The significance of today’s Wisconsin recall vote
Unless the voters in Wisconsin decide to surprise us all [today], the trouble in the Badger State means trouble ahead for public sector unions across the country. A Scott Walker victory would reshape not just Republican politics but Democratic politics as well; leaders like Andrew Cuomo in New York and Rahm Emmanuel in Chicago will be paying attention. If Walker wins handily, more Democrats will see the writing on the wall: Support for public sector unions simply isn’t the political winner it once was. This could presage a larger post-blue shift in the Democratic party for decades to come.
One caveat: if Walker wins, some portion of the vote—and I’m not sure how large or how small that portion would be—might also represent voters’ hesitation to submit elected officials to endless recall possibilities. Only nineteen states allow recall of state officials, and there’s probably a reason for that. The traditional remedy for egregious wrongdoing is impeachment, and for less severe problems it is failure to re-elect. Many states appear to believe that governors should not be subject to the whim of a bare majority in their every act as governor, and that the bar for removal should be set higher than Wisconsin’s.
In fact, Walker is only the third governor in the US ever to endure a recall vote. And quite a few residents are none too happy about the brouhaha that’s ensued there:
“It’s going to be a big one today,” said Lois Altmann, 83, a volunteer poll worker, as she taped maps of the county on walls inside the garden’s visitor center where voting booths were being erected. “Soon we can stop hearing about this.”
For months, Wisconsin residents ”” those on both sides of the debate ”” have complained that this fight has changed what was once mostly a gentle, civil political climate and turned friends and neighbors against one another.
“I’m looking forward to this being over,” said Adam Crandall, 45, who declined to say who he was backing, but stressed the need for Wisconsin to balance its budget and attract new businesses. “Frankly, I’m disappointed for the state of Wisconsin that we had to go through this, but it’s time to move forward.”
If Walker keeps his job today, most of the voters—perhaps even some who voted to recall Walker—will see the recall effort as a futile and unproductive waste of time and money. Of course, the left won’t be giving up on this sort of endeavor, but it may have a bit more trouble raising as much money for the battle next time.
[NOTE: It goes without saying—and so I neglected to say it—that today’s recall vote also has some significance for a guy named Barack Obama. The Democrats have been backtracking on that idea, and some creative souls are even flipping it upside down by saying a Walker victory might mean that people want to stick with the status quo (including Obama in November, who’s become the candidate of No Change). But it’s still the case that if Walker stays in office it probably isn’t a good sign for the president’s chances.]
Of course the left will not be giving up. Bringing about the socialist state is a religious mission with them. Breaking eggs to make omelets is what they do.
California is a funny place where the initiative and recall are long standing. While these allow citizens to overrule the elected officials (except for Prop 8 where the system has blocked it), it has also allowed an astounding degree of gerrymandering to be tolerated. This has frozen California into a state of legislative chaos.
The Wisconsin episode shows how the left believes that a Parliamentary system is best due to it’s majority rule. Combined with entrenched legislators it fits their needs.
I suggest that Walter Russell Mead is spot on; we are witnessing the death of the “Blue Social Model.” His point is that this large govt, union backed nanny-state is a dinosaur that cannot adapt to the 21st century and is doomed by its own inertia.
If we take a longer view, these are the death throes of the old system. In any such evolution, the former power base will not go quietly. Think of Assad and Quaddafi; we, however, have the benefit of a non-violent evolution (or mostly so, anyway). I’m expecting a period of time (perhaps a decade or more) as we see tumultuous social/political displays akin to the WI recall. There are several mentions out and about today, that even if Walker wins, the union power base has already lost and will continue to do so. The question is not IF it will disappear, but WHEN?
As for Wisconsin, can the Barrett supporters there be particularly pleased that the president traveled around the area (Minnesota, Chicago) and failed to stop by to put in a good word for Barrett?
Pure speculation on my part, but considering that G W Bush came close to taking WI in 2000 and again in 2004, if Walker wins as expected I will not be surprised to see WI go Red in November. If the win is substantial (8 points or more in my book) I’ll expect it.
REPORT: Unions bused in from out of state…
Turnout ‘very high’; 30-minute wait at some polling places…
Polls have Walker up by 3% all the way to 12%. And, if Walker wins by a healthy margin it is definitely very bad news for BHO, congressional democrats seeking reelection, and public sector unions. A few prominent democrats around the country have recently gone public with their displeasure with BHO. A solid Walker victory will probably continue to shake that tree. This recall effort is going to backfire big. Prequel to November?
