Althouse: $137+ million spent on Wisconsin recall elections.

July 25, 2012

$137+ million spent on Wisconsin recall elections.

$81 million of it was blown trying to oust Governor Walker.

What a waste! Is anyone up for the new elections, the normal elections, this fall?

37 comments:

bagoh20 said...: But how many trains is that?; 7/25/12, 6:35 PM
traditionalguy said...: Trains are what Democracy looks like, circa 1880.

That does not include the per diem for the rioters and the drum circle chanters. And they eat a lot.; 7/25/12, 6:41 PM
edutcher said...: But think about how garage felt!; 7/25/12, 6:41 PM
Tom Spaulding said...: Think of how many teachers they could have hired to teach themselves remedial Civics, Rhetoric, and Common Decency.

Also, how many bar tabs at The Tilted Kilt does that work out to be?; 7/25/12, 6:47 PM
joated said...: Consider that as $137+ million as having been "redistributed." It's not "gone" for the residents of Wisconsin unless it was spent out of state for print and broadcast ads. And if donations came from out of state...well, that's a plus, isn't it?; 7/25/12, 6:47 PM
garage mahal said...: It's getting pretty expensive to keep a governor's seat in the Dairyland. 58.7 million to stave off a recall? Ouch!; 7/25/12, 6:58 PM
Joe Schmoe said...: Wasn't it nice when Garage took his extended leave of absence during the runup to the recall election?; 7/25/12, 7:07 PM
Bob Ellison said...: Chump change. How much should a well-governed state cost?

People keep talking about how Obama and Romney are gonna spend $1b this time around. Like that's a bad thing. Is it? Is there a price? Who sets the price? Can you give me a metric?; 7/25/12, 7:11 PM
ndspinelli said...: We have these fucking primaries in August. BASTA..BASTA!!; 7/25/12, 7:16 PM
Rusty said...: Joe Schmoe said...
Wasn't it nice when Garage took his extended leave of absence during the runup to the recall election?

The miasma of his earnest bacwardness having eased was refreshing, but I missed the unintentional comedy.

He seems to have missed the fact that there is 81 million his masters will not have to spend on the larger election. meaanwhile the opposition becomes stronger.; 7/25/12, 7:18 PM
Ross said...: What? The Dems were only outspent ~2.5 to 1?! I guess all those people saying that the Dems were outspent a gazillion to one were exaggerating and drawing attention away from the fact that they had a bad message.; 7/25/12, 7:47 PM
Scott said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/25/12, 9:06 PM
MadisonMan said...: I thought that was the amount spent fixing the damage to the Capitol.; 7/25/12, 9:06 PM
bagoh20 said...: Isn't wasting $137mil gonna cost WI a lot of teachers?; 7/25/12, 9:35 PM
garage mahal said...: Isn't wasting $137mil gonna cost WI a lot of teachers?

You are so dumb where does a guy even begin?; 7/25/12, 9:50 PM
Original Mike said...: "Wasn't it nice when Garage took his extended leave of absence during the runup to the recall election?"

Brave garage ran away, away,
He bravely ran away ...; 7/25/12, 10:31 PM
Original Mike said...: It was a load of horse shit. A Constitutionaly protected load of horse shit.; 7/25/12, 10:43 PM
garage mahal said...: It was such a waste Republicans decided to spend 58.7 million dollars versus 22 million dollars for Democrats to keep a Republican governors seat. Wow. Beauty for Walker is he gets to keep much of whatever he raised to fight a criminal corruption probe knocking at his door. You sure can pick 'em, Wisconsin.; 7/25/12, 11:02 PM
bagoh20 said...: "You are so dumb where does a guy even begin?"

Yea, but not so dumb that I had to go into hiding after it was clearly demonstrated.

