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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has opened up a 6-point lead over Democratic challenger Tom Barrett ahead of a closely-watched June 5 recall election.
Fifty percent of Wisconsin's likely voters said in a Marquette Law School Poll that they would support retaining Walker versus 44 percent of likely voters who said they would instead elect Barrett, Walker's challenger in the 2010 general election who will again face Walker after having won last week's Democratic primary.
The poll would seem to reflect what had been an anecdotal sense that Walker has opened up an advantage in the few weeks before the recall election.
A target of Democrats and organized labor since pushing a dramatic reform of collective bargaining rights for public employees through the Wisconsin state legislature, Walker has raised millions more than his challengers in order to fend off the recall effort.
If Walker were to win, it would be a symbolic victory not only for his efforts to curb labor rights, but also for a series of other Republican governors who have embarked upon the same path. It would also be a disappointing setback for organized labor.
It could also help put Wisconsin in play for this fall's general election between Mitt Romney and President Obama.
Among likely Wisconsin voters, Obama and Romney were tied at 46 percent in a hypothetical November matchup.
A poll preceding the Democratic primary in Wisconsin had showed Barrett and Walker virtually tied in the gubernatorial recall, suggesting that the tide might have turned back toward Walker in the weeks since then.
The Republican governor had a 50 percent approval rating, according to the most recent Marquette poll, versus 46 percent of Wisconsinites who disapporove of the way he is handling his job.
The remainder of the recall campaign is still expected to be a hard-fought campaign, with millions in ads sponsored by outside groups on both sides. But reflecting the stakes of the race, and prevailing sentiment in Washington, state Democrats had to complain publicly about a lack of support from the Democratic National Committee before eliciting a promise to help raise funds.
The Marquette Law School poll, conducted May 9-12, has a 4.1 percent margin of error for the sample of likely voters.
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If I were Walker, I wouldn't get to cocky. There is still more time to send his cross-eyed Koch sucking azz packing.
What about your “divide & conquer” video. Don't forget your Koch Brothers video.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/05/16/bilingualism-scott-walker-style/
Videos don't LIE.
I'm assuming slime like Walker is done no matter how much outside money.
He knows who the real supporters are.
Nolimit-
Yeh, the Koch Bros
Yup, can't wait for Walker to go after that NFL unionized Green Bay Packers team.
....No doubt they are ruining the economy of Wisconsin.
Oh Wait.....nevermind!
Hi Bev,
Hopefully, the people of Wisconsin will send Walker packing. He doesn't work for the people, but instead he works for the Koch brothers.
We are talking very sleazy with this guy. GOP knows for sure, there can be zero doubt in their minds - that ordinar Wisconsin folks are done with Walker.
Walker has gone out of WI and all over this country to get Big Money $$backing. He is their man. Romney is their man.
The right wing wants to get rid of worker voices and votes, and cut us down to minimal wages with zero protections. And Walker/Romney/Ryan are their guys - at any price.
If Walker wins, I'm looking for lots of LAFFS from the MSDNC prime time Stooges shows trying to explain it away!!!!!
Poor Mr. Ed might even get so flustered that he strokes out on live TV. THAT'S must see TV.
LMAO!!!!
You missed the point. Wisconsin people have spoken. They DON"T WANT Walker.
It is the BIG-MONEY-TAKES-ALL mentality - versus - the People of Wisconsin and the ordinary people of this country.
That is corruption.
Bev, how is your liberal Governor doing in Illinois? Bankrupt yet from excess spending?
I must admit if Walker wins the Ed Show is must see TV. He is the biggest blowhard on TV.
So taxpayers are paying for the Packers? Or do you not understand the difference between public and private unions?
Backhouse,
You say the "people have spoken".
What will you say when he wins. What spin will you give.
Well, by golly Alan,NJ.....why did Walker not bother with the unionized policemen and firefighters in Wisconsin.....are they not public?
This nonsense is still going on? It's going to kill Annie Molly.
@ Backhouse perhaps you didn't read the article thoroughly. It states
"Fifty percent of Wisconsin's likely voters said in a Marquette Law School Poll that they would support retaining Walker versus 44 percent of likely voters who said they would instead elect Barrett, Walker's challenger in the 2010 general election who will again face Walker after having won last week's Democratic primary."
