Althouse: "Tuesday’s recall election was a giant repudiation of Big Labor."

May 9, 2012

"Tuesday’s recall election was a giant repudiation of Big Labor."

"It was a huge smackdown of the union bosses by a Wisconsin that is 86.5% non-union and tired of all the whining. Gov. Scott Walker was the real winner last night."

49 comments:

bagoh20 said...: Yessssssss!; 5/9/12, 10:09 AM
Jim said...: If Walker loses next month, the spin will still be "The real winner was former Gov. Scott Walker."; 5/9/12, 10:09 AM
Thorley Winston said...: So if I understand correctly Governor Walker is running in the recall against the same guy that he beat last time? My own experience in Minnesota is that voters generally don’t respond well to “grudge matches” and the candidate who lost the first time around usually loses by more the next time especially among independents.; 5/9/12, 10:09 AM
edutcher said...: Fascinating stuff. Walker is now one of the real rising stars in the Republican Party.

Depending on how things go nationally, expect him to run for POTUS in '16 or '20.

And, yeah, this will embolden other Republicans to go after the public sector unions.

PS And there's another Republican governor making news - LePage of Maine - with a clip very reminiscent of Christie.

Must be something about the build.; 5/9/12, 10:10 AM
MadisonMan said...: Well, that's one way to spin it.; 5/9/12, 10:10 AM
garage mahal said...: Old spin: Madison will turn out in droves for union stooge and Communist Kathleen Falk.

New spin: Even lefties turn their backs on unions!

Nobody could have predicted this post. Nobody!; 5/9/12, 10:11 AM
Expat(ish) said...: Is it really gonna cost $16M? Imagine what could be done with that money.

Maybe we need amateur politics back in the running of the polls - 100% volunteer, no paid nobody. Let the dang boy scouts do it.

-XC; 5/9/12, 10:14 AM
Alex said...: garage - we know your side is in big trouble. Walker got almost as many votes as 4 combined Democrats and that's with GOP crossover for Falk. You're pissing your pants right now.; 5/9/12, 10:15 AM
X said...: Barrett has lost the true believers, people like The Crapper, the Big Labor blogger disciplined for blogging on the taxpayers’ time on his Milwaukee County job.

nope, no fat in the budget at all.; 5/9/12, 10:18 AM
wildswan said...: What Scott walker did any governor could do but it takes some knowledge. Walker did more than alter collective bargaining. He knew that altered collective bargaining would allow requiring state and local public employees to contribute to their pension and health care plans. This saved billions on state and local levels. Also Walker knew that altered collective bargaining would allow repeal of many useless state regulations and would allow local districts to rebid contracts. This saved billions also. The result was that the budget no longer has a 3.2 billion deficit and local governments have balanced budgets with very few layoffs. In Milwaukee where Tom Barrett rules and where there was no altered collective bargaining, hundreds of teachers were laid-off and the budget problem still exists. So the choice is pretty clear.; 5/9/12, 10:18 AM
Anonymous said...: Good lord, you people are morons.

Barrett was elected as the DEM candidate because he has a better shot of winning. This isn't about unions anymore, it's about recalling the governor who is responsible for the single largest number of jobs lost in this country over the past year.

Walker, a rising star? What are you smoking? No jobs have been gained, and the man hasn't graduated from college. He's an idiot.

Also, shame on North Carolina. Nothing like reinforcing the view that people in the south are intolerant, homophobic bigots.; 5/9/12, 10:19 AM
Patrick said...: Old spin: Madison will turn out in droves for union stooge and Communist Kathleen Falk.

New spin: Most won't bother turning out at all.; 5/9/12, 10:19 AM
Matt Sablan said...: "This isn't about unions anymore, it's about recalling the governor who is responsible for the single largest number of jobs lost in this country over the past year."

-- You think more could've bothered coming out of the MORE THAN ONE MILLION signatures, if that's all it was about, eh?

"Walker, a rising star? ... the man hasn't graduated from college. He's an idiot."

-- Yet he's winning legislatively, got his agenda passed and will probably win his second election. But, you know, he's an idiot.

"Also, shame on North Carolina. Nothing like reinforcing the view that people in the south are intolerant, homophobic bigots."

-- I was unaware Hawaii was from the South (you know, where the president is from!) Oh well, maybe he'll catch up and be as enlightened as Dick Cheney soon.; 5/9/12, 10:22 AM
Expat(ish) said...: @Bill - The first step to not understanding people is calling them names.

-XC

PS - I'm extremely conservative and voted against the Amendment. I almost didn't vote on it as I was tired of being called an intolerant homophobe bigot but figured my hurt feelings weren't worth someone else's civil rights.; 5/9/12, 10:22 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: The Dem constituencies do come off as 247 whiners in a time when too many Americans are struggling. Walker comes off as a reasonable, calm and measured leader. In that contest, the Dems lose big time.

