May 27, 2012

"One sign that Wisconsin governor Scott Walker is likely to win the election on June 5 is the sudden disappearance of national media attention to the race."

Writes Stephen F. Hayes in The Weekly Standard:
The networks and newspapers that gave wall-to-wall coverage to protests in the streets of Madison in the spring of 2011 and excitedly reported on the drive to collect signatures to force a recall have gone relatively quiet as a succession of polls show Walker leading.... Obama himself, who once promised to walk the picket lines with his union backers when their interests were threatened, seems to want no part of the recall​—​or at least not a high-profile part.

30 comments:

Meade said...

Another sign that Wisconsin governor Scott Walker is likely to win the election on June 5: depressed and despondent lefties wandering around Madison in gloomy despair.

Seven Machos said...

Althouse -- You've done a great service in the past alluding to and outright explaining the apparent fact that the left of our time believes so much in process. Solving the real problems that people face isn't important. What's important, it seems, is symbolizing deep care about these problems and, if possible, demonstrating and marching about it.

The left seems to be intellectually adrift. Even the protests -- which seemed so volatile and full of focus and energy at the time -- were in hindsight wholly symbolic events -- signifying not action but complaint about reality and something akin to frump. Wisconsin is going to end with a whimper, it seems.

Jason (the commenter) said...

Seven Machos: Wisconsin is going to end with a whimper, it seems.

I don't think Walker winning means that Wisconsin will "end".

Unknown said...

Walker supporters are fired up. Fired up!!!

We had to suffer months of the left calling us 'nazis' and telling us that only could they embody democracy, taking over the Capital as if only they could occupy the people's house.

Thanks to Seven Macho's for identifying their intellectual disorientation, but this was more than their ideological incoherence, it was an assault on their neighbors who voted for more sound fiscal management.

Just can't wait for June 5th

gk1 said...

This has been going on as long as I have been reading the MSM. Some local issue that initially helps the democrats is a national referendum except when it isn't. New Jersey and Virginian governor's races where a referendum on Obama until they are not. It is too tedious and predictable to get mad at anymore. I would think they would be just a little bit embarassed carrying the democrats water 24/7

Steve Austin said...

I don't to sound like garage mahal but I really wish that "Our side" would quit with the victory analysis.

This thing is far, far from over. We have no precedent to follow here as to turnout, polling data, etc. There hasn't ever been an election like this. I still think this thing is 50-50 right now. Walker has to overcome literally every living organism both eligible and ineligible to vote that live in Milwaukee and Madison that casting ballots as we speak.

Nothing to be gained with analyzing a Walker win 9 days out, when we still don't know if Walker will win. Plenty of time to do so afterwards if Walker wins.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Wisconsin is going to end with a whimper, it seems.

The unions have only speeded up their whimper.

bagoh20 said...

The press has also gone silent on:

military casualties
war atrocities
civilian casualties
cost of the war
mothers and families of lost soldiers
government surveillance
homelessness
gitmo
interrogation
nation building
Iran
the Arab spring
etc. etc.
pretty much everything serious

Mark said...

signifying not action but complaint about reality and something akin to frump.

I would have said "wank".

Mark said...

[Axelrod to Wisconsin Democrats]Are you calling me on the cellular phone? I don't know you. Who is this? Don't come here, I'm hanging up the phone! Prank caller, prank caller!

Petunia said...

I think one of the main signs is the complete absence of garage mahal for several days. But I also agree with Steve Austin...don't count chickens before they hatch.

Jason said...

Walker has been nothing but stoic and respectful during this entire recall process. He could have lost it numerous times. He's been goaded in public, on Twitter and Facebook, but has never lost it. He's never been confrontational, he's never shouted anyone down.

Meanwhile, people remember the crap that the left put Wisconsin through last winter and spring. Parents remember having to make arrangements for their children after teachers refused to show up to work closing schools. People remember the 14 Wisconsin senators who fled to Illinois, holding up the Wisconsin legislative process for weeks. And people have in their hands property tax bills that, for the first time in a long time, have actually held firm or gone down. That's why Walker's lead in the polls with independents remains strong.

The turnout for Walker next Tuesday is going to be crazy good, simply because millions of people in this state are actually excited to vote for somebody whom they believe in. In the end, that's what matters.

Jane said...

"This is what a Republic looks like!"

sane_voter said...

The chickens . . .

are comin' home . . .

ta rooost

/Rev. Wright

Mark said...

The best reason to worry is that the Democratic Establishment seems to be sure Walker will win.

The Democratic Establishment's recent track record indicates you should bet against anything they're sure of.

So now I'm worried.

Carnifex said...

