Wisconsin Recall Results
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-06-06/wisconsin-recall-results
Governor Scott Walker survived an attempt to oust him from office. Wisconsin voters also gave him a place in history: It was the first time a U.S. governor has won a recall election. The recall campaign came about after the Republican governor stripped away collective bargaining rights for public workers. Walker's win was a blow for Democrats and unions. Republicans say their victory shows voters want leaders who will make tough fiscal decisions. Whether the Wisconsin results are a bellwether for the 2012 presidential race remains to be seen.
Guests
Chris Cillizza
author of The Fix, a Washington Post politics blog, managing editor of PostPolitics.com and author of the book, "The Gospel According to The Fix."
Molly Ball
staff writer for The Atlantic.
Craig Gilbert
Washington bureau chief, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Douglas Belkin
reporter, The Wall Street Journal.
Comments
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I heard yesterday that Barrett was under campaign donation restrictions that Walker was not under. Could your guests comment?
The divide is wide and again almost 50/50. I am sad but I will do what I can in Florida to throw the GOP out and re-elect BHO. TO me the GOP had their chance with Bush and he failed miserably. 2 wars for??????????????? plus remember all the lies, fear mongering and hubris, torture, seeking to have Americans spy on one another (TIPS) GOP NEVER AGAIN!!!
It is one thing when you try like hell and lose...quite another when the DNC comes in very late in the game in a half ass way and lose. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and her team made a very bad decision on this one
Secure and desirable benefits offered to state employees offset the lower wages that they typically earn. This encourages many people to choose a line of work outside of the private sector. Without additional incentives state and other publicly funded institutions will see a brain drain as more qualified candidates choose private sector jobs or simply leave the state. Would the panel please discuss the potential deterioration of public goods and services that would affect the entire population of Wisconsin?
Kathleen, Unlike Ohio's Senate Bill 5 (SB5) Wisconsin's laws on recalls allowed time for the changes of "act 10" to show results. The results were better than just about anyone expected. Unions know that reforms will show positive results in both state expenditures and the quality of government services, that is why they desperately try to eliminate reforms before they can take effect. Ohioans were duped by union advertising into thinking mass layoffs and essential services such as law enforcement were at risk, truth be told the rejection of SB5 insured that that would happen and it did. Ohio allows the repeal of laws before they can take effect, this unfortunately undermines any serious attempt for badly needed structural change.
1. Collective bargaining is not a right. It is a privilege that has been negotiated and achieved by the labor movement over the past century.
2. Collective bargaining is NOT prohibited in Wisconsin. It is, however, limited to rates no greater than the consumer price index.
3. This is what democracy looks like.
Kathleen: Some voters were informed despite the $30 million to $4 million gap.
Not that I am thrilled with any old Democrats, but the results were split. Recalls retook the Wisconsin senate. So now Walker has a sabot in his tank tread. Maybe he'll go in his bunker and beg an aide to shoot him rather than face Dave and Charley. He's already burning evidence in his county chair investigation.
Arkus I worked like hell with union members around the Dayton Ohio area to collect signatures to take down SB 5. Waited a few weeks before I started asking many of the police officers, firemen, teachers etc if they had voted for Kasich. Almost all of those who did would put their heads down and say quietly "we made a huge mistake" They had bought what the Kasich adds had said instead of looking at Kasich's record.
How do you suggest that structural changes take place? Dismantling collective bargaining for heavens sake?
Pancake hopefully the Rehm guest discuss the Dems who replaced Republicans in the Wisconsin recall
Dear Rehm guest can you discuss what Pancake has brought up on the discussion thread at the Rehm site "Recalls retook the Wisconsin senate" Please discuss
biltmore: Worst of all, Bushism made it OK to hate again.
Racism, sexism, classism and genderism have all surged.
Violence and threats of violence (bullet box) are now part of "conservative" politics, and rigt wing and extreme religious employers routinely weed out political opponents. Politeness to fascism is not recommended.
I would like to know if the guests think that Walker's large margin of victory would be interpreted by conservatives as a mandate of the people for a conservative agenda in the state of Wisconsin. Or do they think Walker will take this as a shot across his political bow and chart a more moderated course even if that course still slants heavily conservative?
If I lived in Wisconsin I would have reluctantly voted for Scott Walker notwithstanding my disagreement with his policies and especially his process, and even though I am a Democrat. I just don't think a recall election in this circumstances is appropriate in our process unless the incumbent has done something illegal or otherwise violated of his oath of office. Recalls otherwise undermine the election process and open up a problematic chapter in our electoral future. I think others voted for Gov Walker because of these concerns, and the analysis of the results should not just focus on this being a vindication of his anti-union policies.
