Althouse: "Recall petitions against three Democratic senators and one more Republican were filed... Thursday..."

२२ एप्रिल, २०११

"Recall petitions against three Democratic senators and one more Republican were filed... Thursday..."

"... bringing the total count of state senators facing potential recall elections up to eight."

In Wisconsin, where democracy never ends. We have a thoroughly, continually, annoyingly politically engaged citizenry.

By the way, what's the score now? 4 to 4? 3 to 5? I can't keep track. I hate the recall thing, but if the Dems do it to the Republicans, I find it hard not to support the pushback of Republicans against Dems. But really, I think it's unfair to ordinary citizens, who got their voting work done last November and deserved to be free from elections until those terms end. It's also a waste of money.

The Republicans won power decisively last fall and have been focused more on exercising power than talking to the public about why what they are doing is a good idea. I hope they use this recall opportunity to explain and persuade. It's not just a matter of winning the recall election. Flip it into something very positive. As I've said, I hate this recall movement, but now that it's here, I hope the folks who made it happen come to bitterly regret what they have done.

१०३ टिप्पण्या:

Bayoneteer म्हणाले...: This is what democracy looks like Ann. Slow motion mob rule.; २२/४/११, ८:१२ AM
Drew म्हणाले...: Hey, what happened with that situation where the thugs broke in and stole all the recall petitions for some Dem Senator in the eastern part of the state?; २२/४/११, ८:१३ AM
garage mahal म्हणाले...: I hate the recall thing, but if the Dems do it to the Republicans, I find it hard not to support the pushback of Republicans against Dems.

The Republican group out of Utah filed one week befor Democrats did. Not surprisngly they hired out of state canvassers, including a felon, who stole someones bag at Lambeau Field. That, and buying shots for people willing to sign. Pathetic.; २२/४/११, ८:१५ AM
Dan from Madison म्हणाले...: I wonder why they are targeting state senators instead of assembly members.; २२/४/११, ८:१६ AM
ALH म्हणाले...: I think this development gives us reason to pause.; २२/४/११, ८:१७ AM
Joe म्हणाले...: (The Crypto Jew)
The Republican group out of Utah filed one week befor Democrats did. Not surprisngly they hired out of state canvassers, including a felon, who stole someones bag at Lambeau Field. That, and buying shots for people willing to sign. Pathetic.

Geeeee, Garage we’re just learning from our California peers, in the Democratic party…To make it truly fair we’d have hired ACORN, to dummy up the petitions, pay Minimum Wage, and No Over-time to the “volunteers.”; २२/४/११, ८:१७ AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: The Republican group out of Utah filed one week befor Democrats did. Not surprisngly they hired out of state canvassers, including a felon, who stole someones bag at Lambeau Field. That, and buying shots for people willing to sign. Pathetic.

garbage continues to be a spokesman for the politics of vengeance, hatred and thuggery.

And, the dumb SOB is proud of it, too!

Go figure.; २२/४/११, ८:१८ AM
Scott M म्हणाले...: It's also a waste of money.

In the face of the unprecedented (in WI)flee-bagging, I'd have to say it's not. When an elected official purposely dodges the very job they were voted in to accomplish, I see no reason why the machinery that got them their jobs in the first place can't be used to rebuke them in the strongest way possible.; २२/४/११, ८:१८ AM
Joe म्हणाले...: (The Crypto Jew)
I wonder why they are targeting state senators instead of assembly members.

On the GOP side it’s fairly obvious, the Democratic Assembly members didn’t flee the state…….Also, if it’s like my state, the Assembly have 2 years terms, and it sticks in my head that it is a 2 year period BEFORE YOU CAN FILE A RECALL, meaning that by the time you could file a Recall, it would be time for a General Election, any way…hence you really can’t “recall” Assembly members…but that’s just my theory.; २२/४/११, ८:२० AM
TosaGuy म्हणाले...: You can't recall someone in their first year of office and all assemblyfolks were elected/reelected in 2010.; २२/४/११, ८:२२ AM
Meade म्हणाले...: Dan from Madison said...
"I wonder why they are targeting state senators instead of assembly members."

Isn't it strategic? It would take fewer senate seats to flip than assembly seats in order to take control of one chamber, right?; २२/४/११, ८:२३ AM
Automatic_Wing म्हणाले...: Yeah, it's great to see Republicans finally engaging in "community organizing".