Also, I think govt unions are the losers here not the private industry unions. That taxpayers realize we can no longer afford cadillac pay and benefits for a union drone in state govt or city hall.; 5/9/12, 10:23 AM
Patrick said...: A very enlightening comment from Bill:

the man hasn't graduated from college. He's an idiot.

There are an awful lot of very smart and successful people who have never gone to, let alone graduated from college. You may have needed college to become smart (though it's quite clear that tactic failed), but most don't.; 5/9/12, 10:23 AM
TWM said...: "This isn't about unions anymore,"

That was the only correct thing you said in your entire comment. You're right, it's gone way past unions who are losing their power right and left.

Walker will win. Bet on it.; 5/9/12, 10:24 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Bill - that claim that WI lost more jobs has been questioned as to its accuracy. I think Garbage Mahal pulled it out of his butt and it went viral.; 5/9/12, 10:24 AM
jeff said...: "......and the man hasn't graduated from college. He's an idiot."

That is a fascinating comment and a window to some liberals mindset.

So if one doesn't graduate from college, one is a idiot? How about if one graduates after attending several colleges? How about if one graduates from a state college? How about if someone graduates from a non-ivy league college? What if they graduated from a top 10 school but are a republican? You need to let us know where you set your line.; 5/9/12, 10:25 AM
ThreeSheets said...: Serious question from a lurker. Why do any of you respond to Garage? Ever? His comments are predictable and lack an sophistication and, as far as I can recall, he hasn't been accurate in any of his pronouncements. He is never going to change his opinion or views so, seriously, why do you bother.

I'm not suggest he'll go away if you ignore him, nor should he, but I fail to see any purpose in engaging him.; 5/9/12, 10:26 AM
Alex said...: Noted people never to have graduated from college - Steve Jobs, Bill Gates.; 5/9/12, 10:26 AM
edutcher said...: Bill said...

Good lord, you people are morons.

Barrett was elected as the DEM candidate because he has a better shot of winning. This isn't about unions anymore, it's about recalling the governor who is responsible for the single largest number of jobs lost in this country over the past year.

Walker, a rising star? What are you smoking? No jobs have been gained, and the man hasn't graduated from college. He's an idiot.

He's certainly tying the Demos in knots, isn't he? So they must be bigger idiots.

Walker's reforms are saving WI millions in taxpayer money because most of the jobs lost were in the public sector.

Because Barrett has a better shot doesn't mean he'll make it.

And, yes, it IS about the unions.

PS Hatman's new alias is foaming at the mouth already.; 5/9/12, 10:29 AM
TosaGuy said...: "......and the man hasn't graduated from college. He's an idiot."

This is the contempt of many of Walker's detractors. His lack of a degree combined with his achievements in office offends them more than the money diverted from their checks.

If Walker had a degree from UW or some other large university, he would still be hated by these people, but the level of contempt would be different. He wouldn't offend them personally.; 5/9/12, 10:30 AM
cubanbob said...: Walker, a rising star? What are you smoking? No jobs have been gained, and the man hasn't graduated from college. He's an idiot.

Bill if he was an idiot then he would be a liberal. Like you. As for job losses, shedding government drones is a feature, not a bug.; 5/9/12, 10:32 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/9/12, 10:34 AM
X said...: so a man decides not to waste money on an Anger Studies degree and he's the idiot? at least he doesn't live in a tent.; 5/9/12, 10:35 AM
Uncle Frank said...: Tridad: I agree.; 5/9/12, 10:36 AM
Coldstream said...: I'm curious if having weeks of protests in the capitol building and political uncertainty brought about by seemingly continuous recall elections has any effect on the job market in Wisconsin?; 5/9/12, 10:37 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: and the man hasn't graduated from college. He's an idiot.

Riiiiight. Because only people who graduate from college with huge student loan debt that they can't pay back because they took moronic classes and have no job skills. They are the SMART ONES because the went to college.

College graduates who expect that their classmates who didn't go to college and didn't rack up huge debt and went to work instead will pay off their loans through the taxes. They look down on their idiot classmates because they went to work.

Talk about ungrateful self absorbed useless elitist snobs.

Also, shame on North Carolina. Nothing like reinforcing the view that people in the south are intolerant, homophobic bigots.

Tuff stuff. The people in NC get to decide what laws they would like to have in their OWN State. If you don't like it....I would suggest you don't move to NC. I doubt they will miss you much.; 5/9/12, 10:38 AM
BarrySanders20 said...: A giant repudiation of Big Labor, and also a giant repudiation of that idiot Mordecai Lee and his "95% crossover" prediction.

Anecdote: My wife, though intelligent, beautiful, and sexy, has poorly developed political thoughts and reliably votes D. I was surprised to see her "I Voted" sticker yesterday because she has shown nothing but disgust concerning the recall. She said she voted for Barrett (who we often see jogging in our neighborhood) because she wanted him to win the primary but has no intention of voting next month in the actual recall. She likes Barrett but thinks the recall is absurd.