I think you meant to less than half the voters have spoken and don't want Walker according to this survey.
It won't be:
THE SPIN that Big Corporations pays for and gets folks like you to spout for them.
Never under estimate the power of the people. The only poll that counts are the people's votes on election day. If Walker wins, it will simply mean that the people surrendered again to big, powerful special interests while democracy takes another hit. It would say that the GOP and its big money backers once again successfully pitted one group of working class Americans against another--those evil union workers--and those who vote to retain Walker once again voted against their own best economic interests. If Walker wins, it means voters ignore the fact that those union workers are people working just as hard as other nonunion working class folks; never mind that they pay taxes and help the economy by spending their money, too. Never mind that higher union wages forces greedy business folks like the Koch boys to pay higher wages. The GOP has been successful at pitting one segment of workers against another doing for three decades. Win or lose, Walker represents the poisonous greed and selfishness of today's modern GOP and that's nothing about which to be proud.
Ask Walker. Here in Jersey, Governor Christie rightly negotiated a new contract where Teachers, Police and Firefighters have to pay more for their health insurance and pension.
Why are you against them paying the same as those in the private sector? I thought your side was for fairness? The NJ deal seems fair to me.
The DNC announced that they are withdrawing from funding the Walker recall! At least they know it's not economical to beat a dead horse! Good news for the folks in Wisconsin, too bad for the liberal wackos....!
I would also guess they'd like to also withdraw from North Carolina as the site for their upcoming convention.... talk about another 'dead horse', lol!
To Beverly in Chicago who said,
Totally agree with you no one should ever get too cocky, but then again Walker did not say that he was. And if he wins that sets the temperature for the rest of the Country. Get ready.
@Backhouse. Here is another fun fact. 72% of Bain Capital contributions went to Democrats. Oops.....
http://www.opensecrets.org/overview/topcontribs.php
I gather by what I'm reading here that "the people" = "municipal unions".
Yet nobody mentions the word "union" when it's the biggest "special interest" of all.
Robin, perhaps the DNC has also stopped funding Newsvine, given its recent tech problem. Finally showing some 'fiscal responsibility!
Alan NJ, The unions in Wisconsin already did agree to pay more for their insurance and pensions, as NJ did. Walker eliminated their collective bargaining rights anyway.
@ JoAnna -- I'll die from reading your posts before I ever die as a result of this.
Really?! Then why is it that Walker's out-of-state corporate support is outspending the unions about 20-1?
http://badgerherald.com/news/2012/05/07/gop_outpacing_dems_i.php
I'll tell you why. It's because Walker had to "divide and conquer" the unions -- his own words -- in order to "level" the playing field, which in conservative parlance means "tilt the playing field our way."
The plain truth is that Walker wouldn't have a chance in a fair fight. So he had to cheat.
Just like he did by allowing his staff to do campaign work on paid Milwaukee County time. And why the John Doe probe is creeping ever closer to him. I believe another witness just pleaded out her charges in return for her cooperation.
Cooperation as to what?
If voters are willing to countenance a governor who is as corrupt as Scott Walker, then there's not much anyone can do about that.
But I wouldn't brag about it, either.
True. And now he enabled a new rule that will allow school districts to cut teacher pay by another 20 percent or so, and some school districts have already indicated they intend to take advantage of it.
The whole purpose of this was twofold -- first, to destroy the unions, so that the primary source of opposition campaign funding would be eliminated, and second, to privatize education so that his cronies can benefit from that, despite all the data that now shows that privatized education and charter schools do not produce better results than public schools, even though they cherry-pick their students.
"O, brave new world that has such people in't." (Shakespeare said that.)
The excuses are starting already. Rough times in Badger-ville, at least for the Libs.
Look to your own house. You're the ones who gave us Citizens United. 20-1 is substantively the same excuse that Newt Gingrich used for losing Iowa and John McCain used for losing in 2008.
Buying elections seems to be the only thing the Republicans can accomplish these days, besides the destruction of human rights, the dismantling of democracy, and endless warmongering.
