they’re
ilk come around intent on “fixing” it. People have to be on their guard,
these nutters have been taking apart the house slowly and surely brick by
brick.

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By Jim Yell, December 3, 2011 at 9:40 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

This along with so many things that the Right Wing has come up with are so WRONG. It is clearly an attack on the Bill of Rights and if implimented it will naturally follow that the poor will have no voice, will have no legal avenue to protest.

The rich had tried to play this trick on the people during our formative years, but they were headed off by the Progressive Founding Fathers and by the American People who took seriously the idea of the end of the age of Kings.

Sadly the mistake the Wisconsin Voters made in voting for Scott Walker in order not to vote Democratic turned out to be worse. Hopefully they will repudadate this monster in the State House.

I fear that we may have the same reaction in the country as a whole, if the electorate should decide to vote Republican rather than Democratic, but what if a large percentage of the voters would vote for a Progressive or Liberal candidate, one outside the clearly corrupt and repulsive and incesteous two parties. A big enough vote out side the traditional party lines might be enough to break the corrupt practices or at lest bring them back to some thing of balance? Right now we are headed for Facist Government regardless of Republican or Democrat. Any difference is that with Republicanism as it now is we would be on the fast track to total collapse of the Democratic rules and the safe guards of the Bill of Rights, which are being broken daily by the military, the congress and President and worse yet the Republican stacked Supreme Court which is now a subsiderary of Corporate America.

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By Jerry, December 3, 2011 at 5:29 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I left Wisconsin 30 years ago and when I read how the
people voted there in tha last few elections, I think most of the
intelligent people left too.

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Leefeller's avatar

By Leefeller, December 2, 2011 at 10:54 pm Link to this comment

“Maybe he thought the recall petitions weren’t being signed quickly enough.”  Good one! 

Walker is attempting to out Newt Gangrape Newt Gangrape!

What Walker does not realize the Occupy protests are not exactly the Wisconsin protests, so expecting to help the state budget by charging people for the experience of being pepper sprayed may be a bit delusional?

Divisiveness is an important tool used by Repulsions!

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prisnersdilema's avatar

By prisnersdilema, December 2, 2011 at 10:02 pm Link to this comment

Is he cross eyed? In this picture he looks like governor William J. Le Petomane….

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By Dr Bones, December 2, 2011 at 4:55 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

The conservatives sure don’t have a problem with big government when they are in charge. They don’t stand for anything just a bunch of criminals that steal from the people.

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By gerard, December 2, 2011 at 3:44 pm Link to this comment

First establish the State’s “Right to Exact Costs” from protesters, charging very minimal fees.
    Next, raise the fees on a pre-scheduled percentage basis, (using rising costs as reason, a la “private enterprise security etc.”)  first by 5%, then 6^, then 7%  etc. depending upon size of crowd, length of protest, number of hours, extra facilities required (such as portopotties etc.,)  As costs rise, number of protesters decreases. Justify using Law of Diminnishing Returns.
    Finally, everybody agrees that nothing is worth protesting anymore.  Done deal!

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By Big B, December 2, 2011 at 3:13 pm Link to this comment

I blame the people of Wisconsin. They gleefully fell for the line of bullshit being sold by this “compassionate conservative”.

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Outraged's avatar

By Outraged, December 2, 2011 at 2:53 pm Link to this comment

A recidivist abuser in there ever was one.

He just has “sour grapes”.

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By SharonMI, December 2, 2011 at 2:30 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Maybe he thought the recall petitions weren’t being signed quickly enough.

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By berniem, December 2, 2011 at 2:22 pm Link to this comment

Hmm. Seems they would have already paid for these services ahead of time. I think they call such payments taxes! The shame of this and other affronts occurring around the nation is that there are so many private citizens that actually condone this trampling of rights. I guess ignorance is bliss as long as it’s happening to someone else.

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