This Wisconsin State Senator, the first I spotted, was quite cordial. It seems I caught the profile of a second one behind him. It’s Chris Larson, according to ABC News in an interview from Harvard after I left. Looking at the Senators’ home pages, however, it looks more like Robert Jauch. The one standing behind the loquacious Senator looks like Milwaukee Senator Tim Carpenter, according to WQOW’s identificatio . If the TV station ID is correct, Senator Carpenter needs a new photo on the official Senate web page.
I got a tip from the Northern Illinois Tea Party that the missing Wisconsin State Senators were meeting at the Heritage Inn and Suites at the intersection of Routes 14 and 23 in Harvard.
This Wisconsin State Senator arrived while I was talking with the first one I spotted. She didn’t want to have her picture taken.I think she is Milwaukee’s Lena Taylor.
Silly me, I went looking for legislative license plates in the parking lot.
None were to be found, but there were a number of Wisconsin plates with very low parking sticker numbers on their front windshields, so I guessed the tip was a good one.
(One of the Senators told me later that Wisconsin legislators don’t have legislative plates–probably a good move, if you don’t want to make it easy for people to identify one’s car.)
I didn’t see any individuals in the lobby dressed like the political class, so I decided to ask the desk clerk whether any Wisconsin State Senators had checked in
After the desk clerk got off a pretty long call at 11:20, I recognized the white-haired gentleman who didn’t want to talk to the Rockford Tea Party videographer asking why he and his colleague driver were had fled Madison.
This is the fourth Wisconsin State Senator I saw. He is Senate Assistant Minority Leader Dave Hansen and is from Green Bay.
With me he was more congenial, especially after I introduced myself and told him I had served 16 years in the Illinois House.
When he asked why I was interested in his and his colleagues’ presence, I told him I wrote a political blog named McHenry County Blog and he was in McHenry County.
He told me his knowledge of McHenry County pre-dated my own. He goes back before 1958, but, unfortunately, he wouldn’t tell me how.
I asked him why he and his colleagues had not been evoking Abraham Lincoln’s jumping out the Old State Capitol’s window to break a quorum in Springfield back in the mid-1800’s.
Several of the Wisconsin State Senators parked their cars behind the motel and entered through one of the back doors. The woman said she was married to Doug Kane, whom I served with in Springfield. Through a process of elimination, I believe she is Caucus Vice Chairperson Kathleen Vinehout or Alma. (If so, my photo is better than her official one. If she asks, I’ll enlarge it and send it to her.) Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller is on the right. He lives in Monona when he is not in Illinois or Madison.
He replied that was one of the reasons they had come to Illinois. He was really quite elegant and I wished I had had a tape recorder so I could do justice to his rhetoric.
This Wisconsin State Senator Julia Lassa from Stephens Point drove separately. She is Caucus Chairperson.
He said the Senators had been meeting with reporters and, indeed, I learned later that a TV truck had been at the motel Monday night.
He asked me not to identify the location, so the group could continue helping out the McHenry County economy.
I told him I pretty much had to say they were in McHenry County, which seemed OK with him as long as I was not specific as to the location.
He said that the Senators didn’t want a crowd of sign-carrying demonstrators outside of the motel.
I told him I didn’t think local tea party people could mobilize what he envisioned.
But since arriving home, I’ve been told that a caravan of State Senators was seen heading south on Route 23, so I guess there is no harm in revealing the Harvard location.
Where will they spend tonight?
They could stay in Crystal Lake and attract no attention. Lots of out-of-the way motels. And just twenty to twenty-five minutes farther from Wisconsin.
State Senator Fred Risser looks a bit startled in this photo, but he wasn’t trying to stop me from taking his photo.
Woodstock, McHenry and Richmond might aspire to host them as well.
Close to the Illinois-Wisconsin border and no one would be likely to find them.
Since they were heading toward State Rep. Jack Franks’ law office south of Marengo, maybe they arranged to meet in its conference room.
As I stopped to take a photo of another license plate on a car parked behind the motel, someone pulled the shades in a first floor room.
Guess it could have been where the group was meeting.
A lone demonstrator, Mary Alger of the Crystal Lake Tea Party, arrived as I had to leave for a luncheon appointment.
As I was leaving the parking lot, who should I run into but Crystal Lake Tea Party honcho Mary Alger. She was holding this sign saying, “Il Tea Party Finds Wisconsin ‘FLEE’ Party.”
