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Comments

1. #101
   On February 21st, 2011 at 3:18 pm, Rocky Lore said:

   Since Democrats believe the union nutcases are regular people, we should treat them like regular people. Fired with no benefits or golden parachute.

2. #102
   On February 21st, 2011 at 3:20 pm, ParasiteHunter said:

   There is plenty of video and still photos of the “sick” teachers wandering around Madison. How about firing those that can be identified for fraudulent use of taxpayers money (collecting sick pay). Lets also look at taking away any funds that can be found that benefit the teachers only and not the students i.e. amenities for teachers lounges etc. Of course my favorite solution would be to Reganize them. Fire them all. I doubt half of them could compete in a non union environment like so many of us “unwashed masses” must.

3. #103
   On February 21st, 2011 at 3:20 pm, MitchCa said:

   Hurray! I finally get to post along with so many terrific people. CBS Sunday Morning yesterday ran a report from WI wherein one woman stated she was a seasoned teacher and fearful that without the union she would not have a job. I found it telling that “seasoned” was the best she could do to describe her teaching abilities.

4. #104
   On February 21st, 2011 at 3:23 pm, joscard said:

   Are the WI taxpayers paying for the time and expenses incurred by the lawmakers who left the state? If they are AWOL, does their pay get docked? Who paid for their bus?

5. #105
   On February 21st, 2011 at 3:30 pm, Adkhiker said:

   The fallout from this teacher/union debacle will be used, and rightfully so, by the Republican Party in 2012 to make their case regarding union thuggery tactics.

6. #106
   On February 21st, 2011 at 3:39 pm, bojangles9 said:

   I believe all the senators of course will be paid and most of the teachers as well… I know from experience that unions have no shame… morality is not on their agenda… they care only about members. They cannot, however, control the public outrage building from their behavior… it amounts to public extortion and dishonesty is a tool they will and indeed ARE using when they walk out of school and abandon their jobs.

7. #107
   On February 21st, 2011 at 3:52 pm, Erbo said:

   While some of those teachers seek excuse notes from “doctors” out there on the street, others are flooding local clinics to get their excuse notes…in some cases, at the expense of actual sick people “bumped” from appointments. I quote from a post made to Facebook:

   From a nurse: teachers swamped clinics in madison friday to get sick notes.
   by Vicki McKenna on Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 12:59pm

   “Hello Vicki,

   I am a triage RN at a clinic in downtown Madison. Reports of teachers calling and scheduling appointment at clinic for doctors excuses is absolutely true. On Thursday and Friday last week both my clinic and our UC apts were completely booked. MANY of these people had very vague symptoms and happened to need a work excuse. There were patients that I had to send to the ER because I could not get them an appointment in a timely manner. This cost both the patient and the insurance co. a lot of money!
   Honestly, I would rather teachers find themselves a fraudulent excuse on the street instead of using up all our clinic appointments and taking up my time to triage them on the phone. They have put doctors and nurses in a very frustrating position.
   This is yet another example of the utter selfishness displayed by our public employees last week. I cannot imagine how anyone could justify taking a doctor’s appointment away from someone who is truly sick to cover their own butt! ”

   BTW, I removed her identifying information–frankly to protect her from a possible (likely!) backlash.

8. #108
   On February 21st, 2011 at 3:57 pm, kellyF said:

   Let’s remember that you can’t get blood from a turnip. WI is in no position to even give a little bit to the demands of the union thugs. Broke is broke. I would love to be in a position where I am just asked to contribute to my pension “a bit” rather than be UNEMPLOYED..wanna trade WI teachers?…… I thought not.

9. #109
   On February 21st, 2011 at 4:02 pm, jukinj3 said:

   Are there not stipulations in the teacher union contract about ethics? I would think so as they are supposedly models for our children.

