BILL HOBBS POSTS PHOTOS from today’s Tennessee teachers’ union protest rally. Give ’em credit — they didn’t call in sick to attend.

Plus, Tea Party counter-protesters. And one who asks: “Why can’t we get our Democrats to flee the state?” Tennessee Democrats haven’t tried that since they absented themselves to block passage of the 14th Amendment during Reconstruction. They were hauled back by Pinkertons, counted present, and locked in a closet until it was over. Of course, this is the first time since Reconstruction that Democrats have been in the minority.