What lesson do you take from Gov. Scott Walker’s victory in the Wisc. recall elections?

Eric Ringham June 6, 2012, 5:00 AM Jun 6, 2012

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker survived a union-led recall challenge yesterday, winning the right to finish his term and a voter endorsement of his strategy to cut state spending, which included a measure that eliminated collective bargaining rights for state employees. Today’s Question: What lesson do you take from Gov. Scott Walker’s victory in the Wisconsin recall elections?

About the blogger

Eric Ringham

eringham@mpr.org

Clark

The outcome of this recall election is FANTASTIC. Greedy unions who want to use the government to plunder private taxpayers have lost. Unions simply want more benefits than society can afford.

As i recently read in the WSJ, “The road to fiscal hell is paved with progressive intentions.”

Next, defeating obama is job 1, there is no job 2.

Scott Walker is my hero!

Duane

I feel the lesson to learn it the importance of fiscal responsibility. This recall began with a budget crisis in the state, partially caused by state funded retirement obligations to many public employees. Gov Walker creates a budget surplus and lowered the unemployment rate. I see the same issue becoming part of the General Election this November. The poster child will be the picture of the smiling GSA head sitting in a whirlpool tub in Las Vages. We need to restore fiscal responsibility in this country or we will end up in the same shape as Greece.

reggie

If you look at the money spent in this recall, it’s clear that the lesson is that in our national race to the bottom, Wisconsin sold itself (literally, after Citizens United) to the highest bidder. Doesn’t bode well for the future of representational democracy in the republic.

I truly don’t understand why any working class or middle class person would see Walker’s republican agenda and philosophy as a good thing. There’s an enormous difference between fiscal responsibility and Walker’s disdain for workers and for the role of government.

georges

One lesson is that normal people in Wisconsin are not intimidated by a squad of burly New York/New Jersey cops on their doorstep telling them how to vote.

The liberals don’t seem to understand that such mafia-style strongarm intimidation by the Unions went out a long time ago, and is now just a clumsy dinosaur on the scrap heap of history. Like liberal ideas in general.

The world has tried out the leftist ideas over the last century, and all have failed. Liberalism is a gross failure, and everyone not firmly mired in the 60’s understands the factual evidence of it.

Come out into the light. Put your faith in Capitalism, not government.

Tis good for the soul.

Mike

It’s true, you can buy an election…

Duane

Many people are blaming the large disparity in spending between the two parties. I do not believe this takes into count the millions spent by the Democratic party in the primary race between Falk and Barrett. I doubt the disparity is the $31 million to $4 million stated by the Obama press release. I would like to see these fact tested by the Truth-O-Meter.

Allison

I can’t believe the support Walker is getting on here. This is a man -without a college degree-that has taken Wisconsin from a top 15 job creator to DEAD LAST in the country. He cut $2 billion from education and $500 million from state healthcare while giving away nearly $200 million in corporate tax breaks. Wisconsin now spends more money on its prison system than it does on education. He also repealed the Equal Pay Act which guaranteed equal rights for women in the workplace. This recall wasn’t just about the unions. And for those of you quoting ‘revised’ job figures – those figures were obtained using a system created by his staff to make the numbers look more favorable. It uses a household survey rather than a workplace survey like the other 49 states use.

Phil

It shows the time has come for Minnesotans to stop making all of those jokes about how people from Iowa have a significantly lower level of intelligence; Wisconsin is the new Iowa.

Gary F

On Wisconsin!

A. Even though you may not like a politician or legislation and want a recall, that doesn’t mean the majority of voters think that’s a reason to recall vote someone out.

B. This is bigger than Scott Walker himself. Was it a vote against all the flee-bagger cowards who wouldn’t show up for a vote? You didn’t see the Republicans at the national level leave the country when Obamacare was passed? The Wisconsin Democrats who left down were an embarrassment. Was the vote against them?

C. Was it a vote against all the hate filled protesters who held up the capitol’s business?

D. All the out cry over money spent. Did that include collecting all the recall signatures? Did that include all the time and money bussing them to the capitol to protest over the last year?

E. Or was it that a conservative politician actually carried out what he campaigned on?

F. Seeing what’s happening in Europe, this is actually a ray of hope that we may not be chasing the European stagecoach off cliff quite as fast.

Being a Gopher fan, I hate saying “On Wisconsin”, but this time I need to.