10. #110
    On February 21st, 2011 at 4:27 pm, drbage said:

    If these districts are out of “snow days,” then these missed days will have to be made up, so it may cause twice that amount. The state auditor should pay attention to the state issued credit cards of the Dems to make sure they are not planning to have the taxpayers of WI pay for their exile in Corruptinois. Since the unions caused all this uproar, why doesn’t the governor send them the bill for the clean up, OT pay for security, and the extra days added to the calendar?!

11. #111
    On February 21st, 2011 at 4:27 pm, Badger40 said:

    On February 21st, 2011 at 1:54 pm, kat7777 said:
    Thank God the majority of the people in the USA are behind these teachers

    I beg to differ.
    I’m a teacher in ND & a union member & would never support tantrums like this.
    In fact, our state is trying something siilar & I support them all the way.
    Our pensions should not be protected.
    Public employess should get no special treatment over any other citizen.
    You are sadly ignorant.

12. #112
    On February 21st, 2011 at 4:47 pm, RedDaveR said:

    There are a number of rank-and-file teachers and other public employees who see the light and understand that state and local governments are broke. Unfortunately, this is something you almost never hear about from the corrupt MSM.

13. #113
    On February 21st, 2011 at 4:54 pm, insanitycheck said:

    I fail to understand how these people should be able to “bargain” for more of everything with taxpayer money!

    They say it’s not fair because they are the only ones being asked to sacrifice, but wait, non union people (private sector employees) are already paying 5 times as much for their own healthcare and pensions while also paying the teachers (via tax dollars) healthcare and pensions!

    A little reality check people.
    Gimme, gimme, gimme

14. #114
    On February 21st, 2011 at 4:55 pm, Terika said:

    lil ditty I wrote, sung by a real
    “Patriotic Mama” ~

    to Obama and certain “teachers”

    for the kids.

    Check it out, check-it-outers!

15. #115
    On February 21st, 2011 at 4:56 pm, Terika said:

    http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=8368428

16. #116
    On February 21st, 2011 at 5:05 pm, mattm said:

    From the Dr:

    “Some people think it’s a nod-and-a-wink thing but it’s not,” he told The Associated Press on Sunday. “One of the biggest stresses in life is the threat of loss of income, loss of job, loss of health insurance. People have actually been getting ill from this, or they can’t sleep.”

    Typical Union BS. So having to contribute to your retirement or health insurance is enough for you to be “sick” AND protest at the same time.

    I’m sure the millions of underemployed or unemployed Americans are with you temper tantrum 100%. Not! All these “teachers” need to be fired.

17. #117
    On February 21st, 2011 at 5:31 pm, Bunni said:

    Every one of these fraud doctors should be prosecuted for medical malpractice. Every “teacher” who took off should be fired.
    What would we expect but learning how to be a lying fraud from the democRATS.

    I wonder what the criminals will pull tomorrow, since it’s not a holiday?

18. #118
    On February 21st, 2011 at 5:36 pm, TrueLiberal said:

    Gotta say, I have mixed feelings about this aspect of the goings-on, kinda like when I hear people complaining about Obama being on vacation… It’s tempting to wonder if there was a way we could persuade Obama to spend ALL his time on vacation. Same thing here; judging from the spelling (“Hilter”), grammar and content of the signs one could make a strong case that the kids are better off at home.

19. #119
    On February 21st, 2011 at 5:46 pm, livefreeordie said:

    Fire them all… and lets have a special election to fire the Dems legislators who have fled to Illinois.

20. #120
    On February 21st, 2011 at 5:50 pm, fallsdale said:

    Forgive me if someone already addressed this question. Everyone’s talking about discipline for the “sick” (striking) teachers. Where’s the oversight of these doctors handing out the fraudulent notes? Mental disease can’t be diagnosed on a cold city street! There are objective criteria to make such determinations. Search out DSM statistical manual and see it for yourselves. Also, if they are “seeing patients”, how are they providing for privacy protections guaranteed by HIPAA? Food for thought.

21. #121
    On February 21st, 2011 at 5:57 pm, xplodeit said:

    FIRE THEM ALL!

