Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
James Lileks closed the podcast this week in his usual manner, asking Rob and me to predict next week's big story--and, thinking myself clever, I predicted that next week's big story would be that there wasn't any big story.
My reasoning--the outlines of which still strike me as more or less correct--was that summer, the season in which nobody makes big decisions, has already arrived. Whereas a week ago the Greeks seemed headed for an exit from the Euro, for example, they now appear to have resigned themselves instead to mere muddling-through. Romney's campaign has become what it will be: Professional, but cautious, counting on swing voters to vote against President Obama rather than for Romney. Obama? He'll simply spend the summer doing what he's been doing: attacking Romney while making crude appeals to this or that interest group.
The only story of any real import this summer, I noted, would be the Wisconsin recall election, which would take place the week after next.
Silly me.
The recall election will take place next week. On Tuesday. And since all the polls show Scott Walker at least five points ahead--Intrade just now showed the likelihood of a Walker victory at no less than 96 percent--the story of the week next week will not only be very, very big but very, very good. Public sector employee unions will at last have been put in their place.
As goes Wisconsin, so goes...California? I'm already feeling dreamy.
Oh, and as for Brother James: Sorry about that.
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Dec '10
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
Peter, there will be no story, especially if Walker wins in a landslide. The NYT might even relegate its coverage to the back page of the style section. Nothing to see here. Move along folks.
Aug '10
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
The big story this week in the Great White North is that some psycho murdered and dismembered a man and then mailed the man's left foot to Conservative Party headquarters and the man's left hand to Liberal Party headquarters.
In other words, be very grateful when you can get through a whole week with no big story.
Apr '11
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
My question, for folks like Michael Barone, is this: how can WI vote for Walker with a 5-10 point margin and even be considered for Obama come Nov. Put another way, what sane person pulls the lever for Walker in June, but then walks in the booth and pulls the lever for Obama in 5 months?
Apr '11
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
Are there any Scott Walker types left in California?
Jul '11
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
Misthiocracy, I saw bits and pieces of that story.
Peter the big story for me, and one that will remove one of my two remaining screws, is that John Boehner has been pressured extensively by Obama's extenders using racial overtones to prevent holding Eric Holder in contempt.
David Codrea: Black pastors take up Holder talking points on both election and ‘Gunwalker’
"Dual initiatives partnering the Obama administration with leading African-American ministries emerged yesterday that appear designed to work around IRS restrictions on church political campaigning, and to create pressure against proceeding with a contempt of Congress citation against Attorney General Eric Holder for failure to comply with Operation Fast and Furious “gunwalking” scandal-related subpoenas."
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
Well, there are Rob Long and me. That makes two. Only another 38 million to go.
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
Obama carried Wisconsin by 15 points, so what the press will tell us is that, even if Walker wins by 10, which I think he very well may, Obama should still carry the state in November.
But I'm with you. No state goes through what Wisconsin has gone through, paying a very, very high price for curbing union power and restoring fiscal sanity, then turns around and votes for Obama and his failed liberal program.
Oh, but the implicates of Walker's victory will prove just glorious. On, Wisconsin!
Jun '10
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
If they're still in California, they're probably unable to sell their homes, are teachers with tenure, are in nursing homes thinking it's 1965, or are just plain masochists.
Nov '11
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
Peter Robinson
Well, there are Rob Long and me. That makes two. Only another 38 million to go. · 1 minute ago
Don't worry about it Peter. Given all the warm things you've said about the Lone Star State, should California finally teeter over the edge we'd be happy to claim you and Rob as fellow Texans. Just remember to quote Davy Crockett on your way out.
Mar '11
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
Peter Robinson:
The only story of any real import this summer, I noted, would be the Wisconsin recall election, which would take place the week after next.
Isn't the Supreme Court supposed to be deciding something in June? - maybe a big ......... deal, to quote Mr Biden.
Not to mention the Egyptian election, civil war in Syria, possible Israeli attack on Iran...
Not to mention increasingly ugly Occupy movements...
Yeah, nothing much happening this summer.
