" dismissed the notion that unions might look back upon their unsuccessful campaign against Walker with regret... Hell, I don't know if we'd do anything differently"

Was anyone really expecting Unions or Democrats to learn anything?

Kennedy's seat - lost.

2010 midterms - largest party flip since WWII.

Wisconsin election - lost.

Wisconsin recall - lost.

November 2012 - next loss.

What a great day for those of us that don't belong (nor want to belong) to a union.

Libbies - just too ignorant to understand how bad they got run last night.

Wrong again Spank -

Many of us throughout the nation realize just how badly we got bought last night....

and we plan to have a cake baked for Rove, Norquist, the Kochs, Limbaugh, Cantor, and you other RWNJ's when November arrives.

Thanks for the heads up =

I am reciprocating with this post....

You know - "word to the wise" and all that.

There is an incredible amount of head-in-the-sand available today, starting with the very first post. I had a liberal friend actually bet me that the Dems would gain seats in the house in 2010. It's almost criminal for me to take his money anymore . . . .

Yes, undoubtedly a proud moment for the fools who are handing over our country to one-party (Republican) rule. You'll find it very enlightening when and if the Repugs manage to control White House, both houses of Congress, etc. because when that happens Americans will no longer be allowed to elect any politicians because the real Republican love is for dictatorship and rule of the wealthy over the many, which in some other countries is known as oligarchy. Though I doubt any of you Repugs know how to spell that, much less know what it means. If you are not of the 1 percent, you will have some hard days ahead if this country turns over our government to Republican ideologists. Hello, fascism and good bye middle class and any other class except the rich and the poor. Nobody in between. The truth hurts and you people haven't a clue and won't until it's too late.

But Spanky, that wasn't an indicator for the national elections! Although just a few days ago wasserman-schultz (sp?) indicated just the opposite! Silly liberals, paychecks are for workers! And "workin", keep on taking that money! It's probably one of the very few occasions where social justice is truly served!!! Have a great day, you silly liberals!

Why should unions have any regrets about the recall? Less than 10 pct of our workforce are represented by a union.

The Republican - TEA Party - conservatives - want to portray this as a victory against unions? If that is the case, how did unions force a recall in the first place?

Nope, this was a middle class election. I saw a number of the ads - Barrett did not speak to the middle class. That is the positive outcome - the middle class is regaining a voice in politics.

Any campaign that ignores the middle class - fails to address middle class issues and values - are going to have difficulty winning elections.

Wedge issues are losing their appeal.

The middle class is going to participate - is going to vote - is going to be heard.

It is only a matter of time ...

workin hard -- I remember rightwingers doing the same thing in 2008. Some still think President Obama will be impeached for being an illegal alien. Hahahaha!

NPCDan -- Explain how Wisconsin has voted for a Democratic president in previous elections, and is considered leaning blue with President Obama still having a lead there, yet how Walker managed to remain in office but somehow this is an indicator for the rest of the nation? You shouldn't listen to Stinky, he is just a troll.

Whatever lead Obumer has or doesn't have as of today, he can kiss it goooooodby once Nov. rolls around. There will be two more big losers then, the US Senate seat currently held by Herb Kohl (D) will flip republican, and of course, Obumer himself will lose by Uuummm 7%! Why you ask? Failure after failure by democrats will result in major fatigue, they are sick of backing loser after loser, all but the rock bottom base will be all to happy to sit this one out. And for good reason, why should they care when their own POS POTUS could only muster a Tweet to Tom Barrett, how utterly lame, shameful, just plain chicken $hit. As for conservatives, we're just getting started. Many posters have correctly stated, the WI senate is out untill 1/13. The state was redistricted and many formerly "safe" democrat districts are now very vulnerable, expect to lose your short won gain, before you can even capitalize on it. Wow does that suck or what. I'm calling it now Romney wins Wisconsin!

The Republican - TEA Party - conservatives - want to portray this as a victory against unions? If that is the case, how did unions force a recall in the first place?

It's not that hard to force a recall election. You get a few thousand people to stand at Walmart and other places, collecting signatures. You don't care if they're valid signatures or if people sign different forms in different locations multiple times. All you care about is getting a HUGE number of people. Illegal aliens, college students, out of town visitors, felons, it doesn't matter if they're registered to vote, well it DOES MATTER, but not for Democrats.