Steve the Cynic

Walker didn’t win, if by “win” you mean achieving something positive. He only succeeded in tearing Wisconsin apart. This ideological tribalism is a societal autoimmune disease that’s killing our country.

David

It proves that elections are difficult, but possible, to buy.

The amount of money spent in this race was breathtaking. The fact that Barrett lost by only 7 points, while disappointing for me, points out one thing. He was outspent like 10 to 1, a lot of it out-of-state money (thanks to the Koch Brothers amongst others). A factor of 10 for 7 points. I think if the playing field had been a bit more level, we might have had a different results last night. Insert sarcastic thank you to the Supreme Court and Citizens United here.

In the end, Wisconsin has made its choice – like it or not. I most certainly do not. Am I upset? Yes. Will I get over it? Yes. The likely flip in Senate control will put a curb on his excesses, at least in the short term. And with the news coming out of Wisconsin regarding the “John Doe” investigation, I think it will only be a matter of time before he gets indicted for electoral nonsense he engaged in to get his current job in the first place.

DandyRandy

Public unions are a scourge and a disgusrting conflict of interest with the Dems. Union dues are nothing more than protection money – a public employee can be fired only if he kills someone. Unfunded pension liabilities for public employees are out of sight. The lesson we should take from this is that politicians can stand up to the TAKERS and make the necessary tough decisions. Anybody with common sense should be taking the very obvious lesson from Europe that the government tit will dry up with disasterous repercussions. We are at the tipping point.

Gary F

Election was bought?

Walker won by about the same percentage as last time.

People voted for Walker because of his ads saying that they balanced the budget and the jobs are coming back to Wisconsin?

People voted for Barrett because they wanted to go back to old way of bloated budgets and Obama “prosperity”?

Having a bad message is why he lost.

Steve the Cynic

And if the recall election had gone the other way, that wouldn’t have been any better. The problem is the way people are coming to treat politics as a battle of good versus evil. In a previous century, when I was taking high school civics, I remember learning that politics was supposed to be about the peaceful resolution of conflicting interests. Increasingly, our political system is devolving into a spoils-to-the-victors-and-screw-the-losers morass.

Did you listen to Walker’s victory speech? I remember the days when political victory speeches routinely included something concilliatory about working with the opposition, representing all of the constituents, and listening respectfully to the concerns of those who hold differing views. Walker’s speech, by contrast, was a gloat about how Wisconsin voters vindicated his ideological stance, ignoring the fact that lots of independents were not voting for him so much as voting against the recall. His vision of reconcilliation is having the other side quietly acquiesce to his policies.

I fear we are losing our republic.

Todd

The lesson is that independents still determine the outcome of elections. The fire and ire of the Left that inspired the recall was lost on independents, who either stayed home or grudgingly threw their support to a politician who they believed at least had the right to implement his policies. The Democrats might have had a chance to defeat Walker in the next general, now I think they have guaranteed his reelection.

Mark in Freeborn

Concerning Walker’s “victory”, the amount of crowing and gloating shown on Fox and other conservative media of that ilk was truly horrifying. I even heard one Fox commentator comment that the results of the election “truly unifies Wisconsin.” Absurd! The results of this election will only serve to further divide the state.

Jim G

“The lemon flower smells sweet, but the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat.”

I say, wait for the fruit to sour and then make lemonade, in November.

Steve the Cynic

On second listen, I realize I overstated how much Walker’s speech was a gloat. He did say some nice things about “healing” the division (which he and his party caused). We’ll see if it’s anything more than lip service.

Mary

Lesson learned: Outside money can buy a state election. Citizens United rejoice, the entire country can now bow down to the extreme right and see the 1% triumph; the moderate middle class can only ask for mercy in the future; their vote will count for nothing.

jim

it is the consumer demand of more for less which destroyed the private sector unions. now we are seeing the same demands from the consumers of government. where were the activists with their cowbells when the airline mechanics were on strike? getting in line for that cheap airfare.

Sue de Nim

My stomach turned when I heard Walker supporters booing Barrett’s concession speech. It speaks volumes about the state of American politics.

stu klipper

Welcome to the Corporate-Kleptocratic Dis-United States of America

Joe Schaedler

I’ve learned that money still trumps the popular will. Didn’t Walker outspend his opponent something like 7 to 1? He bought his job back.