And buying shots for people is pure genius, I'm sure the complimentary adult beverages were much appreciated. Don't be such a wet blanket, garage.; २२/४/११, ८:२४ AM
I'm Full of Soup म्हणाले...: "Where democracy never ends" unfortunately. Perhaps you should copyright that phrase and pitch it as the state slogan for license plates, postcards, coffe mugs etc.; २२/४/११, ८:२४ AM
wordsmith2 म्हणाले...: What you said, Ann, a "thoroughly, continually, annoyingly politically engaged citizenry." Now my Madison liberal Facebook friends are forwarding messages complaining about how the social media sites are being taken over by fan pages and businesses trying to promote themselves. It's not OK for writers and photographers and game developers, etc., to try to gain visibility, but it is OK to be spammed about what the evil Koch brothers have done this week or how the GAB investigation must be flawed, therefore Go Kloppenburg! Flush a few million more Wisconsin tax dollars down the drain in a recount.

Spare me.; २२/४/११, ८:२४ AM
Dan from Madison म्हणाले...: The two year thing does make sense if that applies to all state officials.; २२/४/११, ८:२५ AM
TosaGuy म्हणाले...: The average Dem in Madison will be quite surprised to learn that there aren't nearly as many people like them in the rest of Wisconsin, especially in senate districts won by Republicans in 2008.; २२/४/११, ८:२५ AM
I'm Full of Soup म्हणाले...: Garbage:

Buying shots for Utah residents who are mostly Mormons? Sounds like another one of the librul urban legends.; २२/४/११, ८:२८ AM
JOhn म्हणाले...: Recalls are a terrible idea in general. It is wrong to recall a politician just because you don't like the way they voted on a particular issue. Work hard to win the next election.

As we've seen, powerful special interest groups such as unions are able to exploit the recall process. Can you imagine what a disaster it would be if we had recalls at the federal level? The president and Congress would be facing recall every single year!; २२/४/११, ८:३१ AM
TosaGuy म्हणाले...: Why do you take two Mormons fishing......because if you only take one he will drink all your beer.; २२/४/११, ८:३१ AM
Joe म्हणाले...: (The Crypto Jew)
Recalls are a terrible idea in general. It is wrong to recall a politician just because you don't like the way they voted on a particular issue.

MUCH BETTER to have to ride out the full four year term of Gray Davis…..; २२/४/११, ८:३३ AM
roesch-voltaire म्हणाले...: Garage is not the only to notice what the Republicans have done as this comment from the Greenbaypressgazette illustrates: It is interesting that local people are not the ones motivated to go out and collect signatures to recall Senator Hansen even though the Republicans have now resorted to having to pay in order to get signatures. The recall was initiated by a Utah group. The recall committees are using people from out of state to do the leg work of acquiring the necessary signatures. What forces are really at work here?; २२/४/११, ८:३६ AM
I'm Full of Soup म्हणाले...: Tosa:

Good one - I had heard that what happens outside of Utah stays outside of Utah.; २२/४/११, ८:३७ AM
Drew म्हणाले...: The average Dem in Madison will be quite surprised to learn that there aren't nearly as many people like them in the rest of Wisconsin

"How could Prosser have won? Nobody I know voted for him!"; २२/४/११, ८:३९ AM
JOhn म्हणाले...: "MUCH BETTER to have to ride out the full four year term of Gray Davis….."

You can always find scenarios where recalls have served the public good. Gray Davis may have been rightly recalled from office. But my point is that the recall process can be and is currently being badly abused by the unions. Elected officials often have to make decisions that are unpopular in the short term. The threat of recall only makes them less likely to do what's right and more likely to do what is politically expedient. Politicians have done the expedient thing for decades, and look where that's got us.; २२/४/११, ८:३९ AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: I'm not seeing the moral equivalence.

The move to recall the dems was initiated because they violated their oath, and fled the State to abort the legislative process.

The republicans, so it seems, are being recalled as revenge for winning the last election.; २२/४/११, ८:४२ AM
Joe म्हणाले...: (The Crypto Jew)
The recall committees are using people from out of state to do the leg work of acquiring the necessary signatures. What forces are really at work here?

Geee R-V, MARKET FORCES….it’s not difficult to explain OR understand, UNLESS you are some kind of Conspiratorial Nut….many states allow Recalls or Ballot Initiatives, HOWEVER, the skills necessary in crafting petitions, collecting “valid” signatures, and the sheer manpower involved make it difficult for grass roots groups, usually new to the idea, the PARTICULAR idea, to accomplish their goals.

Nationwide, however, these efforts are on-going 365 days a year…SO folks who have done it successfully, begin to market that “skill set” to those who lack them, but who do want a ballot initiative or recall in their state. You know, just like those with a talent for Chartered Accountancy or Marketing sell their skill sets to those who need them, but don’t have them. It emerged in that despicable Liberal H3ll that is California, where ballot initiatives are big and on-going business…groups realized that they had a talent for the job of drafting valid petitions and getting the signatures, they then began to sell that ability to other grups in need…first in CA and now nationwide.