Who can forget the images of the rowdy mobs taking over the Wisconsin State House ? Who can forget the stopped up toilets, the mess that was left behind ?? Did this represent the entie State of Wisconsin, or did it only reflect the left-wing lunatic fringe with paid union protestors ???
It will be interesting to see if mob mentality rules or cooler heads prevail.
Then the workers should move here to Connecticut, where our state and municipal unions are crushing our state with sky's-the-limit pension plans and a schedule of raises and non-performance bonuses that are draining the coffers dry.
We had the largest tax increase in state history approved in 2010 and right now deficits for 2012 are projected at $200 to $300 million...yet it didn't stop $18.7 million in "longevity bonuses" from being hand out in the last month alone.
They'd be very happy to work here.
jim...
I saw that mess from out here in Connecticut...kept an eye on Wisconsin as that state's population, debt problems, and loss of businesses seemed very close to what we have here.
Wisconsin got Scott Walker as governor. Here we elected union hack Dannel Malloy as our new governor in 2010....first thing he did was sign into law the largest tax increase in the history of our state...even made the income tax hike retroactive to the first day of the year.
If Wisconsin is not hapy with Mr. Walker's plans...can we talk about a trade ??? Many here would even be willing to toss in a few of our unon boot-licking state legislators that many in your state would apparently be very happy with !!!
I love liberals - tell me exactly how a poll of the people showing Walker winning = special money buying the election. Did they poll PAC dollars or actual people. The problem is that you losers refuse to accept that although the crybabies at the capitol were the loudest - that doesn't actually mean there are more of you than us regular Americans that support Walker, which is what the polls continue to show. Empty barrels make the most noise losers - enjoy the long reign of Walker in Wisconsin!!!
I look at all polls and the first thing I try to find out is if the difference is within the margin of error. In this case, Walker and Barrett are esentially tied.
Also, different polling organizations use different criteria to determine "likely voters." Finally, you need to determine if the poll was conducted using land lines only or land lines and cell phones. Each of those factors affect the outcome of the poll.
I'm sure the organization conducting this poll is attempting to be as unbiased as they can, yet their methods alone may have a bias toward older voters, who are at home, using land lines, all factors which tend to favor a Republican. Yet the vote itself may draw out many younger voters.
It is what it is just like the National Election you buy it you own it.Win lose or draw i know i can survive the red slime
I wouldn't be too sure of Walker's long reign. He may win the recall election, but if just one State Senate seat flips, his agenda is toast.
What all of you conservatives are proving by these rants against unions and workers is that you are all too weak in the knees to stand up and bargain with employees. Employers ALWAYS hold the economic power. If I were you, I would watch what you say about this.
Because, to say that unions always control things is merely to say that you as taxpayers or as management are impotent.
It takes two sides to make a contract.
Have any of you libs heard about how the DNC has pulled all its resources out of the recall effort?
Looks like you get to whine about Walker for the rest of his term.
Kick B.O. out 2012!
The really interesting item will be this if Walker wins...the republicans will be pushing harder than ever to cut anything that helps the poor, middle class or those on social security whop have already paid their dues to this country. This was once a country that supported its own..that however is no more..if you are not among the wealthy you are nothing..and those of you backing this kind of agenda will be the ones that end up paying the real price for it. I can hardly wait to see just what Romney really wants to cut and how far he and the republican party will go. So far, he has said nothing about where these cuts he wants will be...except to those that can not afford it or, will die because of it..and I guess...there are many who like the republicans in washington today, do not care at all.
Backhouse,
And how is that any different the MILLIONS that have been spent by the unions? Your mentality is that only the corporations are some "evil" empire, when in fact its the unions that have squandered and misspent the hard earned monies (stolen) from their rank and file membership. You notice that there isn't one article about the salary of the top union bosses have you?
Cool article in the Wall Street Journal today about states without income taxes and their balanced budgets, strike that, budget surpluses. States with ZERO income taxes and sales taxes to generate revenue - which is a value add tax, which is a Nancy Pelosi favorite.
Nonetheless, think about that. States like Illinois with its draconian taxes - income, sales, property, tolls, etc. are drowning in red ink.