22. #122
    On February 21st, 2011 at 6:09 pm, vatodio said:

    Soooooooo, if a student brings a fake sick note, it will be acceptable in Wisconsin, right?

23. #123
    On February 21st, 2011 at 6:15 pm, EdDantes said:

    I don’t get the whole sick day thing. Surely if you believe in something so strongly you are willing to lose one day of pay. I have no sympathy for teachers and doctors who engage in fraud.

24. #124
    On February 21st, 2011 at 6:16 pm, oil can harry said:

    Set up an impeachment process for all these DEMON crats who fail to muster.

25. #125
    On February 21st, 2011 at 7:07 pm, change_it_back2012 said:

    FINALLY!! The solution is before us. This is all we had to do to get these hippie, commi low-lives to stay home and stop inculcating our kids in their insipid ideology? Fantastic! Now this opportunity needs to be seized upon and we can get some real educators in-place so we can stop sending our children into the workforce with a 3rd-grade reading level.

    And these leftist union-flunkie teachers can now move back into their parents’ basements where they can sit around, eat doritos , and stumble around all day in their che guevara underwear in a drug-induced stupor. It’s their idea of heaven, for sure.

    Everybody’s a winner!! God Bless America!!

26. #126
    On February 21st, 2011 at 7:18 pm, redhandpaddy said:

    Fake sick and fake teachers. One could not fail to notice supposed english teachers carrying signs displaying the worst sort of obsenity, spelling errors and incorrect grammer, supposed math and science teachers who cannot grasp the facts and the arithmetic, supposed economics and or home economics teachers that cannot grasp the concept of crippling deficits and the supposed selfless that refuse to pay their fair or any share and who put their benefits before those they are supposed to be teaching and mentoring. Has is occured to the good citizens of Wisconsin just what bully boys and lowlifes they permit to act in loco parentis daily? If it has not before, surely it must now.

27. #127
    On February 21st, 2011 at 7:21 pm, jerrypfaff said:

    Yeah, and I’m paying for this! Thank you, Michelle, for standing up with Gov. Walker and us Wisconsin conservatives!

28. #128
    On February 21st, 2011 at 7:33 pm, swede said:

    jerrypfaff said:
    Yeah, and I’m paying for this! Thank you, Michelle, for standing up with Gov. Walker and us Wisconsin conservatives!

    Baraboo High / UW Madtown ’72.

    I’ve been explaining to folks that Madison is not Wisconsin, it’s Madison -home of perpetual pseudo righteous outrage looking for a cause to get wee-wee’d up about. So here it is.

    Yet, St. Vincent of Lambeau smiles! The. Pack. Is. Back!

29. #129
    On February 21st, 2011 at 7:42 pm, rfbuckey said:

    Fire them all.

30. #130
    On February 21st, 2011 at 7:48 pm, fussbudget said:

    Legislate this, Wisconsin: Detention hall for teachers who skip class. Everyone stays after school and writes “I WILL PAY MY WAY JUST LIKE PRIVATE SECTOR WORKERS” one time for every dollar they’ve sucked from the taxpayers throughout their careers.

    From the AP, Feb. 21, 2011, 7:31 p.m.

    At noon, guitarist Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine took to a stage on the Capitol steps to fire up the crowd. He said he flew in from California to lend his voice to the protest.

    “The future of workers’ rights will be decided in Madison, Wisconsin,” he said. “You’re making history here.”

    Ah, Tom Morello. The poor man’s Bono. Like, K-Mart poor.

31. #131
    On February 21st, 2011 at 7:55 pm, SouthParkMN said:

    A copy of the “sick excuse” note being handed out to protesting teachers (see link http://maciverinstitute.com/2011/02/fake-doctors-notes-being-handed-out-at-wisconsin-gov-union-rally/):

    “Feb 19, 2011

    Patient’s name______

    Date of birth ____/_____/_____

    To Whom it May Concern:

    This is confirm I have seen and evaluated the above named patient.

