Meet The New Fleebaggers (R)

The phrase-makers at Fox and righty talk radio had fun with "fleebaggers," their mocking term for the 14 Wisconsin Senate Democrats who left the state to give everyone the time to see the procedural and policy deceptions in and around Scott Walker's non-fiscal, non-budget-repair union-busting bill (not a law).

I always thought "fleebaggers" had an odd contradiction within, because it echoed and gave legitimacy to "teabaggers" - - a term to which those same conservatives objected mightily as mean and obscene  (I had quit using the term, preferring "tea partiers").

But anyway...

Now consider that Dane County Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi wants to take testimony from Republican legislative leaders to resolve issues surrounding the methods used to approve the Walker bill.

Do we think these legislators will run to her courtroom and testify?

Nope. They are claiming legislative immunity, reports the State Journal:

"Sumi said the injunction hearing, which started on Tuesday and continued Friday, remains open because four Republican lawmakers named as defendants in the lawsuit have not yet had their day in court while they assert legislative immunity, keeping them from becoming involved in the suit."

We'll see how creative they get in ducking the long arm of Judge Sumi's orders, and whether they flee - -  literally - - or in plain sight behind lawyers, and motions and talk radio bluster.

Call them the Silent Majority (Leaders).