Althouse: Recall night on Capitol Square.

August 9, 2011

Recall night on Capitol Square.

Lots of hopeful Democrats...

... bright TV lights....

... and Ed Schultz from MSNBC...

83 comments:

Curious George said...: What a SHAME SHAME SHAME!; 8/9/11, 11:52 PM
pauldar said...: This is what Democracy looks like. Again. Looking forward to the next recall; 8/9/11, 11:53 PM
Fen said...: Hillarious clip:

Al Sharpton Goes Gaga; 8/9/11, 11:53 PM
Jason said...: Its called getting your ass kicked. And the best part is that the Dems could realistically lose a seat next week too.

Have a good flight back to New York tomorrow, Ed. Hopefully you dont call a Republican woman a "whore" on the way out.; 8/9/11, 11:54 PM
Anonymous said...: It's ESPN GameDay for nerdy leftists and smelly hippies! I love it. I love America, man. What a country! We have it all and more.; 8/9/11, 11:55 PM
sane_voter said...: Ed Schulz, whatta dickhead

wv: drooded
saliva running down the chin while brooding over election results.

The WI Dem voters drooded after the election was called for Darling.; 8/9/11, 11:56 PM
Jason said...: It's ESPN GameDay for nerdy leftists and smelly hippies! I love it. I love America, man. What a country! We have it all and more.

Awesome!

All we needed was Lee Corso and a "Not so fast, my friend".; 8/9/11, 11:57 PM
Anonymous said...: Here they talked of revolution.
Here it was they lit the flame.
Here they sang about `tomorrow'
And tomorrow never came.

From the table in the corner
They could see a world reborn
And they rose with voices ringing
I can hear them now!
The very words that they had sung
Became their last communion
On the lonely barricade at dawn.; 8/9/11, 11:57 PM
Anonymous said...: Which politician's big furry head would Corso put on at the end of the show? That's the real question.; 8/9/11, 11:58 PM
David said...: That crowd is overwhelmingly white!

Someone tell Ed Schultz it's the Tea Party in drag.; 8/9/11, 11:59 PM
Dustin said...: 'Big money' complains Ed Schultz.

Has he criticized corporate cronies w/ Obama?; 8/9/11, 11:59 PM
Michael said...: So what's the next move? Recall votes for all the election commissioners? Secession of the Free People's State of Monona? Puppets?; 8/10/11, 12:00 AM
Jason said...: Which politician's big furry head would Corso put on at the end of the show? That's the real question.

If Corso would have put on a Scott Walker head, I bet somebody would have been killed.; 8/10/11, 12:01 AM
Anonymous said...: Oh, oh. What's that German word for "schadenfreude" again? I feel a serious case coming on.

Hopefully the school districts can make counselors and psychologists available to all who could use one in Madison.; 8/10/11, 12:03 AM
Anonymous said...: "Vote for us - we want more of your money!"

I'm trying really hard to understand how this message didn't carry them to victory.

I just don't get it.; 8/10/11, 12:04 AM
kurt mueller said...: On his radio show today Ed Schultz said the WI recall was a national referendum. I expect he will call for Obama's resignation on his next broadcast.; 8/10/11, 12:04 AM
Curious George said...: SOmething tells me there will be a run on garden hose and duct tape in Madtown...; 8/10/11, 12:05 AM
TosaGuy said...: The tears of unfathomable sadness!

http://youtu.be/owzhYNcd4OM; 8/10/11, 12:06 AM
Anonymous said...: ALH -- Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes it rains.

We're just going to take it one recall election at a time.

I'm just happy to be here. Hope I can help the Democratic party.

I just want to give it my best shot and the Good Lord willing, things will work out.; 8/10/11, 12:07 AM
Carol_Herman said...: Wow! A lot of people!

It's like watching a "recall" becoming Woodstock.

Looks, too, like a lovely, lively, night to be a Wisconsinite in Madison.

Your camera is more magical than the cables.

Wonder if the stories will last? Or be like yesterday's snow ... that melts away. Leaving no trace.

What a way for politicians to fight each other, throwing money down the drain.

But at least the people show up!

Back in the day when a politician gave you a button ... you could really collect memories. These days? Not so much.; 8/10/11, 12:08 AM
Sprezzatura said...: Balloon Alert!

Stop that that Taliballooniban terrorist before they get into the dome.

They can try to sneak in by hiding behind that sign w/ a graphic of balloons. But, Meadehouse has their number.; 8/10/11, 12:08 AM
Anonymous said...: Yes, it's all so very, very sad.; 8/10/11, 12:09 AM
Ann Althouse said...: Don't assume Darling will win. Milwaukee county precincts could swing it the other way, and the Dems could retake the senate.