Will it all be over for Wisconsinites after this recall attempt? I suspect not. I expect months of allegations of voter repression and outside Koch brother money winning the day.
We’ll know government is back on track when cops drive bottom of the line Fords again and school buses and city backhoes aren’t air conditioned.
I don’t think I can remember, ever, such a blackout by the mainstream media. Where are the early results? Been looking for them and Drudge just posted early results which looks like Walker by 5, the same amount he originally won with.
It will be a huge win, if it’s a win, but the significance, in my mind, is that only a door has been kept open. It has not been flung wide open. The sadness is that we are a divided nation between the takers and makers and the ultimate solution, culture, is off the table.
So we work under it.
Twenty years ago Communisn collapsed. In a way it was easy because everyone hated it except for the tiny minority that formed the Nomenklatura. What’s happening now in Wisconsin and elsewhere in the West is the collapse of Socialism. This is going to be much harder because so many benefit and live a good if unsustainable life at the expense of others. Share the wealth works to keep a lot of people in power if they don’t over do it, which they have.
Its time for the under 40s to wake up, and I think this is happening slowly but surely. They are the ones with this huge debt burden and entitlement burden on their shoulders. I feel the tide is turning.
For sheer awfulness, it distracts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8-pP4VboBk&feature=related
Remember the heroes. Two of mine still remain my drill sergeants. They were awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlNSPbfr5_g&feature=related
See a difference between make believe and reality.
8:00 pm in Wisconsin. Polls close in one hour.
Huffpo, Politico, and Yahoo doing live updates on the Wisconsin Recall.
What a perfidy on the part of the LSM. Not a word yet.
“But the race was way too close to call when polls closed at 9 p.m. ET.”
According to ABC.
Headline: Whatever Walker’s Fate, Obama Leads Romney in Wisconsin.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/06/whatever-walkers-fate-obama-leads-romney-in-wisco/
MSNBC leads with California news:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032525/ns/us_news
CNN: Zimmerman’s bail denied.
http://www.cnn.com/US/
What a bunch of crapheads. Total blackout which says they know that their previous polling and skewing has not worked and that reality versus “imagination” only works when there is a indulgent “parent.” There are no more of those in the America economy.
I am reminded of Kutozov’s response in War and Peace when, seeing the fleeing French he felt sympathetic. Then remembering the horrible price that had been paid to repel the French, he said “They shall eat horseflesh.”
“When he had dismissed the generals Kutuzov sat a long time with his elbows on the table, thinking always of the same terrible question: “When, when did the abandonment of Moscow become inevitable? When was that done which settled the matter? And who was to blame for it?”
“I did not expect this,” said he to his adjutant Schneider when the latter came in late that night. “I did not expect this! I did not think this would happen.”
“You should take some rest, your Serene Highness,” replied Schneider.
“But no! They shall eat horseflesh yet, like the Turks!” exclaimed Kutuzov without replying, striking the table with his podgy fist.”
And yet, horseflesh, given the tragedies of Soviet Communism, would have been welcome to the millions starved under socialism. So, one of the world’s worst tragedies pales next to the “triumphs” of human rights!
Piss.
Curtis,
Their silence is telling you Walker wins. Smile, pour a glass of wine, go out on the porch as Venus transverses the sun, and breathe easy. The tide turns. Hard, difficult days are ahead but the tide turns, molecule by molecule. Romney isn’t Reagan but he’ll do, he’ll do. (A sentiment I never thought to hold.)
Well, Parker, I’m not really sure of when stats are reported.
I remember that it is usually much earlier in the day when election results are reported per precinct, which tells me that something is different in this election. The opposition knows what the polls have been and are silent while they fraud the outcome and then intend to state it is because of a large turnout.
The DOJ is represented and we know what that means. So, I’m apprehensive the silence means a massive fix is in and I don’t doubt it given the importance of this election. The lack of reporting is (may be) an anomaly and signifies something is up. I smell a rat.
I’ll drink the wine with a sword at my side.
The tide has turned, but there are eddies, and Wisconsin is one of them. Given the slow recess of liberal crapheadism and outright fraud, a huge moral victory may be denied.
No way.
“I’ll drink the wine with a sword at my side.”
I’ll drink the wine with a model 65, 4 inch barreled, S&W .357 and a couple of speed loaders by my side. 😉