You present 900,000 signatures, the opponent has NO WAY to dispute the validity of all the signatures, many of which might be fraudulent. The Board of Election does some random sample, then schedules an election. Your opponent decides to give up trying to dispute the signatures, since it's almost impossible, so they focus on the upcoming campaign.

Then you cause the State to spend millions of dollars that could spent on teaches, firemen, police, the elderly, children, special needs people, to have a recall election because of pure petulance. Good job Public Sector Unions!

This is strike three for the Unions in Wisconsin.

1) failed to recall any judges

2) failed to recall walker

3) wasted millions of dollars

NOBAMA 2012!

.

Well I guess it's time for the OBAMMY supporterds to start practicing their breaking and entering skills after the Nov 2012 election. I'm sure they will be trying to show their support for Obammy by breaking shop windows and stealing electronics, groceries, whatever isn't nailed down. Wow, we'd better start building more jails cause they sho are gonna be full!! Hail to the chief....

Feisty is also apparently psyched about the exit polls that showed Obama 7 points up on Romney.

These are the same exit polls that had Walker and Barrett tied at 50/50 and too close to call.

In actuality Walker beat Barrett by 7 points, indicating a significant Democratic bias in the results, even if it isn't a full 7 points *I acknowledge some Democrats voted for Walker because the did not think the recall proper for the Union abused political reasons since Walker committed no actual misconduct deserving of it*.

If Wisconsin which is usually a reliable Blue State in Presidential politics really has Obama and Romney that close, maybe tied, maybe within a couple points after adjusting for the exit poll bias, then Democrats should be very concerned already if they are willing not to delude themselves. This doesn't necessarily mean a huge loss is impending for them, but it could be indicative of major problems for the Obama campaign brewing.

Hahaha, rightwingers are giving credit to Walker for the stock market -- Like the global economy is affected by one little twit in Wisconsin (who is now toast for the rest of his term). Get real, the rally is due to replacing austerity with a growth plan.

JPM77 -- First the record at Bain Capital, then the record as governor of Massachusetts, and so on, and then the debates... and what ever you do, don't look at the electoral college or do any math.

Wow, Trumka has no regrets over spending MILLIONS of dollars of Union Workers dues/fees for a frivuolous "recall" election.

Time for the Union Workers and the OWS protesters to march on Trumka's multi-million dollar home.

Meanwhile, back to the Democrats Poster Child, Mr. Clinton, and Mr. Obama's Wisconsin FLYOVER.

"The truth is that the Wisconsin recall campaign was a farce from beginning to end. Its sole purpose was to sabotage the struggle against the Walker administration by blocking any independent mobilization of the working class and diverting the energy of workers and young people into the safe channels of the Democratic Party—a party just as committed to the defense of corporate interests as the Republicans."

Republican governor wins recall election in Wisconsin

By Patrick Martin
6 June 2012

"…The entire recall campaign was a fraud, since the Democratic Party supported the cuts in wages and benefits for state and local government workers, objecting only to Walker’s exclusion of the unions from participation in the process of determining what would be cut.

Barrett, who won the Democratic primary and became the party’s candidate in the June 5 vote, had actually made extensive use of Walker’s anti-worker law to impose $19 million in wage and benefit cuts on city employees in Milwaukee. The Democratic candidate largely downplayed the issue of collective bargaining rights and sought to distance himself from the unions, boasting in one debate that he had not been their choice for the nomination.

In the last week before the vote it was widely reported in the press that the Democrats had decided to drop the issue of Walker’s anti-worker measures. Typical was the June 4 report in Politico.com under the headline “Wisconsin Dems Sidestep Labor Debate in Recall.” The article stated: “On the eve of the June 5 recall election, the issue of collective bargaining has become just a footnote in the hard-fought battle for Wisconsin. Democrats gloss over the issue in campaign speeches, political advertisements and debates…”

The national Democratic Party opposed the recall effort, refusing either funds or active campaign support for Barrett until the last week, when there was a flurry of appearances by national Democrats like former president Clinton. This was largely an attempt to disguise the deliberate torpedoing of the campaign.