Subsequent information arrived telling me that a representative of the Northern Illinois Tea Party arrived, starting asking questions like
“Do you know any reason why you shouldn’t be recalled for your failure to fulfill the duties of your office?”
and was asked by the desk clerk if he were a paying customer and, if not, to leave.
Three cars pulled up.
She called the Harvard Police.
= = = = =
Considering who was at the motel, the signs on the Coke machine next to the pool might be considered ironic. I’ll bet Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker would think so. Take a look.
The signs are in poor focus, but they say, “Out of Order.”
Do you think the Wisconsin Senators will end up in this Illinois border town
Latest McHenry County Blog here.
Great story, Cal! Will link on Illinois Review!
Before jumping to any conclusions shouldn’t we wait for a Northwest Herald reporter to tell us what we should believe?
Cal could be “doctoring” photos, right?
Harvard Police were called shortly before noon to a complaint of “picketing.”
After the first police unit arrived, two additional units responded red lights and sirens, racing down Route 14 in an unmarked squad (detective) and the on duty sergeant.
Must have been a very threatening event.
I think they’re headed for the Sunset Motel in Marengo.
Wow! A 3 squad car alarm in Harvard. Maybe picketing is legal only for Democrats in Harvard.
I wish Cal got pictures of Tootey and Muldoon.
Kind of fun to see the politicians faces while entering or leaving a hotel!!
Sleeze balls…Some had “Big Motel Smiles” whiles others had the “Oh, OH, I’m busted” ‘Motel’ look!
I know, I know, it’s a “HOTEL” not a “MOTEL,” but give me my “Moment” please.
Truly Priceless Cal!!!
Great pics. Maybe you will allow me to put ‘captions’ on each photo for you to post????
You guys ROCK. Great job in tracking down these rogue Senators.
All should be docked for walking off the job and fired for leaving the state house.
They are ELECTED officials being paid by taxpayers, they have an obligation to do their job…not run away like little children.
SILENT NO MORE
Judy Pepenella
Conservative Society for Action
csa-1776.org
” . . . I introduced myself and told him I had served 16 years in the Illinois House.
I find it sad that someone that served “16 years in the Illinois House” is now lurking around motel parking lots.
You people are awesome!!
I had about given up hope that they would be found and you guys found them outed them!!
I’m from Wisconsin and I LOVE you all!!
Thanks so much!!
I just heard tonight on the 6:00 pm news that they passed a new rule now that if they want their paychecks they have to come and pick them up in person at the Capital in Madison.
Unless they have lots of money on hand, they might be coming back sooner than later.
They keep telling us in their top secret press conferences that they aren’t costing the taxpayers any money at all by being away in Illinois.
Somehow I doubt that seriously!
Anyway, you people ROCK!!!
As a Wisconsin resident, I wish to thank you for providing a laugh when things are really getting out of hand.
And…
Great Works Guys and Gals, we would return the favor but we heard your missing Fleebags are holed up in Indianopolis!
Maybe we will find Minnesota Dems holed up in Green Bay!
Oh, by the way, please don’t trade Jay Cutler.
Go Packers!
Thgis is a Facebook Link to the photos of our 14 State Senators From Wisconsin that are AWOL in Illinois!!
Thanks Much Illinois
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1205351812&v=wall&ref=search#!/photo.php?fbid=10150145911258268&set=o.202504749765510&theater
I’m so sorry – I tested that first Facebook Link before I posted it and it was fine and after I posted it I clicked on it again and it won’t link up to the photo.
I will try this one more time and hope the link works since it won’t allow me to copy the photo.
Second Attempt: Facebook Link to the photos of our 14 State Senators From Wisconsin that are AWOL in Illinois!!
Fan photos from Wisconsin Club for Growth (1)
From Facebook – Wisconsin Club for Growth – Photos
I say, when we get their names, we need to cut and paste these pictures onto “America’s Most Wanted” posters, and send them out nationwide!
You rock in Illinois, for tracking these rats down!
Okay, here is the Senators webpage, which has pictures of the senators. Maybe this will help with identifying them: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/contact/legislatorslist.aspx?house=senate
Cut and Paste this whole address into the browser. It will work I’ve tried it twice now.
It’s like a wanted posted with all their names attached to each photo.