Ryan Juel

In listening to the rhetoric going back and forth, I’m reminded of a quote from Captain America:

“Doesn’t matter what the press says. Doesn’t matter what the politicians or the mobs say. Doesn’t matter if the whole country decides that something wrong is something right. This nation was founded on one principle above all else: the requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter the odds or the consequences. When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world — ‘No, YOU move.'”

While I wholeheartedly disagree with Mr. Walker’s ideals, I cannot help but commend his resolve. Granted, this mentality frequently leads to open conflict and diplomatic stalemate, but that’s another story. Mr. Walker exemplified the heart and soul of America in sticking to his beliefs.

I still hope he gets the boot in November, however…
Jordan

Just because one side is louder does not mean they are the majority.

Also, there are some people that voted against the use of the recall and not as much for Walker. It is likely that Obama will still win WI, but people just don’t like the unions flexing there muscle in this manner.
Mary

The only lesson I took out of this election is that Super Pacs work. This is a very sad outcome for our election process.
david

Lessons? None. Questions, many. First and foremost why is the evil koch brothers so involved in Wisconsin politics?
Kirk

I take the lesson that he would have been soundly defeated but for the fact that many did not feel a recall election was the right approach. He has clearly fouled his own political career as far as the general public goes, and but for a great deal of outside money would be outside now himself.
Jamie

What we’ve learned from this recall election:

1. The news media are an echo chamber. I never saw it so clearly as I did in the last several days, and this morning. They started to talk about Walker winning several days ago as though it were already decided, probably influencing some voters to stay home. They also repeated over and over that Walker was being recalled because of his union-busting, sometimes in conjunction with saying that he did that in order to save money for the state of WI. That second part is patently false, and the first part is only part of the truth. Then this morning, I heard over and over again Walker’s talking points, as well as the above-mentioned memes, coming out of NPR and MPR announcers and reporters — also the foregone conclusion that this election will affect the presidential election. Not to mention that radio people erroneously seem to think that 7% is a HUGE margin by which to win an election.

2. You CAN buy elections. Walker’s unlimited fat-cat millions blanketed the state of WI and even the Twin Cities area with ads that distorted and lied about Barrett’s record. And I didn’t even see any of the print materials that probably contained the same lies and distortions.

3. A large portion of our electorate are either stupid or uninformed (or both). Walker has lied, cheated, and bullied his way through his time in the governor’s office so far and there are millions who are blind to that and to the fact that he is probably a criminal.

4. People (at least the progressive ones) who say they voted against Barrett because they didn’t think there should BE a recall election are probably the same people who voted for Ralph Nader. We need to be grown-ups people!
Alison

I learned I shouldn’t move back to WI.
Randy M

There is a political cost whenever public employees go on strike or threaten a strike to demand pay and benefits that seem excessive and unjustified. The Dems were unable to extend the outrage of organized labor and their base to a general revolt because it is hard to feel too much pity for someone making a better living than you are.

Labor needs to demonstrate that they benefit more than their own membership. The Dems need to stop looking in the mirror.
David Rogde

Looks like one side has said “You have too big a piece of the pie.” and convinced a majority of this. If that’s not class warfare, I don’t know what is: divide people by pointing out that one side is getting more than another. Perhaps they were, but if in the longer term the economy does not improve, and working people do not begin to gain a part of what public employees lost, look for a new Scott Walker in the future, one who is ready to give the masses the easiest answer to their problems. Perhaps the target of this demagoguery will be those who are doing so well that they have the excess to flood Wisconsin with so much money.
Gary F

http://yfrog.com/z/obljjup

This map pretty much sums it up.
Bruce

1-Elections (2010 WI Governor) Matter. Vote; don’t stay home!

2-Recalls for partisan, as opposed to criminal, matters fail.

3-Public sector collective bargaining: I worked 13 years as a public employee then 27 years in the private sector. The private sector adjusts pension and health care benefits periodically or risks “going out of business.” Public entities (State, County, City, School District) do not worry about “going out of business” and so their pension and health care benefits should not be part of any collective bargaining but, rather, managed professionally within strict guidelines to protect taxpayers.

4-Fiscal sanity is THE 2012 election issue.
Sue de Nim

Re: georges’ comment: “Come out into the light. Put your faith in Capitalism, not government. Tis good for the soul.”