@mark

Don't let public announcements stand in for reality. The D's know through their polling which way the wind is blowing, but they cannot announce it...that might turn the base off even more, leading to a bigger margin of victory for the enemy. Make no mistake, they believe R's are evil. But then, I think the D's policies are evil, so take it for what it's worth.

edutcher said...

It was over once ANN and New Meadia Meade started covering the protests.

On the scene, day-by-day saturation coverage.

The union slugs never had a chance.

David said...

Garage, are you ok? Seriously, you aren't sick are you? Just say hello so we know you are breathing. No politics (from me at least.) Promise.

David said...

To Bago's list I would add the Roman Catholic lawsuits against the Obama administration.

Rich Vail said...

By jove, I think she's got it! Yeah, I've figured that once the MSM's polls began to show Mr. Walker ahead, they'd stop covering the race...and that's pretty much what's happened.

Michael Haz said...

I spent part of yesterday at a gathering of my wife's relatives, some of whom are hard lefties.

They have grudgingly accepted the idea that Walker will win; not because Walker out-campaigned Barrett, but because the Dems chose the weakest possible candidate. They are pissed a Feingold for not running.

They are also really pissed at the O administration for not supporting Barrett with appearances by any Dems of national importance campaigning with him.

There were a few bitter comments made about the protesters in, at and around the Capitol. "Who let those idiots take over the party and the recall?" was the common theme.

I felt their pain. Heh.

Jeff in Oklahoma said...

Kudos you cheese-heads on supporting Walker. From what I've read, he has actually produced solutions to your state's budget problems.

Seven Machos has a good insight:

Seven Machos said...
Solving the real problems that people face isn't important. What's important, it seems, is symbolizing deep care about these problems and, if possible, demonstrating and marching about it.


For quite some time I've been fascinated by the tug-of-war over "fairness." It seems to me that the Left's concept of "fairness" is to promote equality of outcome. Watching the "OWS" rail against the 1%, or Obama wanting to raise taxes on "the rich." A noble concept, perhaps, but un-grounded from reality.

From the Right, it seems "fairness" means everyone should have the same opportunity to succeed. A great way to promote competition, but also divorced from reality.

The fight is over where the line is drawn. I continue to be astounded as to who in their right (sane) mind truly believes more government is the solution to any problem.

virgil xenophon said...

@7M&Jeffin OKLA/

Yes, it's NEVER about reality with the left, it's ALWAYS about the "narrative." Why is it that those who always claim the moral high-ground (lefties, natch) when in total political control, always, inevitably lead mankind to the graveyard? There is A REASON that the folk saying "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" came about..

Michael K said...

The left is obsessed with process. Does anyone else remember Clinton's Sec State (Madeline Halfbright) saying, after 9/11, "Of course we took terrorism seriously ! We had meetings every week!"

Strelnikov said...

Speaking of signs, and as I commented on an earlier post, I'm in Door Co., WI, this week for the start of the season and yard signs are running about 2 to 1 for Walker. In '08, we were inundated with "hope" posters. I did see a young couple pushing their stroller around wearing matching "WI fist" t-shirts. As I usually do, I asked them why Door Co. was not part of the first - which would necessitate extending the pinky. They put their noses in the air and marched on to the future. I yelled for them to get off my lawn.

SukieTawdry said...

Well, to hear Debbie Wasserman-Schultz tell it, for Democrats Wisconsin is a dry-run for the national (in both, the get-out-the-vote drive will be HUGE), but a Walker victory will have no repercussions on either the party or the national (and certainly not the president). If, however, Barrett wins, the repercussions will be enormous. I hope that clears everything up.

Richard Bublitz said...

I've been confident for some time that Gov. Walker will retain his position. But several things do bother me. One is why does Rebecca Klefish have to run separately. Heaven forbid a republican Governor and a Democrat Lt Governor. Next, that the Dems are quiet - do they have a bomb to drop. Of course, things will turn out right for Wisconsin and the USA. But, do you think the protestors, OWS and other community activist will acquiesce?

sane_voter said...

DWS Liberal logic:
The recall election means nothing. only nothing consumes tens of millions of dollars, hundreds of thousands of hours gathering signatures, and tens of thousands attending crazy demonstrations for months.

But at least the Dems got to shoot their wad, even if it was ultimately a circle jerk of massive proportions.

Dante said...

Ann, you need a "press bias" tag.

Methadras said...

The leftards have decided to downsize the coverage in order to minimize their loses as a function of not appearing for the last 2 years that they've essentially been the catalyst for their own demise. My god, can these idiots be anymore idiotic? They think that by minimizing coverage of Wisconsin that they will somehow control the splash over to Urkel to quell the narrative that his money, his goons, his ideology has been the reason why this whole thing has taken place to begin with? Do these people even understand what they are about or even fighting for or against? L-Oh-Fucking-L