Althouse: Governor Walker.

June 5, 2012

Governor Walker.

141 comments:

Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Wisconsin sent the Unions..

Back to Walker.; 6/5/12, 11:02 PM
Methadras said...: All leftards know is DOOM. THULSA BARRETT DOOM.

wv = 13 seenerf = lulz; 6/5/12, 11:05 PM
Meade said...: Mr. Scott Walker!; 6/5/12, 11:08 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: The Democrats and the Unions are..

In A State of Shock; 6/5/12, 11:08 PM
Petunia said...: Woo. Hoo.

I have turned on my little flag lights. I'd turn on the big net flag lights but they're kinda bright to leave on all night.

SOOOOOO glad I won't have to move out of Wisconsin.; 6/5/12, 11:09 PM
Steven said...: As the candidates' speeches tonight demonstrated, it's easier to be a good winner than a good loser.

(I should admit that I only watched some of Walker's and none of Barrett's, so that's partly based on second-hand reports.); 6/5/12, 11:11 PM
chickelit said...: Watching Scotty Grow!!!; 6/5/12, 11:13 PM
Steven said...: My initial thought, actually, was "ironically, the winner was more conciliatory than the loser." But when I gave it some more thought, it isn't really ironic. The winners want us all to accept the results and get along and the losers want to keep fighting until they win.; 6/5/12, 11:13 PM
TMink said...: The winner and still champeen.

Wonder what the backlash will be for the crazies and Obama?

Trey; 6/5/12, 11:14 PM
Simon said...: So, the chastened Democrats will now shut up and slink away, right? Right?

Right?

...Uh... Right...?

I mean, it would be absurd for them to carry on carrying on, wouldn't it?; 6/5/12, 11:14 PM
mementomori said...: OUTSTANDING! The middle class/ silent majority SHOUTED today. Thank you, Governor Walker.; 6/5/12, 11:14 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: And Walker is..

The Winner!..; 6/5/12, 11:21 PM
Anonymous said...: I always liked the song.; 6/5/12, 11:23 PM
Alex said...: Any word on the 4 GOP state senator recalls?; 6/5/12, 11:23 PM
el polacko said...: after all the embarrassing news stories coming out of wisconsin this last year, ya finally done sumpthin' right. congrats, cheeseheads !; 6/5/12, 11:29 PM
yoobee said...: So according to local Milwaukee news, Barrett met a supporter as he left the stage after his concession speech. The supporter was very angry that Barrett conceded early, and she asked him if she could slap him. Barrett, interpreting it as a joke, leaned forward, and she gave him a hard slap across the face. Then the handlers separated the supporter from Barrett.; 6/5/12, 11:30 PM
Petunia said...: Alex, the Republicans have won 3 of 4. The 4th one, Van Wanggaard, is leading 60%-40% with 28% reporting according to the Milwaukee paper, with Wanggaard having about 16K votes.

The odd thing is, the local Racine newspaper is reporting he's received about 20,000 votes in the 47% of Racine districts that have reported.

So...it looks like he has a comfortable lead, but not sure when the rest of the districts will report in. This is the most hotly-contested race.; 6/5/12, 11:32 PM
yoobee said...: Alex said...
Any word on the 4 GOP state senator recalls?

Three of the four are reporting over 90%, with the Republican incumbent as the winner by a large margin (about 60-40). The fourth race, in Racine County, is odd because it is only reporting about 47% so far (for some reason the counts are coming in late). That's expected to be a tight race, but the Republican incumbent there is up 55-45 right now.; 6/5/12, 11:34 PM
Michael said...: Hey Ann, remember the lefty thug who was threatening you and said they were going to run you out of town for your views, trying to make it look like you were a lonely conservative in Madtown?

Walker got 70,000 votes in Madison. He lost 2-1 there, yes, but 70,000.

You were always stronger there than you realized. Realize it!; 6/5/12, 11:34 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Not Just Another Night.. another vision of love..

You feel joy you feel pain cuz nothing will be the same..
Just another night is all that it takes.; 6/5/12, 11:35 PM
sunsong said...: Congratulations to Gov. Walker; 6/5/12, 11:36 PM
Michael K said...: This could start a new trend. Politicians actually showing some guts.; 6/5/12, 11:37 PM
yashu said...: Thank you Althouse and Meade for your outstanding coverage of an extraordinary year in Wisconsin politics.; 6/5/12, 11:40 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Walker is asking the Unions for a note from a..

Doctor Doctor..

Not from those guys with the protesters ;); 6/5/12, 11:42 PM
Fen said...: Mandate!; 6/5/12, 11:44 PM
chickelit said...: RT @yashu said...
Thank you Althouse and Meade for your outstanding coverage of an extraordinary year in Wisconsin politics.; 6/5/12, 11:44 PM
Alex said...: Scott Wallker "John Doe" investigation explained - this dog will hunt

So basically in the end, Walker is another corrupt pol who is brought down by his own greed and arrogance. Did he really think he would get away with it?; 6/5/12, 11:45 PM
ALH said...: Can someone explain Menominee county to me? Barret over Walker 73%-27%...but completely surrounded by counties that are almost the polar opposite. It's like a turd floating in a sea of tranquility.; 6/5/12, 11:46 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I hear Walker..