I really strategically do not get why the Obama administration and the DNC did not get behind this race very early? It is one thing to try like hell and lose. I think the DNC coming into this race late and in a half ass way was a mistake. The DNC could have really rallied the Dem troops and even if Barrett had lost with this early support the benefits of uniting the Dem forces would have benefitted the upcoming Presidential election instead of Obama and team protecting their own hides. Not a good strategy to rally the troops. Those troops know if you have been there for them in the recent past
Its not all about money. I oppose Walker, but I oppose recalling him because we don't like his policies and agenda. Many in Wisconsin probably agree. Recalls are for crimes or gross affronts to democracy itself.
kathleen wrote:
"How do you suggest that structural changes take place? Dismantling collective bargaining for heavens sake?"
Yes! if your not going to try any reforms that matter and that can be changed back in the next election if unworkable, then of course structural change cannot happen. Upsetting the status quo isn't done without a cost.
So Mike I take it that it would not matter to you that Walker never mentioned that he would try to dismantle collective bargaining? It would not have mattered that you had been led to support a candidate based on false pretenses?
kathleen: The monitors upstairs won't let her say it, kathleen. And the parrot pundits won't initiate the taboo. See how concission (Chomsky term) works? Maybe in the last 5 or 10 minutes it will be touched upon, but the object is a fascist victory lap. Doughnuts and smoking tires!
I wanted to share the comments of a friend of mine who is a public school teacher in Wisconsin and has worked tirelessly on the campaign to recall Walker. She says,
Something is screwed up. And it ain't me. Or the tens of thousands of people who worked tirelessly to kick Walker out. We fought for what we believed in - education, health care, protection of the environment, transparency in our government, democracy as it should be, and equal rights (and pay) for all. These are values that I am passionate about and will continue to fight for. No, I would not take back one minute I worked for the recall, and I wish I would've worked harder. I wish I would've written letters to editors, knocked on more doors, donated more money. I am broken in so many ways right now. But I won't be for long. My soul is good and my spirit is strong. Walker and his billions of dollars can't take that away from me. Nor can he take away the incredible connection so many of us made, fighting for what we so strongly believe in. To be part of this, to experience this solidarity with friends, coworkers, neighbors and strangers is indescribable. I am grateful to have felt it in my lifetime, and I wish the same for my friends and family, as I know full well not everyone is so lucky. My love for these people who worked so hard the last year and a half is way deeper and stronger than my hatred for Walker and his supporters. I learned and grew a lot during this last year and a half.
Steve money is huge. The Obama campaign will raise massive amounts of money..so will Romney. Who outspends whom will make a huge difference. Citizens united
Did I hear that Barrett was limited as to how much money he was able to raise and Walker was not?
Hey Pancake Diane did ask. The keepers probably read what you wrote.
Whoa Karin 8..that is powerful. Will be posting your "friend's" words on other threads on other sites. Very powerful. As I made my phone calls for Barrett. I talked with many voters who said they were voting or had voted for Barrett. Many told stories of how unions and the pensions and health care that they had paid for and were being provided with was critical in their lives. Incredible stories.
That call screener is highly skilled. Rush Limbaugh couldn't afford to pay such a gem (so now DRShow reaps primo talent). The National Security State has no salary cap.
I'm a hardcore Democrat and was torn over the Walker recall, but I'm happy with the outcome because of the issue of unionized government workers.
The idea that those toiling away in the private sector without pensions and benefits should have to pay ever higher higher higher state and local taxes to fund pensions for government workers who get to retire at 55 or younger is outrageous, ridiculous, and frankly, untenable.
ST Louis hope they discuss this.
To the Rehm guest can you please discuss the point that St Louis has brought up "Collective bargaining is NOT prohibited in Wisconsin. It is, however, limited to rates no greater than the consumer price index."
Is this right?
Pancake find out what the screener wants and give it to them and then ask what you like once you get on...politely
We've made an escape goat out of public sector employees.
I want the people working in my DMV to have a certain level of IQ and education, so they capable of handling their job. If we reduce them to "parasite", with the minimal wage and no benefits we'll get high schoold drop out working there, handling our most private information. then we'll complain even more about public employees, not remembering that we get what we pay for. market rule, nothing else.
Lower even more teacher's status, cut the pension and salaries, and you will get in the profession only those who went throgh college partying and graduated as C=students. we will complain even more about public schools, and cut even more money, and open more charters, who will abuse public money (as they do here in Florida).
Police? pay them less, cut their benefits - you'll get a force of easily corrupted policeman. They have families to support too. that's life.
Market rules apply to public section too - we will get what we are willing to pay for. But I am sure this will not stop us from whining....
Did not the public service union members readily make concessions in both wages and pension benefits.
It's plain that the main reason was to destroy collective barginning.
Why aren't these contracts, that were agreed to by the same people who broke them, being honored?
Whoa the caller Mike ripped it up. "Koch brothers bought themselves a state"