Just saw on Twitter that the Capitol building in Wisconsin will have to be opened

[gkhouston]

as per the order of a judge in Dane county.

on edit: here's the text of a public record. First time, it was a crappy link.

Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA)
Return to Case 2011CV000990


Ex Parte temporary restraining order. Resp. shall open the Wisconsin Capitol to members of the public during business hours and at times when governmental matters, such as hearings, listening sessions and court arguments are being conducted. This ex parte restraing order is in effect until the assigned trial court is able to schedule a hearing on the matter. If resp. wishes to have a hearing with respect to this order one will be scheduled as soon as possible before this court, the duty judge, if the assigned trial court is unable to hear the matter promptly. Pet. shall immediately serve a copy of this order on resp.

[Kber]

1. Good news.

[xchrom]

2. Good. Nt

[jpak]

3. The people win - FU republics

yup

[MineralMan]

4. Good news! (nt)

[ejpoeta]

5. sucks for walker who doesn't want the protesters ruining his speech.

[PA Democrat]

11. He should find a bunker somewhere with good sound-proofing and bad

makeshift lighting.

[Dappleganger]

6. "shall open"

Can't get much more explicit than that.
Go protesters!

[Shagbark Hickory]

7. Can someone please (calmly and politely) explain to me why the capital building

... being open is of any importance to protesters?

It seems like the worst possible scenario for a protester is to be corralled into a more or less walled building.

If I was a protestor, I would be marching up and down the street, expecially in front of the governors mansion, in front of media offices and busy roadways where I could make the biggest impact.
In fairness, I probably wouldn't be camping out but I'd go home at night and come back in the morning when 99% of the world is awake and paying attention and I'd protest and show my displeasure in the most in-your-face locations possible.

But that's me. Maybe someone can explain why the capital building is a better idea. Please don't be rude.

[rhett o rick]

8. Having a presence in the building helps remind the politicians who they are supposed to represent.nm

[gkhouston]

9. There are many more protesters than could possibly fit in the building, so they

don't dilute themselves significantly by going inside. They've been going inside to warm up and use the bathroom and sleep at night. Also, they want to attend the hearings and legislative sessions. Simply put, they want to be in there and Walker doesn't want them to be in there, so if the people of Wisconsin are happy about it, then so am I.

[Shagbark Hickory]

10. OK that makes sense.

Why am I only hearing about the capital building though.

Are you saying there are people protesting from rooftops, overpassess and in front of the gov's mansion?

[gkhouston]

12. I don't know about rooftops and overpasses. There's a large open area around

the Capitol building and that's where everyone has been gathering. Seems to me I heard something about some protesters marching across a frozen river in the past few days and I believe the destination might have been the governor's mansion. They're trying to get across their message to the Assembly and the Senate as well as their governor, so that may be why the Capitol building has been their focus.

[Roy Ellefson]

13. Rotunda protests

The protests in and around the capitol rotunda have been loud and inspirational--it has in essence been ground zero for the protests. In a way it has become the movement's sacred ground.

[snacker]

14. Exactly...

the rotunda is the epicenter.

[Shagbark Hickory]

18. Loud enough to keep walker awake at night? n/t

[snappyturtle]

15. It's winter time in Wisconsin and I doubt that rooftops and overpasses

wouldn't be snow free or safe....it's not warm up there either! I doubt the governor would allow the people's home to become a warming house or public bathroom. imho

[Shagbark Hickory]

19. I'm seeing a trend here of politeness, safety and comfort.

Is it because there so many police involved?
From the looks of it, people aren't mad.

[snappyturtle]

20. I think the people are mad but what good is served by acting out anger?

I don't know what your point is. Did you expect there to be rudeness or failures in concern to the crowd's safety? Staying as comfortable as possible allows the protest to proceed. Remember last Saturday there were tens of thousands protesting in cold and snow. I don't think the police presence is the reason the people are acting they way the are. However, it is wonderful that some of the police, firemen, et. al. have joined in the protest....they didn't have to as they are unaffected by the proposed bill.

[Shagbark Hickory]

24. My point is people don't look mad.

The nut baggers look mad. they get media attention with their anger and their guns.

I can just picture Walker and the rethugs saying "oh that's nice. Some libruls marching around peacefully. It won't stop us"

From an outsider's perspective, you're not demanding anything. You don't even look upset in the slightest.
If I were in a union, I'd be pissed. I wouldn't stand for my rights being taken away.

[gkhouston]

21. Outrage and anger aren't synonymous. Peaceful protesting has served them well. n/t

[Shagbark Hickory]

25. How? Because nobody's so much as chipped a nail or been arrested?

The media isn't paying attention and frankly at this point I'm questioning whether people are even upset with their rights being taken away by these union busting thugs. I respectfully disagree with the peaceful nature of the protests serving them well.

[gkhouston]

26. The media isn't paying attention because they don't want us to notice what's happening.

Apart from people like Rachel and Ed, the protests have largely been characterized in negative terms when spoken of at all and if there were actual arrests, they would be played up and used to cast the protesters and unions as thugs. What exactly do you think the protesters should do that they have not done? Several hundred of them expected they'd be arrested Sunday night for refusing to leave the Capitol building but the police decided not to do it.

[Shagbark Hickory]

27. RW media will portray yall as thugs no matter what. Might as well show some teeth...

The fact that Ed and Rachel are the only ones covering it only demonstrates how politicized the issue has become. It's becoming pretty apparent that the media doesn't want us to know whats going on but ed & rachel are part of the media. Last night when they were saying the protests were so effective because they were peaceful... I tried to be open minded about that but I don't agree with that assessment. I think the 'thugs are walking all over you.

You asked what I think they should do.
Aside from a more visibly upset protest (throwing rocks and overturning police cars isn't necessary), I would have the teachers strike. Just the teachers. Let's start with that. Have them shut down the schools for a week.

Tell them the police will be next.

That'll get EVERYONE's attention.

And there needs to be protesters- angry ones- on every major street corner in WI. Not just the capital building, where they corralled & put a lid on y'all.

[rbixby]

16. Here's a link in case anyone needs confirmation

http://www.channel3000.com/politics/27037991/detail.html">Wisconsin Capital opened to public

[gkhouston]

17. Thanks. n/t

[gkhouston]

22. tweets as late as 11:45am claim that the doors are still not open.

I wonder if Walker will be foolish enough to defy a judge's order? My guess is that they're trying to sloooow-walk it to limit the number of people who get inside before the judge can have another hearing on the matter. I doubt this tactic will go over well.

[gkhouston]

23. The DOA (people guarding the doors) claim they're already in compliance...

http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/UPDATE_Judge_Orders_Wisconsin_Capitol_Open_To_General_Public.html

Basically, they're going to only let in a tiny trickle of people under highly restrictive conditions, which is not what the court order says, IMHO.

Walker doesn't want a bunch a protesters inside while he's delivering his budget speech. Not sure if that's worth risking a possible contempt-of-court citation, but he's not the sharpest crayon in the box, so this could be fun.