Scott Walker recall takes an unexpected turn.

[BigAppleBucky]

Originally Posted by Scarlett67

For fuck's sake, people, this recall is not just about unions!!!

12 Reasons to Recall Scott Walker in 2012 (PDF)

http://www.unitedwisconsin.com/top-t...l-scott-walker

Just the environmental stuff alone should get him impeached, not just recalled.

The $2 billion in tax breaks are momumentally stupid. Millionaire Senator Ron Johnson will personally receive over $600,000 from them.

[Omg a Black Conservative]

Originally Posted by Scarlett67

For fuck's sake, people, this recall is not just about unions!!!

Really? Because I thought Walker limiting union's collective bargaining rights was what sparked the recall to begin with. You know, the thing which seems to have been completely forgotten about by Democrats?

[BigAppleBucky]

Originally Posted by Omg a Black Conservative

Really? Because I thought Walker limiting union's collective bargaining rights was what sparked the recall to begin with. You know, the thing which seems to have been completely forgotten about by Democrats?

Read the last three pages of this thread. Yes, the collective bargaining thing ignited the biggest protests, but in chronology that was about the third or fourth thing (out of at least a dozen) he did that riled people up. The Fitzwalker heavy-handedness in the matter really stirred the pot. The lies, the cronyism, and the rest of it, kept the kettle boiling.

The recent spate of dirty ads (smear anti-Barrett ad with a dead baby) and the phone sabotage on Thursday give indications that the Walker campaign feel some desperation.

[FE3O4ENAIL]

Originally Posted by BigAppleBucky

Just the environmental stuff alone should get him impeached, not just recalled.

"Stepp said municipal officials and others affected by the rule told the agency that implementing the tougher statewide standard would be too expensive during this difficult economic period. Some communities estimated they would have to raise sewage treatment rates by as much as $900 per customer per year.

"Governor Scott Walker's budget recognizes that this is not the time to force communities to take out very substantial loans to upgrade wastewater treatment plants. They can't afford these investments, nor can their ratepayers, your constituents," Stepp told the committee.



Read more: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/loc...#ixzz1wkPUd0As


That bad man, looking out for the taxpayers.
Why do we need more costly controls? The blue green algae was a problem in the 70s, but changes to consumer detergents fixed that. Or was that before your time?

[elucidator]

...give indications that the Walker campaign feel some desperation.

Its not desperation, its the fact that they have money to burn. And they will, most likely, win. Because that's the America we live in.

[elucidator]

Originally Posted by FE3O4ENAIL

...That bad man, looking out for the taxpayers.
Why do we need more costly controls? The blue green algae was a problem in the 70s, but changes to consumer detergents fixed that. Or was that before your time?

So, these things are totally unnecessary, then? Only fools and/or liars say otherwise? Nobody with any scientific credentials, or at least none to compare with Gov Walker's encyclopedic command of the subject?

By any chance, would these measures impact certain sterling members of the business community? Like, say, the Koch Brothers, who's forthright support for raping the environment for money is the stuff of legend? I emphasize, I'm totally guessing on that one, I really have no idea. Which is why I turn to an expert on the subject: you.

What about this, from the Wisconsin Dept of Health Services?

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/news/pr...011/071411.htm

....If you come in contact with a blue-green algae bloom, you may experience eye, throat, nose or skin irritation and gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting or diarrhea. Symptoms typically appear a few hours after exposure, but occasionally people feel ill several days after exposure. Contact a physician if you experience muscle cramps, respiratory difficulties, nausea or vomiting following swimming in a lake or river.

"It's a good idea to wash with clean water after playing or swimming in any lake or river, and, as always, to wash hands before eating," Anderson said....

Must be great for tourism, huh? "Come to Wisconsin, swim in our pristine waters, and puke yer guts out!"

And these people?

http://www.wisconsinrivers.org/bad-w...d-for-business

Gosh, sure doesn't look like the problem has disappeared. But Gov Walker says the problem is fixed, and that's good enough for you? Or is it that clean water is just too expensive?

Can you drink money, Rusty?

