Wisconsin Recall

[Denny Crane]

Democrats failed 3 times to punish Gov. Scott Walker for taking on public unions and balancing the state budget. They previously failed to unseat Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser, and to unseat republicans in the senate.

Walker in his recall election won with a bigger majority than he won the office with in 2010. Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch won big, too.

Republicans in the state senate were recalled, as well, and all won, though one seat is still in doubt. In that race, as of 6 hours ago, Republican Van Wanggaard had 60 percent of the vote to Democratic challenger John Lehman's 40%. Only 28% of precincts are reporting results in that race, though. Reports are that the race is too close to call.

Walker is the first governor in US history to survive a recall effort.

It seems the voters' sentiment was that you don't throw out an elected official because of policy differences. Elections matter.

President Obama was conspicuous for his absence, though he tweeted his support for Walker's challenger, Tom Barrett, the day before the election. However, Democrats and the Unions spent tens of $millions in their efforts.

Obama leads Romney, currently, in the recent polls in Wisconsin. I think the last time Wisconsin went for a republican in the presidential election was in 1984, for Reagan.

 

[Denny Crane]

[video=youtube;kS0Dqz2P1sk]

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

What astounds me is just how much money the unions poured into all this.

And got their asses handed to them.

I'll be honest, I have serious doubts about what Walker did but to recall him over it was pretty childish and I'm glad they lost.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

[video=youtube;vEwXa197uBU]

 

[Eastoff]

Well. I guess the republicans win the country. I won't bother voting anymore. Republicans will easily take the white house. ;]

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

[video=youtube;pchwcD4IPzs]

 

[jlprk]

Walker won by the skin of his teeth because Republicans outspent Democrats 7 to 1, not including secret stuff now allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court. I'd like to know exactly who is on the committee who decides national spending priorities for the Democratic Party. And then hang them.

 

[jlprk]

What astounds me is just how much money the unions poured into all this.

And got their asses handed to them.

I'll be honest, I have serious doubts about what Walker did but to recall him over it was pretty childish and I'm glad they lost.

He got himself elected by keeping secret his radical agenda to end unions. What is childish about unions fighting that?

What was childish was not campaigning on the issue (because it would have made him lose) and then shocking everyone in his first month by trying to move the state back a hundred years.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

[video=youtube;vEwXa197uBU]

That was pretty funny.

 

[Masbee]

He got himself elected by keeping secret his radical agenda to end unions. What is childish about unions fighting that?

What was childish was not campaigning on the issue (because it would have made him lose) and then shocking everyone in his first month by trying to move the state back a hundred years.

Well, as long as you wanna keep repeating the big lie that Walker "end(ed) unions in Wisconsin", we will take you as seriously as that kind of comment deserves.

Public sector unions still exist in Wisconsin. They are still powerful in Wisconsin.

Folks got so use to the monoply power and chronic abuse of power by those public sector unions that it became "normal" despite its inherent unfairness, they equate a rollback or trimming that power to "destruction". It is nothing of the sort.

You give a shout out when the Public Sector unions have been outlawed - like for real. Cry wolf now and what will you have left if it really happens.

Call Walker an "extemist" when all he does is trim union compensation from aburdly high, to nearly absurdly high, and uses the savings to create a balanced budget and save thousands of public sector jobs from the ax. Cry wolf now and what name calling will you have left if a true radical were to appear.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I think the moral of this recall is that it's stupid to recall someone just because you're the minority and don't like a decision they made. I mean, hell, if that were the case Obama should have been recalled over Obamacare. In that case the majority was against the decision and not just a vocal minority. People can talk about the money aspect all they want, but I don't think it played that big a part (losers ALWAYS think it's the money). It's a matter of a wrong reason to recall a politician. That's the true lesson here.

 

[PapaG]

[video=youtube;vEwXa197uBU]

"Democracy died tonight" says the guy on election night.

 

[Masbee]

"Democracy died tonight" says the guy on election night.

Wait,

Holding elections is the death of democracy?

I am confused.

 

[barfo]

The "death of democracy" thing is pretty funny.

Unmentioned in this thread is that if the current results hold, Democrats have taken control of the Wisconsin senate, by recalling 3 Republican senators (two last summer, and one yesterday). So it isn't all bad for democracy.

barfo

 

[jlprk]

I think the moral of this recall is...

The moral is that if your agenda is so extremist that you can't disclose it during your campaign, expect a recall election, and gridlock your entire tenure.

Now that Walker has polarized his state he won't get anything done.

The next governor who tries this stunt cannot depend upon the national Democratic Party being cheap again, and withholding contributions as they did this time.

The moral is, openly debate your agenda during the campaign instead of hiding it like a dictator. If he were in the majority, he wouldn't have hidden his dark plan like a rat.

 

[PapaG]

The "death of democracy" thing is pretty funny.

Unmentioned in this thread is that if the current results hold, Democrats have taken control of the Wisconsin senate, by recalling 3 Republican senators (two last summer, and one yesterday). So it isn't all bad for democracy.

barfo

The problem is that a lot of Dems are up for re-election this fall, and Walker already has had his reform legislation passed. Control of the Senate didn't matter, and could change again in just a matter of months.

This was an unmitigated disaster for Democrats. $50 million in union money poured into the state, and Walker won by more this time around.

 

[PapaG]

The moral is that if your agenda is so extremist that you can't disclose it during your campaign, expect a recall election, and gridlock your entire tenure.