Oklahoma is trying to drop their income tax to zero to match Kansas, Missouri, and Texas who already have gone to zero and are running surpluses or at minimum balanced budgets.
Why is that Democrats?
Governor Scott Walker is just a typical puppet politician of the wealthy. He is just a half wit used car salesman who will throw anyone under the bus to further his own gain.
He is under investigation for financial corruption of his campaign finances.
He recently claims to have created jobs while a variety of sources show a record number of jobs leaving the state, naturally he did this just before his recall so there would be no way in disproving his claim.
He also came out recently with a slip up on video where he mentions to a wealthy backer about when will Wisconsin become a 'red' state and his reply was 'divide and conquer', which shows his true intentions to turn Wisconsin into Wississippi.
Unfortunately, the political landscape is made up of carpetbaggers who care little if any for any of the people under their jurisdiction and more for rewards of selling out the interests of the many for the financial benefit of the few. These people are nothing more than a cancer on the landscape that are slowly destroying everything our country was founded upon.
To JoAnnaSmith...please keep writing so AnnaMolly's doctor at least orders bed rest for weeks and no electronic stimulation, i.e. computers and tv's. It would be uncivil of me to encourage her death due to her reading your posts...AnnaMolly's words people, not mine.
Even the DNC knows it is a losing cause. They need their millions to try and save another losing cause, Obama.
Get your reps to vote for tax breaks for small businesses that hire more workers, or want to give the workers they have a pay raise,
That is, if you're just not interested in folks who are scraping by, or not scraping by at all.
Small business tax breaks is just ONE of the many issues this President is fighting for right now = Jobs and lifting up the economy.
Trying to get Congress to MOVE & take action is like pulling teeth.
It is thanks to steps this Administration has taken, that we are not in Europe's position right now. They would gladly take our GDP and unemployment rate if they could get anything close to it.
Find another news source, for cryin out loud.
The Jobs tax Credit has been around for years, so this is nothing new - Form 5884. Obama is only bringing it up now to get re-elected.
Geez, Backhouse ... it sounds like you are auditioning for a pro-Obama commercial.
Rocco ... keeping Walker is a loseing cause for the middle class of Wisconsin ... electing Romney is a loseing cause for America
What we need to do is fund training of unemployed workers, and I don't mean PELL grants but vocational and trade types of training, and most of all pay to train for specific positions companies claim they are trying to hire for but aren't willing to invest in themselves.
These companies are making record profits yet want employees who are already working for a competitor with very specialized backgrounds, or worse want to hire someone with a lot of experience for peanuts as pay. Playing musical chairs with those who already have jobs is not helping the economy recover. And not being willing to pay decent wages isn't helping either.
We need to demand that companies "do their bit" and stop being arseholes. Most of all the ones that openly advertise they will not consider applications from the unemployed. WTF?! This is what happens when you strip laobr of rights. We need MORE unions, not less.
Throw "Divide and Conquer" Scott Walker and ALL his ilk out!
Maybe after all that training TP, independent Jim could learn to spell "losing." Anyway, let the voters decide who they want to lead them. Let the voters decide what kind of government they want. And then after they pick Walker for a second time, all ya'll Democrats can go cry in your wheaties some more.
You should be ashamed of yourselves.
Kick Walker's ass to the curb and then roll him under a bus! Just saying.
this is hilarious.
all that time and money spent to re-enforce what we already knew"WISCONSIN WANTS WALKER TO BE GOVERNOR"
THIS IS A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME IN NOVEMBER.
Anybody but obama 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!
People there are seeing what he has done has reduced their deficit there, even more than Walker estimated.
Also, they put in a requirement of 12% contribution to health insurance instead of 5%. Before Walker got in the Union only allowed one union plan, no competition. Walker put in competion for health plans, and get this ..... the 12% they pay of the current plan in total dollars is LESS than the 5% they used to pay under the union plan. In essence, the union was costing it's members money by making them use one plan that was charging very high fees. I have a cousin in Milwuakee (teacher) that was very anti-Walker. After seeing how he is reducing deficits and actually saved him money under the new health plan he now plans on voting for him.
I would not discount the unions' GOTV abilities. Even "likely" voters have a habit of forgetting election day for special elections. Union members are not likely to forget the day they get to recall Walker.
