What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
You know you're a political junkie when you're staying up into the wee hours following the recall effort in a state you've never lived in. But that's what many of us did last night when Republicans eked out a victory against a huge recall effort in Wisconsin. Despite union's best efforts -- and whopping $30 million, Republicans were able to keep control of the Senate by winning four of six recall elections.
Badger State native John McCormack explains what it all means over at The Weekly Standard:
1. Psychologically, this has to be a pretty big blow to Democrats and the unions. They were confident they'd defeat supreme court justice David Prosser on April 5 but came up 7,000 votes short. (That was their only real chance to kill the collective bargaining bill before it became law.) This time, they threw everything they had at six state senate swing districts--spending tens of millions and outspending Republicans two-to-one. Again, they expected to win but still came up short. That's got to hurt.
2. Politically, Wisconsin remains the 50-50 state with a GOP tilt that it was in April. Wisconsin was basically deadlocked but narrowly voted for Democrats in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, swung to Obama by 13 points in 2008, and then swung to Walker by 5 points in 2010. The fact that the GOP has dropped just a couple points since Walker's election and the implementation of a sweeping set of conservative reforms is a relief to Republicans.
But, McCormack adds, just because Republicans have won thus far doesn't mean they'd defeat a recall effort against Scott Walker, particularly with former U.S. senator Russ Feingold as the challenger. They can't get cocky.
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Jun '10
Re: What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
The union's mistake was, during the protests they let their veil down. They revealed that behind all the noble rhetoric about children, they're just selfish thugs who couldn't care less who ends up paying their bills.
Aug '11
Re: What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
The fact that all of this is happening in the midst of the debt ceiling showdown and the subsequent downgrade probably helped the GOP and will likely help Walker. The state simply cannot serve as union patron when the fiscal situation for the entire nation illustrated the consequences of such a relationship--and the downgrade helped illustrate that point. Chances are that the only people voting are those with a direct interest in politics (whether self-interest or otherwise), so these national events were probably significant enough to increase turnout among conservatives. Just a hunch.
May '10
Re: What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
While I agree that conservatives shouldn't get cocky, have you seen Politico's story this morning about the coming Walker recall?
Even allowing for the usual political spin, leftist quotes read as if there's a mercury leak at AFL-CIO headquarters. The unions hand-picked their targets and spent tens of millions only to fail in 4 of 6 races. Time is not on their side: Walker's reforms will continue to benefit Wisconsin, and the sky will remain in its current location despite Democrat/union/Progressive shrieking otherwise!
Sep '10
Re: What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
I don't believe the national unions will waste any more money trying to recall Walker.
By the time they can start collecting signatures, everyone will know that his reforms were wildly successful.
I live in one of the recall districts. For the last two months I couldn't go 5 minutes without seeing a TV ad, hearing a radio ad, or getting a flier in my mailbox about how awful the Republicans are for Wisconsin. Not one single advertisement mentioned collective bargaining. Some of them even mentioned Mediscare, but none mentioned collective bargaining.
Re: What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
Jason Hart: While I agree that conservatives shouldn't get cocky, have you seen Politico's story this morning about the coming Walker recall?
Even allowing for the usual political spin, leftist quotes read as if there's a mercury leak at AFL-CIO headquarters. The unions hand-picked their targets and spent tens of millions only to fail in 4 of 6 races. Time is not on their side: Walker's reforms will continue to benefit Wisconsin, and the sky will remain in its current location despite Democrat/union/Progressive shrieking otherwise! · Aug 10 at 9:14am
Amen. My only fear is that Russ Feingold will not waste his ammunition by running against Walker. We need to win Herb Kohl's Senate seat.
Jul '11
Re: What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
A question for badger-types: Has Feingold damaged his image in recent months? I had the impression people from across the spectrum respected him even if they didn't agree with his policy ideas. But his proclamations along the lines of "The game isn't over until we win" can't sit well with independents, to say nothing of Republicans.