Now that Walker has polarized his state he won't get anything done.

The next governor who tries this stunt cannot depend upon the national Democratic Party being cheap again, and withholding contributions as they did this time.

The moral is, openly debate your agenda during the campaign instead of hiding it like a dictator. If he were in the majority, he wouldn't have hidden his dark plan like a rat.

$50 million to the Dems isn't a lot of money for a recall election in a secondary state?

Wisconsin recall: Results a blow to Big Labor

Big Labor went all in on the Wisconsin recall — putting millions of dollars, months of organizing and its reputation as a political superpower on the line to defeat GOP Gov. Scott Walker.

Then they got trounced on Election Day.


Walker’s decisive victory over Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Tuesday has demonstrated the vulnerability of a long-formidable movement whose ranks are thinning across the country. The failed recall attempt has energized organized labor’s foes and emboldened lawmakers to pick fights with unions in other states. And it has underscored the fact that unions — a potent source of political power and dollars for Democrats — aren’t going to be the left’s counter to conservative groups’ outside cash in November.

Union officials tried to keep up a brave front after Walker’s win. “In the end, money is pretty formidable,” AFL-CIO Political Director Michael Podhorzer said Tuesday night after the race was called for Walker. “I think that after any election, people have to get a good night’s sleep. But I think when they wake up they are going to see how close we came, and that’s going to keep people going until November.”

But Republicans will draw a different conclusion. “I don’t think we can get pushed around anymore by Big Labor,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.

He and other top national Republicans are chalking up Walker’s win as a clear indication of unions’ dwindling power, and anticipate that it won’t be long before other governors follow suit by targeting public employee benefits across the country.

Walker’s triumph sends a message that “fiscal conservative reforms really work,” said Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-Va.), chairman of the Republican Governors Association, even though “people might have had concerns about some of the specific policies and the tough budget cuts that he made.” He added that Walker’s survival “provides a lot of courage to governors across the country that putting your state finances first and politics second is what people are wanting in this country.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0612/77098.html#ixzz1x41D56Ho

 

[Denny Crane]

Wisconsin congress next meets in January. I like it. Let's do that with DC, too!

 

[PapaG]

I'll also point out that the WI Senate doesn't convene again until mid-November.

Why they wasted efforts on a recall is baffles.

 

[PapaG]

Wisconsin congress next meets in January. I like it. Let's do that with DC, too!

I heard November. January is even more funny. Why in the world spend money on those recall races. Very poor planning.

 

[jlprk]

I'll also point out that the WI Senate doesn't convene again until mid-November. Why they wasted efforts on a recall is baffles.

Good point. Why did the Republicans spend 7 times as much as the Democrats to win only a few months of unused power? The Politico quote says the vote was "decisive" (actually 53-46), so why didn't Koch and the other outsider Republican oligarchs save their money for other national priorities, and just let their power grab in this state win "decisively" by itself in November, without the expensive misinformation spending?

 

[PapaG]

Exit polling data also showed that 38% of state public employees voted for Walker.

Maybe a lot of them like not having their paycheck raided by the union prior to even being taxed?

 

[PapaG]

Good point. Why did the Republicans spend 7 times as much as the Democrats to win only a few months of unused power? The Politico quote says the vote was "decisive" (actually 53-46), so why didn't Koch and the other outsider Republican oligarchs save their money for other national priorities, and just let their power grab in this state win "decisively" by itself in November, without the expensive misinformation spending?

Because they didn't? The Dem recall effort used over $50 million of Big Labor money. I know you're not stupid, so stop falling for the Crybaby's "$4 million" spin in the video. Barrett "raised" $4 million after winning the primary in March, but most of the money went toward WI Dem PACs, which were anti-Walker.

Anyhow, you and your public union goons lost. Sorry.

 

[Denny Crane]

53-46 is decisive.

 

[barfo]

Because they didn't? The Dem recall effort used over $50 million of Big Labor money. I know you're not stupid, so stop falling for the Crybaby's "$4 million" spin in the video. Barrett "raised" $4 million after winning the primary in March, but most of the money went toward WI Dem PACs, which were anti-Walker.

Anyhow, you and your public union goons lost. Sorry.

barfo

 

[maxiep]

If I were a Wisconsin voter and I disagreed with Scott Walker's policies, I still would have cast my vote for him. Disagreeing on policy isn't a reason to have a recall election. It's just like if I were a US Senator and the President nominated someone for the Supreme Court who was qualified, but with whom I vehemently disagreed. I would vote to confirm.

Elections have consequences. What's shocking to me is that the Wisconsin Democrats have treated the democratic process so shabbily when votes have gone against them. Hiding out in Illinois, trying to recall a whole host of State Senators and a Supreme Court Justice, etc. If they have the better ideas, they should promote them in the 2012 elections, not through legal wrangling.

 

[maxiep]

What the hell is wrong with these people?

[video=youtube;2yGYfFQjybs]

 

[MARIS61]

Wisconsin is circling the drain and this was the final flush.

 

[MARIS61]

Here's the real story, which will result in the next gov being a Dem anyway:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articl...ll-but-investigations-may-zero-in-on-him.html

 

[maxiep]

Here's the real story, which will result in the next gov being a Dem anyway:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articl...ll-but-investigations-may-zero-in-on-him.html

Ah, another bite at the apple for the Democrats.