The GAB has said it's up to challengers to point out problems like those and the board itself cannot automatically toss the signatures for those reasons.Meanwhile, signature-gatherers claim they've got 500,000 signatures (of the 540,208 needed to force an election). But who knows how many are fakes or duplicates? And if there is a recall election, the Democrats must put up an actual candidate to defeat Walker.
The lawsuit says allowing multiple signatures is a violation of the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution because it harms the rights of those not signing. ...
[A]ccountability board spokesman Reid Magney said the board was simply following the law and a carrying out a process that would ultimately weed out bad signatures after Walker's campaign called for striking them.
It seems likely that there will be enough signatures submitted. Then, we have to go through the process of challenging bad signatures. If there's a wide margin between what is submitted and what is required, the challenge process won't be such a big deal... unless the proportion of bad signatures appears high in relation to the margin.
Next, we'll have to muck our way through the primaries, with Walker able to play a role attacking these candidates, weakening them before he even faces them. Under state law he can raise and spend as much money as he wants, and he's already spent $2.2 million on advertising. Finally, a candidate will emerge from the battering in the primary and face Walker. Walker, I imagine, will have much more money to spend and he'll be running as an incumbent. Won't he win? By a lot?
And if Walker wins, where will the Democrats be? The Walker administration and the Republican legislature will have a new mandate to pass legislation that they might not have dared to attempt if Walker had only been left alone. If somehow Walker is defeated, the new Democratic Governor will have a Republican legislature to stymie him, so things shouldn't be much different than if Walker had been left alone. I don't see why it's worth it to the Democrats to go for the recall. What is the point... except to emit an inarticulate cry of pain?
And yet people sign the petitions. It makes no sense to me.
ADDED: Rick Hasen at Election Law Blog says that Walker's equal protection argument is "a major... stretch":
Though the complaint does not cite any caselaw supporting the equal protection theory, I suspect that if this goes further the Republicans will rely on Bush v. Gore.If this goes further... suggests that the point of the lawsuit is mainly to cause the GAB to decide to take on the work of checking the signatures.
Looking at the complaint, I see the idea is that the GAB is failing to take even minimal steps to deal with the problem of some people signing petitions more than once and this dilutes the influence of those who do not sign. Every qualified elector in Wisconsin is entitled to one opportunity to choose to sign or not to sign. Everyone who doesn't sign is, essentially, counted once (as signature-gatherers try to reach a number equivalent to a certain proportion of the total voters). Only those who sign have a way to get counted more than once, and when that misbehavior is not stopped, signing weighs more heavily than not signing.
Therefore — the argument goes — the GAB, by failing to exercise its role in a way that catches the multiple signatures, violates equal protection because it is diluting the political clout of one group as opposed to another.
The GAB is putting the burden on Walker to challenge the signature, but its rules give Walker "only 10 days to examine, compare and then challenge more than 540,000 signatures – more than 50,000 signatures a day," which the complaint calls "a practical impossibility."
Posts
94 comments:
Nor me Ann! Wasted money that could be put to better use. Get over it cry-babies....
Revenge need not be logical.
It seems many Madison "Progressives" desperately long for the "good old days" --- when conservatives "knew their place" and didn't "rock the boat".
Anne, never underestimate a Liberal's ability to "cry in pain" over imagined slights. After all, "progressives" are about "feeling good."
How often do your Liberal friends ask you what you think about a subject...seriously. I'd bet they ask instead "how do you feel about it."
I'm not in Wisconsin and don't know the jungle animals there, so I can't judge. But Professor, your posts make it sound rather like a replay of the impeachment of Bill Clinton. Is that a valid analogy?
...from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee.
Maybe the Public Employee Unions are devotees of Bushido. Therefore they would rather lose again than admit defeat until the next election cycle.
It is suicidal in a way, but it still makes them feel dominant even in their defeat.
Walker can only say thanks for the help, guys.
Give me a break. You can reasonably be for or against the recall effort, and plan to vote for or against the Governor if/when there is a recall election, but to say "...things would pretty much be the same..." if Walker went unchallenged versus a Democrat being elected is completely bogus.
To say such a thing completely underestimates Walker's desire to see legislation passed through a Republican controlled legislature, and ignores the power of a veto by a Democratic governor.