The unions "G O T V" abilities?
For the thuggish unions, that means , "GO OUT and TRY VIOLENCE"
"Union members are not likely to forget the day they get to recall Walker"
....but so many are retired in Florida, spending their fat lifetime pensions for doing very little as a public sector layabout...
Ohh, bad timing on this election. I think this recall election is occurring after school is out. The teachers will be out at their lake homes or vacationing at Disney by that point. They'll be in total shut-down mode.
If school was in session, the teachers would just walk out of class to vote, hang around to protest a little, shout a few chants, fake a few sick leave notices, you know, make a day of it.
Bob in VA -
Could you please point us to the source for your "information"? Exactly what percent of former Wisconsin union members - from are now living in Florida vs. any other state vs. still living in Wisconsin? What is the average size of the "fat" pension these people are living on down there? How many years did the average person work before retiring, at what jobs, and at what pay scale? How much on average did they each contribute to their own retirement plans? And please show us some records that prove all of these people were "layabouts" while they were employed - obviously you must have access to some in-depth studies on the subject of "layabout" police and fire personnel that the rest of us don't. I'm sure you won't mind sharing.
Just as I'm sure JoAnna won't mind sharing her source for the statistics on the number of Wisconsin teachers who own lake homes or who have trips scheduled to Disney this summer. Though since the state's web site shows June 14th as an observed school holiday in the Wisconsin schools for the 2011-2012 school year, I somehow doubt they'll all have left by the 5th anyway.....
http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/observe.html
Nice try, though, JoAnna....
VP Bob and gang with their war on the middle class.
Sometimes I think if it wasn’t so dangerous to the nation, I would like to let the Republican have complete control. They could cut sending cut taxes to the bone, kill Social Security, kill Medicare, food stamps, unions and all social programs, make the 1% even richer and just watch the Nation self destruct, just so I can say to these stupid poor dumb bastards that put these Republicans in power, I told you so.
JoAnne, not looking good for the recall pests. At some point you just wear out your welcome pulling these stunts, and it looks like the unions have done just that. If the DNC is pulling its propaganda money, you can bet the unions will do the same. There is only a finite amount of money for each, they probably have bigger fish to fry and bigger lies to tell in other states.
This will be more than a symbolic victory for the GOP. This will put an end once and for all of the public unions voting themselves a raise when ever they feel like it.
Walker has unlimited $$$ from the Koch Bros ... he can buy the election .. Dont tell me $$ doesnt talk .. how do you suppose all these tea party people have gotten elected ... I firmly believe not all Republicans are crazy the real... work for a living ... give what is needed to keep America strong republicans .. have been taken over by the Crazies
What a bunch of liberal clowns that think that the Koch brothers have unlimited money to spend on Republican election efforts. What is even funnier is that these same liberal clowns think that the Koch brothers actually do. All the Koch brothers have done is build a business that employs thousands, and they are vilified for trying to protect their interests.
Exactly how many jobs have the unions that support the Democrats actually created? How many states are going bankrupt thanks to the unions? How many jobs has George Soros created? In the case of Soros it might be better to ask how many jobs has he destroyed in his lust for wealth? But both contribute heavily to Democratic Party candidates, and the liberals clowns can find nothing wrong. If the Koch brothers were supporting the failed policies of the Democrats, the liberal clowns would find nothing wrong with them either.
Hey Rick, try reading up on some real news once in awhile. Your spouting off some heavy Fox News BS here. Just because some sane people pay attention to reality and actually base their opinions on factual information doesn't make them "liberal clowns"....it makes them have common sense, which you are severely lacking.
RealisticRyan you prove my point. Just another liberal clown with nothing to add but the same old lame Fox News attack. Gee Wally way to stand your ground. Common sense, no such thing in a liberal world. Factual information, that makes for a good laugh. Spin, parsing, revisionist history were all begun by liberals. But you can still prove me wrong. Just tell me how many jobs either the unions or George Soros has created?
You can set your clock by it Rick. Doesn't matter what topic comes up, it's all Fox new's fault.
It's amazing what a multimillion dollar fundraising effort will buy!
