Out Manuvered x2

O'Keefe's undercover video got a top NPR executive fired after catching him referring to the Tea Party as racist, Jewish derisions, etc. And today the CEO, the big kahuna of NPR, the VERY woman that fired Juan Williams, resigned. Rumor has it the board of NPR had enough of the way she was running their house and "solicited" her resignation.

It doesn't take Guinuar (sp?) Private Eye, to see they're in melt down mode. Like Titus said, this O'Keefe's more of a beat reporter than any in the last generation - exposing corruption in publicly funded institutions, one after another.

But here's the biggie -

Wisconsin Senate Republicans made a brilliant move.

First, lets note that Governor Walker's compromise (offered 3 days ago & rejected), was to allow for collective bargaining on salaries and wages past the point of inflation (allowed only to inflation in his original proposal), as well as relenting on collective bargaining on sick days, work safety, and OT (all eliminated under his original bill). And it called for a "re-up" vote (for members to maintain their union) every 3 years, rather then annually as he proposed originally. However, it maintained the removal of collective bargaining in its' entirety for health insurance, and it maintained the pension and health insurance contributions needed to trim the budget. As Titus mentioned, it was a genuine attempt to bring the 2 sides together. A real olive branch.

Well, the 14 Senate Democrats on the lamb sent their message via email and the press (& via their refusal to show up), calling the proposed compromise - "A blue print for future negotiations." I mean, all the Governor needed was for 1 of the 14 to return. The magic number is 20 (20 of 34), and the GOP holds 19 senate seats.

I think that's when the WI GOP snapped. They had had it. Enter the nuclear option...

As you may recall, after a few days of protesting the NEA et al agreed to the direct monetary concessions - the raised pension and health plan contributions. However, they REFUSED to budge on collective bargaining. After all, that's their bread and butter. That's what all of this has been about, all the protests, the fleeing senators, the sit-ins - protecting collective bargaining in its' entirety.

Well guess what?

The WI Senate requires a "quorum" of at least 20 Senators to vote ... on bills that spend money. Late this afternoon the Majority leader of the WI Senate stripped the collective bargaining out of the original bill, submitted it as a stand alone bill, posted a 2 hour notice to come and vote, called a vote, and passed it 18-1. And after the WI Assembly passes it tomorrow, public employees in Wisconsin will have lost their collective bargaining rights (minus any of Walker's recent compromises).

D-O-N-E! Check mate. Go ahead, take in a Bulls game while you're there.

Disappearing like that, and more to the point staying gone this long (3 weeks), the WI Dems overplayed their hand. They went "all in" on rags ... and Walker had 18 aces in the senate... hehehehe.