Likes to Win..; 6/5/12, 11:48 PM
Darrell said...: Democrat's new civility.
Same as the old.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKmBYhYToos&feature=youtu.be; 6/5/12, 11:48 PM
LincolnTf said...: CRUSHED. All the violence, threats, intimidation and vandalism amounted to nothing more than a huge waste of money for the Laboristas and their useful idiots. CRUSHED.; 6/5/12, 11:49 PM
Charlie Eklund said...: Happy days are here again.; 6/5/12, 11:50 PM
Fen said...: Libtards at Dem Underground are calling for a "second revolution" and "Direct Action"

Direct Action = use of force; 6/5/12, 11:52 PM
Glen Wishard said...: I wonder how many unemployed Democrats voted for Walker because they were sick of fighting for the high salaries of the public employee nomenklatura.

It's worth noting that they rejected the union candidate of choice in the Democratic primary.; 6/5/12, 11:55 PM
a psychiatrist who learned from veterans said...: It's been fun having like our own Chicago Sun-Times reporter in WI. The result for the Dems has been like the novel An Earthquake in Chile,everything going smoothly along pretty much but then the angry superego brings disaster.; 6/5/12, 11:57 PM
ALH said...: OK. I've just watched the video for this thread. Yeah, all of it. It is so bad that I might have to rescind my vote for our Governor Scott Walker. Or was it so awesome that I want to go down and vote twice for Mr. Scott Walker? I can't decide.; 6/5/12, 11:58 PM
n.n said...: The 1% have learned that progressive involuntary exploitation will not be tolerated by Americans. That as civil servants -- the bureaucracy -- they will not be permitted to disenfranchise the citizens they serve. Hopefully, our elected representatives have also learned who they serve. Not one class, one "minority", one special interest, but all American citizens.

Now, if we can get the other 1% to voluntarily invest in America, then our nation will reemerge as a leader in the world.; 6/5/12, 11:59 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Bing it down a notch?

We’ve come together on this special day
To sing our message loud and clear
Looking back we’ve touched on sorrowful days
Future pass, they disappear
You will find peace of mind
If you look way down in your heart and soul
Don’t hesitate ‘cause the world seems cold
Stay young at heart ‘cause you’re never (never, never, ..) old at heart
That’s the way of the world; 6/5/12, 11:59 PM
Petunia said...: ALH, the population of Menominee County is almost entirely made up of Native Americans from the Menominee tribe. The county has exactly the same boundaries as the reservation it replaced.

FWIW.; 6/6/12, 12:05 AM
ALH said...: Thanks for the info Petunia; 6/6/12, 12:10 AM
Petunia said...: You're welcome!; 6/6/12, 12:10 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Mandate!

When explanations make no sense
When every answer's wrong
You're fighting with lost confidence
All expectations come

The time has come to make or break
Move on don't hesitate

Breakout

Find a way to say what you want to say!; 6/6/12, 12:15 AM
bagoh20 said...: No leslyn, that's democracy and common political opinion. If you want to see what "sick" really is, check out Darrell's Youtube link above at @ 11:48pm That's how the left voices it's political opinion.; 6/6/12, 12:17 AM
Petunia said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 6/6/12, 12:18 AM
Alex said...: leslyn - funny you talk about Barrett supporters's home vandalism but don't give a shit about Walker supporters having their homes & cars violated by you guys. Fuck you.; 6/6/12, 12:22 AM
Petunia said...: That's bullshit, Leslyn, like most of your posts, and you know it. A couple of people booed briefly when the Governor mentioned Tom Barrett, and they were silenced immediately. Mostly the crowd cheered and shouted "thank you!" while the Governor was speaking.

Unlike the Barrett supporters, who booed loudly when he conceded. One of them even slapped him as he was leaving the stage. Talk about sick.; 6/6/12, 12:25 AM
Petunia said...: Oh, and it's also bullshit to talk about the BARRETT supporters worrying about home vandalism. The VAST MAJORITY of the vandalism and death threats has come from the left, and you know it.; 6/6/12, 12:26 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Walker is..

The Sultan of sWINg; 6/6/12, 12:27 AM
Steven said...: I find it plausible that Walker isn't a good guy -- I don't know him all that well. Heck, I don't even know enough to say confidently that this indictment rumor is a crock of [expletive deleted]. But the notion that the good guys are the people using a fist as their logo and collecting fake doctors' notes to excuse their skipping work to protest is a little hard for me to swallow.; 6/6/12, 12:28 AM
Alex said...: S - if Walker is indicted it will set back the cause of austerity 25 years.; 6/6/12, 12:30 AM
Darrell said...: No, go for it Leslyn.
Adios, hasta luego!; 6/6/12, 12:31 AM
yashu said...: LOL at the Obama campaign statement tonight about the "strong message sent to Governor Walker."

And LOL at this classic Axelrod tweet: "Bad night in Boston...WI raises big questions for Mitt."

Ace of Spades and others having fun with this on twitter:

Tonight, the Hindenburg sent a powerful message to the ground

Kid Who Tried To Beat The Train In a High School Drivers Ed Movie: Tonight, my Chevette sent a powerful message to locomotives

Walter Mondale, Election Night 1984: Tonight, I sent a powerful message to Ronald Reagan

Bad night in Houston ... Moon landing raises big questions for NASA.