Yes the unions didn't think it would buy them getting beat!!!!
If Walker were to win, it would be a symbolic victory not only for his efforts to curb labor rights, but also for a series of other Republican governors who have embarked upon the same path."
It would be an even bigger symbolic victory for the power that out-of-state money has to influence the outcome of an election that should be decided by the people of Wisconsin.
Check out the nice slices of pie in these charts:
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/recall-challengers-combined-campaign-cash-pales-to-walker-s-total/article_4b416b46-93cd-11e1-8572-001a4bcf887a.html
Bought a Presidency in 08. Is going to buy this one in 12. Your point is what?
NoLimit - The only way to stop the buying is to overturn the Citizens United ruling in the SC and give the power back to the people.
Obama/Biden 2012
When they go to the polls on election day, a teacher or a nurse has the same say as a billionaire. But clearly, leading up to it, those ordinary folks are being drowned out by the influence of big money in our politics. And that, in my view, is wrong.
"...those ordinary folks are being drowned out by the influence of big money in our politics"
So you disapprove of the $600 million spent by fatcat unions for Democrats in 2010?
Nebraska GOP US Senate candidate Deb Fischer was outspent 10 to 1, yet she won her race for the nomination.
Surely, then you will support the "ordinary folks" "like Deb Fischer for Senate, given your concern over "big money"?
How naive of First Read to suggest that a Walker victory would mean anything other than the sad fact that millions of dollars spent in negative ads (money raised from outside of the state) can influence low-information voters. Kind of like how Romney won the GOP nomination.
Steeler...
As opposed to the "low information voters" that municipal union members typically drag to the polls ???
Did Mr. Obama win his nomination on the backs of "high information voters" ???
Surely you don't think that only money from Wisconsin unions was used by the Democrats.......
Excellent point JC.
GT...
And so you would ban union contributions to political campaigns as well?
The Koch gang payed 25 million so far for that sleezy hack. I hope he's worth it...
On the other hand, he hasn't won yet...
And the greedy public sector unions spent much more, to try to get their hands back to loot the public treasury...
Got a link for that Bob McD or some evidence to support your statement. Just isn't true, Bob, unions don't have that kind of money despite what the right-wing media feeds you for breakfast.
And the greedy public sector unions spent much more, to try to get their hands back to loot the public treasury...
V-Bob, How much money?
GT...try $60million...
Of course there is going to be money spent and a lot of it by both sides for this recall. Unions have had a cash cow in the public sector, where people with no skin in the game have been selling out to unions for political gains. Since unions have driven most manufacturing jobs from this country, they turned to the public sector where money has been even easier to come by.
There is no one that truly believes the auto industry would have collapsed going through traditional bankruptcy, but the unions wouldn't have made out for sure. So Obama and the Democrats pushed through a bailout that was nothing short of buying the unions with a sweetheart deal while investors got screwed.
You might have heard Obama rail against the Citizens United case once in front of the nation, but he has offered no new law that could overturn it in congress. Why not? Because the simple truth is that decision works as well for Democrats as it does for Republicans, and everyone and everything in Washington is for sale.
I was against this recall from the get go because always thought that outside of negligient/incompetent behaviour I always thought re election is when you vote someone out. If they are doing criminal acts, impeachment is the route to go. Although I don't agree with Walker's Tea Party stances he is just acting on his beliefs/policies.
The Tea party governor I would look at is the shenanigans Rick Scott's (Fla) chief of staff was doing. With all those pay to play contracts facilitated by the COS going to friends, is Scott involved?
In Ohio with the recall in place, I wonder how this will affect the national election. Lets say Barrett wins, the GOP will come out in FORCE in November to punish the democrats and vote for Romney. If Walker wins this will energize the GOP base and could help them pull a victory in a crucial swing state.
Either way a loss for the democrats. Even in the best case dems could win the battle but lose the war.
During the demonstrations Obama didn't put on his marching shoes with the protesters and now the DNC won't even help monetarily. Time for the Obama superpac to chip in?
Right as well as some wrong, Yellowdog Mark. As that old saying goes--it's better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all!
