Yesterday, I suggested that Barack Obama make a statement indicating that he would federalize the guard if Governor Walker of Wisconsin attempted to use it to break the unions (more like break union heads).
Well, I'm thinking that a preemptive statement is no longer the right course, because there are calls for him to be recalled at the earliest possible opportunity (also here).
The petitions cannot be turned in until after he has served a year, which right now means at least 330 days of Teabagger insanity, but the idea of waiting until he tries to deploy the Guard, and then federalizing it before it has a chance to act, and maybe having the National Guard disarm the private security contractors that he is looking at hiring (aka "Pinkertons") as well.
This is not a change in strategy, but rather a change in tactics: I think that the latter scenario better serves the populace of Wisconsin, and the labor movement in general.
It's good policy and good politics.
(some historical perspective after the fold)
Courtesy of The Awl:
Nobody would expect Walker to have any sense of history but his mention of the National Guard in reference to a labor dispute is chilling to those who recall the Bay View riot. In May 1886, nearly 15,000 workers gathered in Milwaukee to demand an eight hour workday. Thousands marched the streets with banners in Polish, German and English. Wisconsin Governor Jeremiah Rusk called the National Guard to respond; seven were killed (five by other estimates) and several more wounded.
People who think that this is going to be some sort of peaceful thing miss the point.
Scott Walker is doing everything he can to encourage violence, because he sees political advantage to it.