Bad night in Los Alamos... Hiroshima raises big questions for Manhattan Project.

Bad night in Dakotas...Crazy Horse should be afraid of Custer's unstoppable machine

Etc.; 6/6/12, 12:33 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I don't wanna talk about things we've gone through,
Though it's hurting me, now it's history.
I've played all my cards and that's what you've done too,
Nothing more to say, no more ace to play.
The winner takes it all,
The loser standing small beside the victory, that's her destiny.; 6/6/12, 12:44 AM
Steve Austin said...: Althouse was right.

I didn't have that confidence. But she did.

Walker got recalled, won the recall by even more, and now is more powerful than ever.; 6/6/12, 12:45 AM
Seeing Red said...: So this is what an $18 mill recall looks like? Walker almost picked off another county, it looks like he only lost by 72 votes.

The state stands with Governor Walker.; 6/6/12, 12:45 AM
Anonymous said...: Well done, Wisconsin.

I eagerly await the comical spin that will polute the air waves tomorrow.; 6/6/12, 12:51 AM
Alex said...: No doubt Walker benefited from lax campaign donation laws

What's at stake in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin billionaire Diane Hendricks gave Walker more than $500,000.
Texan Bob Perry, who bankrolled the infamous 2004 "Swift Boat" attacks against John Kerry, also contributed half of $1 million directly to Walker.
Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and Michigan millionaire Dick DeVos each donated $250,000.

Ouch. Hard to say Walker is a "man of the people" when most of his money comes from billionaires.; 6/6/12, 1:12 AM
Alex said...: Barrett drew only 9,282 individual donations over $100 compared to the 60,344 individual donations over $100 Walker has collected.

So it can't be argued that Walker simply benefited from the rich donors.; 6/6/12, 1:15 AM
Michael Hess said...: I'm looking forward to how the MSM covers the results of the election. Already the MSM has grabbed on to the Disney junk food announcement with the first lady. I'm sure that was not planned. "Please look over here, my wife is talking about Disney and fat kids; pay no attention to the repudiation of a major faction of my governing coalition."; 6/6/12, 1:20 AM
Über said...: Of course all the money paying for the recall efforts came only from the middle class public sector union workers in Wisconsin, right Alex?

Since you disdain outside interference, I'm sure you'll stand and publicly oppose the interference of the wide variety of lefty national funds pouring in to fund the recall, huh?; 6/6/12, 1:20 AM
Steven said...: Walker collected over 1.3 million votes. I'm not sure how many of those were from billionaires, but I'd wager it's few enough that he could have won without them.; 6/6/12, 1:21 AM
Alex said...: Because Walker was able to outspend Barrett 7.5 to 1, the people of WI were inundated with pro-Walker and anti-Barrett ads. Since the average voter has no mind of his/her own, the advertising was decisive.; 6/6/12, 1:26 AM
Steven said...: Actually, though, I wonder - the exit polls, to the extent we trust them, may shed light on this - to what extent votes for "Walker" were for Walker and to what extent they were simply votes against frivolous recalls. I understood the Journal-Sentinal's endorsement as anti-recall rather than pro-Walker, and I might put our esteemed hostess in that category, too, even though she voted for Walker the first time and she didn't like Barrett's lack of a budget plan this time. In particular, if Barrett had been the incumbent subject to a recall election, I think she might have voted for him just to oppose the recall -- I suspect she'd be more inclined toward Walker than toward Barrett on a straight vote, but the recall itself might have been the most important factor to her today. Mind you, that's a weird hypothetical, because Barrett would have found it harder to avoid a budget proposal if he'd been the incumbent, but my point is that some people who would have picked Barrett in an unexceptional rerun might have gone for Walker just to oppose this use of the recall.

So I said that Walker collected over 1.3 million votes, but I don't think they're all really his.; 6/6/12, 1:33 AM
Seven Machos said...: Why are they hiding?

Because it was their spending that made all the difference in the blowout victory, Les. Obviously.

Don't you get it, Les? Don't you see? This election isn't about public-sector unions that suck the blood of the body politic. It's not about asking teachers and bureaucrats with cushy jobs to pay a bit more for their own benefits.

No, Les, this election is about money, and who spent more of it. Unlike the 2008 national election, which was about hope and change, and not who spent more money.

Please make a note of it before you move onto the next frivvolous thing that nobody gives a shit about as you lumber through the stages of your grief publicly at Althouse.; 6/6/12, 1:42 AM
Darrell said...: If only Wisconsinites knew there was a recall election and that Democrats and unions hated Walker, it would have been a totally different outcome. Oh the humanity!

Hey, Les, what happened with that boat trip? No money for gas?; 6/6/12, 1:54 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Lets not be harsh..

Les hart is in the right place.. shes just not seeing the big picture.

With continuing high unemployment in the country as a whole, not just Wisconsin.. how could these unions be so obstinately uncaring.. how could they consciously ask the state to raise taxes once more?

Wait.. that's the point you were making seven?

Never mind ;); 6/6/12, 1:58 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Rush was dead on today about the unions.

You really have to be an uncaring selfish person if you cannot see the kind of shape the country is in economically.