[Omg a Black Conservative]

Originally Posted by BigAppleBucky

Read the last three pages of this thread. Yes, the collective bargaining thing ignited the biggest protests, but in chronology that was about the third or fourth thing (out of at least a dozen) he did that riled people up. The Fitzwalker heavy-handedness in the matter really stirred the pot. The lies, the cronyism, and the rest of it, kept the kettle boiling.

BS. If Walker hadn't limited union's collective bargaining rights, there would be no recall. Dems banked on being able to oust Walker on that issue alone. When it became apparent the public supported Walker's attempt at limiting the power of unions, Dems tried attacking Walker on issues unrelated to the reason for the recall.

The recent spate of dirty ads (smear anti-Barrett ad with a dead baby) and the phone sabotage on Thursday give indications that the Walker campaign feel some desperation.

What desperation? Every independent poll has Walker up by at least five, with the latest Marquette poll giving him a 7 point lead. I don't see why Walker would be feeling "desperate". Enlighten me please.

[levdrakon]

Sorry to butt in, but is this news to you all?

Integrity: The Child Scott Walker Left Behind

[Omg a Black Conservative]

Originally Posted by elucidator

Its not desperation, its the fact that they have money to burn. And they will, most likely, win. Because that's the America we live in.

In other words, "voters are stupid and are easily bought". Does that also hold true if they vote for the person you want them to vote for and that person just so happens to outspend his or her opponent?

[FE3O4ENAIL]

From wi.gov"Are blue-green algae blooms a new problem?
No. Fossil evidence suggests that blue-green algae have been around for millions of years. Scientists have recorded blue-green algae blooms dating back to the 12th century and they have documented the toxic effects to livestock for more than 100 years. "

[Reginald Hobbes]

Originally Posted by levdrakon

Sorry to butt in, but is this news to you all?

Integrity: The Child Scott Walker Left Behind

Updated: Verified - Woman Denies Walker Fathered Baby - MJS Columnist Daniel Bice

[BigAppleBucky]

Originally Posted by levdrakon

Sorry to butt in, but is this news to you all?

Integrity: The Child Scott Walker Left Behind

Let's leave it alone.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/0...-tabloid-story

The point with the Walker story isn't, as sideboth notes, whether it's true or not; the point is that even if it is true, it's still wrong for a 3rd party (the ex-girlfriends' roommate) to be the one to go public with it, and it's still wrong for the press--as well as the rest of us--to spread the story under the circumstances.

In Absence of Malice, the woman herself was the one to reveal her private trauma, and it was still flat-out wrong of the paper to publish that info. In the Walker story, it wasn't even the pregnant woman herself, it was her former roommate who, for all we know, she hasn't talked to in 20 years.

As sideboth noted, even if the story is true, there are a dozen reasons why she might not want it to go public. And if it isn't true, this woman is going to still be run through the ringer for no reason whatsoever.

Who knows why Walker was kicked out of Marquette? It's irrelevant.

I say his ad with the dead baby is reprehensible.

[BigAppleBucky]

A much respected local Milwaukee historian.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion...156490065.html

Without the balance provided by political opposition, the essential Scott Walker emerged: an ideologue, a true believer, a man as untroubled by doubt as any divine-right monarch. The 52% governor was soon behaving like a 100% king, enacting, with his legislative lieges, an agenda that was simply breathtaking in its scope and bluntness.

The elimination of collective bargaining for public employees was the boldest move, but there were numerous others. Some measures tapped a deep undercurrent of fear: concealed carry and voter ID. Others were baldly political: redrawing legislative boundaries to safeguard Republican majorities. Government could still meddle, but only selectively: controls on abortion and sex education were tightened at the same time that environmental regulations were relaxed. And there was gratuitous pettiness: Republicans axed the poet laureate's position, for a total savings of $2,000.

The reaction to this legislative blitzkrieg can be summarized in a line from Galatians 6 that Scott Walker would surely recognize: As you sow, so shall you reap. The governor sowed the seeds of discord, and he is reaping an abundant harvest. The current recall effort is no more than an equal and opposite reaction to Walker's frontal assault on a broad segment of the body politic.

**snip**

By pursuing a scorched-earth policy, by inspiring shock and awe rather than open debate, he and his allies have undermined the very institutions they were sworn to uphold. Shock and awe may be appropriate when you're trying to topple Saddam Hussein, but they are hardly the suggested strategy for dealing with your fellow citizens in a representative democracy.