Funny, when ACORN does it, it’s “Community Organizing” but when a non-Left group does it, it’s “shadowy forces”….sorry R-V, you’re just reaping themore of Uncle Alinski’i and not enjoying it…..

You know it's FUN, schooling you R-V...; २२/४/११, ८:४४ AM
MadisonMan म्हणाले...: 'Flip it into something very positive' she says.

Pollyann(a) Althouse.

TosaGuy, is your senator facing recall? I doubt my (D) Senator will be. Although it would be nice to have a different Senator.; २२/४/११, ८:४५ AM
TosaGuy म्हणाले...: MM,

My senator is Leah Vukmir and she was elected in 2010.; २२/४/११, ८:४९ AM
JOhn म्हणाले...: "I'm not seeing the moral equivalence. The move to recall the dems was initiated because they violated their oath, and fled the State to abort the legislative process. The republicans, so it seems, are being recalled as revenge for winning the last election."

I agree with you that the Republican recall efforts are justified because the Senate Democrats tried to undermine the Democratic process. But I think we would be better off if there was no recall process or if it was much more limited. For example, a good way to prevent abuse would be to allow only one recall election per year. The Senate Democrats could be held accountable in the next regular election.; २२/४/११, ८:४९ AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: The recall committees are using people from out of state to do the leg work of acquiring the necessary signatures. What forces are really at work here?

It's those evil outside agitators. What's next? State's rights?

Good thing that SEIU kept it all in state.; २२/४/११, ८:४९ AM
PaulV म्हणाले...: This is a revote of 2008 election. I would think democrats should be afraid. The anger they have shown in Madison will hurt the fllebaggers.; २२/४/११, ८:४९ AM
JOhn म्हणाले...: The Republicans have much more to lose in these recalls than they have to gain.; २२/४/११, ८:५१ AM
Joe म्हणाले...: (The Crypto Jew)
For example, a good way to prevent abuse would be to allow only one recall election per year. The Senate Democrats could be held accountable in the next regular election.

Why one per year? What do you mean “one per year?” So 50% of your Senate could be seen taking bribes, but you could only recall ONE OF THEM?

Recalls fail because they require you to get a fixed, and usually large, number of registered voters to sign a petition….Recalls may exist in many states, but how many ACTUALLY happen? Not many, because though NARAL or SEIU or Americans for Tax Reform may file petitions CONSTANTLY, a vast majority of them never get filed, because they fail to get the requisite signatures. So the “burden” of recalls, falls on the groups making the effort, not the state….because like baby animals, most NEVER grow to adulthood and actually become an election.

Bottom-Line: most recalls never go anywhere and the idea, is generally, an irrelevancy.; २२/४/११, ८:५३ AM
Patrick म्हणाले...: Seriously, buying shots is so much better than the many alternatives, for example, buying entitlements with other people's money.; २२/४/११, ८:५५ AM
Joe म्हणाले...: (The Crypto Jew)

Yes, R-V is worried about “outside agitators” a’stirrn’n up the pot…I give him his new slogan…

“I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say collective bargaining for public employees now, collective bargaining for public employees tomorrow, collective bargaining for public employees forever."; २२/४/११, ८:५७ AM
JOhn म्हणाले...: "Bottom-Line: most recalls never go anywhere and the idea, is generally, an irrelevancy."

You may be right that most recalls never go anywhere. I have a feeling that the Democrats will fail to take back the Senate. But the unions can still pull a small victory out of this. These recall efforts are meant to send a message to other states about what could happen if they try to do what Walker did.

If politicians do something illegal, they can still be impeached. What the Senate Democrats did was absolutely wrong, but it was not technically illegal. I certainly hope the voters hold them accountable for it.; २२/४/११, ८:५९ AM
TosaGuy म्हणाले...: GOP senators facing recalls won in 2008 in a year where Dems were in their Obama frenzy. Some of the Dem senators facing recall won by very narrow margins in that same election.

The GOP really doesn't have to defeat the Dem senators either, it simply has to make those races competitive so the Dems have to fragment their resources and fight using multiple messages.

I see, at the most, one of these eight seats flipping. Also, the Dems may be starting to realize that if they lose these recalls, they hand the GOP a mandate.; २२/४/११, ९:०१ AM
David म्हणाले...: Booze for the voters is an American tradition that goes back to colonial times. More recently big city machines have gone straight to cash. "Walking around money" always gets put to good use in Chicago and other cities.

It's the American Way, Garage. What are you, some kind of communist? (Oh, I forgot.); २२/४/११, ९:०४ AM
David म्हणाले...: The recalls will fail. So will the recount. The net effect will be to make swing voters annoyed with Democrats. Althouse is cutting edge on that trend.; २२/४/११, ९:०६ AM
Joe म्हणाले...: (The Crypto Jew)
These recall efforts are meant to send a message to other states about what could happen if they try to do what Walker did.