I'd say Walker's behavior was negligent and incompetent as well as irresponsible; he's lost more jobs with his plan to create jobs than any other state in the union. Failed trickledown economics once again and yet the GOP keeps claiming it will work, just try it one more time.
Jody - I am wrong, I apologize.
Meant to say that the recall is in Wisconsin and not Ohio.
Yes I understand that his actions cost jobs. I understand who he is/was going after. As a state employee I know who Gov. Perry asks to feel the pain when his budgets are overdrawn due to business tax cuts and slashed property taxes.
As evidenced by the lost jobs Walker's policies don't work. I feel cuts alone and no tax increases is the wrong way to deal with a deficit whether it is on the state or local level. That said, I don't want this becoming a common practice. It is just asking for money to come pouring in buying elections or recalls.
Lets say Barrett wins, the GOP will come out in FORCE in November to punish the democrats and vote for Romney. If Walker wins this will energize the GOP base and could help them pull a victory in a crucial swing state.
Yellow -
It could also happen on the flip side in favor of the Dems. Good point though..
Obama/Biden - 2012
The great irony in all of this, is Walker is pulling ahead because Americans are seeing an economic recovery nationally.
If Walker wins Wisconsin, look for Obama to win Wisconsin.
This is why America does best when both parties have control of various portions. The worst thing that can happen is when a single party controls everything. Since we know Republicans will maintain control of the Supreme Court, do not give them the Senate and Presidency, or the United States is in for a major, major problem.
Much like we saw when the Republicans controlled everything and pushed their ownership society in 2004, resulting in the housing bubble and crash that followed in 2006.
Now that has to be the dumbest, most convoluted logic I have seen for a long time. Where did you come from?
If there is economic recovery going on somebody forgot to tell a lot of Americans about it.
Debbie...
The crash was caused by democrats taking over the senate and house in 2006 elections. Pelossi never passed a budget , just continuing resolutions, Reid has not passed a budget in three years.
No Budget, No Plan, sad days for America.
Obama is gone only question is how badly he gets beat
The crash was caused by Democrats? Now that's a new one...you repubs just love to rewrite history don't you?
Well, it looks like liberal scum loses, again LOL. Poor babies.
No not liberal scum...just your neighbors, the middle class, and working class people lose with this outcome, but I guess you don't give a crap about these people just like Scott Walker. Are you a Christian by any chance? Nope, must not be. Loser
Wisconsinites , Don't cut your own throats in june . Elect him again and that will send him the message that he can do whatever he and the koch bros. want and then it will be to late.
have a koch and a smile!!!
Koch Party in Wisconsin! Sorry no middle or working class people allowed.
Walker's owners are outspending Barrett 20:1. They have creative ads, like Blaming Barrett for job losses while Scott Walker was Milwaukee County Executive and the recession hit. As Governor, Walker has achieved the greatest job losses in America since he was sworn in. Mayor Barrett can't compete with Scott Walker's unemployment records as county executive and governor.
Barrett behaves like an adult and Republicans prefer smart mouthed puppets that call elementary teachers thugs and plot with donors to destroy collective bargaining rights. The polls are a moral barometer and "there's a bad moon on the right". Fascism is trendy again.
If Walker is so great, why does he need a legal defense fund????
these libs are so dumb they really have no hope they should move to russia if they like that kind of a country i know im sick of them come on nov
What does liberal policies have to do with Russia? It's sickening how grossly mis-informed you are.
Walker wins, dems lose again and so on and so on and so on. The dems really lose big time in Nov. and the average American wins big time as we might just start to get our country beliefs back. Won't be without pain, but a lot less pain today the pain that will be caused by the dems in another four years.
Remember, pain is nothing more than weakness leaving the body.
Do you not remember how your so called "country beliefs" were working before 2008? That was real pain and real stupidity, but I guess you weren't paying attention. Must of been your brain leaving your body at the time and not the pain.
Trust me,Walker is toast.
How so?
I'm curious, all I can find out is that Gov. Walker is making the public service union people pay a percentage of their health insurance and also their retirement. Also he is stopping the state from collecting union dues for said workers. I'm having a hard time getting upset because I pay a much larger percent on my health insurance and my employer only matches the first 15 percent that I put in my 401K. Please explain to me how is destroying Wisconsin, but please don't get nasty or ugly with me, I'm not from Wisconsin so I'm not voting and I honestly want to know.