President Obama never made an appearance in Wisconsin during the recall campaign and barely disguised his hostility to the anti-Walker effort. Last week he attended a fundraiser in Minneapolis and then flew across Wisconsin to another fundraiser in Chicago without bothering to set foot in the state.

Liberal apologists for Obama and the Democrats, like the Nation magazine and MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, complained that the Republicans and their billionaire backers raised vast sums for pro-Walker advertising and outspent the Democrats by a margin of 30 to one. Such comments are a deliberate cover-up of the reality that the Democrats had no desire to win and mounted only a token effort…"

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/jun2012/wisc-j06.shtml

FR, just as an update to your rants - the public sector unions spent over 25 million in the recall attempt in Wisconsin, which failed...they also spent over 42 million in Ohio where a similiar effort was passed...talk about obscene money...the good news is that is $67 million that will not go to Obama, and now the unions will be required to repay those loans...wonder where they are going to get the money, since they are a non-revenue producing organization and taking dues money to support a political agenda is illegal.

Thanks TJM - the Dems whine about the money that was spent for Walker but I don't see them complaining about the DNC withdrawing funding for Barrett. They aren't complaining loudly about Obama not appearing to support him. They knew they were in trouble and decided to save their resources. The GOP knew they could win this election and went after it.

Don, it is amazing how a person could get everything in their post wrong. Oh except for the $30 to $1 ratio of Walker to Barret money. The ones who will be whining are the working people of Wisconsin. Rich Repubs don't spend that kind of money without expecting a huge payback. Somebody got to pay.

Hey Rilli - as long as you continue with the attitude that it's unions against everyone else, you will continue to lose, unions will continue to lose and as many people that can drop out of unions will. Self interests do not help our major problem - government overspending. Walker balanced the budget, didn't lose a single job, but people like you simply don't care about that. In your mind, he touched the sacred cow... he ended collective bargaining for government union employees, like that really hurt the unions. Union people are nothing but spoiled brats that need to be taken out to the woodshed.

Is there some kind of specail treatment these union households are getting. Oh rilli, yeah they are union households of course they are getting special treatment the taxpayers are paying for them to have better retirement and healthcare than taxpayer has themself, and it is coming to a stop.

He's not supposed to have the union households best interests at heart. He is supposed to have the whole of Wisconsin's interests at heart. Not one party, or constituent, or race, or class but everyone and that is what he is doing. You can opine all you wish about what he may do that is so awful, but up to now he is doing exactly what he promosed he would do and the voters appear to agree.

I guess if they voted for Walker they should be thrown out of the union?

I guess if they voted for Walker they should be thrown out of the union?

Looks like the union is being thrown out of the people so accomplishes the same. Those crafty unions planned this all along.

The unions absolutely out-smarted themselves, doubling down on stupid. This gives every forward thinking mayor and governor the inevitable green light to roll back bloated city and state funded benefit packages.

Unfortunately, you deserve who you choose to run your country. Unfortunately, many of us would never vote for thelikes of Walker or any other Republican. We have to suffer along with all the other nitwits in the majority, I fear, who are stupid, andtotaly ignorant. The combination is a killer.

Yep, the smashing of unions was all a successful conspiracy by Big Labor. I fyou belonged to a union and voted for Walker, you just voted yourself out of a union and into the wage slaves known as haviing "the right to work." That's like the Southern states that notoriouosly paid such poor wages that they were also non-union states, that is until all of the manufacturing and textile jobs went to othercountries. Southern states like North Carolina were and are "right to work" states, meaning no unions allowed and bosses pay whatever the hell the want and there is no such thing as collective bargaining rights, or in the final analysis, no bargaining rights whatsover on the part of the worker or prospective employee, only those rights the big boss decides you have. Which, consideringn our late stagae capitalist society, is probably zero, zilch. one day they may even abolish pay and amend the U.S. constitution to once again allow slavery. That's the ideal society of the current Repug "thinkers," if you can call these knee jerk crappers that.

Rilli,

Maybe they are able to think for themselves and come to a reasonable decision, instead of believing the union leaders and the half truths they try to pass as fact. If you think the union has your best interest in mind, look up their LM-2 reports. Only the union is benefitting.