Only IF they win, otherwise it’s a net “win” for Walker or Walker-like forces…because the AFL-CIO expends time and more importantly MONEY that could be better used. So if the AFL-CIO/Democrats FAIL in the bulk of their recall efforts, it’s ENCOURAGING to other forces, like Walker, because not only do you execute the Public Policy of your desire, your opponent will waste valuable resources in a futile effort to overturn the effort.; २२/४/११, ९:०६ AM
JOhn म्हणाले...: My point is that recalls should not be done over political issues. Only one recall allowed per year would make this more likely(although it wouldn't spare the Governor).

Still, I agree that if the Democrats are going to abuse the recall process, then the Republicans have no choice but to fight back. Recalling the Senate Democrats is justified because they tried to undermine November's election results.; २२/४/११, ९:०७ AM
JOhn म्हणाले...: "Only IF they win, otherwise it’s a net “win” for Walker or Walker-like forces…because the AFL-CIO expends time and more importantly MONEY that could be better used."

In some cases you are probably right. But in some of the more liberal states (such as California), I think politicians will be intimidated by what the unions are doing.; २२/४/११, ९:१० AM
Lem Vibe Bandit म्हणाले...: We have a thoroughly, continually, annoyingly politically engaged citizenry.

My favorite word in that sentence is annoyingly.

Finality.. no such devil.; २२/४/११, ९:११ AM
roesch-voltaire म्हणाले...: Well Joe it also has to do with the perception of the average voter in Greenbay as this poster notes:
I am not a strong supporter of the Dems, but I am so appalled by the endless dirty tactics of the GOP. They are getting as dirty and ugly as Nixon.

The GOP seem dangerously power hungry. This cannot be good for the people of our state.; २२/४/११, ९:१२ AM
Lincolntf म्हणाले...: Yeah, R-V, the Republicans are the dirty ones. Because they voted on Legislation? While the Dems fled the State, abandoned their jobs, battered public monuments, issued death threats and used the basest tactics of fear and hate to inflame their "supporters". Keep rewriting history, it's all you've got.; २२/४/११, ९:१६ AM
Sprezzatura म्हणाले...: "I hope the folks who made it happen come to bitterly regret what they have done."

And if those folks win, where will Althouse's bitterness go? Starting at a strong seven (possibly an eight) doesn't leave much upside potential.

We shall see.

P.S.
Why can't Althouse just say that she's against these recalls because it may upset her political preferences? Her melodramatic concern that citizens are too busy to vote is silly. Even so, her explanation is bursting w/ the truth, as she can't contain her true worry, that the Rs may lose power.

Hint: It would help Althouse disguise her true partisan motivations if she augmented her logistics based anti-recall argument w/ a call for the government to ban recalls. If that law was really her concern, this solution would be obvious, it would be imperative! Why no anti-law advocation?; २२/४/११, ९:१७ AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: The GOP seem dangerously power hungry. This cannot be good for the people of our state.

Commies in Madison are certainly in tune with the people of the state of Wisconsin.

Let's see, the commies just want to continue to extract dues from state workers to fund Democratic candidates, who then kick back plus salaries and benefits to state workers.

No power grab there!

Just the orderly transfer of money from the yokels out in the sticks to the commies in Madison. Which is how God intended it to be.; २२/४/११, ९:१८ AM
Sprezzatura म्हणाले...: "We have a thoroughly, continually, annoyingly politically engaged citizenry.

My favorite word in that sentence is annoyingly."

My favorite word is 'projection.'; २२/४/११, ९:१९ AM
MadisonMan म्हणाले...: I'd say that of the Republicans, Kapanke is the most vulnerable. His district is not very conservative -- I think it went for Kloppenburg. Of course, it all depends on who is running against him. I freely concede Democrats will likely screw things up and put a disciple of All Things Union and lose.; २२/४/११, ९:२० AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: Why can't Althouse just say that she's against these recalls because it may upset her political preferences? Her melodramatic concern that citizens are too busy to vote is silly. Even so, her explanation is bursting w/ the truth, as she can't contain her true worry, that the Rs may lose power.

Bullshit.

The question is: Do you accept the outcome of elections when you don't win?

For the Dems, the answer is Hell no!; २२/४/११, ९:२० AM
Scott M म्हणाले...: While the Dems fled the State, abandoned their jobs, battered public monuments, issued death threats and used the basest tactics of fear and hate to inflame their "supporters".

Fair is fair. The Democrat officials didn't batter any monuments or issue death threats, did they? I'm not trying to be overly literal, but if a recount is in the offing and that's what we're arguing about, best to keep it caged in the actual reasons they are facing that recount.