Thank God the voters of Wisconsin can.; 6/6/12, 2:08 AM
fbsakamoto said...: Walker fundraising ratio was amplifed because the out of state big union money was spent on Dem primary loser Kathleen Falk .. such unions were not fond of Barrett. Nor was the POTUS.

Side note... I notice pro-Walker bumber stickers in Madison for the first time on Mem Wkend.; 6/6/12, 2:17 AM
Kirk Parker said...: "Texan Bob Perry, who bankrolled the accurate 2004 'Swift Boat' attacks against John Kerry,"

FIFY.; 6/6/12, 2:24 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Unfortunately Les.. that is just the kind of rationale that has put us in the hole ... trillions of dollars.

I don't care about anybody else's as long as I get mine.

No ONE thing and no ONE program or no ONE state has done it alone.

We have all done it.. and we have all better start thinking about how we get ourselves out before we turn into Greece.; 6/6/12, 2:24 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: “A billion here, a billion there, sooner or later it adds up to real money.” –
Everett Dirksen, Congressman

Under normal conditions.. in the real world of finance that would be considered a blunderous nonsensical statement.. but not in goverment..

Why is that?

only 12% you say but I'm sure that number has only gone upward ever since it was created.; 6/6/12, 2:40 AM
Gabriel Hanna said...: I think it's mostly because we have spent 10 years fighting two wars which, for the first time, we have not paid for with taxes.

leslyn fails math forever.; 6/6/12, 2:42 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: because we have spent 10 years fighting two wars..

That we conveniently forget.. the wars.. cheaply fuels our cars.

Everybody else pays more, way more Les.

The price we pay is access and security for the sellers as well as ourselves.

Supply and demand Les.. not complicated by romantic notions of how the world ought to be.; 6/6/12, 2:49 AM
Carnifex said...: For those calling for bi-partisonship I would like to point out the link provided by Darrel, reproduced here...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKmBYhYToos&feature=youtu.be

For those calling for magnanimity for Leslyn, sometimes you just gotta' smack a 'ho'. Sorta like beatin' a dead mule, you know it does no good, but the damn mule IS so stubborn.

For Leslyn herself, why the hell would Canada want a useless, whinny, commie, self-righteous, p.o.s. O'bot? They got enough problems with the polar bears coming down out of the melting arctic ice pack devouring their children left and right. Oh! That's right. You were wrong about global warming too.

Forrest was right. "Stupid is as stupid does"; 6/6/12, 2:53 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: BTW if you think that China would be as accommodating with a weak United States.. I have a bridge to sell you.. they call it the GW bridge but after I sell it to you you can change the name.. promise.; 6/6/12, 2:54 AM
Gabriel Hanna said...: I think it's mostly because we have spent 10 years fighting two wars which, for the first time, we have not paid for with taxes.

In 2008 war spending funded through the special appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan was just under $200 billion. Social Security, Medicare, interest on the debt, and other mandatory spending was $1.8 trillion. Non-mandatory spending was $1.1 trillion.

$200 billion / $2.9 trillion = 7%.

SS, Medicare, Medicaid, interest, etc:
$1.8 trillion / $2.9 trillion = 62%.

Your logic is the same as a 500 pound man blaming his obesity on his annual birthday cake, rather than his day-in, day-out habits over a lifetime.; 6/6/12, 2:57 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: And with that I need to get some shut eye..

Good night you all.; 6/6/12, 2:58 AM
Zachary Sire said...: Walker and Althouse's friend from the other day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfGuD9Qp9w4; 6/6/12, 3:38 AM
AlanKH said...: Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss

(literally); 6/6/12, 3:44 AM
NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...: Garage?

Glad this is over. I don't think this election was really all that important. Wisconsin, whether ruled by Republicans or Democrats, was going to reform pensions. New York, Rhode Island, and soon California are all doing it. The amazing temper tantrum only happened because there was a Republican stating the obvious rather than a Democrat.

When pension reform is pushed by Democrats like Governor Cuomo no one cares, or at least they don't care in such a public way. What happened in Wisconsin was that the Democratic party used the issue as a springboard to refight the 2010 election. The protestors and the unions got used for the Democratic party's ends. They even ran the exact same candidate. I wonder how that feels, to be used like this? Probably the same as the antiwar movement must feel.

There's no wider implication, really, other than that pension reform is inevitable because states are going broke. It's only a matter of time. Wisconsin is ahead of the curve, although not as far ahead as Indiana, but farther ahead than California and Illinois.; 6/6/12, 4:17 AM
Henry said...: I'm happy. Hopefully this prompts more political courage elsewhere.

Wirecall would be a good band name. Rhymes with Fireball.; 6/6/12, 5:02 AM
Roger J. said...: Professor and Meade--will repeat what I said the other day--you both did an outstanding job of covering the political contremps in Wisconsin

Great job both of you; 6/6/12, 5:11 AM
Steve Koch said...: Alex,

You claimed that Walker went too far with his reforms in Wisconsin, that he did not campaign on reforming unions and that his reforms would be rejected at the polls. Your prediction was proven completely wrong and your side was thrashed.

Do you understand that most voters realize that gov worker unions are bad for democracy and must be reformed? This election is just the beginning of a tidal wave of reform that will devastate gov unions across the USA.; 6/6/12, 5:24 AM
Curious George said...: "leslyn said...
Walker made a bipartisan statement at his victory party and his Waukesha supporters booed him. That's the future.