That’s a false dichotomy, isn’t it? I don’t have “faith” in either of those things, but only in God. Either of those choices is an idolatrous one, and quite literally bad for the soul.
Steve the Cynic

Bruce, regarding your 2nd point, it worked in California for the Governator.
Gary F

http://nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/06/12084195-2-california-cities-approve-pension-cuts?lite\\

I guess the people in a liberal broke state like California are nuts too?
David Poretti

…Money, its a gas

Grab that cash with both hands

And make a stash

Money, it’s a crime

Share it fairly but don’t take a slice of my pie

Money, so they say

Is the root of all evil today

But if you ask for a raise it’s no surprise that they’re giving none away…

With the wide open free-market rental of politicians and the fact that cold cash is in complete control of political policy making and the political conversation (such as it is), we are now witnessing the twilight of our American democratic experiment.

It all is coming together – America is dumbed down (figuratively and relatively), and those that do bother to vote often vote against their own and their community’s best interests based on a complete misrepresentation of the facts by a small group of influence peddlers.

Mr. Romney demonstrated what happens when a candidate can outspend their opponents by 5 or 10 fold – he crushed every political adversary and won every primary that he wanted to. This election proves that formula works, and that a vote costs between $75 and $100.
Drae

I learned that the power of the far left is waning. Reason trumped money and hype. There are valid reasons to limit the power of government unions and I believe that in the time between the law taking effect and this election, the people of Wisconsin came to understand how this limit on union power benefits them – the taxpayer. It was likely more persuasive than the incessant hand-wringing, name calling and Chicken Little routine.
Drae

To those worried we are losing our Republic:

“When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.”

-Benjamin Franklin

We already did this, quite awhile ago. The politicians, from Scott Walker (R) to Rahm Emanuel (D), brave enough to make reforms are the ones trying to correct this problem, lest we find ourselves the new Greece.
Rhus Radicans

It is clear that this country cannot afford a middle class and a trickling aristocracy. The monied aristocracy has won a great victory. The middle class kappos that voted for their own destruction will not be spared when the tricklers turn on the teabag taliban.
Steve the scenic

The larger significance of Wisconsin’s recall election is somewhat obscure. As I see it, yesterday’s vote did not do much more than squander a huge amount of money and civic goodwill replicating the experiment of the 2010 election. Democrats and the union movement bet heavily on the proposition that Mr Walker’s successful attempt to reduce the collective-bargaining rights of public-employee unions was a political miscalculation which would shift enough of the electorate against Mr Walker to turn him out of office. They bet wrong. Wisconsin still prefers Mr Walker over Mr Barrett. That’s about the size of it, I think.
Drae

I’m actually surprised by the number of people who are just now realizing elections can be bought. I guess people see only what they want to see, when they want to see it.

The irony is that in 2008 the largest single contributor to the presidential campaign was… wait for it… public employee unions. They were a super PAC before there were super PACs. I guess I’m supposed to be upset about special interest money in politics only when it benefits Republicans…? Er, sorry. I mean I’m only supposed to notice special interest money in politics when Republicans win?
georges

The decidedly liberal CBS evening news tonight reported that 18 million dollars was spent by the winning Republican Scott Walker, and 15 million dollars was spent by the losing Democrat Barrett.

I guess all those liberals down at CBS went with the truth, rather than the lies put out by the Democrats through their media outlets, the White House and MoveOn.

But, the sheeple got the Party line message this morning and have been busy baaaaa-ing it around here all day.

Makes one wonder:

How much effort does it take to turn off the thought processes of the brain so that absurd Party lies can enter the ears or eyes and come spewing out the mouth or keyboard unfiltered, unchallenged, unhampered in any way, and sufficing only to prove the poster to be composed of the most gullible matter known to man.
Tom

A ray of sunshine and a victory for the original forgotten man.
Jamie

“How much effort does it take to turn off the thought processes of the brain so that absurd Party lies can enter the ears or eyes and come spewing out the mouth or keyboard unfiltered, unchallenged, unhampered in any way, and sufficing only to prove the poster to be composed of the most gullible matter known to man.”

How funny. That is what is true about Republicans! Democrats are the ones who value the truth, who are always trying to get to the truth. Republicans are the ones who are PROUD to lie and mislead the public. Their lies are continually taken apart by various non-partisan fact-checkers, and then they continue to tell the same lies! They know that it doesn’t matter to a certain segment of the population who will believe whatever ridiculous thing Republicans say. And it’s common knowledge that Republicans are the ones who have to be in lock-step with one another, never departing from the market-tested party line, never NOT drinking the kool-ade.
Steve the Cynic

Um, I think you overstate the case, Jamie.
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