Things like leaving the state, abandoning their constituents and their oaths of office, etc.; २२/४/११, ९:२१ AM
Sprezzatura म्हणाले...: "The question is: Do you accept the outcome of elections when you don't win?"

Recalls are legal. This blather should be focused on the law, if that was really the problem.

But, it isn't the problem. Y'all don't like the potential political implications, regardless of the means.; २२/४/११, ९:२४ AM
garage mahal म्हणाले...: The question is: Do you accept the outcome of elections when you don't win?

Republicans filed FIRST.

First comes *before* second, poutythomas.; २२/४/११, ९:२४ AM
EnigmatiCore म्हणाले...: "My point is that recalls should not be done over political issues. Only one recall allowed per year would make this more likely"

More likely, there would be exactly one recall election each year. There would be a race to collect petitions to get which race it would be, with the party in power collecting for a recall in their safest seat (which they would hold in the recall election) and the party out of power collecting signatures in the district where they felt they would have the best chance of winning.

There would be no waiting for there to be a real need for a recall (which is the part that is being abused this year). The party in power would be looking to inoculate themselves against any scandals that would be exposed that year, and the party out of power going after their best opportunity before they get locked out by the inoculation.; २२/४/११, ९:२५ AM
Scott M म्हणाले...: Republicans filed FIRST.

As they should have as their targets' transgressions were by far the more odious.; २२/४/११, ९:२५ AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: I predict that the outcome of the recalls will be that the Democrats fail to flip the Senate to their advantage.

So, the question is:

Will the Dems finally accept that the Republicans won the election and that the voters have spoken? Or will they just move on to another obstruction tactic?

My bet... more obstruction.; २२/४/११, ९:२५ AM
Sal म्हणाले...: Is having a politically engaged citizenry actually annoying? I did not know that.

Now, you’re kind of glossing over this, but not engaging the public on what they were doing is pretty much why all of this went down. If they’d have gone through the normal channels and traditions, we’d be way passed this by now.

And finally, regarding is as an opportunity to explain and persuade though we’re on opposite sides of this, this is my hope, as well. Use the recalls to explain, discuss and debate. At its most essential element, this is what the Dems have been asking for, from the start. In that regard, we have won. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t expect the recall number to change much of anything down at the Capitol. If anything does change to our favor, it’s just gravy. Why would there be anything to bitterly regret?; २२/४/११, ९:२७ AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: Tactical note to the Democrats.

You should run only gay, black female candidates.

Then you can accuse anybody who opposes you of being homophobic, racist and sexist.

Don't know if it will work, but at least you'll be in a constant state of sanctimonious orgasm.

Let the halo preening begin!; २२/४/११, ९:२८ AM
EnigmatiCore म्हणाले...: "I am not a strong supporter of the Dems, but I am so appalled by the endless dirty tactics of the GOP. They are getting as dirty and ugly as Nixon.

The GOP seem dangerously power hungry. This cannot be good for the people of our state. "

R-v, I don't have to quote any other poster. I can quote myself.

I am not a strong supporter of the GOP, but I am appalled by the endless dirty tactics of the Democrats. They have gotten worse than they were in the days of Tammany Hall and brought Chicago nationwide.

The Democrats seem dangerously power-hungry. This cannot be good for any state.; २२/४/११, ९:२९ AM
TosaGuy म्हणाले...: With regard to Kapanke, if the recall election is during the summer, then many UW-LaCrosse students won't be around...few thousand potential Dem votes right there. Sure, many will still be at home in the district, but they won't be as influenced by the perpetual 'cause' machine of a UW campus.; २२/४/११, ९:३० AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: My state senator Kapanke(R) has a decent chance of being voted out on the recall.

He's the type of person I think we NEED in legislature...real world work experience, an employee and laster as a job creator. He has been very gracious in the past few months despite death threats and vandalism.

One of the things he has in his favor is that the recall election will likely take place while the state colleges in his district are out for the summer. In a close election, that might be the difference.

He's facing a Democrat, Rep. Jen Schilling, who is perfectly likable and isn't a flamethrower (that might come later as the election gets closer). Besides disagreeing with her policies, I've never trusted someone who has spent there entire working career only as a politician.; २२/४/११, ९:३१ AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: @Tosa Guy -

looks we had the same thoughts re: the effect of UWL/UW EauClaire being out of session for the election.

great minds, and all that.; २२/४/११, ९:३३ AM
roesch-voltaire म्हणाले...: Folks read the posts carefully and you will discover that the quotes are from the good citizens of Greenbay, not Madison,and my point is that the Republican approach to the recall efforts there are earning them a negative reputation with the citizens of Greenbay! Somehow your fixation on Madison liberals seems to cloud your judgement.; २२/४/११, ९:३७ AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: Somehow your fixation on Madison liberals seems to cloud your judgement.