Any thoughts?
Edited on Aug 10, 2011 at 9:29amApr '11
Re: What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there a second recall next week on two Democrat seats in Wisconsin? If so, there's even a chance to regain any loss from last night.
I suspect Democrats would have to keep both seats to save face at all at this point.
Sep '10
Re: What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
Cobalt Blue
A question for badger-types: His Feingold damaged his image in recent months? I had the impression people from across the spectrum respected him even if they didn't agree with his policy ideas. But his proclamations along the lines of "The game isn't over until we win" can't sit well independents, to say nothing of Republicans.
Any thoughts? · Aug 10 at 9:22am
Feingold was never liked as much as the national media would have you think. He won his first reelection campaign in 1998 by a razor thin margin against a strong conservative. Then in 2004 his GOP opponent was a total amateur that somehow won the primary.
He was able to talk about nationalized healthcare for two decades because it was never really a possibility. Once he actually became the 60th vote to implement ObamaCare, his fate was sealed.
Wisconsin has strong blue collar/union roots, but outside of Madison and Milwaukee, it isn't radical.
Sep '10
Re: What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
C. U. Douglas: Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there a second recall next week on two Democrat seats in Wisconsin? If so, there's even a chance to regain any loss from last night.
I suspect Democrats would have to keep both seats to save face at all at this point. · Aug 10 at 9:23am
One of the seats is an old goat Democrat that isn't likely to lose, but the other is in a swing district in northern Wisconsin and it should be a 50-50 shot. The momentum from last night could swing turnout in the GOP favor for next week.
Re: What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
Mark Belling Fan: I don't believe the national unions will waste any more money trying to recall Walker.
By the time they can start collecting signatures, everyone will know that his reforms were wildly successful.
I live in one of the recall districts. For the last two months I couldn't go 5 minutes without seeing a TV ad, hearing a radio ad, or getting a flier in my mailbox about how awful the Republicans are for Wisconsin. Not one single advertisement mentioned collective bargaining. Some of them even mentioned Mediscare, but none mentioned collective bargaining. · Aug 10 at 9:16am
Your last paragraph is very, very interesting. I, for one, very much appreciate the local commentary. The devil is nearly always in the details.
Edited on Aug 10, 2011 at 10:23amApr '11
Re: What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
Paul A. Rahe
Mark Belling Fan: I don't believe the national unions will waste any more money trying to recall Walker.
By the time they can start collecting signatures, everyone will know that his reforms were wildly successful.
I live in one of the recall districts. For the last two months I couldn't go 5 minutes without seeing a TV ad, hearing a radio ad, or getting a flier in my mailbox about how awful the Republicans are for Wisconsin. Not one single advertisement mentioned collective bargaining. Some of them even mentioned Mediscare, but none mentioned collective bargaining. · Aug 10 at 9:16am
Your last paragraph is very, very interesting. I, for one, very much appreciate the local commentary. The devil is nearly always in the details. · Aug 10 at 10:22am
Edited on Aug 10 at 10:23 am
I had read that Darling's ties to Ryan were making her a target for trying to "eliminate medicare" as if she had any say in federal legislation. Wonder what the internal polling was telling the Dems that they then stayed away from collective bargaining as an issue. Very interesting indeed!!
Apr '11
Re: What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
Couldn't the unions have better spent their $30M on something like jobs or benefits? Wait a minute...Silly me...why would they want to do something constructive like that?
As for Walker, I think he would win a recall since people are seeing how unfair and distorted this whole recall effort is. The spin coming out of the left is unbelievable right now. It just goes to show you how bad this night was for them. What a waste of time and money for thousands of people.
Jul '10
Re: What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
$30M? The pension fund will never miss it.
Jun '10
Re: What Do The Wisconsin Results Mean?
Plus all that money squirreled away in Jimmy Hoffa's casket. Is it still in the end zone of Giant stadium?