One was held in Trenton, N.J. The other was held at the Royal Poinciana Chapel in Palm Beach Florida.
The first was a funeral for the death of collective bargaining and the Democratic Party as we know it. It was held during the biggest protest of the year -- The Second Battle of Trenton -- in New Jersey. Union members and their allies are trying to prevent the state Assembly from concurring with the Senate on an anti-worker bill. It would destroy workers' collective bargaining rights over health care and raise their required contributions for pensions and benefits. One protester drove a shiny black hearse draped with a "Soul of the Democratic Party" banner. Others carried a coffin covered with signs that said, "The Death of Collective Bargaining."
The Newark Star-Ledger gives us an update:
4:19 Scenes from the StatehouseThe Boss gave the eulogy today at the second funeral in Florida, this one for The Big Man, Clarence Clemons, who died Saturday. The towering E Street Band saxophonist was the backbone of the band, which for decades chronicled working-class dreams and struggles. Gov. Chris Christie, a huge Springsteen fan, ordered flags in New Jersey flown at half-staff. One can't help but think, though, that he is tone deaf to the band's message. Springsteen summed it up once as a prelude to a performance of "Jungleland," during which Clemons gave up one of his signature solos. Said The Boss,
The rally is winding down. Assembly members killing time while waiting for the session to start.
Nobody wins unless everybody wins.Let's hope the Assembly has listened a little more carefully to the E Street Band than the governor, the Republican lawmakers and the Democratic leadership.