Please check your tears-of-unfathomable-sadness gloating, at least for now.; 8/10/11, 12:10 AM
Anonymous said...: So what's the next move? Recall votes for all the election commissioners? Secession of the Free People's State of Monona? Puppets?

Does the Wisconsin People's Front have a crack suicide squad?; 8/10/11, 12:10 AM
Steve Burri said...: Slightly altering Jim Hoft's post title at Gateway Pundit:

KOCH BROTHERS HOLD WISCONSIN SENATE!; 8/10/11, 12:10 AM
Chennaul said...: Gawd I had to look...

Looks like a White Power Rally.; 8/10/11, 12:12 AM
Curious George said...: "Ann Althouse said...
Don't assume Darling will win. Milwaukee county precincts could swing it the other way, and the Dems could retake the senate.

Please check your tears-of-unfathomable-sadness gloating, at least for now."

Math is hard.; 8/10/11, 12:12 AM
Chennaul said...: Why is Channel # Wisconsin calling it?; 8/10/11, 12:13 AM
TosaGuy said...: "Please check your tears-of-unfathomable-sadness gloating, at least for now."

There are not the votes left in the landfills and industrial parks of NW Milwaukee to make up this amount. Milwaukee isn't that much like Chicago.; 8/10/11, 12:14 AM
Alex said...: Althouse always the voice of cruel neutrality.; 8/10/11, 12:14 AM
Chennaul said...: Channel 3.; 8/10/11, 12:14 AM
Saint Croix said...: What's that German word for "schadenfreude" again?

Schadenfreude.; 8/10/11, 12:16 AM
Chuck66 said...: I do have to go to bed....but will not until Darling race is decided for sure.

Althouse, you are a cruel blogress.; 8/10/11, 12:16 AM
Chennaul said...: Last time there were "empty precincts" and that was the explanation for a bunch of precincts reporting without any change in the vote total.

I can't remember which county that was-but that happened last time.; 8/10/11, 12:16 AM
Chip S. said...: Milwaukee county precincts could swing it the other way, and the Dems could retake the senate.

I wondered about this for a while, but then I noticed that no Democrats were spinning this way. They're all busy accusing Kathy Nickolaus of fraud.; 8/10/11, 12:16 AM
Chennaul said...: What's that German word for "schadenfreude" again?

MSNBC; 8/10/11, 12:17 AM
Beta Rube said...: Can the Dems recall the voters? It's all that's left after tonight.; 8/10/11, 12:19 AM
Anonymous said...: Well, it has to be fraud, doesn't it? It can't be that only very rich people, latte-drinking academics, and poor people vote Democratic, and even poor people are smart enough to vote their economic interest when things are as awful as they are now. It can't be that, can it?

What's the matter with Wisconsin? Paging Tommy Frank...; 8/10/11, 12:20 AM
Chuck66 said...: Chip, noticed that. I did a quick look over lefty blogs and news sites and they are screaming FRUAD. I love it. I hope they keep throwning temper tantrums. May help next week.; 8/10/11, 12:21 AM
Quaestor said...: Please explain to this foreigner. Six seats Wisconsin Senate seats, all held by Republican incumbents are up for recall tonight. It looks now like a 4/2 split favoring the GOP. Does this mean the Wisconsin Senate is now tied?; 8/10/11, 12:22 AM
Fen said...: /via Gateway pundit, Waukesha County results

Darling 9449
Pasch 4767

http://www.waukeshacounty.gov/uploadedFiles/Media/PDF/Elected_Officials/County_Clerk/Election_Results/20110809_recall.pdf; 8/10/11, 12:22 AM
Chuck66 said...: WTMJ calls it for Darling.

Senate Dist. 8 Recall REPORTING 84%
Alberta Darling (R) (inc) 34,840
54%
Sandra Pasch (D) 29,821
46%; 8/10/11, 12:23 AM
MayBee said...: What's that German word for "schadenfreude" again?

Schadenfreude.

Seems too obvious.; 8/10/11, 12:24 AM
Chuck66 said...: Q...Republicans hold a majority of the seats: 19-14.

You have to wait 12 months after the person is elected to do a recall, so the Democats picked the 6 Republicans that have been in the State Senate at least 12 months for recall. The rest aren't eligble (or there may be other reasons for some, not sure).; 8/10/11, 12:25 AM
TosaGuy said...: Darling stated on Fox 6 Milwaukee that Pasch called her to concede.; 8/10/11, 12:25 AM
Chennaul said...: Quaestor

Jason earlier was saying that there are two more recall elections to come and those are for Democrats that were recalled.; 8/10/11, 12:25 AM
Chuck66 said...: So if Democrats pick up 3 seats tonight, the 19-14 Rep to Dem, changes to 16-17 Rep to Dem.