Lil' Debbie,

I'm no expert on unions or labor laws, but you have mischaracterized 'right to work' states. You said that in these states there are "no unions allowed", but that's not true. The company I work for has unionized factories in several 'right to work' states. As I understand it, there's no law against unions, but unions cannot force workers to join the union. The unions still negotiate wages and benefits, but all workers including non-union members get the same package. It sounds to me like you've got a problem with anyone who chooses not to support unions. I don't think anyone should be forced to join and pay dues to an organization against their free will because that seems very un-American to me!

Why does everyone assume the Wisconsin voter is too stupid to make up his own mind based on the information and instead puts every political win down to spending? Walker didn't outspend his opponent; the voters decided he was the better choice at this moment in time.

That said, this isn't predictive on what may happen in Nov. Wisconsin is a special case, a referendum on one man's fiscal policy, not a verdict on the nation's economy. Neither side has cause to be smug just yet.

Look at this way: the Democrats realize nationally that Obama is a loser and are distancing themselves from him and his failed policies and rhetoric.

Obama is desparately distancing himself from all of those millstones that could have been around his neck: Democrats that are losing elections, putting losers up against winners, and generally losing the backing of the principle group of people that have money to spend (the unions, regardless of where or how they got the money).

Walker had this election in the bag. Hence, no help from the national candidate or the RNC. Barrett was a loser from the getgo, so no help from anyone except the bellyaching union hacks.

If Democrats are smart (ha, ha, ha) and want to keep their jobs, they will turn their collective backs on Obama and run as far away as they can to avoid having him and his losing policies rub off on them. Let's see how many smart pols we have in the next five months.

You call the action of the Wisconsin voters thinking? I call it @!$%#ting all over their state and their fellow citizens by harkiing to the call of out of state big money from conservatives who have no interest whatsover in the welfare of American workers or any other Americans for that matter except for the wealthy 1 percent they pander to. all the crowing about the "tide turning" is hardly anything to rejoice about. Our country might as well get ready for another Civil War. The sides have been picked anad we might as well be shooting at each other all over again. But this time The Repug party will not be the noble party that freed the slaves. It will be the American Nazi Party by another name. Shame on all of you.

THe real bitch for our man Trumka is Wisc. no longer compels payment of union dues.

Hard to pull down the fat stacks when the forced payments cease.

A main power base of the Democrats, the Unions, will be packing it in shortly. They have no way to force people to pay them anymore. That leaves the tree-huggers, the Johnny Edwards ambulance chasers, and the Holly-weird actors as the face of the Democratic party and the Obama fundraisers.

Spanky-

THe real bitch for our man Trumka is Wisc. no longer compels payment of union dues.

Hard to pull down the fat stacks when the forced payments cease

You are wrong.

The Bitch is Scott Walker who allowed 2 men, David & Charles Koch, pimp him out to prostitute all over this land selling America.

@JoAnnaSmurf!

A main power base of the Democrats, the Unions, will be packing it in shortly

Would you like to give your teacher's pension back?

Beverly - you're talking to the wall. Spanky has no problems prostituting himself if it gets him what he wants - he's made that clear by most of his posts. Selling of this country doesn't matter to Spanky - he's just fine with that. He's a typical far righter.

Obama/Biden 2012

Would you like to give your teacher's pension back?

It appears the teachers in your state, Illinois, already have. What, $90 billion in unfunded teacher pension obligations? Can't pay the pensions if your broke Bevvie. Good thing they raised taxes in Illinois, it didn't solve any problems, but it made the Libbies feel good, and that's what counts the most.

JAS1 its getting so desperate for union membership bev, amy and red may have to start dancing at the union halls for money. Not desperate for bev, amy or red desperate for the union because that is the only girls they can get. Wow where did that dollar go. roflmao. stale *popcorn* anyone.

Bev, I really can't take anyone seriously who gets paid to post someone elses viewpoint here. Do you get paind by the post, or is it a public union job and you just have to show up to be paid?