Again, I think it is reasonable to be for/against the recall and to vote the way you desire, but Althouse's suggestion sounds merely like sour grapes.
And in the meantime, the ongoing soreloserism saps the Governor's energies and diverts his attention from the job he's supposed to be doing, vastly increasing the odds of the Dems wringing an asleep-at-the-switch moment from him. The whole thing is incredibly cynical—perhaps this will finally be the tinder to eliminate the recall election provisions, "legislation that they might not have dared to attempt if Walker had only been left alone"?
The message is:
"If you screw with the money flow we'll get you even if we have to commit voting fraud to do it". And it isn't being sent to Walker, it's being sent to the career politicians.
And yet people sign the petitions. It makes no sense to me.
Again, I'm hip. Recalls are something cowards write into constitutions.
You honestly think the Dems care about anything other than POWER?
If they thought it would help them win an election, they'd make a deal with C'thulu to devour Milwaukee and then blame Republicans.
Lying, cheating, fraud, screaming, whining, all par for the course and "Just business" Which is pretty much the exact same thing the Republicans do. Our system is B R O K E N.
Orion
f somehow Walker is defeated, the new Democratic Governor will have a Republican legislature to stymie him, so things shouldn't be much different than if Walker had been left alone.
4 Republicans senators are under recall, on much more Dem friendly turf this time. Moderate Dale Schultz may already be the Majority Leader, he stymied the GOP's last attempt to rush a bill through to move up the new redistricting boundaries. In actuality, the Senate right now is a pro-union majority. [Schultz didn't vote for "budget repair bill"].
This latest lawsuit doesn't exactly exude confidence does it? Not surprised, WI lost another whopping 14k+ jobs in November. 5 straight months of job losses after the budget was passed. And a John Doe arrest this week. Must suck to be him right now.
Mad-town govmt is no longrr about securrin d rights of We d Peeps Now, its aboot taking money from dose guyzz, n givinn it to Usss
Its all aboot getting n keepin d benniess
We gonna party until d beer runs out, n until derzz no beer anyyywherr, n anybodd triizz to shut down d partyyy b4 gets d bumrushh Liikk Walker
Idiocracy izz nottt 200 yrs in d futurr, its 2dayy, in Madtown
ProffAA don get it, cuz shees forgot what its likk to b a partyy doggg
Scott M, recalls might not all be bad. I was living in Arizona when Governor Evan Mecham (most famous for cancelling the Martin Luther King holiday, which resulted in the NFL boycotting the entire state for a while) simultaneously faced a recall, an impeachment, and criminal indictment. The recall seemed useful in that situation.
""If you screw with the money flow we'll get you even if we have to commit voting fraud to do it". And it isn't being sent to Walker, it's being sent to the career politicians."
I agree completely. There is no other rational explanation. Of course...
There should be consequences, else this will happen every time the Dems lose - if you force a recall and Gov Walker wins, his term should restart then.
@Bob
Possibly, but you mentioned two other things that happened, impeachment and criminal indictment. Those sound useful. Recalls are not.
Scott M, I hear ya. Recalls are interesting, and I'm not as decided on the concept as you. In the Arizona case, the recall was useful for Arizonans anxious to demonstrate that they really thought (correctly) that Mecham's election was a bizarre mistake.
The recall issue reminds me of the more compelling and timely question of whether a republic can be stable when only a small proportion of the populace is paying most of the taxes. There are arguments on both sides. If everyone feels like a taxpayer, then everyone should pay taxes, and if they don't (but still feel that way), instability will result. On the other hand, if governments were honest and simply said to the 90% "you don't pay, so shut up", we might have more stability. I'm not sure which argument is best.
It's not hard to get the number of valid signatures by random sampling.
The result you get will be pretty accurate and, more important, unbiased (might be high or low but will be a fair estimate).
Get somebody both sides trust to do it.
A thousand samples will get you within a few percent, which is why polls take only a thousand even for nationwide results. The trick is to avoid bias, which ought to be simplicity itself in the case of a pile of signatures.
At the very least, they should be forced to change their name to the Government "Accountability" Board.
Their shirking of responsibility is appalling.