Sick." 100% bullshit. As has been mentioned, when Walker said Barrett had called a few people booed. Walker stopped it immediately. And talked for minutes regarding working together to a CHEERING crowd. Leslyn is an example of why I think that's folly. A poster child of the petulant and sophomoric modern progressive, the only solutions that matter are those that empower them and enrich them...the rest of us be damned. As you can see from this post, and past posts by leslyn , they are not bound by truth, or logic, or civility, or even laws.; 6/6/12, 5:35 AM
Kosty said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 6/6/12, 5:36 AM
Steve Koch said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 6/6/12, 5:44 AM
stan said...: What's important about Wisc is not the result last night. It's everything that has happened there over the last 2 years. Eventually, voters will not tolerate a system where teachers and govt workers make substantially more in salary than the avg person while enjoying platinum benefits and ironclad job security. Especially when everyone else is suffering. The blue model is dying because that kind of selfishness is unsustainable. For 2 years, the WI Democrats and their union bosses have had a nasty temper tantrum and the voters spanked them. Good for the voters. But the death of the blue model would not have been avoided had the unions managed to strong arm one last victory in liberal WI last night. Greece and the PIIGs, Illinois, California, Rhode Island all point the same way. Wisc voters just showed us that enough of them are smart enough to start dealing it now rather than wait til later and make the pain worse.; 6/6/12, 5:48 AM
Steve Koch said...: Alex said...
"if Walker is indicted it will set back the cause of austerity 25 years."

Haha, you wish. How absurd. If Holder indicts Walker, most non lefties will realize that Holder is abusing his office. We're going to fix that problem come November.

Austerity is a strange word to use re: Walker's reforms of gov unions. The main thing that Walker did was to eliminate the gov unions ability to confiscate gov workers' wages as union dues. That is not about austerity, that is about liberty.

Walker turned a $3 billion deficit into a surplus without increasing taxes or cutting services while decreasing gov corruption and improving gov worker liberty. Walker is a conservative hero which is why lefties such as you hate and fear him.; 6/6/12, 5:50 AM
James said...: Did any of you guys catch the woman who slapped Barrett after his speech last night?; 6/6/12, 5:50 AM
Kosty said...: If the one state senate seat in Racine goes to the Democrats ... is that significant at all with the fall elections coming up and no legislative sessions scheduled between now and then?; 6/6/12, 5:55 AM
Kosty said...: Thank you Ann and Meade for all of the "war correspondent" reporting of the past year.

You added an important perspective that the mainstream media would have ignored and we all would have missed if you did not take up that burden.

I wish you could have gotten combat pay at times.

BTW, without assuming your votes, you were not the only Scott Walker supporting Republican voting people in Dade county, over 70,000 of your neighbors there voted for him too.

You are not alone. Perhaps you can devise some sort of secret personal recognition signal. Perhaps a tap on the chest for heartfelt thanks or a simple recitation of the Lt Gov and her "THIS....is what democracy looks like" moment.; 6/6/12, 5:57 AM
Kosty said...: Great video of Rebecca Kleefish "THIS is what democracy looks like!" speech

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/06/recall-winner-rebecca-kleefisch-this-is-what-democracy-looks-like/; 6/6/12, 6:01 AM
edutcher said...: One word for all of this:

Repudiation.

Another 5 years or so of good government and the Lefties can look forward to a Scott Walker Administration in DC.

PS There is no joy in DC. The Lefties have struck out.; 6/6/12, 6:01 AM
Christopher in MA said...: Walker made a bipartisan statement at his victory party and his supporters booed him. That's the future. Sick.

To be frank, leslyn, fuck you. Remember your precious Little Black Jesus crowing "I won?" Remember how he magnanimously saud Republicans were welcome to help him, but they had to ride in the back of the bus?

Bipartisanship, to paraphrase Henry Ford, is bunk. Your type loves to whine about it when you lose, but when you win, it means only that the right fold like a cheap house of cards and do whatever you want. So, once again, a hearty fuck you. We won. Now screw and stay screwed.

All I'm thinking of this morning is The Great One - How sweet it is!; 6/6/12, 6:06 AM
Kosty said...: James:

Here you go for the slap to Barrett

MELTDOWN! Lib Kook Slaps Mayor Tom Barrett For Conceding Recall Race to Scott Walker (Video)

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/06/meltdown-lib-kook-slaps-mayor-tom-barrett-for-conceding-recall-race-to-scott-walker/; 6/6/12, 6:14 AM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 6/6/12, 6:21 AM
James said...: @Kosty; thanks for the link.; 6/6/12, 6:22 AM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: Garage?

Haven't you heard? Garage has been recalled.; 6/6/12, 6:23 AM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: In the immortal words of our old friend:

Millions of sconnies coming out and voting for Walker and Kleefisch. Now that's hawt!; 6/6/12, 6:24 AM
Curious George said...: "Kosty said...
If the one state senate seat in Racine goes to the Democrats ... is that significant at all with the fall elections coming up and no legislative sessions scheduled between now and then?"