    Please excuse from work/school due to a medical condition from

    ____/____/____ through

    Please contact me at badgerdoctors@gmail.com if additional information is needed. Thank you.

    Sincerely,

    Physician Signature:

    Physician Name

    WI license number”

    Regardless of what these physicians are saying about representing themselves… if they say that these notes are the same that they give out in their own clinics at the University of Wisconsin… and if the note provides an e-mail to contact the physician that may be related to the University of Wisconsin… have they contradicted that statement and involved the University of Wisconsin?

32. #132
    On February 21st, 2011 at 7:57 pm, SouthParkMN said:

    From the following link an interesting comment (http://punditpress.blogspot.com/2011/02/university-of-wisconsin-department-of.html?showComment=1298266226307#c6377747217682659929):

    ” Anonymous said…
    Anonymous Physician,

    Fraud on the government is a much broader legal term than fraudulent billing. Fraud on the government includes wrongful acts done with the intent to aid someone else’s fraudulent claim.

    Persons who agree to act in concert to commit a wrongful act (fraudulent sick leave claim) form a civil conspiracy, which here is fraud on the government.

    Posters indicate that Wisconsin has a “qui tam” statute allowing taxpayer suits to sue persons making fraudulent claims against the State of Wisconsin. See:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qui_tam

    This means that any citizen of Wisconsin can file a class action against the teachers making fraudulent sick leave claims, and against the physicians who wrote their sick leave excuses.

    The physicians involved who did not make contemporaneous written records of their examinations of the teachers they wrote sick leave excuses for will have a very difficult time escaping a finding of liability here.

    And all conspirators are liable for the acts of each other member of the conspiracy, i.e., the physicians found liable as civil conspirators with the teachers making false claims, would (each separately) be liable for the ENTIRE amount of wrongful sick leave payments made by the State of Wisconsin to the striking teachers

    My major point, however, is that it might not be necessary for any official Wisconsin state entity, other than a civil trial court, to do anything to wreck the medical careers of these physicians. Lawyers, judges and juries can do it without any official medical being involved.

    Here is how that works. A trial court finding that a physician is civilly liable for fraud on the government might (I’m not familiar with Wisconsin law) be useable as a sort of presumption (the legal term is collateral estoppel) by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to the same effect – the doctor made a fraudulent claim which disqualifies him/her from receiving MedicAid payments.

    If this is indeed so, Wisconsin taxpayers could als bring qui tam suits to recover any future MedicAid payments to the physicians fourd liable for fraud on the government.

    TH
    February 20, 2011 5:08 PM “

33. #133
    On February 21st, 2011 at 7:57 pm, birdfeeder said:

    I’m a WI public school teacher embroiled in this mess. I believe in honoring our contract (i.e. not engaging in a work stoppage) and in accepting Gov. Walker’s proposals because it’s fair and needed to balance our budget without laying off large numbers of people. I’ve been praying all 30+ years I’ve taught for God to move through our schools. . .

34. #134
    On February 21st, 2011 at 7:59 pm, SouthParkMN said:

    Also, worth reading, and using the following information, again taken from comments from the following link (http://maciverinstitute.com/2011/02/fake-doctors-notes-being-handed-out-at-wisconsin-gov-union-rally/):

    ”
    February 20, 2011 at 9:43 PM
    James H. Shropshire, MD
    Louis Sanner, MD
    Anne Eglash, MD
    Hannah Keevil, MD
    Patrick McKenna, MD
    Kathy Oriel, MD
    Bernard F. Micke, MD

    February 20th, 2011 at 9:45 PM

    Conspiracy to commit a crime….

    Definition: two or more people knowingly conspiring to commit a crime and then committing an overt act in furtherance of that crime, providing that one or more of the conspirators have the ability and opportunity to commit the crime contemplated. The crime of conspiracy commonly converts an otherwise simple misdemeanor into a felony.