Walker saw where the waste was, and he did something about it. Same as Chris Christie in New Jersey. This success at turning their state's economies around from the brink of disaster does not go unnoticed. This does not bode well for the Obama campaign.
Maybe Mitt can call in both of these governors for help with fixing the mess that Obama is going to leave him.
Maybe they could coach the governors of California and Illinois too.
The PEOPLE will speak , it is already apparent that the state is basically divided almost evenly down the middle so obviously there is a lot of support for Walker and people believe in him to sustain the budget going forward ........... I just hope that that Psychotic moron Ed and his RADICAL Left Wing followers will just SHUT UP when this thing is over ...If you lose admit defeat and be happy democracy worked and if you win then it was meant to be , but enough of the Whining it is so old now all it has done is set us all back a year ,
So Please Lefty Whacko's when the results come in accept your defeat and get a job ........or not but just please quit complaining ............. there are real problems going on !!
unions are causing a lot of problems in America today.
obama is causing the rest.
BEVERLY IN CHICAGO...What are you going to cry about when he wins? Let's see, Bush, Koch Bros., hanging chads? Better get your excuse coordinated with the Fisting Redhead in Roselle so you can cry in unision. Next up, Hussein loses and you 2 can go split a box of wine and work on 2016.
It is amazing what $25 million can buy. Just think: the GOP groups are willing to spend this amount on just this guy and Romney is going to drop $25 million of a swing state ad buy this month. Imagine 6 more months and 9-12 swing states. The GOP groups and Romney could easily be willing to spend well north of $1 billion.
So a bit less than Obama will spend.
The amount that Obama will spend is a number made up by Karl Rove. Obama/DNC raised $44 million this month. There is little or no evidence that his PAC is raising anywhere near to that, nor do the Democrats have the myriad of Rove, Koch and US Chamber PACs, nor FOX which the GOP has at its disposal. MoveOn and Soros are myths. Maybe the Dems aren't spending money in Wisc because it's a lost cause, but it is more likely that they cannot risk it at this time.
Maybe the democrats and his old supporters just dont have the faith in him this time around. I sure wouldnt, not like i do in Walker.
trudat .... you have faith in Walker? how sad for you :-(
Well, he's gonna be Gov till the next real election, so boohoo for you.
if Romney raise a billion he will only spend a fraction of that to get elected.
if obama raises a billion he will need to get a government loan to finish the campaign. he will spend double what he takes in. much like he is doing now.
I hope he wins and then breaks it off in the Democrats a$$.
Once a canidate reachs 50% just before an election they are almost impossible to defeat. It could happen but ti's very doubtful.
Its a tough call, how are the ID laws in WI, will the unions just vote 2-3 times each as they always do?
What is it that makes anyone like or respect this man? He is bought by corporate interests and he is slime. Are the right wing in Wisconsin so ugly that they would still stick with this guy? Even if the Repubs don't want a Democrat, they should get someone else.
Because he's trying to balance a budget against union (life sucking parasites on taxpayers) opposition, he is the model of what every candidate should be, For the People, not the special interests.
The 'fix' is no longer in since they can't continue to cook the numbers regarding this election. The people of Wisconsin elected this guy and apparently they want to keep him--in spite of the campaign from outside the state. Keep spending your money on stupid things libs!
awww, wheres the msn mouthpieces? I knew walker would mop the floor with those entitlement a holes!
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Logic and fiscal responsibility! Obummer is sooooo done! Yayyyyy!!!
All I can say to the 39 % of union households that support walker (wtf?) "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me" the citizens that support him yet again after all his distructive and deceptive ways will get what they deserve.
Totally agree. If the people of Wisconsin are stupid enough not to recall Walker, they deserve what they get.
RobII, the question is, are the Wisconsin voters smart enough to get rid of the union pandering by the democrats? I believe they are and will vote against the excessive salaries, benefits, and retirements that the state cannot afford and the democrats gave to the unions to buy their votes.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-03-01-1Apublicworkers01_ST_N.htm