Sep '10
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
It is difficult to explain for people like us that follow politics and policy very closely. The most recent statewide poll has Walker leading Barrett 52-45, but also has Obama leading Romney 51-43.
For one thing, Wisconsin has a long history of voting for incumbents (2010 being an exception).
Additionally, I get the impression that many people here simply buy into the caricature of Romney as the evil business tycoon that wants to close your factory and send jobs to China. With the recall stuff going on, no one has really given much of a thought to the real Mitt Romney, so he certainly has a chance to change the perceptions.
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
David Williamson
Peter Robinson:
The only story of any real import this summer, I noted, would be the Wisconsin recall election, which would take place the week after next.
Isn't the Supreme Court supposed to be deciding something in June? - maybe a big ......... deal, to quote Mr Biden.
Not to mention the Egyptian election, civil war in Syria, possible Israeli attack on Iran...
Not to mention increasingly ugly Occupy movements...
Yeah, nothing much happening this summer. · 3 minutes ago
The Supreme Court on ObamaCare! I'm so terrified that they'll uphold it that I had banished the thought from my mind.
Jan '11
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
EJ Dionne had an article this morning (I saw it on Real Clear Politics) bemoaning what would happen if Walker won.
This renegade Walker ... my God! ... wants to take away the Democrat Party's baked-in advantages and have ... gasp ... even-handed elections.
Oh, the humanity ...
Jun '10
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
Talk about feeling dreamy!
Public sector unions will have been tweaked! When an 800-pound gorilla walks into the ring and the opponent lands a solid blow to the jaw, the gorilla doesn't just careen to its corner and drop to its stool.
It has already called Foul! and asked the ref to toss the opponent out.
Failing that, the gorilla will appeal to the Boxing Commission. Failing that, the appeals will go all the way to the Supreme Boxing Commission.
All the while, other gorillas in other leagues will look to pummel their possibly weaker enemies in solidarity.
Being "put in their place" (the Hall of Fame after retirement?) is a much bigger task.
Edited on May 31, 2012 at 8:56pmApr '11
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
Peter Robinson
Well, there are Rob Long and me. That makes two. Only another 38 million to go. · 2 hours ago
Hey, I'm in California! So three! Just need another 37,999,999 now. Baby steps.
Honestly, I hope this goes well for Scott Walker, not the least so I can call up my very liberal brother and gloat. He did, after all, predict that all the cockroaches would flee from the light when Walker was recalled ...
Jan '12
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
It has been very encouraging here in northwestern Wisconsin, where the pro-Walker signs outnumber the 'Recall Walker' and Tom Barrett signs at least ten to one. Granted we have 10 signs on our farm, car and pickup...
As is generally the case, the more rural (and beautiful) parts of the state will go to Walker in a landslide.
One hope that I have for the presidential election here in Wisconsin is that Walker will come to have an even stronger voice in the state and will be able to stump very effectively for Romney.
We Stand with Scott!
Apr '11
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
Peter Robinson
But I'm with you. No state goes through what Wisconsin has gone through, paying a very, very high price for curbing union power and restoring fiscal sanity, then turns around and votes for Obama and his failed liberal program.
Oh, but the implicates of Walker's victory will prove just glorious. On, Wisconsin! ·
Might. Walker might win. He won't if his supporters take it for granted. Intrade showed the same certainty about Mitt's primary win in Colorado, and Santorum won in a landslide (and that without committing fraud, unlike the angry badgers Walker is facing). This week will be the biggest or second biggest before the debates, but it's not in the bag yet. A loss in Wisconsin would be simply catastrophic.
Much of Walker's support, though, is anti-recall, and not transferable to November.
Jun '10
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
*sigh*...This
Jun '12
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
There is a line from Babylon 5 that I believe will answer your question..."Always bet on stupidity."
Mar '12
Re: Silly Me, Or, There Will Too Be a Big Story Next Week
We have family in Wisconsin. I'm hearing, "Don't tell people it's good news yet, just to make sure they go to the polls."
--Joy