"And if Walker wins, where will the Democrats be? The Walker administration and the Republican legislature will have a new mandate to pass legislation that they might not have dared to attempt if Walker had only been left alone."
The public employee wing of the recall effort are fucking morons.
And yet people sign the petitions. It makes no sense to me.
This recall process is one of three options to remove a sitting governor from office, and it seems the most reasonable way to accomplish it. If you truly feel that elected officials should be accountable to the voters only once every few years, then perhaps you should work to repeal the language regarding recalls from our state constitution.
That aside, you've repeatedly stated how much you loathe this expenditure of money and effort by government officials. But now you seem to be upset that the GAB isn't spending a whole bunch of money in order to enact special rules (verifying each&every name prior to it being challenged) just for this particular election.
Those seem like two conflicting statements...can you clarify?
Their shirking of responsibility is appalling.
They are following Wisconsin state law.
A pure power play. If they can force a recall election, hook or by crook, they will. This is to intimidate any and every politician contemplating public sector union reforms. The message is "You mess with us? You get a recall. No recall option in your state? We'll repeal your silly law with a ballot initiative."
Wisconsin public sector unions no longer have cash flow they had before the reforms passed, but they still have some and their sister unions in other states are more than willing to donate money and people. So they have nothing to lose by endlessly abusing the system.
At least you're not wildly speculating like Prof. Shh 'n Shh, who says Let's assume that there are 5,000 people who sign an average of 25 times.
You're just assuming there must be fraud, and that everyone's taxes should be used to defend an elected politician named Walker.
"They are following Wisconsin state law."
Then I repeat. Their name should be changed to the Government "Accountability" Board.
I just hope this wrangling lasts until November 2012.
They are following Wisconsin state law.
Really, and where in Wisconsin state law is the GAB prohibited from verifying signatures, he asked expecting no answer.
You have a "defeate" in the mix.
Wow, over 30,000 signatures under the whisper number. Kind of pathetic when you have the GAB practically begging people to sign multiple times and use fake names. Mickey and Adolph best get busy!
Fen said...
"There should be consequences, else this will happen every time the Dems lose - if you force a recall and Gov Walker wins, his term should restart then."
I don't know about that specific consequence, but I entirey agree that there must be consequences for misbehavior because otherwise the incentives are horribly distorted. How about this: "If you sign a recall petition and the inbumbent prevails, you are ineligible to vote in the next election for that position"? We're in a real moral hazard situation here insofar as the costs of the recallers' misbehavior falls entirely on other people. There have to be consequences for misbehavior or people will simply misbehave at will—that's why the bailouts were so fundamentally obnoxious.
purplepenquin said...
"This recall process is one of three options to remove a sitting governor from office, and it seems the most reasonable way to accomplish it."
Anything that truly demanded removal with a "it won't wait until next election" level of urgency could be resolved through the impeachment process.
"If you truly feel that elected officials should be accountable to the voters only once every few years, then perhaps you should work to repeal the language regarding recalls from our state constitution."
That would be a sensible thing to try, and the union shenanigans over the last year seem as likely to fuel such an outcome as anything.
"The decision of one individual who chooses to sign a recall petition should not carry more weight than the decision of another who chooses not to sign,"
What is the counter argument to this?
- Falk?
- Obey?
- Feingold?
- Baldwin?
- Barret?
Are you serious?
Do you see any billboards with a smiling Jim Doyle that says 'Miss me yet?'
John Foust said...
"You're just assuming there must be fraud"
She must have been taught by Democrats, who cry foul every time a ballot is cast, except when the issue is voter ID, in which case ballots are pristine and there's no evidence of fraud.
"and that everyone's taxes should be used to defend an elected politician named Walker."
Should everyone's taxes be wasted in an ad hoc election forced by a bunch of sore losers still enraged at being defeated in the last regular election?
You're just assuming there must be fraud, and that everyone's taxes should be used to defend an elected politician named Walker.
Due process for me but not for thee. Typical.
Really, and where in Wisconsin state law is the GAB prohibited from verifying signatures, he asked expecting no answer.
By law, the GAB staff cannot strike signatures that appear to be fake or fictitious. You have to change the law, first. They will flag obvious fictitious or fake names for further review.
