Scott Walker Wins Wisconsin Recall
I predicted a 2-4 point loss. The emotional game goes to the challenger in recalls. Further, the unions that are dependent on this election have decades of built in ground game. I was listening to the radio and I heard that they knocked on thousands of doors and called even more. Walker was ahead in the polls, but he was slowing down in the final days.
I had the ill luck of having to drive to Charlotte tonight, so I wasn’t able to watch the election results at all. I tried keeping track on my phone, but that proved to be untenable on the road. So I called family and friends and asked them to keep me up to date via texts.
What a great trip!
Walker took a massive lead early and never really was challenged. Fox called it when 25% of the vote was in, the rest soon followed suit.
What Does This Mean
Wisconsin has now elected their governor twice. Twice, and he still has another term to run for. Mr. Walker was clear about what he was gonna do when he ran the first time. Then, when in office, he did them. Rather, he TRIED to do them. When faced with a vote that they didn’t like, the Democrats ran from their job, ran from their capital and even ran from their state. All to prevent a vote.
An interesting functional filibuster don’t ya say?
Then, when the democrats tried to take control of the senate by recalling a number of members, they lost. The senate remained in control of the republicans. Finally, after the requisite number of months in office, the democrats tried to recall him. While they were successful in forcing the election, they were unsuccessful in their bid to unseat him.
The people have spoken. Spoken at least three times. They want this governor, they want this senate, they want these reforms and they are tired of the status quo.
The reforms that the legally elected republicans moved into law through a legally sanctioned vote have worked for the state. Budgets have seen significant relief, many have been balanced. School districts have been able to obtain fiscal flexibility while not having to lay off teachers. In short, Walker works.
Finally the people of Wisconsin are not pleased that the recall election even took place. The recall process is meant to force out a governor that has been guilty of some crime or of some ethical lapse. Mr. Walker is guilty of neither. The only thing he did was pass legislation that made the liberals mad.
So they sulked and pouted and wanted a redo.
And the good folks of Wisconsin didn’t appreciate that.
Does This Have Implications Nationally
I don’t think so. I think that Wisconsin remains steadily blue. The folks there are liberal at heart but simply found that they need a dose of fiscal reality. The continued spending and taxing of the past finally caught up. They’ve had enough.
As I’m listening to the news now I am hearing that a large number of folks who voted for Walker will continue to support Obama in the upcoming election in November. I think the number is 18%.
That’s big.
Wisconsin will roll blue for the President this fall.
Pino ,
I think Wisconsin is in play for two reasons . One the polls were wrong on how close the governor race would be . So how can you trust them ? Two, Wisconsin Democrats are exhausted . They threw a lot of volunteers and money into this and lost . This was their Stalingrad .
One the polls were wrong on how close the governor race would be .
That’s fair, however, I don’t think that support for Obama has evaporated. I think the good citizens of Wisconsin saw 2 things:
1. Democrat bullshit
2. Being Liberal doesn’t mean having to let big labor control the state.
They threw a lot of volunteers and money into this and lost .
I was watching Maddow last night. She pointed out that the largest democratic fiscal support came form unions. As the union membership in Wisconsin fades, so too will their influence. We’ll always have republicans and democrats in the badger state, but maybe now we’ll have more conservative democrats.
The senate may not be a done deal, of course. http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/gop-state-senator-not-conceding-in-wisconsin-recall
The senate may not be a done deal, of course.
Yeah, I was exhausted last night and when I was posting was only referring to the previous recall elections for the senate; totally forgot that the dems were successful in forcing recall votes for the freshman senators as well. And you are right, one of the 4 republicans may lose, he’s short 800 out of 70,000 cast. However, the senate is out of session until after the election. An election that sees 16 of 33 seats up for bid. And the maps have been redistricted to the advantage of the republicans.
Pino,
I don’t know that Romney will win Wisconsin, but by putting it in play, Obama now has to defend it it . Romney is beginning to reverse the fund raising edge of the Democrats . Romney can force Obama to spend a lot of money here .
I don’t know that Romney will win Wisconsin, but by putting it in play, Obama now has to defend it it . Romney is beginning to reverse the fund raising edge of the Democrats . Romney can force Obama to spend a lot of money here .
Now that is a GREAT point.
And yes, we are seeing Romney gain momentum in the fundraising space.
I love that the Democrats are hand wringing about the lack of funding they are going to get from the unions as a result of the fact that they can no longer force union membership and dues.