The Polka Protest

I went to Madison Wisconsin the other day for a Tea Party Rally at the state capitol.  For those of you who don’t know what’s going on in Madison I can only ask; what rock have you been living under?  I do wonder myself why exactly all these people are protesting about these budget cuts.   Wisconsin just as many states and the country are simply BROKE!  Governor Scott Walker’s bill does not seem that bad and I think his press release explains it best.   

Starting out early in the morning from Chicago our trek to Wisconsin was not going to feature any of my favorite stopping points.  How was I going to make it with not stopping for a brat or cheese?  We did make one stop before the Wisconsin boarder and that was at the now famous Clock Tower Inn.  As a kid I used to go there with my parents, my Dad had to work in Rockford for a bit of time so we would head there for a visit.  We loved it as kids since it had an indoor pool and we could spend time swimming even in winter.  I wonder if the Wisconsin Democrats that fled, stayed here for the same reason.  POOL PARTY!  Unfortunately ours was only a quick stop and no time to swim.

As we pulled into Madison I was overwhelmed by the entire scene.  There were Protesters, Police Swat Teams and helicopters flying low overhead.  Was this really Wisconsin?  As I stepped out of the car I was reassured that it was truly Wisconsin as I heard the soothing sound of Polka music.   Only in Wisconsin would you have a protest with Polka music, now the only thing that was missing was the smell of bratwurst.  My dream of a friendly polka protest was quickly dashed as we were rushed into the State Capitol with police surrounding us and moving very quickly.  Inside the State Capitol the circus continued but, all this did not change one big nagging fact.  I had not had a chance to use a washroom since we left Chicago and my body was now done with that large coffee.  After asking for a washroom, I was told the only way to go was with a police escort.  I was escorted to the nearest washroom by my own police escort who stood outside as I finished.  I now chuckle a bit as protesters who were also using the washroom were looking at me trying to figure out who I was, and exactly why did I need a police officer to escort me to the bathroom.  If you have never used the washroom with your own security guard, you have no idea what you are missing.  I was just glad not get stage fright and accomplish my goal quickly.

We soon had to leave the safety of our police entourage and head out into the protest.  I always love the sounds and the sites of a good protest.  I always have fun with protest by holding a competition in my head for the best signs.  Since this was mainly a teacher’s protest I was handing out A’s for the best signs.  “I blame Farve!” was a solid A ++.  “Stop Leeching and Start Teaching” received an A+.  Several signs referred the Governor as Walker Ranger comparing him to Chuck Norris; these signs got a solid B.  Some of my favorite signs are those that make no sense at all like “Down with The Rebels” with a Star wars Rebel Alliance logo on it.  One of the best from the other side was an AT AT Walker with bring down walker written on the side of it.  Now very creative but a sign for the wrong side so sorry the best you can do is an F.  One sign compared Walker to Muebarick (Mubarak)this one received an F- for spelling but an A+ from the right for looking stupid.

My favorite protester was a lady we saw at the end of the protest as we made our way back to the vehicles.  She was an older lady carrying a marionette with a sign stating that Walker is a puppet, but as she passed us mumbling to herself I noticed she had another sign on her back.  “Hear Voices?  Turn of Fox News!”    Once again an F for the Fox news hate but thanks for making me laugh.

Thank You Wisconsin for a great time at the Polka Protest.