    The crime contemplated: payroll fraud. The overt act: issuing and accepting a knowingly fraudulent document under the authority of a medical license. The ability to commit the crime: being employed by the state or local government as a teacher who is required to submit a doctors affirmation to justify paid time off. There is no requirement that the employee actually submit the false document, only that they could do so. The elements of the crime of conspiracy have already been committed.

    A conviction for the crime of conspiracy should cause the loss of the Doctor’s MD. license for some period and the loss of the Teacher’s teaching credentials for some period at the very least. Certainly dismissal of the teacher is called for. A suspended jail sentence would be appropriate as well for both the Teacher and the Doctor so that a subsequent criminal act would send them directly to jail. “

35. #135
    On February 21st, 2011 at 8:13 pm, SouthParkMN said:

    Perhaps if, as some argue, that teachers have sick days accumulated such that, taking off to protest would be ‘covered’…

    Could the physicians writing “sick excuses” (BTW – wouldn’t a psychiatrist’s statement have more validity?) be liable to groups of WI taxpayers in a civil lawsuit?

36. #136
    On February 21st, 2011 at 8:16 pm, SouthParkMN said:

    Alternatively, for those living in WI, file a complaint to the state department involved in licensing the physicians:

    http://drl.wi.gov/section.asp?linkid=16&locid=0

37. #137
    On February 21st, 2011 at 8:19 pm, ladyingray said:

    If my doc did this, I’d change docs. Period.

38. #138
    On February 21st, 2011 at 8:45 pm, Jim37ky said:

    Wonder if any of those doctors will bill Medicare or Medicaid for their services?

39. #139
    On February 21st, 2011 at 8:51 pm, HonestDork said:

    Love the idea from #65 Stephen Macklin…

    Just add that the parents can submit claims of lost wages and extra child care expenses against the fund created by the withheld union dues.

    I responded to a Facebook posting, where the question was asked ‘Why do Republicans hate unions?’. I responded ‘Is it not obvious? Unions support Democrats every time’. Its long past time that the public employee unions be defanged, choke off the money supply to the Democrats who seem to be quite happy to spend everyone elses money (or commit everyone else to huge obligations).

40. #140
    On February 21st, 2011 at 8:58 pm, Fred Zarguna said:

    Cheap at the price.

    Every day off sets anouther 5,000 indy couples who use the public school system as a day care center against them. You just can buy that kind of publicity.

    And hey, it’s another day kids aren’t exposed to their indoctrination.

41. #141
    On February 21st, 2011 at 9:43 pm, GJCorby said:

    “Some people think it’s a nod-and-a-wink thing but it’s not,” Dr.Lou Sanner told The Associated Press on Sunday. “One of the biggest stresses in life is the threat of loss of income, loss of job, loss of health insurance. People have actually been getting ill from this, or they can’t sleep.”

    Wonder how much sleep these teachers will lose, and stress they will incur if they lose their jobs, for committing fraud, along with their precious benefits.

42. #142
    On February 21st, 2011 at 9:48 pm, swede said:

    birdfeeder said:
    I’m a WI public school teacher embroiled in this mess. I believe in honoring our contract (i.e. not engaging in a work stoppage) and in accepting Gov. Walker’s proposals because it’s fair and needed to balance our budget without laying off large numbers of people. I’ve been praying all 30+ years I’ve taught for God to move through our schools. . .

    I’m confused – I thought WI teachers had the right to strike.(?)

    My daughter in law taught public school in Atlanta for 8 years and couldn’t take it anymore. They pulled the kids out and she home schools them.

    I suspect your prayer has been answered, as God has worked there through you. God bless you for 30 years of teaching. A huge sacrifice but I have no doubt filled with blessings.

    BTW, I’m a Cheesehead from Baraboo – now stuck in Atlanta for some reason known only to God – and the business.

43. #143
    On February 21st, 2011 at 9:48 pm, GJCorby said:

    SouthParkMN:
    A suspended jail sentence would be appropriate as well for both the Teacher and the Doctor

    No, they should all go to jail so they have time to contimplate what they have done.

