Wisconsin Post Mortem

Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:21 am by Bob Cesca

What else can we say? I’ll let Ashby pick this up in more detail later since he’s been covering it here, so I’ll keep this brief. I’m sure today will see random accusations of voter fraud and significant money advantages for Walker.

We could spend a lot of time blaming this or that, but you know what? We were out-hustled again. As hard as everyone worked to get Walker recalled, it simply wasn’t enough. They raised more money (by a margin of 8 to 1) and got out more voters.

Reality is on our side. We just need to do a better job selling it to the voters who matter. That means better framing, better arguments and more message unity/cohesion. Until then, voters will continue to vote against their best interests and bastards like Walker will continue to win in spite of what’s best.

Adding… I know the circumstances were slightly different, but when Gray Davis was recalled in California, you know who the Republicans ran against him? Arnold Fricking Schwarzenegger. A rock star of epic proportions (his politics aside). And in Wisconsin, the Democrats ran Tom Barrett the Human Yawn who had already lost to Walker in 2010. Good job, Democrats.

Print Friendly
This entry was posted in Scott Walker Watch and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.
  • ranger11

    Where was Feingold at least? Are there any popular ex-Brewers or Packers who could have run? Probably not.

    • mhr52

      Feingold is better in the Senate fighting for our liberties against savages who stomp on them like Obummer.

      • ranger11

        Fooooooooooooooooooock Youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!

  • Username1016

    I’m both disheartened and nauseated. If Walker can win, Romney can win, and we’re in for a new Dark Ages.

    • Draxiar

      The result in Wisconsin should be a rallying cry to Demorats and Progressives that the Presidential Election and Congressional Elections aren’t at all a guaranteed win for us. Complacency on our part in regards to voting absolutely must not happen.

      The Republican brainwashing machine will just not stop…therefore, neither can we.

      • Victor_the_Crab

        Hear hear. The last thing those on the left need to do is stop acting all emo and get out there and do some thing about it.

    • mhr52

      Romney wont win. Dont worry.

  • http://www.osborneink.com OsborneInk

    Democrats took control of the Wisconsin state senate last night. It’s not all about Walker, you know.

    • http://www.politicalruminations.com/ nicole

      True. But it’s mostly about Walker, and the fact that the plutocrats bought that election for him.

      It’s a sign of things to come.

      By the way, I haven’t looked into it so I don’t know., but I’m going to guess that the Koch clan didn’t put alot of money into the senate candidate.

      • http://www.osborneink.com OsborneInk

        Kochs *do* buy up state senators as well. How do you think identical ALEC bills keep popping up in WI and AL?

        • http://www.politicalruminations.com/ nicole

          Yeah, I know that, Matt. I’m just saying that in this particular case, they probably put the vast majority of the money into Walker.

          Adding…..with elections in November and the summer recess, the fact that Democrats control the Senate between now and Nov. won’t have much impact.

  • Lexamich

    They simply didn’t have enough time to oust the crypto-fascist lickspittle, that’s all.

    Do not be discouraged.

    Oh, and ignore corporate media that relishes kicking Dems, those of the liberal persuasion, and people with plain old common sense.

    Our fourth estate has relinquished responsibility for the sake of appeasing corporatist malefactors. This means you’ll be hearing and reading what a “historic” win this is, instead of how Walker has been a crummy governor who, by his own admission, divided the state deliberately for political benefit.

    • http://www.politicalruminations.com/ nicole

      Good to see you, Lexaburn! :)

      • Lexamich

        Good to be seen, Nicky.

  • GrafZeppelin127

    It won’t be long now.

    Walker wins. The Affordable Care Act is struck down. Obama is defeated. Republicans take the Senate. Another war, another bubble economy, another crash, another depression; more poverty, more sickness and disability, more suffering.

    Within a generation, the United States of America will be owned by a handful of billionaires, and no longer governed by its elected representatives. What I’ll never understand is why a majority of Americans prefer the former to the latter, and have been working so hard to make it happen.

