Conservatives Get Permit to Sing in Wisconsin Capitol Monday, July 29th
David Blaska, former journalist, former state employee, well known blogger and a RightWisconsin contributor, is looking forward to Monday.
He's organizing a get together at the Wisconsin State Capitol for the lunch hour: a conservative sing-a-long.
In case you were wondering whether or not he was going to follow in the lawless steps of the union supporters who have violated the Capitol regulations for more than two years, the name of Blaska's group says it all.
"We are the 'We've Got a Permit Singers," Blaska says.
Blaska has organized a conservative counter protest/sing-a-long once before, "It was June 23, 2011 -- still early in the Solidarity Singers takeover of our Capitol and not too long after the Intifada," he says.
So, what's the point of Monday's planned concert?
"We want to show how easy it is to get a permit; that we respect free speech -- the Capitol Rotunda is open to all points of view, not just the unionistas." Blaska said.
Only in Madison could a healthy respect for the law be the counter-culture.
"Courts have ruled time and again that reasonable regulations as to time, place and manner of speech are permitted," Blaska said of the requirement that groups of more than 20 obtain a free permit before demonstrating inside the Capitol.
For the last three days, Capitol Police officers have been enforcing the rules, and dozens of Solidarity Singers have been arrested.
"These narcissists flatter themselves as the worthy successors to Martin Luther King, Jr.--stuck in the Birmingham jail," wrote Blaska in a recent RightWisconsin column. "What a joke!"
Blaska notes that reasonable restrictions on speech are not uncommon, nor unConstitutional. Even in the Capitol.
"No legislator can speak on the floor of the Assembly whenever he wants for as long as he wants -- they must be recognized by the Speaker, and they need permission to speak more than two times on the same subject," he said.
So, how many people does Blaska expect to join him on Monday?
"I'm not going to play the numbers game but I do expect a good showing," he aid. "We got 40 two years ago. I think Wisconsin is tired of the whiners who think rules are for everyone else."
Does Blaska worry that things could get heated?
"The one fear is infiltration by the lefties," he said. "They cannot trample our permit. We'll complain to Capitol Police to protect our right of free speech."
Two years ago, the union supporters stayed away.
"The Solidarity Singers did take their act outside two years ago but I always ask why I have to get a permit and they don't," Blaska said. "In effect, I'm asking THEIR permission."
Blaska said the majority of Wisconsinites have grown tired of the antics of the union protesters who refuse to comply with the simplest of requirements. He's looking forward to a peaceful, and permitted, demonstration."
"We will not allow the heckler's veto."