It has a message on the bottom to contact the Wisconsin State Patrol and a phone number (608) 266-3212
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1205351812&v=wall&ref=search#!/photo.php?fbid=10150145911258268&set=o.202504749765510&theater
Cut and Paste this ENTIRE web address into your browser. I’ve tried it twice now and it works fine.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150145911258268&set=o.202504749765510&theater
This is like a wanted poster someone made up of our 14 Democratic State Senators from Wisconsin who are “vacationing” in Illinois at the moment.
It has their names below each photo. It also has a message on the bottom
stating to call the Wisconsin State Patrol at (608) 233-3212
I thought it was hilarious – ENJOY !!!
Kudos to our fellow patriots in the Land Of Lincoln.
No wonder the cops were called.
That gal from the Illinois Tea Party looked soooooooooooo threatening.
Will the 14 now have to wander the earth until the next coming?
How can they say it is not costing the taxpayers !!
Maybe not their motel bills but their absence is costing Wisc Taxpayers millions in security lost wages etc!!!
Alan O:
I thought Obama WAS the next coming…
Keep their feet to the fire. Regardless of what the networks are broadcasting, don’t be fooled into thinking that the majority are upset with Walker.
As always, we have to fight this fight on our own because our “unbiased” media won’t do their job in reporting that our senators aren’t doing theirs.
Go back to Wisconsin Senators, Illinois smells bad enough already!
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The protesters in Wisc. are actually ANTI-democracy. Democracy is somehow only okay if the Left wins and this time it didn’t.
The MTI contract says no strikes and no work stoppage and people who held MTI signs obviously didn’t keep their word. Why should anyone ever trust them again? Negotiating for lies doesn’t make sense to me. Negotiating for them to dictate what they should be paid, etc. – heck, that dictating takes away MY rights to negotiate what I believe is a fair price and what I can pay.
Purposely bankrupting the state means idiots are running the govt.
As to a bunch of Senatorial backsides/donkeys crossing state lines to avoid voting – yah, yep, yep, yep – they want the public’s trust and they want the public to believe they are wise. No, they’re just a bunch of pouting babies who don’t want to face the music (financial disaster) that they and their supporters created.
Vote the 14 out of office. Recall them. Do whatever it takes to legally get them OUT of the PUBLIC’s “seats”.
If you’ve seen the ad with the fireman on behalf of the Wisc. “battle”, you’ve probably seen a good person. It doesn’t mean he’s right.
What’s next? A sad eyed child?
Wisconsin protesters, do you truly NOT realize that your manipulations are just making non-union residents and taxpayers turn against you more and more?
If not this time, then next time, what is proposed WILL happen. 24/7 news (including news that’s not from the Left/Liberals/Communists/Socialist) and the Internet have changed everything here. People/Voters/Taxpayers aren’t as uninformed anymore on the basics. (Tax increase referendums going down in flames.) They may not know all of the details but they do know when they feel they are being taken advantage of and when common sense has been tossed in favor of power and unsustainable salaries and benefits.
Mary Alger, you are an idiot. Thats what her caption should read.
Employees who refuse to go to work are fired and replaced.
Why do we tolerate this cowardly and immature behavior as demonstrated by the Democratic Wisconsin senators ?
Hide and seek is a game children play.
Hi
I’m sure you’re too biased to post this—but we’ll see!!
How many of you posters own 350 acres of land (wi to ill translation–pay as much taxes as I do) with a modestly remodeled house (wi to ill translation–also which I pay taxes on)
They are doing exactly what I am paying them to do!! I support their decision 100%. The truth has come out this week—did you listen to “the” phone call??
walker doesn’t care about Wisconsin tax payers, Wisconsin children, health care for anyone, autistic child care, economic growth for local economies, or telling the truth.
walker only cares about his pact with the koch brothers.
The FAB 14 are my heros!!
And I’ve personally spoken with several via phone and told them so!!!
THE FAB 14 ARE DOING THEIR JOBS MUCH BETTER THAN walker the koch puppet.
How Great of the Tea Party group to out these political cowards.
Thank God for the Algers and you too Cal!
Dave Hanson is my Senator. He is on vacation in Illinois on MY tax dollars and I want my money back!.
What hypocrites! The deviant dodging Democrat Senators don’t want to have to face demonstrators with protest signs. What do they think thousands of their ape-impersonating flunkies are doing as they inflict their selfish threats on Madison and the state house?
President Bush let Cheney do his job…you guys didn’t notice?