Out of the 215,000 signatures from last summer recalls, only a handful were successfully challenged. Wisconsin is a pretty ethical bunch, contrary to the claims of the WIGOP.
In honor of people powered government, I submit to you Fighting Bob LaFollette. Arguably the greatest legislators in American history. And where the idea for the recall originated in the Wisconsin Constitution.
Which part of the law are they not following? That Walker is sueing them suggests that the GAB is shirking a duty, but I don't see reports on the actual law they're supposedly not enforcing.
And You! A Law Professor!
As someone posted on Twitter earlier today, 500K signatures is a LOOOONNNNGGG way from having enough to force a recall election from Walker. Especially when you consider that there is a good chance that around 25% of the signatures are either fraudulent or invalid (I use 25%, as that was the number of invalid signatures on the recall petitions in the recent Ohio elections that repealed the controversial legislation). Using that fuzzy math, I would say that the pro-recall folks probably have closer to 375K legit signatures. Which again is a long way to go in a month. They have gotten all of the "easy" signatures. The last 100K are going to be really tough for them to get.
4 Republicans senators are under recall, on much more Dem friendly turf this time.
Even if the Dems gain control of the Senate, they are almost 20 votes short in the Assembly. I dont get how you think the Dems winning the Senate is going to change anything.
This latest lawsuit doesn't exactly exude confidence does it?
So, Walker suing for the GAB to eliminate known fraudulent signatures is desperate, but the fact that the Dems have sued over pretty much every piece of legislation that has passed in this state in the past year is okay? Alrighty then.
Ive said this more than once - this recall effort is nothing more than whining and crying until the Dems actually get someone to run. Unless Im mistaken, no Democrat has come forward to commit to running in a possible recall. Its like they think that Walker just getting recalled is going to automatically remove him from office.
Not surprised, WI lost another whopping 14k+ jobs in November. 5 straight months of job losses after the budget was passed. And a John Doe arrest this week. Must suck to be him right now.
So, all of a sudden private sector jobs matter?
I would say the fact that most people right about now are getting a property tax bill that is the same or lower than last year instead of the usual few percent higher is a much bigger deal.
I dont get how you think the Dems winning the Senate is going to change anything.
Right. Having one house flip parties doesn't change anything. (eyeroll)
I'm not convinced it will happen. But it would gum up the works from the point of view of Republicans who want to push through legislation that is at the far right end of the social spectrum.
"Those seem like two conflicting statements...can you clarify?"
C'mon, you're not that dumb. Once the sore loser asks for an expensive do-over, you still have to play it fair. Maybe you would like there not even to be a vote. Just throw Walker out.
You understand this quite well. Just imagine if Walker was a Democrat fighting a right wing recall, and it will all become very clear to you.
Right. Having one house flip parties doesn't change anything. (eyeroll)
It doesnt.
If the GOP hadnt won the Senate last November, none of the stuff that Walker has gotten done would have gotten done. In politics these days, you need both houses and the executive in the same party to even hope to get something done. Whats going on in Washington should tell you that.
Wisconsin's budget runs through 2013, so even if the Senate flips, nothing will change out of it. The Dems might feel better about actually having a leadership in one house, but in the grand scheme of things - no, it doesnt really matter.
And according to the paper, it's not the Governor that is suing, it's his campaign. That's a bit different.
How often does the Governor sue another part of the state Government, anyway?
garage mahal said...
4 Republicans senators are under recall, on much more Dem friendly turf this time. garage mahal said...
f somehow Walker is defeated, the new Democratic Governor will have a Republican legislature to stymie him, so things shouldn't be much different than if Walker had been left alone.
4 Republicans senators are under recall, on much more Dem friendly turf this time. Moderate Dale Schultz may already be the Majority Leader, he stymied the GOP's last attempt to rush a bill through to move up the new redistricting boundaries. In actuality, the Senate right now is a pro-union majority. [Schultz didn't vote for "budget repair bill"].
This latest lawsuit doesn't exactly exude confidence does it? Not surprised, WI lost another whopping 14k+ jobs in November. 5 straight months of job losses after the budget was passed. And a John Doe arrest this week. Must suck to be him right now.
This latest lawsuit doesn't exactly exude confidence does it? Not surprised, WI lost another whopping 14k+ jobs in November. 5 straight months of job losses after the budget was passed. And a John Doe arrest this week. Must suck to be him right now."