Two Democrats who fled to Illinois to stop the vote are up next week. At least one is vunerable.; 8/10/11, 12:26 AM
Chennaul said...: Ha!

MSNBC and AP now calling it for Darling.; 8/10/11, 12:26 AM
Chip S. said...: Can the Dems recall the voters? It's all that's left after tonight.

They can sit around and recall the times when Feingold was a Senator and Jim Doyle was Governor. Then they can have a group hug and a good cry.; 8/10/11, 12:26 AM
Fen said...: K, I'm off to play at Dem Underground.; 8/10/11, 12:27 AM
Anonymous said...: You have to wait 12 months after the person is elected to do a recall...The rest aren't eligble (or there may be other reasons for some, not sure)

I just can't imagine that this will hold up after today. This whole recall business has been such a ratings bonanza. The suits will figure a way to have more of these, probably during sweeps week.; 8/10/11, 12:28 AM
Chuck66 said...: Fen, don't do it. It will be nasty.; 8/10/11, 12:28 AM
Chennaul said...: Quaestor

* Who might be recalled? Republican state Sens. Robert Cowles, Alberta Darling, Sheila Harsdorf, Randy Hopper, Dan Kapanke, and Luther Olsen were successfully targeted. Democratic Sens. Dave Hansen, Jim Holperin and Robert Wirch were successfully targeted.

* When are the recalls? One recall election has already happened: State Sen. Hansen beat Republican challenger David VanderLeest on July 19th. All six Republicans will face voters on Aug. 9th, and the remaining two Democrats will face voters on Aug. 16th.

Washington Post; 8/10/11, 12:31 AM
Chuck66 said...: Was listening to a radio station today (will not say which one or where it is from as this could get them in trouble). The show hosts were complaining about having to listen to Moore's rants on the commercials playing on their station. The somewhat liberal guy said it is good revenue for the station, the more conservative guy was very open about his disgust over her.; 8/10/11, 12:32 AM
Chip S. said...: Schadenfreude.

Seems too obvious.

Just for times like this, how about Olbermannischmertzvergnügung?; 8/10/11, 12:32 AM
Chennaul said...: K, I'm off to play at Dem Underground.

omg.....you do not.; 8/10/11, 12:33 AM
pauldar said...: Wondering if the Democrat voters will be disheartened when the two Democrats come up next week and just stay home. On the other hand, Republicans might think "already won" so why go out to vote.

My guess is that the Dem voters would more apt to stay home, but, that is just a guess; 8/10/11, 12:35 AM
Chip S. said...: Associated Press has called it for Darling.

Dems hit a bit of a sandy patch, it seems.

Let Olbermannischmertzvergnügung reign at der Althaus.; 8/10/11, 12:36 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Does Wisconsin got election fever or is somebody holding a gun to their head.. again?; 8/10/11, 12:36 AM
Anonymous said...: Wisconsin does have a fever, Lem. And the only prescription is more cowbell.; 8/10/11, 12:38 AM
Chuck66 said...: paulder.....yeah, I see both sides being a bit deflated and not caring next week. I see Democrats being angry and coming out to vote.

Know what Republicans need? They need to bring Walker to each district, just to bait the angry left. Get them to do something stupid (like the Racine or State Fair events). Basically the right nees bulletin board material.; 8/10/11, 12:38 AM
Quaestor said...: So as it stands now the ratio is 1.0625 to 1 favoring the GOP, a majority of 1 vote. Next week's recalls will either leave the balance as is or increase the Republican margin by 1 or 2 seats. Correct?; 8/10/11, 12:40 AM
Chuck66 said...: Darling won 54-46% and the left is screaming FRAUD!!

Well, that was a waste of $2.8M spent by Big Union.; 8/10/11, 12:40 AM
Chuck66 said...: Q, correct. Actually a one vote lead is rather uncomfortable. I would love to see the Republicans pick up one of the two Democrats seats next week.; 8/10/11, 12:42 AM
gail said...: Posted on Journal Sentinel online:

By Craig Gilbert of the Journal Sentinel

Aug. 9, 2011 11:44 p.m. | Turnout levels in Wisconsin’s legislative recall elections Tuesday approached those of last fall’s governor’s race – a striking testimony to the extreme passions, money and attention these contests have attracted this summer.

In one contest, for the 10th district seat won Tuesday by GOP incumbent Sheila Harsdorf, the total vote exceeded that of the race for governor last fall.

Overall, it appeared that around four in ten voting-age adults turned out in the recalls.