    Perhaps in another generation or two, there will be a second American Revolution wherein the people take the country back from the billionaires. That would be ironic, wouldn’t it? A revolution in America that more closely resembles the Russian Revolution than the first American Revolution? Brought about because people who screamed about “taking the country back” from no one in particular willingly handed it over to those billionaire overlords? Because people who screamed about “communism” tried to avoid it by creating the conditions that bring about communist revolutions in the first place?

    I’m so depressed this morning I can’t think straight. I don’t dare go over to HuffPo and look at the comment threads there.

    • http://www.politicalruminations.com/ nicole

      I’m with you, Graf. Very sick this morning.

    • http://phydeauxpseaks.blogspot.com Bob Rutledge

      What I’ll never understand is why a majority of Americans prefer the former to the latter, and have been working so hard to make it happen.

      “Most men with nothing would rather protect the possibility of becoming rich than face the reality of being poor” — John Dickinson, 1776 (the character in the play/movie, not the actual Continental Congress delegate from PA )

    • pgeorge

      I’m sick, too, but determined to keep fighting. Anger is a step upward from depression!

    • MrDHalen

      We are living in an amazingly depressing chapter of American history right now. People are rejecting our social contract in droves and that leads to some dark places. Most people are cardboard cut-outs of American citizens now; no substance or understanding of what being a part of our nation means.

      People all over the world are getting butchered for just wanting a taste of our democracy. Here, Americans can name the entire cast of Glee or all the shows on VH1, but don’t know who their 2 senators, congressman, or governor are. Pathetic!!!

      If you vote for Republicans and you’re not rich, you deserve what’s coming your way! If you need political commercials to tell you how to vote, you’re doing something wrong! If you have internet access and don’t know who to vote for, you’re doing something wrong!

      I’m just pissed!!!

      • Lazarus Durden

        You know the funniest thing I’ve seen is the World Civ. class at ETSU. All these freshmen who’ve been force fed Christian fundamentalism their whole lives getting angry as they learn the history behind their religion. Then the professor says “Okay how many of you can name all four gospels, and in order?” Usually there’s about three or four, but most can’t. People who claim to be something in the US I’ve found have a decided lack of what the label they give themselves actually means.

        In Kingsport, TN when they performed a study on the literacy of the area about 27% were found to be functionally illiterate. Basically they could read a McDonald’s menu, but a complex paragraph and deriving meaning from that… Nope.

        That’s the GOP electorate who aren’t part of the 1%. Functionally illiterate, willfully ignorant, claiming a label with no idea what it entails.

    • Lazarus Durden

      I’ve given up on HuffPo at this point. Like Bob said it’s the most conservative liberal blog out there.

      But like all things this too shall pass. Could always be worse. You could live in TN like me.

    • mhr52

      Excuse me, but who started wars in Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan, Uganda, South Sudan, and Nigeria? It wasnt Romney.

  • rikyrah

    I’m sorry Bob, but don’t blame the Democrats for Barrett.

    The one person in Wisconsin politics that should have run but didn’t was Mr. Purity – Russell Feingold.

    I don’t blame Herb Kohl, he’s an old man and wanted to retire.

    What was Feingold’s excuse?

    oh yeah, he’s Mr. Purity.

    name me another Wisconsin Dem that they could have put up there.

  • agrazingmoose

    I don’t understand the selective outrage against the pension benefits of union employees. At least teachers, police, firefighters have to work decades in order to receive those benefits.

    State lawmakers, governors, and federal legislators receive full pension benefits for a couple of years worth of work.

    I think that this has a very perverse effect on the decision making at the federal level. If federal lawmakers got 401ks like the rest of us, I can guarantee you that there would be more movement on making the markets safer for investors.

    I have heard that we are moving rather quickly in that direction at the federal level. Tomorrow wouldn’t be too soon.