Looks like it has, although there may be a recount. The Senate does not go back into session until January so we'll have to see how the fall election goes first. 16 Senate seats up for grabs in November. Based on last night, I think it will be back safely in GOP hands. The lefties here in WI have no idea the damage they have done to themselves. I don't believe they will ever acknowledge it.; 6/6/12, 6:47 AM
Christopher in MA said...: I can't seem to get that video of the woman slapping Barrett to work. Did she scream WAS IT OVER WHEN THE GERMANS BOMBED PEARL HARBOR?; 6/6/12, 6:48 AM
section9 said...: What happened was a twofold event:

1. Inevitable reform at the State Level is happening. Walker is doing what Andrew Cuomo is doing in New York, as was pointed out so trenchantly by John Lynch. Only Walker is a Republican with a national future so the MSM is trying to kill him off, while they do want to give Mario's boy a leg up as a "Centrist" Democrat and a Clinton client.

2. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party citadels of corruption, California and Illinois, are falling apart. People and businesses are fleeing from them to places where growth can take place: Texas, Idaho, South Carolina. California and Illinois will be dragged kicking and screming into the 21st Century by the Bond Vigilantes.

3. Last night, the voters sent a message that Obama's vision, played out on a state level, was as obsolete as the Collected Works of Leonid Brezhnev. The Left has made a huge, historically bad bet: that the American people wanted European State Socialism. It is only because God has a sense of humor that Obama will be beaten by such a weak sauce man as Mitt Romney.

4. Hidden story of the night? The revolt of the trades unionists against the Obama White House. I bet the after action report will show significant gains for Walker in Trades, Crafts, and Industrial Union households. All Romney has to do is read the tea leaves right and he can make inroads all over the "Dukakis Six" states.

6. Ed Schultz Hardest Hit.; 6/6/12, 6:54 AM
Lauderdale Vet said...: Ditto. Thanks muchly. RT @yashu said...
Thank you Althouse and Meade for your outstanding coverage of an extraordinary year in Wisconsin politics.; 6/6/12, 6:54 AM
Colonel Angus said...: It looks like San Diego and San Jose are doing some public union pushback as well. It appears the taxpayers there don't like funding the $92,000 average pension of police and firefighters.; 6/6/12, 6:55 AM
section9 said...: Okay, what happened last night was a sixfold event.; 6/6/12, 6:55 AM
Curious George said...: "leslyn said...
Walker made a bipartisan statement at his victory party and his Waukesha supporters booed him. That's the future.

Sick."

Well, you can believe leslyn or your lying eyes. Here is Walker's speech last night, starting with the after election bipartisan points. Other than brief booing when he mentioned Barrett, there is cheering:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5a9bkF70kY&t=8m28s

Watch sick is leslyn twisted angry mind. And sadly, the only cure is leslyn, which means there is no cure at all.; 6/6/12, 6:58 AM
Matt Sablan said...: It seems wrong to physically slap Barrett after he got such a metaphorical smack down.; 6/6/12, 7:20 AM
Michael Haz said...: It is so sweet reading the liberals plaintive and feverish projections that Governor Walker will be indicted. They spent years defending Jim "Pay to Play" Doyle, probably the most corrupt governor in Wisconsin's history.

Governor Walker won the recall by more votes than he won his election in 2010. Some of those new votes were Democrats who are fed up with their own party.; 6/6/12, 7:23 AM
Matt Sablan said...: “While tonight’s outcome was not what we had hoped for – no one can dispute the strong message sent to Governor Walker."

-- I guess the message the Obama campaign wants Walker to get out of this is... keep on keeping on? What you are doing has been given a mandate from the electorate? The do-over means you got more votes than you did last time?

Err... what message, exactly, does the Obama campaign think was sent? Why are they crowing over exit polls that allegedly showed a close race when, my understanding, is that it was, er, not that? 53% to 46%, right? That's... not really close.; 6/6/12, 7:25 AM
Curious George said...: Get back the State Senate in November, and the get rid of public union pensions. Convert all to 401K plans.; 6/6/12, 7:27 AM
Rusty said...: Curious George said...
The lefties here in WI have no idea the damage they have done to themselves. I don't believe they will ever acknowledge it.

They know, otherwise they'd be here in force.
Expect no graciousness from a progressive loser. Cover your back instead.; 6/6/12, 7:28 AM
KCFleming said...: The death threat responses by Democrats are seriously messed up.

I hope it's just a 'moment of passion' thing here, but given the race-riot at the 2011 Wisconsin State Fair and the 'random' swarming attacks in Milwaukee (and across the US), I fear things might worsen.

I blame Obama and his mentors in this: Ayers and Wright. We'll see how this plays out, but I do not think the November election will have a calming effect.; 6/6/12, 7:29 AM
X said...: epic; 6/6/12, 7:31 AM
Brian Brown said...: leslyn said...

Actually, I think it's mostly because we have spent 10 years fighting two wars which, for the first time, we have not paid for with taxes.

No war in the history of America was ever "paid for"
All wars from the Civil War to OIF were financed through debt.

Look it up, moron.; 6/6/12, 7:32 AM
Brian Brown said...: leslyn said...

I hope the Barrett supporters don't have to endure any more home vandalism--but I think that's too much to ask.

Tomorrows news should be--interesting. God bless the Barrett supporters and keep them safe.

Hysterical.

Hundreds of "progressives" took to Twitter last night and this morning to threaten death on Scott Walker.