No, we just know that you are a commie from Madison.

So, how in the hell would you know what the hicks in the sticks are thinking?

When was the last time you talked to somebody outside your commie cell?

Hint: This is where you throw in the McCarthyism bit!; २२/४/११, ९:३९ AM
Joe म्हणाले...: (The Crypto Jew)
Well Joe it also has to do with the perception of the average voter in Greenbay as this poster notes:
I am not a strong supporter of the Dems, but I am so appalled by the endless dirty tactics of the GOP. They are getting as dirty and ugly as Nixon.

The GOP seem dangerously power hungry. This cannot be good for the people of our state.

Yeah R-V, I’m sure Pauline Kael would have written the same thing, too…I’m certain the above was written by an “average voter” Mayhap an average voter of YOUR acquaintance, which is to say a very liberal Democrat, but beyond that we’ll see.; २२/४/११, ९:४३ AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: @roesch-voltaire

When was the last time you talked to somebody who thinks that "gay marriage" is an amusing contradiction in terms?

You know, one of those bigots?

Find one of those and you'll get a better idea what people think outside of your commie cell in Madison.; २२/४/११, ९:४६ AM
JohnnyT1948 म्हणाले...: I think it would be great if a conservative Republican would file to run in the Democratic primary for the slot against Kapanke in the recall election. Make the Dems spend and get their voters out just to get their favored candidate through the primary. The more time, effort and money they have to spend in the primary, the less they have to spend on the recall election. If they want scorched earth politics, they need to find out that both parties can do that.; २२/४/११, ९:५१ AM
Thorley Winston म्हणाले...: You may be right that most recalls never go anywhere. I have a feeling that the Democrats will fail to take back the Senate. But the unions can still pull a small victory out of this. These recall efforts are meant to send a message to other states about what could happen if they try to do what Walker did.

If someone holds a gun to your head, pulls the trigger and misfires, I think the wisest course of action is still to disarm the next guy who tires to put a gun to your head before he gets a chance to pull the trigger.

Meaning: if public employee unions really are so powerful that they can get enough votes to hold a recall election (even if they may have enough votes to actually recall an elected official), then elected officials should push forward with efforts to defund them and eliminate a future threat.; २२/४/११, ९:५४ AM
Alex म्हणाले...: Ok, I have to admit. The WI GOP overreached. They won the election and interpreted it as a mandate for radical right-wing agenda, and the people are revolting against it.; २२/४/११, ९:५५ AM
Lincolntf म्हणाले...: It's not the people revolting against the Government, it's Government employees revolting against the people.; २२/४/११, ९:५८ AM
X म्हणाले...: I am not a strong supporter of the Dems

yes, much like Beth, it's always a deep mystery where roachy will side on an issue.; २२/४/११, १०:०० AM
Michael म्हणाले...: RV asks in a stage voice: "What forces are really at work here?"

Why, the Evil Koch Brothers, who else? The EKB have focused on Wisconsin, that hub of commerce and dynamo of capitalism to expend money and energy. When you use the words "work" and "forces" in the same sentence it can only mean the EKB.; २२/४/११, १०:०१ AM
Alex म्हणाले...: It's not the people revolting against the Government, it's Government employees revolting against the people.

Then why is Walker's approval rating in the gutter? The fact is he was not elected on union-busting and the people are shocked and revolted by it. Remember WI is the birthplace for public-sector unions and the people there love their unions.; २२/४/११, १०:०१ AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: Geeeee, Garage we’re just learning from our California peers, in the Democratic party…To make it truly fair we’d have hired ACORN, to dummy up the petitions, pay Minimum Wage, and No Over-time to the “volunteers.”

We'd also have brought in union members from other states to help (all while getting paid by the union); २२/४/११, १०:०२ AM
garage mahal म्हणाले...: Vicious anti-democratic right wing thugs disrupt Dem press conference and assault Patriot cameramen

When will it ever stop!; २२/४/११, १०:०९ AM
Carol_Herman म्हणाले...: The recall election of GREY DAVIS. And, the consequences.

First of all, there was the ENRON ride, that stripped California of money for 'fake energy contracts.'

People, in the State of California, got furious at their governor. (A man who thought he had an insider's hot at the democrapic presidential nomination ... in 2000.) Remember that race? GOOD.

Anyway, the recall effort was started with conservative money. And, leading the charge was TOM CAMPBELL, who thought he'd get the republican nod. DIDN'T. Schwartzenegger swooped in from the outside (with the organizational skills of the Kennedy racket.) And, WON.

Winning is everything.