That’s more people than voted in the state’s highly politicized April 5 state Supreme Court race, where turnout was freakishly high for a spring judicial election.

--------------
fraud, unintentional duplicate reporting, people voted because they were sick of Moore ads/union spending or ????

It ain't over until the GAB says it is.

I like "freakishly high"; 8/10/11, 12:44 AM
Chuck66 said...: people voted because they were sick of Moore ads/union spending or ????

Bingo. Imagine getting 4 phone calls a day, everyday, telling you who to oppose. Having 5 political commercials on EACH hour of TV. Even sports talk radio have nasty commercials.

Few minds were changed. People got sick of having their candidate bashed day after day. And all this disruption of normal life for an election that no one but hard cored unionists wanted.; 8/10/11, 12:49 AM
Quaestor said...: The Dems are in the process of purging the race memory again. Waukesha County Tampering is being scrubbed. It's pretty lame to not even have the courage of one's convictions.; 8/10/11, 12:49 AM
Chuck66 said...: Oh, and the real clincher for Harsdorf...one attack ad that was very effective:

"WE.......BREATHE........UUUUUNNNIOOONNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Moore looked like one raving angry partison who would do nothing but piss off 50% of the residence of SD10. No wonder she has one short failed marriage.

You may not like Harsdorf voting, but she is a dairy farmer with a very nice family. Kind of like your neighbor.; 8/10/11, 12:53 AM
Chip S. said...: Quaestor, I saw that post before it was scrubbed. I guess they do have some slight sense of decency, or at least a sense of the ridiculous.; 8/10/11, 12:53 AM
Chennaul said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/10/11, 12:55 AM
Chuck66 said...: 17-16 Republican hold.; 8/10/11, 12:56 AM
Chip S. said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/10/11, 12:56 AM
Chennaul said...: Quaestor

Democrats had to net +3 seats to get control of the senate in WI.

Republicans held it 19 to 14

Now it's 17 to 16....

Then we'll know Aug. 16th if two Dem seats go Republican ....

I think I have that right...; 8/10/11, 1:00 AM
gail said...: Holstein twi-light meeting at the Harsdorf farm years (and years ago) was one of too few date nights. Don't remember much about the meeting, barn or cows, just remember rushing to get chores done and having time with my love. miss him. deeply. i wait for the day i see him again. He wouldn't have had anything nice to say about moore.; 8/10/11, 1:00 AM
Anonymous said...: 17 to 16

Those missed extra points always come back to haunt you. Or was it a poorly conceived two-point conversion? I hate it when coaches go by that silly chart.; 8/10/11, 1:02 AM
Chennaul said...: Ugh I have no idea what the chances are for Republicans in those two Democrat recall districts..

Anyone here know how those might go?; 8/10/11, 1:02 AM
Chennaul said...: Wait ...time to go to bed...

It's three Dem seats that are on the grill for flippin'...

Hansen, Holperin and Wirch.; 8/10/11, 1:06 AM
Anonymous said...: Mad -- It's hard to say. The Democrats have a tenacious offense that is known to play dirty and their fans can be really obnoxious. The Republicans are more three yards and a cloud of dust, grind it out and hope to beat you with sensible game management.

It's tough to know the outcome. That's why you play the games I guess.; 8/10/11, 1:07 AM
Quaestor said...: madawaskan wrote:
I think I have that right...

That jibes with my picture of the situation at least. Thanks.

Unless the margins for a recall petition are ridiculously small then it stands to reason there is at least some chance a Republican will win next week. A lot of water has run under the bridge since last November, and more independent voters are leaning GOP now than 10 months ago.; 8/10/11, 1:11 AM
Chennaul said...: Yep..I have no idea about the political makeup of those districts-most likely we'll be in for another all-nighter on the 16th.; 8/10/11, 1:22 AM
James said...: Wait ...time to go to bed...

It's three Dem seats that are on the grill for flippin'...

Hansen, Holperin and Wirch.

Uhhhh....no.

Hansen's recall election was on July 19th and he won easily. The elections for Holperin and Wirch are next Tuesday.; 8/10/11, 5:38 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Looks like they gave the front row tickets to the big, corn-fed chicks?; 8/10/11, 7:29 AM
Anonymous said...: I wonder whether the unions have ever considered whether their juvenile conduct lost them more votes than it gained. Maybe they'd have won that Supreme Court electiono or one or two more recalls if they hadn't broken into the Senate floor screaming, yelling and generally acting like spoiled brats.

Funny thing. Most of them are teachers. How many of them would tolerate the kids in their classroom acting the way they themselves did in the state capital?; 8/13/11, 4:04 PM