It is all documented, but you'll ignore it to be a silly, ignorant, Internet scold.; 6/6/12, 7:35 AM
Michael Haz said...: It looks like the state senate majority will flip to the Dems due to Lehmann's (probable) victory in SD-21.

Not a big deal for two reasons: First, the legislature is in session only one day (June 13) between now and January 2013.

Second, due to redistricting SD12 and SD-18 (both now held by Dems) are substantially more conservative and will likely be won by Republican candidates in the November elections. The Republicans will hold the majority in both houses of the state legislature for the 2013 session.

In addition, SD-21 has been re-discticted and will be more republican beginning in November. It is likely to flip back to the Republican side, adding to the Republican majority in the state senate after the 2014 election.; 6/6/12, 7:41 AM
Roger J. said...: having read the various wire services and internet postings, their story is
that Walker "survived" or "eeked out a victory" In fact Walker crushed Barrett--I dont think I have seen a story that disclosed the margin of the victory.

Walker drove his enemies before him and now gets to hear the lamentations of the women--Allie? Leslyn?; 6/6/12, 7:43 AM
Curious George said...: "Rusty said...
They know, otherwise they'd be here in force.
Expect no graciousness from a progressive loser. Cover your back instead."

They're not here because they lost, not because of some self analysis.; 6/6/12, 7:46 AM
X said...: who won? I was watching msnbc and rachel madcow was doing stories about Romney eating dinner with a guy who owned an autographed copy of Mein Kampf. Hitler!

my favorite part was when they called the race and she said it was being "characterized" as a win for Walker by NBC, not her.; 6/6/12, 7:49 AM
Brian Brown said...: This temper tantrum cost WI taxpayers over $9 million.

These people are such losers it is pathetic.; 6/6/12, 7:54 AM
ndspinelli said...: It's always interesting to watch the different shifts of commenters report for duty. The graveyard shift is often angry. People, unable to sleep, venting their frustration. The early morning shift is pretty blue collar, ready to work and meet the new day head on. The evening shift is fairly eclectic.

It was heartening to see Ed Shultz cry in his craft beer @ the Great Dane.; 6/6/12, 8:00 AM
MadisonMan said...: Watching Scotty Grow!!!

I really hate that song.

It looks like the state senate majority will flip to the Dems due to Lehmann's (probable) victory in SD-21.

I am a fan of divided Government. So good.; 6/6/12, 8:04 AM
lemondog said...: WHAT?! No 'Walker Wins' in Hawkcam parking lot?

If Clinton couldn't get the voters, could Obama?; 6/6/12, 8:04 AM
Brennan said...: I had to crap on the Chicago Sun-Times political reporter. Lynn Sweet tweeted Walker's victory by saying "Barrett Concedes".

The gutter media can't even attribute a Walker win in a headline.; 6/6/12, 8:05 AM
lemondog said...: I am a fan of divided Government. So good.

Ditto; 6/6/12, 8:06 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: Union membership accounts for 12% of wage and salary workers. I just don't see that as putting us trillions of dollars in the hole.

You need to keep a couple things in mind here. First, and foremost, 12% of wage and salary workers does not translate into 12% of wages and salaries. Likely, a lot more. Esp. semi-skilled workers earn a lot more from government work than in comparable jobs in the private sector - sometimes up to twice as much.

Secondly, pensions and benefits, as a percentage of salaries are not comparable between government workers and non-government workers. Sure, union costs here are typically a lot higher than non-union, but it gets far worse when we are talking unionized government workers. The pension costs of a unionized government worker are estimated to be maybe twice that of his or her private non-unionized counterpart in the private sector.

Another problem is that these pension costs are nowhere nearly fully funded. Typically, they are defined-benefit pensions, which means that the workers are guaranteed a certain percentage of their final salary (with the percentage typically depending on years worked, and sometimes being over 100%), plus inflation. Police and fire in many places are able to spike their final salaries (and thus pensions) by working a lot of overtime their last year or so of work (when, their management would be on salary if not government workers, and thus not eligible for overtime and spiking).

So, it is bad enough that pensions for unionized government workers take up significantly more than their comparable share of the general public, as a percentage of GDP, etc. (i.e, well above your 12% or so). But, these plans are pretty much locked in. Almost all non-union non-government pensions went to defined contribution plans decades ago, because companies have to show that they are fully funding their pensions. Government pensions have been somewhat exempt from this, and have been primarily funded from general revenues, esp. when aggressively over-generous investment return estimates have been utilized over the years to set contribution rates. And, the actual rates of return have crashed, thanks to the Obama Recession. No more 8% returns, when mortgage loans are going for 4%, the federal government is paying far less, and the stock market is significantly below where it was when the Obama Recession started. This all means that the contributions for defined benefit pensions by governments have skyrocketed, resulting in some smaller government entities having to lay off a lot of their workers just to pay the pensions of those who have worked there in the past.

In other words, you can use your 6th grade math to "disprove" the problem, but it isn't going away, but is rather getting worse very quickly.

The other thing that you need to keep in mind is that government workers, by and large, do not create wealth, but rather, consume it. The result is that the more wealth that they consume, the less there is to pay workers to create wealth, but since the wealth consuming workers depend on the wealth creating workers to get paid, the entire system is breaking down.; 6/6/12, 8:07 AM
MadisonMan said...: WHAT?! No 'Walker Wins' in Hawkcam parking lot?

baby #3 is still stranded on a roof SW of the nest. Maybe it'll fly some today.; 6/6/12, 8:08 AM
Matt Sablan said...: "If Clinton couldn't get the voters, could Obama?"