I did not vote yesterday in the primary but have every intention of voting for Walker in the general. I think Walker will definitely pick up votes in the general.; 5/9/12, 10:56 AM
MadisonMan said...: Is it really gonna cost $16M?

Sure! Just like it cost $7.5M to clean up the Capitol!; 5/9/12, 10:59 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: "... and the man hasn't graduated from college. He's an idiot..."

Hear that all you non-college educated people? You're all idiots.

Isn't it great how liberals don't even try and keep their mask on nowadays?; 5/9/12, 11:04 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: "... I'm not suggest he'll go away if you ignore him, nor should he, but I fail to see any purpose in engaging him..."

Don't mistake mockery for engagement.

After he touted Gore's enviro friendly house that actually turned out to be Dubyas house and told me we can't default on our debt cause we can print all the money we need, I realized this is someone with a limited capacity for reasoned discussion.

ps: Im not completely discounting that garage is really a deep cover conservative sleeper mole whose job is to discredit liberals.; 5/9/12, 11:15 AM
Christopher in MA said...: And the man hasn't graduated from college. He's an idiot.

That well-known avatar of intelligence, ManBearPig, flunked out of divinity school. An idiot he?

Also, shame on North Carolina.

Yeah, that whole "will of the people" thing is a real bitch when you're smarter than those Bible-thumpin', sister-humpin' rednecks. Why can't the proles just shut up?; 5/9/12, 11:16 AM
BarrySanders20 said...: MadisonMan,

It will cost $16 million, but most of that is at the county level. It costs money to coordinate the balloting, run the election, and sort state-wide election results. Taxpayers get the bill, once again, from the public employee unions.; 5/9/12, 11:16 AM
BarrySanders20 said...: Christopher in MA,

Those NC hillbillies must have gotten real dumb since 2008, because these same moonshine sippers voted for Barack the Spreader for president in 2008.; 5/9/12, 11:20 AM
Brian Brown said...: Bill said...

Also, shame on North Carolina. Nothing like reinforcing the view that people in the south are intolerant, homophobic bigots.

Hey loser. NC is the 30th state to vote against gay marriage.

California also did so.

Your shrill name calling reveals your desperation.; 5/9/12, 11:22 AM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: Sure! Just like it cost $7.5M to clean up the Capitol!

Except this time it the "non-partisan" GAB making the claim. I thought the GAB was gospel to the left.; 5/9/12, 11:30 AM
Nathan Alexander said...: I think Garbage Mahal pulled it out of his butt and it went viral.

Rather, garage mahal got his talking points at the same place all the other liberal astroturf got theirs.; 5/9/12, 11:42 AM
Nathan Alexander said...: ps: Im not completely discounting that garage is really a deep cover conservative sleeper mole whose job is to discredit liberals.

That actually sounds like fun.; 5/9/12, 11:43 AM
Curious George said...: "Jay said...
Hey loser. NC is the 30th state to vote against gay marriage.

California also did so.

Your shrill name calling reveals your desperation."

So did Wisconsin. By a large margin.; 5/9/12, 11:56 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: "... Also, shame on North Carolina. Nothing like reinforcing the view that people in the south are intolerant, homophobic bigots..."

You mean for holding the same view on gay marriage as Obama?; 5/9/12, 11:59 AM
BarrySanders20 said...: You mean for holding the same view on gay marriage as Obama?

Someday Obama aspires to be as enlightened as Dick Cheney.; 5/9/12, 12:20 PM
Michael Haz said...: This isn't about unions anymore, it's about recalling the governor who is responsible for the single largest number of jobs lost in this country over the past...

Wisconsin's net job losses came entirely formt eh city of Milwaukee, where Tom Barrett has been mayor for seven years.

Nice try.; 5/9/12, 12:57 PM
MadisonMan said...: That well-known avatar of intelligence, ManBearPig, flunked out of divinity school. An idiot he?

He's just not divine.; 5/9/12, 3:00 PM
bagoh20 said...: Bill said...

"Good lord, you people are morons."

You sure told us.

That was like watching a toad hop onto the freeway. You could see what was gonna happen, and then splat!

Have a drink and relax - it's just the primary.

It'll get worse.; 5/9/12, 3:46 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: the man hasn't graduated from college. He's an idiot.

Tell that to Bill Gates or Rush Limbaugh, both of whom have very likely made much more money than you ever will, had higher SAT scores, and didn't graduate from college.; 5/9/12, 4:03 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: I should add that both Gates and Limbaugh had SAT scores above 1500 cumulative, and Gates probably would have had a perfect 1600, if his scores had been recentered, as they were a decade or two ago.

No matter what I can say about his business practices, I don't think that anyone can say that he is not smart, or that he has not been successful in business. Also, I would also suggest that the success of his philanthropic activities may be how he is ultimately remembered, even above and beyond the vast fortune he accumulated, and then gave away.; 5/9/12, 4:07 PM
Mel said...: @Bill, would you say the reason for the recall is "evolving"?; 5/9/12, 6:28 PM