Joann Smith, you and all the witches who hate better than they love and just can't wait to see other people suffer and fail, rejoice while you still can. If you aren't one of the 1 percent you will soon regret the day you threw in your tiny little self to help this American Nazi Party by the name of Republican(s). All the gloating and smug comments froom the haters who so abound in our country today is disgusting and makes me want to ......not leave the country but deport the ones who don't deserve America. Soon they are going to be turning America into their own, ugly, hateful and totally destructive image unless american voters get a grip and finally educate themselves on something besides whether they like someone's looks or they like the way a particular party panders to their hatreds and bigotry.

Lil' Debbie: I'm not into partisan politics, but your post sounds just as hateful as any other I've read here, left or right. If you're going to bash others for their bigotry, etc., it would help if you sounded a little more civil yourself.

Yeah the violence, like bombing family planning centers, Oh sorry I forgot, the people who commit those atrocities have a direct line to Jeeesus. This country is going down the toilet, You repugs, just keep gloating, when you lose everything, and you will, we can all stand around the fire barrel, and chat about it, you know like in the depression days, only much worse, mor like Mad Max.

actually, Barrett was not the union's first choice to run against Walker. The Union backed Kathleen Falk.

And yet they still decided on Barett....who lost again....by the same margin...Isn't this kind of going back to "why would you try the same thing twice and expect a different outcome"?

96...in a 12 step program, talking about addiction, doing something continually and yet expecting something different to happen, it's the definition of "insanity!" please don't share this with Wisconsin dems...they'll get angry with the truth...and then they'll huddle to decide on starting Barrett's 2014 campaign for governor.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Obama spend how many hundreds of billions of dollars that we didn't have creating nothing but he still keeps wanting to do it again. This isn't sex; you can keep going back for that because it's fun. You can't keep spending money by the trillion and getting nothing for it. We are rapidly (already) running out of other people's money to spend. California is figuring that out and may bite the big one and seriously trying to fix their problems. Now if only the rest of the country could get it figured out.

Blah, blah, blah. Have your fun, you righties. Your own little lives must be really sick andn miserable to take such joy in the misfortunes of other people who have done nothing to hurt you. don't understand the viciousness of the typical Teapug who just slobbers to savor the democrats or the unions or whoever they dislike losing or getting breaten in an election. Really? Are you that threatened by someone who isn't just as vicious and hateful as you are? Afraid somebody's having fun and you aren't? Your ugly spirit shows in fact you can't conceal it if you tried. Put a sock in it and come up with something original once in awhile, but you probably can't. You are all useless except as pimps for the Koch brothers. Guess what? They aren't going to share their money with you. Get ready to be kicked to the curb if their ilk, they and Karl Rove, Grover Norquist and company get to impose Republican ideology on America.

Your posts are getting boring.

Little Debbie, the more TEA Partiers and right wingnuts mock and jeer without substance the better I like it. It means that they have NOTHING solid to offer. They better laugh it up while they can, it will be my turn to laugh when O'bama is reelected, and the Tea Party reps are shown the door after the democrats retake the house.

Casreader, I doubt you worked a day in your miserable, stupid little life. Keep YOUR hands out of other people's pockets, that is, you and the Koch Brothers, Wall Street shysters and assorted Republicans ready and willing to make the middle class and poor pay the taxes that the wealthy ought to be paying to keep these unnecessary wars afloat.

uh, Lil' Debbie,

I would certainly like to keep my hands out of the public sector unions pockets - by NOT HAVING TO FUND THEIR OUTRAGEOUS BENEFIT PACKAGES with my tax dollars!

Scott Walker is a pickpocket of the first order. Fiscallly responsible Governor? on the backs of public education and the middle class, plus bringing divisiveness of the first order to Wisconsin? Give me a break. You are delusional.

that[s because when criminals run for office and win an election it usually is because they cheat. Get over the gloating. Karma is going to come back on you one day when you least expect it.

Too bad you weren't saying all this crap when the UNIONS were buying the elections in Wisconsin Affinity. All it shows is that you are just another left wing whining hypocrite that lost because of the votes of MILLIONS of citizens, and not the millions of dollars that the UNIONS usually buy their elections with.

As for the rest, the usual political filth.

Where did all the vermin live in Wisconsin before this election or recall it was, brought them out of the woodwork? They need to go back under the rocks where they belong and leave the rest of us alone.