-- I think Clinton went to show some party loyalty, which he's going to need to do if he keeps going off Obama's message. Also, Barrett was a big Obama supporter. I think this was Clinton's way of silently nudging people: "I'm influential and willing to be your friend, even if you did lose your way in the past." Political power play.; 6/6/12, 8:08 AM
Scott M said...: I am a fan of divided Government. So good.

How much a fan are you of the minority running for the state line to avoid doing their job?; 6/6/12, 8:10 AM
MadisonMan said...: How much a fan are you of the minority running for the state line to avoid doing their job?

As bloggable political theater, that was interesting. Ultimately, I don't think it caused much harm. Certainly the doom scenarios that were painted if the Budget "Repair" bill wasn't passed RIGHT NOW never came to fruition.

IF the Governor had been forthright in his reasons for trying to have the Senate ram the "Repair" Bill through, I think the 14 would have had a much harder time with public opinion (save for the Progressive Dane GroupThink types). As it was, they were able to latch on to the theme that there was no emergency, and what's the rush? The world didn't end when they left the state. Similarly, the world didn't end when the Budget "Repair" Bill was ultimately passed. Everyone survived.; 6/6/12, 8:16 AM
lemondog said...: "I'm influential and willing to be your friend, even if you did lose your way in the past."

The true way continues to elude the unenlightened.; 6/6/12, 8:19 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: To go a bit further with my last point, someone today pointed out that we have treated our economy as a positive sum game for quite awhile now. But, now, esp. in WI over the last year or so, it has become obvious that it is closer to a zero sum game. The money being paid for government workers, and esp. the semi-skilled type, and, esp. for their pensions and benefits, is far higher than being paid to their private sector non-government counterparts. Yet, the latter are expected to pay for the former.

If we are talking "fairness", how fair is it that government salaries for the semi-skilled (i.e. for those w/o college degrees) are significantly higher than those of those paying for those salaries? And that the pensions and benefits are gold-plated, while those paying often have minimal pensions and benefits?

For a long time, the game worked, with mandatory dues going to fund Democratic politicians, who, once elected, would raise salaries and esp. benefits of those whose mandatory dues funded their elections. The unionized government workers would thus control both sides of the table, whenever there was bargaining. And, the politicians could give away the ranch, through pension commitments, because they wouldn't be around when the house of cards collapses, and those pension costs came due.

The problem right now for the Democrats is that the house of cards is now collapsing from the weight of all those extra cards they place on the house in order to fund their elections, and they were caught with their hands in the candy jar, being seen as the ones who placed those extra cards. (How is that for mixing metaphors?); 6/6/12, 8:21 AM
Scott M said...: As it was, they were able to latch on to the theme that there was no emergency, and what's the rush? The world didn't end when they left the state. Similarly, the world didn't end when the Budget "Repair" Bill was ultimately passed. Everyone survived.

Granted, but political theater had nothing to do with it. They were buying time for their cohorts at the municipal bargaining tables all over the state. It was a clear indictment of the core problem.; 6/6/12, 8:22 AM
Brian Brown said...: I am a fan of divided Government. So good.

Considering that the State Senate will meet 1 time prior to Jan 2013, it really isn't "divided government"

Note: two Dem State Senate seats have been re-districted toward the R's. Enjoy the "divide"; 6/6/12, 8:24 AM
lemondog said...: Amazing Government, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Governmment that taught my heart to fear.
And Government, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Government appear
The hour I first believed.; 6/6/12, 8:25 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Ultra leftwing bloviater Ed Shultz says that Walker will be indicted any minute now!
What for? Doesn't matter. If only the left could arrest everyone they disagree with.; 6/6/12, 8:30 AM
MadisonMan said...: They were buying time for their cohorts at the municipal bargaining tables all over the state. It was a clear indictment of the core problem.

Or, it nicely illustrated the corruption inherent in the process so that everyone could see it, especially when compared to results in municipalities that did not hurry to bargain.; 6/6/12, 8:32 AM
Curious George said...: "MadisonMan said...
It looks like the state senate majority will flip to the Dems due to Lehmann's (probable) victory in SD-21.

I am a fan of divided Government. So good."

As has been pointed out, the Senate is in recess until next year so it's moot. 16 seats up in November. Likely back in GOP hands. So better.; 6/6/12, 8:32 AM
MadisonMan said...: You can be sure that if the Senate had not flipped (Is it certain that it has? I've not really read the news) that the Republicans would manufacture an "emergency" to call things back into session to pass more un-needed laws.; 6/6/12, 8:39 AM
Seeing Red said...: I wonder if the citizens of Madison & Milwaukee will consider this spanking their "They hate me, they really hate me" moment? Will they stay in their bubbles and refuse to travel around the state and mingle with the great unwashed who votes against their self-interest?; 6/6/12, 10:31 AM
Scott M said...: Is Krugman such a kook that you felt compelled to type 2008 Nobel Prize in Economics after his name?

Is it never over until you've won?; 6/6/12, 10:54 AM