Tom Campbell came in 3rd.

ENRON collapsed. Ken Lay killed himself to avoid jail. Thereby saving his estate the stolen billions.

Oh, yeah. Ken Lay thought Dubya would give him a "pardon." FOOL.; २२/४/११, १०:१२ AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: When will it ever stop!

The Dems obviously held that press conference to say Fuck You! to the Republicans.

So, the Republicans were just saying Fuck You! in return.

I thought you were in favor of these tactics.; २२/४/११, १०:१४ AM
Alex म्हणाले...: So, the Republicans were just saying Fuck You! in return.

I thought you were in favor of these tactics.

No, what garbage really is in favor of is Republicans acting like sheep to the slaughter. He really enjoys that. Like an SS man or something. Garbage would easily drop the Zyklon B in if given the chance.; २२/४/११, १०:१६ AM
roesch-voltaire म्हणाले...: I read regional papers in my state to get a sense of how other folks think and I do not know the folks that I quoted from the comments, but passed them on to give readers on this blog who might want to leave their conservative cells a sense of how some folks in Greenbay are reacting. Shouting my commie cell includes beer drinking ice fishermen on Mendota- you betcha, hey.; २२/४/११, १०:२२ AM
JOhn म्हणाले...: If we only allowed one recall election per year...
"More likely, there would be exactly one recall election each year. There would be a race to collect petitions to get which race it would be, with the party in power collecting for a recall in their safest seat (which they would hold in the recall election) and the party out of power collecting signatures in the district where they felt they would have the best chance of winning."

I suppose you may be right that this could happen in a highly polarized environment like the one we have now. But it would be less likely to happen when things settle down. But any party that set up a recall election just to insulate their own politicans from being recalled would likely be punished for it in the next election.

Irregardless, it would still accomplish the goal of eliminating recalls over political issues. If you don't like the way someone votes, word harder to win the next election. If a politican breaks the law, they can still be impeached by the legislature.

The Republicans have much more to lose in these recall elections than they have to gain. It would be better if the number of recalls allowed were limited.

We just had an election last November. Let our politicans pursue the agendas they were elected on. We can hold them accountable for the results when they're up for re-election.; २२/४/११, १०:३० AM
Unknown म्हणाले...: It's the new Democrat theory of government.

No longer "that government governs best which governs least", but "the fact is is that elections shouldn't matter as much as they do".

AJ Lynch said...
Garbage:

Buying shots for Utah residents who are mostly Mormons? Sounds like another one of the librul urban legends.

More non-Saints there than you would think.

PS Buying votes with booze is why the saloons close on Election Day.; २२/४/११, १०:३४ AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: @ Roesch -

Have to agree with you that there are definitely SOME "average folks" outside of Madison that are normally solid Republicans, but are very angry with Walker, et al. due to the union busting business.

My brother is more conservative than I am but he feels (as a public employee) that he is being targeted and punished, while some of his buddies in the private sector bitch and complain (but still seem to buy all sorts of shit that he can't afford).; २२/४/११, १०:३५ AM
Titus म्हणाले...: I just pinched a nice hard loaf.; २२/४/११, १०:३८ AM
Titus म्हणाले...: At this moment I an enjoying a smoothie with nana, strawberries, yogurt, ginger, acai, whey protein, wheat grass and papaya.

Smoothies are fun.; २२/४/११, १०:४३ AM
Drew म्हणाले...: Then why is Walker's approval rating in the gutter? The fact is he was not elected on union-busting and the people are shocked and revolted by it.

You wouldn't have deduced that from that fraudulent Daily Kos poll, by any chance?

If people really were upset by Walker, why didn't the Klopper win? This was supposed to be a cakewalk for the unions. It wasn't. That it was even close is proof that the world is vastly different outside the Dane County echo-chamber.; २२/४/११, १०:४५ AM
Titus म्हणाले...: U.S. consumption of acai is depriving Brazilian jungle dwellers of a protein-rich nutrient they’ve relied on for generations.

I could really give a shit about the Brazilian jungle dwellers though.; २२/४/११, १०:४६ AM
Titus म्हणाले...: U.S. consumption of acai is depriving Brazilian jungle dwellers of a protein-rich nutrient they’ve relied on for generations.

I could really give a shit about the Brazilian jungle dwellers though.; २२/४/११, १०:४७ AM
अनामित म्हणाले...: Titus,
you pinched a hard loaf?
Does the bakery you are at have Wi-Fi?

Or did you mean the other kind of "loaf"? If so, congrats on the sphincter tone that was needed for the said pinching.; २२/४/११, १०:५३ AM
Titus म्हणाले...: I would never use my computer at a coffee shop.

I think it looks pretentious.