    • Brutlyhonest

      Turning “the public” against unions has been a fairly long and well executed perception management campaign – I know life-long liberals who repeat the meme that unions “have outlived their usefulness because they are corrupt organizations that only serve to feed the personal accounts of their leadership.”

      Instead of desiring retirement for all, “we” resent those that still have one. Shifting away from actual retirement systems to 401ks was a huge boon to business (mojo ran something on this sham in the last couple of years).

      • agrazingmoose

        Just because lawmakers receive defined benefit plans without the benefit of unions, doesn’t mean that they are sacrosanct. DB plans are very, very expensive. If companies want to offer them, fine. They are willing to take on all sorts of risks in order to retain skilled employees. Super. But, as we saw with the auto industry, those benefits can be dropped in bankruptcy and then benefited and retired employees get royally screwed.

        But, DB plans are bankrupting state, local, and federal governments. Except, those entities cannot actually be released from their obligations in a bankruptcy court.

        I would just like to have a public conversation about why it is okay for fully benefited public employees with no risk in their pension plans (lawmakers – federal, state, and local) can possibly have the standing to say that other state and local employees (say, teachers) should not have the same.

        It is hypocritical and I think that it needs to be exposed and discussed. I doubt that any taxpayer knows the terms of the pension plans of their state and local representatives, governor, or federal representatives and I can guarantee you that they would be appalled if they found out.

        • Brutlyhonest

          Defined benefit plans are indeed expensive. Funding them would mean less for executives. It might also mean a huge corporation only makes 56 billion profit this year instead of 60 billion. And with the ridiculous way stock speculation works that would mean the company is failing. How convenient, too, that corporations can shed their commitments to retired employees in bankruptcy.

          In a brief moment of honesty in early 2001, uncle rummy was talking about why he was cutting active duty forces. The simple answer: people are expensive. More specifically, healthcare and other SOCIAL programs for the military and their dependents cost a shit-ton (technical term). Of course, he didn’t want to save that money, he wanted to shovel more into the coffers of defense contractors. Fortunately for BushCo, UBL gave them an opening to shovel even more money into the pit and keep a large force.

          Shorter wall of text: the deck is stacked.

      • agrazingmoose

        For example, teachers in WI earn 20% less than lawmakers in for the same number of years of service and qualifying retirement age for teachers is three years later.

        Also, lawmakers are eligible to receive additional years of service for years before they were even hired at the discretion of their particular employer.

        Teachers cannot receive that benefit. So, Walker might only be in office for four years but it is possible for him to receive full retirement benefits comparable to working 30 years.

        http://etf.wi.gov/publications/et4107.pdf

  • http://www.politicalruminations.com/ nicole

    “We were out-hustled again. As hard as everyone worked to get Walker recalled, it simply wasn’t enough. They raised more money (by a margin of 8 to 1) and got out more voters.”

    Hell Bob, they didn’t raise all that money. They had it thrust at them by the Kochs and others.

    It isn’t likely possible to out-hustle them in the aftermath of Citizens United, but we have to continue to try.

    A really godawful sad day.

  • ninjaf

    When I saw that the same guy who walker beat was going to be running against him for the recall, I couldn’t help but think, “What is wrong with the Wisconsin Democrats? Walker has already proven he can beat this guy.” I was hopeful but not optimistic.

    But I guess this just proves one of the criticisms I have heard about the left: “If we just state our facts clearly enough, everyone will see the brilliance of our argument and agree with us. Framing the message is not necessary.” The Barrett argument against Walker had already been made and dismissed by voters. So, why present the same case again?

    I am sad today.

    • Lexamich

      Establishment mentality at its worst.

      To tell the truth, I predicted all this at the aftermath of the primary, but hardly spoke on it out of respect for the people working for Barrett.

      Sad to say it, but he unions got played in this game.

      Again, ignore the corporate media that do not have the labor unions’ or the general public’s best interests in mind. The message for the day is “Barrett who? Obama lost that race yesterday.”

      I know a few AFSCME folks that are seriously upset this morning. Talk of quitting the Dems serious.

