It's a fantastic event where people from all walks of life come together and just have fun.
It's a respite from the nightmares and annoyances of daily life. For a day or a few hours, forget about the disastrous economy, sinking home values, contentious recall elections, scandals, blah, blah, blah.
Have some food on a stick and relax. Listen to the live music. Have a cream puff, a heavenly cream puff. Watch the pig races. Buy a mop or the latest, new and improved slicer and dicer.
What's not to love?
PROTESTERS.
Protesters marred today's opening ceremony. They refused to show the event the respect it deserves. Instead, some goons decided they would attack Governor Scott Walker, completely disregarding the spirit of the fair, a celebration of Wisconsin.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The politics that have split the state since winter spilled into a Wisconsin summer tradition Thursday morning during Gov. Scott Walker's meet-and-greet at the opening ceremony of the Wisconsin State Fair.
Protesters in red shirts chanted "shame" and "recall Walker" during Walker's speech while supporters of Walker cheered him on.
While Walker spoke, Lynn Ziehr, 49, of Richfield shouted "shame" right back at the protesters.
Ziehr has been attending the fair for many years, but this was her first time attending the opening ceremony. She did so this year to support Walker.
Ziehr said she didn't think the protest was appropriate for the event.
"I can't believe how much hatred is going around this state," she said.
Barb Neddo, 49, and her daughter Sarah, 19, protested at the event sporting "Recall Walker" shirts.
Sarah Neddo, a sophomore at UW-Madison, said she thinks it's important to let people know that the protests aren't going away.
"We're still here and we're still fighting," she said.
Mother and daughter both noted that, for the most part, people kept their cool at the event.
Sarah Neddo said she thinks it's great that people on both sides could express their views and then go enjoy a day at the fair.
Ziehr, too, said she planned to stay at the fair for the rest of the day, and is excited to see the draft horses.
Other speakers at the opening included Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and West Allis Mayor Dan Devine.
From 620 WTMJ, a less sanitized account of what happened:
Amidst the fun and frivolity of the State Fair's opening day, some protesters of Republican Governor Scott Walker's policies came and showed their disapproval when he spoke at the fair.
As Walker gave the last speech of the opening ceremony at the fair on Thursday morning, protesters yelled "Shame, shame, shame!"
"You're a weasel," came from one of the protesters.
TODAY'S TMJ4's Diane Pathieu tells us that what began as 20 to 30 protesters eventually turned into twice that many people shouting during the duration of Walker's speech.
Walker claimed that the protests shouldn't stop the fun of the fair.
"Out of 800,000 people, (there's) 50-60 people, they have their right to do that," said Walker.
"Most people who come to the fair will tell you they set aside politics and business and have a good time."
But for Milwaukee Public Schools teacher Julianna Kelly, it was a chance to get up close to the governor and make her voice heard, and she's not done yet.
"Our government is supposed to be of the people, be by the people for the people," explained Kelly.
"(His policies) hurt way too many people, not just teachers, Medicare, Social Security, the elderly, children of poverty."
Not "SHAME, SHAME, SHAME"! Not again!!!
Good grief.
This ticks me off. It really does.
For God's sake, give it a rest at the fair.
What are these thugs going to do at the Governor's Auction?
One of the highlights of the Fair is the Governor's Red, White and Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction. The Coliseum will bustle with the excitement and chatter of the Governor's Red, White and Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction as auctioneers chide bidders to raise the stakes and up the ante. Exhilaration and the excitement level increases as the bids go higher and higher on each Champion Market Steer, Lamb and Barrow. Proceeds from the event contribute to youth agriculture programs and scholarships.
Read more about this great event.
The protesters disrupting the opening ceremony of the 2011 Wisconsin State Fair have no shame.
Really disgusting.
Sadly, this sort of behavior is a hallmark of the Scott Walker detractors. They're blinded by their hate. They are unhinged.
Remember when protesters disrupted a Special Olympics event at the Capitol?
Here's video of the disgraceful display at the State Fair today, from the MacIver Institute:
Look at these people! They're crazed. They're an embarrassment. How terribly inappropriate! Such thuggery is no way to win hearts and minds to their cause.
Kudos to the MacIver Institute for doing such a terrific job of informing the public.
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