Go home for God's sake!; २२/४/११, १०:५५ AM
EnigmatiCore म्हणाले...: But it would be less likely to happen when things settle down

Why is there an assumption that things will settle down?

Because they always have?

Political upheaval is the norm, not the relative tranquility we have enjoyed in the US.

Further, technology has changed society and continues to do so in such dramatic fashions that we may now be to where the 'new normal' is obsolete before we even come to grips with it. What has not changed is human nature.

And abusing politics has always been human nature.; २२/४/११, ११:२९ AM
Unknown म्हणाले...: Titus said...

U.S. consumption of acai is depriving Brazilian jungle dwellers of a protein-rich nutrient they’ve relied on for generations.

I could really give a shit about the Brazilian jungle dwellers though.

Lefties are like that when it comes to living in the manner to which they wish to become accustomed.; २२/४/११, ११:३७ AM
kimsch म्हणाले...: It looks like some current state reps want to run in the recall elections for the current state sen seats. If the state rep is successful and gains the sen seat, does that then mean another special election to fill the rep seat?

wv: stsat; २२/४/११, ११:५० AM
MadisonMan म्हणाले...: There should be a recall for the vote that didn't send Jacob home. I'll miss the Stefano/James bromance.; २२/४/११, १२:२५ PM
Titus म्हणाले...: I don't care for porn either. It is so not real to me.

All I can think about when watching it is some guy in the background barking out commands and the "models" having to always go to a fluffer to get stimulated.

Boogie Nights really had an impact on my interest in porn.; २२/४/११, १:११ PM
Alex म्हणाले...: Titus - what about rare clumber porn? I'm getting the tingles just thinking about it.; २२/४/११, १:१५ PM
अनामित म्हणाले...: "By the way, what's the score now? 4 to 4? 3 to 5?"

5 against Republicans
3 against Democrats

http://wtaq.com/news/articles/2011/apr/22/half-16-state-senators-have-recall-petitions-filed/; २२/४/११, १:५७ PM
Alex म्हणाले...: One has to be in Dane County to understand the palpable sense of outrage, and grievance one feels against Walker the the GOP.; २२/४/११, २:०१ PM
Revenant म्हणाले...: Then why is Walker's approval rating in the gutter?

It is at 43%. That's bad, but calling it "the gutter" is a bit silly.; २२/४/११, ६:२८ PM
Revenant म्हणाले...: yes, much like Beth, it's always a deep mystery where roachy will side on an issue.

It sort of is. Sometimes he sides with the Democrats, other times he sides with Greens and Communists. :); २२/४/११, ६:३२ PM
Karl म्हणाले...: I was lucky to have my wife and 18 year old son in the car when I stumbled upon a recall Bob Wirch "event".
Event is too strong of a description. More like an empty lot with a couple of enthusiastic volunteers.

I let my son know that his signature would be a vote against "the MAN".

Bob hates teenagers. And pot. Asshole.

Also, Bob ignored my very nice & reasonable email request to return to work. Fuck him.; २२/४/११, ११:५१ PM
bonnpa म्हणाले...: Dan Kapanke is my state senator. Can someone tell me why it's so important to put the voters through a recall? His term is up next year and he had already pledged to serve only two terms. What will be the cost of this recall election? How much has bee spent already? I haven't seen the numbers, but whatever they are, I think the people doing the recall are showing just how little regard they have for taxpayers. The other night Kapanke had a town hall meeting in Holmen. The day before I got a robocall from the AFL-CIO urging me to attend and let the senator know how much I disliked his vote. A robocall! How cowardly is that? I couldn't even tell them what I thought of their call. And I'm on the do-not-call lists, for pete's sake.; २३/४/११, ९:१० AM
sarge म्हणाले...: hankey kapanke votes wiv herr walker an will till his tour is ovr
recal is about clippin herr walkerz wings till herr walker is recalld

ps sorry yar dont like thar political calls they aint considerd comercial thusly not covered by no call

sarges momma was gittin 10-15 a day fer prosser april 4th an sarge will tell yar as a loyal and good son yar dont want to call a angry cussin 84 year old woman who thinks yar another prosser robo call

mom musta been a sailor in anothr life; २४/४/११, ११:३५ PM
Unknown म्हणाले...: Recall democrats republicans or whatever, but how can you support someone that is not from Wisconsin to determine what is good for your state?
And Mormons?Have you ever seen the Book of Mormon? They have totally re-written the Bible.Revelations 22 points them and gives them a share of the curses in Revelation for adding or subtracting anyhting from the Bible, much less re-writing it.
You all would be raising cain if Atheists came in your state to determine waht is good for you, but these anti-christs seem good for your purposes?
And that's what I don't get?
Charles Slakan; २६/४/११, १:३८ AM