      I attribute it to post-election loss anger, but…

      They’re not giving up on President Obama, but they’re seriously pissed at the party it appears.

      One was in tears last night.

      Walker and his cronies are too clumsy to ride this wave without wiping out, but it may be long after this current sting heals.

      Just keep Wisconsin in your thoughts. The symbology of thrashing Walker has passed, but now that his profile is raised somewhat, it’ll be all the more sweeter when his inevitable fall comes, not that it will be covered by our corrupted media apparatus. We’ll be hearing about how old Edwards’ love child is before he corporate media commits to highlighting Republicon chicanery.

    • rikyrah

      Name another Wisconsin Dem that they could have run with statewide recognition – outside of Feingold.

      • ninjaf

        I don’t follow Wisconsin politics closely enough to be able to give you another name. However, Feingold made it clear from the beginning that he was not interested in running. That gave the Democratic party plenty of time to start grooming someone else (besides the guy who lost the last time against Walker) for an election.

        I am seeing in the comments here that about 1/3 of union members voted against Barrett yesterday. I’d be curious to know if those numbers were up or down from the previous election? If they were the same or higher, then I would say this should not be any surprise and the Democrats should have known better.

        And who can blame Feingold for staying out of it? Maybe he wants to get some reality in his life for a while? Politics is a mean sport.

        Now, Wisconsin is going to get what they voted for and will have to live with those consequences. Hopefully, the voters will hold him responsible the next time he is up for a vote instead of shifting blame.

        At least there is a Democratically controlled Senate to help balance things out. A silver lining, I guess.

  • stacib23

    I find it amazingly sad that the same people that think union employees receive too many benefits have no problem voting for policies that only benefit a small percentage of the population.

    • desertflower1

      Amen to that! Maybe if it was put to them that way, they would begin to get half a clue.

    • desertflower1

      I might add…that “union” means made in the USA, or American workers. When did that get to be a BAD thing? All these people rapping themselves in the flag and claiming to be “all about America” are frauds. But we knew that.

    • agrazingmoose

      “Union” is code for “Democrat” but many Democrats have not figured that out, apparently.

      • desertflower1

        I totally understand that. My question still is, how did that get to be such a bad thing? I agree though:)

        • agrazingmoose

          An exceptionally good Republican spin and an American population that is averse to fact but loves their conspiracy theories.

          It was explained on NPR this morning as thus:

          Unions back Democrats that turn around and give unions more benefits and power.

          Apparently Americans have no problem with this:

          Banks and the Kochs back Republicans that turn around and give them the gift of few regulations, no oversight, no transparency, and huge profits and more power.

      • stacib23

        One would think that the Republican union members would know the difference, but exit polls yesterday may be suggesting something even more weird than Democrat = union member = overpaid scofflaw with too many benefits.

  • PhilSimms

    Republicans lost a Senate seat and the majority in the Senate and they are cheering???

    Strange people these Republicans. The only group that gained anything last night was Democrats.

    I would like to thank Wisconsin recall supporters for forcing national conservatives into spending so much of their 2012 war chest just holding on to a governorship they already had.

    They used resources they could have had and will need in November.

    Oh and thanks for that Senate Majority too Republicans. LOL!!!

    • Clancy

      They’re cheering because the governor’s race was the only one that mattered. Winning control of the WI senate certainly doesn’t. They aren’t likely to reconvene for the rest of the year. What was the point of holding recall elections for pols who don’t even have official duties for the duration of their term?

  • Victor_the_Crab

    Woodie Guthrie redux:

    This land AIN’T your land,
    This land is MY land,
    From (wildfire torched) California,
    To (trash strewn) New York island,
    From the (clear cut) Redwood forests,
    To the (oil spilt) Gulf Stream waters,

    THIS LAND WAS BOUGHT BY HIM AND ME!

    Performed by the All White Male Billionaires Glee Club

  • mhr52

    Good luck!