Actually no GOP Senators are under recall as of now. And for all you praising of Schultz, he is being attacked by the Recallers...why is that?
All your job loss posts...you really need to keep up.. WI unemployment rate dropped.
And your John Doe arrest seems to be a yawner. No charges filed yet and it's expected none will be.
But hey, keep grasping for those straws. And hold on tight. It might just keep you spinning off into space.
It's about keeping everything in a state of continuous tumult. Theft is endgame of course but tumult alone gladdens leftists. That's right, gladdens. An angry lefty is a happy lefty.
"MadisonMan said...
I dont get how you think the Dems winning the Senate is going to change anything.
Right. Having one house flip parties doesn't change anything. (eyeroll)
I'm not convinced it will happen. But it would gum up the works from the point of view of Republicans who want to push through legislation that is at the far right end of the social spectrum."
I believe that she meant that it would not change anything as it stands today Einstein. In simple terms, the cannot undo what has been done.
And the GOP has already run through the stuff they really wanted to do...Walker Bill, Budget, CCW, Voter ID, Redistricting.
Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Wisconsin.
Is it the cheese?
Now you're trying to deny poor old Ruthelle Frank up in Brokaw her right to vote. Walker wants her to pay a poll tax!
Ruthelle's the hottest thing going on in the progressive, right-thinking blogosphere. I'd love to get the local take on this latest outrage.
I would say the fact that most people right about now are getting a property tax bill that is the same or lower than last year instead of the usual few percent higher is a much bigger deal.
I paid my property taxes yesterday. Overall the total was down 4.4%. The only reduction I can ever remember. The two portions of my bill that decreased:
1. Cedarburg schools: -9.9%
2. State of Wisconsin: -0.6%
All this while eliminating a $3 billion deficit.
Thank you Governor Walker.
Good for Walker, not letting the Demos play the Christine Gregoire game on him without a fight.
And I think Ann's take of the possible outcomes is right on the money.
Bob Ellison said...
I'm not in Wisconsin and don't know the jungle animals there, so I can't judge. But Professor, your posts make it sound rather like a replay of the impeachment of Bill Clinton. Is that a valid analogy?
Except that Willie was guilty.
And your John Doe arrest seems to be a yawner. No charges filed yet and it's expected none will be.
I guarantee Walker and his aides aren't yawning. Why do you suppose a realtor and Walker donor that brokered deals involving public agencies and buildings, would be suddenly thrown in jail for not cooperating with John Doe investigators? Hmmmm.
garage mahal said...
5 straight months of job losses after the budget was passed.
Hilarious.
The budget led to those job losses, right?
Purplepenguin wrote:
This recall process is one of three options to remove a sitting governor from office, and it seems the most reasonable way to accomplish it. If you truly feel that elected officials should be accountable to the voters only once every few years, then perhaps you should work to repeal the language regarding recalls from our state constitution.
Ms. Althouse wrote about the ill-wisdom of pursuing this recall effort, not its legality or the wisdom of having the recall option in the WI constitution.
I think you misspelled "defecate" and the whole idea is quite vile.
I don't think the dems will find a candidate to do it.
Hate is a very strong emotion. And no one hates as well or as powerfully as a lefty.
mebee this guy:
http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Wall-Street-patrol-car.jpg
My property taxes did not go down (Bushman -- don't you have county taxes in your bill too)?
Anyway, State taxes (which I've never understood -- aren't income taxes enough? :)) were the same, schools went down a little, county, city and tech college all up (The tech college had a buuilding referendum pass last November). The increase was less than last year's -- 3% vs. 9%.
Oh, nevermind, I misread your post, so ignore my question :)
"garage mahal said...
I guarantee Walker and his aides aren't yawning. Why do you suppose a realtor and Walker donor that brokered deals involving public agencies and buildings, would be suddenly thrown in jail for not cooperating with John Doe investigators? Hmmmm."
That guarantee and $2 and I can buy a Sunday paper. But keep grasping at straws.
Now, what about that unemployment drop? And property taxes across the state holding firm or dropping? Why are recallers going after your beloved Schultz?
rhhardin sez: "It's not hard to get the number of valid signatures by random sampling."