Don't blame me. I didn't sign the petition, that was clearly stupid, wasteful, and undemocratic. It was: "It's not over until we win." Genius, and classy. All that money from the war chest gone, and it's not being replenished. Just like Democrats to keep spending regardless of what's coming in. You think that little tantrum was a good idea? Yep, someone is pretty dumb. A lot of someones - I think you put it at over a million of em, right?; 7/25/12, 11:09 PM
bagoh20 said...: It's a hell of a lot smarter to spend and win. The Republicans bought a star, national momentum, confidence, and completely turned the narrative for the whole nation. Damned cheap compared to losing all that at any cost.; 7/25/12, 11:13 PM
bagoh20 said...: "It was an exercise of freedom and Constitutional right."

I didn't see anybody arguing that it wasn't, but so is beating yourself with a stick, but that doesn't make it smart or worthwhile, although it is cheaper.; 7/25/12, 11:18 PM
Eric said...: What? The Dems were only outspent ~2.5 to 1?!

Read it again.; 7/26/12, 12:52 AM
Tom said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/26/12, 4:37 AM
Tom said...: Cool. Consider it an $81 million campaign contribution to Governor Walker by his (crazed) opponents. Walker's national stature has only increased since surviving the recall. And Walker doesn't even have to report it! Thanks union leaders!; 7/26/12, 4:39 AM
Curious George said...: "garage mahal said...
Beauty for Walker is he gets to keep much of whatever he raised to fight a criminal corruption probe knocking at his door."

Any. Day. Now.; 7/26/12, 6:52 AM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: $137+ million spent on Wisconsin recall elections

And all I got was a blue fist t-shirt.; 7/26/12, 6:54 AM
Rusty said...: Governor Walker. Living in Garage Mahal's head 24/7.
And Mahal paid for the priviledge.
priceless.
59 million in union political spending that is never going to be recovered.
priceless.
Garage Mahal vainly trying to construct a pony out of horseshit..........well. It's internet gold.; 7/26/12, 7:16 AM
Calypso Facto said...: $137 million spent, much of it from out of state with no discernible change to the political or job situation. It was a refutation of public union entitlement and Keynesian theory all in one!; 7/26/12, 8:41 AM
garage mahal said...: It was a refutation of public union entitlement and Keynesian theory all in one!

Only took 58.7 million to drive that point home! Must have been something else at play too? Obama for over a year has anywhere from a 6 to a 12 point lead over Romney. But Walker had been sending out dire warnings about Obama's OUT OF STATE BIG UNION BOSSES. BIG!

Weird.; 7/26/12, 8:52 AM
Known Unknown said...: Only took 58.7 million to drive that point home! Must have been something else at play too?

Only 80+ million to lose. Again!; 7/26/12, 8:59 AM
garage mahal said...: Only 80+ million to lose. Again!M

Democrats didn't spend 80 million to recall Walker.; 7/26/12, 9:25 AM
Calypso Facto said...: Must have been something else at play too?

Like what? Not seeing your point.

wv: hehate. Don't be that way, garage!; 7/26/12, 10:13 AM
garage mahal said...: Like what? Not seeing your point.

A lot of people voted for Walker, and plan to vote for Obama. That suggests the recall wasn't solely about public union "entitlement".; 7/26/12, 11:00 AM
Rusty said...: 137,000,000
-58,000,000
=
79,000,000 Spent to recall the governor.
I think we know who the biggest loser is.; 7/26/12, 11:24 AM
Calypso Facto said...: A lot of people voted for Walker, and plan to vote for Obama. That suggests the recall wasn't solely about public union "entitlement".

Since Wisconsin public unions now have roughly the same amount of bargaining power as members of Federal public unions, I don't see any dissonance there.; 7/26/12, 11:29 AM
garage mahal said...: 79,000,000 Spent to recall the governor.
I think we know who the biggest loser is.

It wasn't 80 million to recall Walker, moron. What you need to do, is, read the very first paragraph.; 7/26/12, 12:01 PM
Original Mike said...: "A lot of people voted for Walker, and plan to vote for Obama."

I wouldn't bet on it.; 7/26/12, 1:16 PM