Do you get paid by the Post? Are you a union teacher off for the summer? Do you have a job? You sure seem to have a bunch of extra time on your hands. Look, your side lost. Get over it.

back at you, dummie.

That's all you have Debbie? Obviously the majority has spoken. You should respect that.. that's what we were told in 2008 remember? .. I love it... the White house is next btw.

Blow it out your ear Juan, why should we treat you with respect when you have none for us.

You even mis-read my comment.. I am not asking for YOUR respect.. I am asking for you to respect the vote of the people.. the majority.. that is what happened in Wisconsin and don't give me the "well, republicans spent 20 times more money then Democrats".... speaking for myself, and I hope most voters, I don't care how much candidates spend.... my vote is based on what I believe to be the best option for me.. not how much money they have.

I did not post this Juan, I'll post the same thing I posted on other articles: hahahahahahahahahhahahaha.. do you want it clearer Libs and Unions? You will reap what you give moderates and liberals, from me, Juan. Want to make your point? Then do it civilly or I WILL respond again and I will make the last time seem civil by comparison.

You're so right Cheryl, but these are just the facts and we all know what liberals/union thugs, etc. do with those!!!

The union would rather have 10,000 teachers in the unemployment line than have their collective bullying abilities limited.

You are delusional. must be soomethiing in that foul Wisconsin air, Sammy Johns if that's your real name.

No, Lil Deb-he's absolutely RIGHT. Thank God that most folks in Wisconsin saw this for what it was and voted to Keep Walker in. There was no one out of a job, but half decided to drop their union dues (thanks to Walker, they had this option). Facts hurt don't they Debbie, but unlike opinions they CAN'T be changed.

You are both Wrong, Sharon, Sammy. Walker never said he would gut collective bargaining during his campaign. He also rejected concessions the public unions offered after they offered every thing he demanded. Fortunately Walker was muzzled after the Democrats took control of the Wisconsin Senate. Muzzled, lets see him get anything done now without the cooperation if the democrats.

"In the 1950s, nearly 40% of Americans belonged to a union, or were covered by union negotiated contracts. Today, only 12% of Americans belong to a unions"

Well, who forced out the 28%? Or did they drop out because they realized that the unions and union bosses and fees and dues were not really helping the worker? Just saying....

Nobody could be more corrupt than today's bosses, much less Wall Street, banks and others who would rather tank the economy than earn an honest dollar or restrain their greed.

Hey Lil' Debbie, instead of trying to convince folks that republicans are stupid, mean, etc. perhaps you should take a good, long look in the mirror. Perhaps you will at last try to comprehend (it means understand) what happened and why. Folks are tired of union thugs ordering them to pay for their Gold Plated pensions/healthcare when most folks Don't belong to unions or public sector unions. We have to pay for our own pensions/healthcare and we pay far more than you clowns do. 8% and 12% (my oh my you would have thought that Walker was asking for you to cough up 50% (some taxpayers pay that much), but hell you don't care as long as "you get yours". And you have the nerve to pontificate (lecture) us on how terrible it would be if republicans controlled everything. Well guess what little lady-the socialists/communists/dems controlled EVERYTHING (think 2008) and just what did that get us??? You don't want "right wing" control/dominion, well Debbie I don't want Stalinism/communism/nanny state government.

deleted

You are Sick Sharon, your hatred for moderation, and compassion, has twisted your mind. I have had all I can stand of your posts. Welcome to my ignore list. TEA Party Fascist. I will take Democratic communism any day over the deal the TEA Party has made with the devil.

Sharon you are great only in your mind.

His whole time has been a reality show. WAJ!

is getting a reality show on the OWN channel

About time. Obama hasn't been involved with reality since moving into the White House. Maybe after he moves out in January and joins his unemployed.

One of the only posts worth reading today, David. America needs more honest people like you and what you are actually asking for is a union, one that looks out for the working person that belongs to it. And frankly I haven't seen any employers becoming saints and angels just because they are smashing the unions. Human nature is such particularly when there is no law or regulation to force a person to be honest and fair, that Republicans who want to eliminate regulations just want a license to steal.

Its more like dumb and dumber leading the blind.