44. #144
    On February 21st, 2011 at 9:54 pm, Buckeye_Patriot said:

    Milwaukee Pulic School teachers are the highest paid in Wisconsin and the district has the worst outcome and graduation rates in the state. Maybe being off a few days won’t hurt the kids there. Maybe a permanant vacation is in order for those teachers.

45. #145
    On February 21st, 2011 at 9:57 pm, ConservativeR said:

    On February 21st, 2011 at 7:33 pm, swede said:
    Baraboo High / UW Madtown ’72.

    I’ve been explaining to folks that Madison is not Wisconsin, it’s Madison -home of perpetual pseudo righteous outrage looking for a cause to get wee-wee’d up about. So here it is.

    Yet, St. Vincent of Lambeau smiles! The. Pack. Is. Back!

    SO True! Madison is a liberal wart on a largely conservative state. It should be removed and shipped to CA where it would blend right in.

46. #146
    On February 21st, 2011 at 10:09 pm, ConservativeR said:

    Check out how much WI teachers make in salary and benefits – most Americans would love to get this much: http://www.postcrescent.com/article/99999999/APC0110/80221166/DataMine-Search-Wisconsin-teacher-salaries
    And here’s a link to Gov. Walker’s very strong press conference today, in case you missed it. I am loving my new governor right now! http://wiseye.org/Programming/VideoArchive/EventDetail.aspx?evhdid=3782

47. #147
    On February 21st, 2011 at 10:47 pm, Straight_Talk_Luigi said:

    kat7777

    Thank God the majority of the people in the USA are behind these teachers and the rest of the protesters cause you people here commenting are sad to behold. BUT you’ll keep quiet about the gov sending you a tax bill of 14 trillion gotten thru corruption….pathetic.

    Who are “you people”? That’s not me.

    Actually, the vast majority of communication to the Wisconsin governor and remaining state legislators is supportive of their efforts.

    Money does not grow on trees.

48. #148
    On February 22nd, 2011 at 12:34 am, birdfeeder said:

    I’m confused – I thought WI teachers had the right to strike.(?)

    I was told that WI teachers had given up their right to strike when they accepted the rules of binding arbitration. Because of wanting to negotiate “in good faith,” we waited for new contracts to be finalized, even if going months without one. The history at my small school district is a comparatively peaceful one. I am so grateful that our school reflects the conservative values of our local community. For example, we still have classroom Christmas trees and Christmas concerts that feature songs about Jesus’ birth, along with secular seasonal songs. I don’t think they can even have Christmas decorations in Madison.

49. #149
    On February 22nd, 2011 at 12:42 am, AmericanGirl30 said:

    “They” always say teachers are underpaid. My husband works all 12 months out of the year, often stays late to complete what he’s working on, works many extra hours the weeks he’s on call, and still doesn’t make as much as a teacher in Milwaukee. In my eyes, this makes them seem even more like spoiled brats than they already appeared.

    Go Gov. Walker!!! Do not fold, GOP!!!

50. #150
    On February 22nd, 2011 at 7:28 am, pokenhorn said:

    I am a retired public school teacher. I am appalled to see the blind, uncomprehending Wisconsin teachers follow blindly the Global Leftist leaders who manipulate them. The NEA leadership has been sympathetic to communism since 1979; maybe before then. If Governor Walker fires them all, I will not be saddened.

51. #151
    On February 22nd, 2011 at 10:16 am, Timmyisgr8 said:

    Well, suffice to say i wouldnt want any of those teachers teaching my kid. Also, to kat7777, let the adults do what needs to be done. go play outside…or better yet go play at the DU.com

52. #152
    On February 23rd, 2011 at 2:31 pm, Taipan2900 said:

    So what would happen if my non-gov’t, non-union boss saw me on TV getting a fake Drs note not to work? If the Gov’t educators take sick pay for these days missed they have commented fraud and should be arrested, jail and dismissed. Replaced with hard work non-union people that care about their job, fellow man and American