B4 uu go tru random, gotta do waitd random: if 70% from Madtown, n 30% from Waukesha, gotta do a weighted test: random pullz gotta match soorcc
Also a further check. R dere whole petioii pagess messed up, or r d defects truly randomly distriio within Madtown pagess
Lotsa wiggll room for faction-riven GAB to put d fixxx in
you could see it, if you were to open your eyes
Never underestimate the power of hate.
By my count, the recall has a long way to go. They have the low hanging fruit (literally & figuratively) counted. In the 1st two weeks, 300k. In the next two weeks, 200k. I would guesstimate in the last 30 days 100K for a total of 600k. If they need 540k, that means that bogus signatures better not be more than approximately 10% or it may fall short. And even if it does barely is enough, how much support will there be for a Dem candidate (Can you imagine explaining Kathleen Falk to the Fox River Valley??)
@MadMan
My county taxes (Ozaukee)
were up +1.0%. The overall net change was -4.4% when factoring in all tax jurisdictions.
You have a "defeate" in the mix.
Den let it get hard before da boat ride.
The job thing. If the government was united in job creation instead of trying to destroy the governor, things would be better.
And after seeing the hatred the Wisconsin liberals have for private business, I wouldn't do business there.
You don't see this hatred towards business in places like South Carolina or South Dakota.
"If somehow Walker is defeated, the new Democratic Governor will have a Republican legislature to stymie him, so things shouldn't be much different than if Walker had been left alone. I don't see why it's worth it to the Democrats to go for the recall."
You've sort of answered your own question in the sentence before this one. People who watched the Gov. and legislature roll over public opinion and ram through their union-gutting bill learned a lesson. With Walker gone, the legislature loses its capacity to put other unpopular "emergency" bills based on bogus rationale into law.
I think you're right about the risk. If he gets through this, he could say it's a mandate and start up again.
So, what your article actually sez is that the entire government of the state of Wisconsin has no idea of how to use a data base.
Ya know, my 12 yo granddaughter could set one up for them. Charts, graphs, whatever you need.
And do it on her laptop.
And you asses want to let these morons run our healthcare system?
And what happened to the Tea party doing the jobs the government doesn't want to do? Last I heard, they had a bunch of volunteers ready to start entering the names. Or did the GAB notice that they could be replaced by a volunteer?
Sometimes, I wonder how Liberal Progressives remember to breath. I think they tattoo "breath" on the insides of their eyelids to remind themselves. Now if they could just remember to blink.
"Government Accountability Board"
sued by the governor.
You just can't make this shit up. Orwell had no idea. Or maybe he did and they're all now copying off him, Orwell. Which would be doubleplusungood. And we'd have to sue the Ministry of Truth.
Carn says: "And you asses want to let these morons run our healthcare system?"
Heh, that is what I have been saying for years. When you read about massive fraud via the government....these clowns can't process simple AP transactions, and they want to control 17% of the economy?
Wisconsin is a pretty ethical bunch, contrary to the claims of the WIGOP.
LOL. Garage doesn't pay much attention to the activities of the Democratic Party in Milwaukee, does he?
"I must have signed the petition 80 times. At Grand Ave, at......"
I don't see why it's worth it to the Democrats to go for the recall. What is the point... except to emit an inarticulate cry of pain?
Most Democrats have the emotional maturity of a ten year-old, especially those on the dole or those in public sector unions. Keep that in mind and it all makes sense.
When a two years old throws tantrum, he couldn't care less he would be sent to bed without dinner.
Why not challenge all 540,000 signatures individually?
Walker should challenge every signature, and let GAB reject the challenges. GAB has to look at each challenge to accept or refuse, no?
"Most Democrats have the emotional maturity of a ten year-old, especially those on the dole or those in public sector unions. Keep that in mind and it all makes sense."
It is easy to give a child a piece of candy. Not so easy to take it away.
This is about personal responsibility. Democrats want to spread misery equally. I don't have the foggiest what republicans want, but I do know that most people involved in business that I know want everyone to SUCCEED. That can't happen if everyone is trying to zoom their neighbor, like democrats and unions do.
I'm fine with funding my own bennies and 'retirement'. And I'm definitely against recalls.
