The next time I hear some smarmy progressive nosebleed whining about the lack of civility in American public life (a complaint to be understood as an attack on conservatives), a one-word response will suffice: Wisconsin.

In Wisconsin and elsewhere, progressivism has bared its ugly face. Union goons—acting on behalf of teachers!—are engaged in a campaign of threats and intimidation against the Republican governor and the Republican majority in the state legislature. (Typical protests sign message in Madison: "Scott Walker: The Reason We Need Planned Parenthood." Walker is the new GOP governor of Wisconsin.) And why are they doing this? To protect their members’ unjustifiable, gold-plated benefits packages, which happen to be bankrupting the state. It’s a thoroughly disgusting spectacle, not least because the President of the United States is supporting these union thugs in their vicious attacks on Wisconsin’s duly elected officials. No class, no conscience—that just about sums up Barack Obama and the political faction he represents.