Remember how 'divisive' your parents were when you were a teenager? They did know better. Governor Walker is in charge and his job is to get Wisconsin's finances in order. Advice to democrats; recalls can cut both ways. Be careful what you wish for.
Remember this. Republicans dream of a country where 10 percent of the people make $250,000 per year and 90 percent make $100,000 per year.
Democrats long for a country where everyone makes $30,000.
When you understand this you understand Wisc politics.
Arthur MacArthur Sr. was the fourth governor of Wisconsin. His term in office in 1856 lasted only four days, but had an enormous impact on American history through his grandson, Douglas.
"you could see it, if you open your eyes"
or...maybe it's that she's not terribly affected by the overreach the petition signers have and/or will experience.
Michael said...
"Remember this. Republicans dream of a country where 10 percent of the people make $250,000 per year and 90 percent make $100,000 per year.
Democrats long for a country where everyone makes $30,000.
When you understand this you understand Wisc politics."
One is put in mind of Thatcher's brutal smackdown of the right honorable Simon Hughes, MP.
Michael said...
When you understand this you understand Wisc politics.
You don't know jack fucking shit about Wisconsin politics. Or who even lives here. Why do you persist in trying to fool everyone that you do?
@G-M said "Michael said...(adding the left out bits... - Remember this. Republicans dream of a country where 10 percent of the people make $250,000 per year and 90 percent make $100,000 per year.
Democrats long for a country where everyone makes $30,000.)
When you understand this you understand Wisc politics."
You don't know jack fucking shit about Wisconsin politics. Or who even lives here. Why do you persist in trying to fool everyone that you do?"
hehe - I think you hit a nerve...the "jack fucking shit card" has been played.
it's a minor thing, but I smiled reading professor whats-his-names observation that the complaint contained NO CASE LAW...zomg!
the problem with law professors is that they don't know anything about practicing law.
as someone who routinely encounters civil rights complaints, I can assure you that citing case law within one would be unusual.
that's what briefs are for.
anyway.
Methinks the Union party better be sure that Walker/Senate Republicans get recalled or as somebody else said, the mandate will resume with a vengeance as Walker cannot be recalled again. Look out police/firemen/bus drivers who make $150,000/year if we need more budget savings. And we won't have to watch the ads of Armageddon that played in Ohio...
Althouse: the idea is that the GAB is failing to take even minimal steps to deal with the problem of some people signing petitions more than once and this dilutes the influence of those who do not sign.
Isn't it interesting how liberals always get hamstrung by the 14th Ammendment.
I am now certain that, those pigs in Animal Farm? The Socialist Left, Liberals and Democrats.
How the hell does that legal standard work? It makes no goddamn sense. The proponent of an argument has the burden of proof and the burden of going forward. Gathering valid signatures is the burden of going forward.
I had to gather fifteen signatures for my independent run for justice court judge in Mississippi. I had to get thirty signatures to get to fifteen valid ones. The circuit clerk checked the voter rolls immediately on presentment, and I learned a valuable lesson: get as many signatures as you can.
garage mahal said...
You don't know jack fucking shit about Wisconsin politics.
But of course you, who beclowns himself here daily, do.
"I would say the fact that most people right about now are getting a property tax bill that is the same or lower than last year instead of the usual few percent higher is a much bigger deal."
My bill went up $13 bucks with no loss of services/employees in the city or school. Thank you Governor Walker.
MadisonMan said: "My property taxes did not go down"
The argument is, and I don't know if it's correct, that Madison and Dane County did not avail themselves to the potential savings Walker's budget afforded them.
And yet people sign the petitions. It makes no sense to me.
If every Republican who campaigns and wins office in Wisconsin will have to do it again a year later, effectively doubling the cost of running for office with an R after your name, it starts to make sense.
Well, I do not live in Dane or Milwaukee County, but my property taxes went up $77.46. Thanks Governor Walker?
What if the police said they weren't going to ticket speeders unless a non-speeder asked them to? Would that make any more sense than what the GAB is saying they'll do?
Ellen, was that due to an increase in the tax rate or an increase in the assessment of your property? (Given the overall real estate market, I'm not suggesting the latter; just asking the question.)
No increase in assessed value. The mill rate went from 2.15% to 2.23%
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