[Bricker]

Originally Posted by Lobohan

Would you grant that employers have it in their interest to abuse employees for whatever they can get away with? And that unions are a way labor fights back?

It seems like wanting to do away with unions is like wanting to do away with environmental regulations or vaccines. "Why do I need vaccines? I've never even met anyone with polio!?!" "Why are there environmental regulations? The rivers are clean?!?!"

That is to say, it seems like hating unions is a symptom of not understanding that we're here where we are now, because of them. And getting rid of them will cause backsliding.

That's a fair point. I don't deny unions were instrumental in the formation of what we have today.

But I believe the pendulum has swung too far the other way. I don't mind unions fighting employer abuse by legitimate means. When they use intimidation and threats they go too far. Call replacement workers "scabs" all you want. But throwing eggs on their cars goes too far. Throwing bricks and slashing tires is right out.

[Bricker]

Originally Posted by Scarlett67

For fuck's sake, people, this recall is not just about unions!!!

12 Reasons to Recall Scott Walker in 2012 (PDF)

http://www.unitedwisconsin.com/top-t...l-scott-walker

I'm not a Wisconsin resident, but if I were, a couple of those points strike me as positives.

[Bricker]

Originally Posted by BigAppleBucky

A much respected local Milwaukee historian.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion...156490065.html

Wow.

Well, that one oughta do it. When a much respected author writes that, there's just no hope left for the target. Surely the voters will now rise up in righteous indignation.

[Omg a Black Conservative]

Well, guys and gals, with just one day to go to D-Day, I thought I'd take the time to post the latest polls (because I do love polls).

First, the Angus-Reid Poll which has Walker leading Barret 53% - 47%. Then the PPP Poll which has Walker leading Barret 50% - 47%. But about that PPP poll...

Late Sunday night, Democratic polling firm Public Policy Polling (PPP) released a poll that showed Scott Walker leading Tom Barrett in Tuesday's recall election by three percentage points. This led the firm to say the race is "tightening," as the last poll they conducted showed a five point spread between Walker and Barrett. The results, as listed in their poll's toplines:

Tom Barrett ..................................................... 47%
Scott Walker ................................................... 50%
Undecided....................................................... 3%

It was the first poll conducted by PPP since May 15, when they released this head-to-head number:

Tom Barrett.......................................................45%
Scott Walker......................................................50%
Hari Trivedi..........................................................2%
Undecided:..........................................................3%

Notice anything different?

In the this week's final poll, PPP dropped Independent candidate Hari Trivedi as an option. And it's not as if PPP just forgot Trivedi was running. In their accompanying notes to the May 15 poll, their analyst said:

So when a Dem polling firm wants to make a poll look like a race is "tightening" for their preferred candidate, what do they do? They leave out the third party guy stealing a disproportionate number of votes from Tom Barrett. But Trivedi is in the race; he will be on the ballot on Tuesday. So not only does the PPP poll not reflect the ballot accurately based on the options it gave, one could suggest is is willfully inaccurate to serve a purpose.

So we'll just say Walker leads that one 50% - 45%. Now combined with the latest Reason (Walker leads 50% - 42%) and Marquette (Walker leads 52% - 45%) polls, I say that things are looking pretty darn good for Scott Walker, barring some unforeseen event.

[BigT]

Originally Posted by Bricker

That's a fair point. I don't deny unions were instrumental in the formation of what we have today.

But I believe the pendulum has swung too far the other way. I don't mind unions fighting employer abuse by legitimate means. When they use intimidation and threats they go too far. Call replacement workers "scabs" all you want. But throwing eggs on their cars goes too far. Throwing bricks and slashing tires is right out.

Too bad those weren't the things Walker outlawed. There was no outlawing illegimate means. There was flat out removal of the ability to collectively bargain for pay. The most basic thing a union does. He's stated his entire goal is to completely abolish the union. Not make them play nice, abolish them.

And it seems that Wisconsinites are okay with this. I just hope they don't expect us to all come running to their aid when they need a second civil rights revolution.

This isn't a win for Republicans, but a loss for all of Wisconsin. I wish this were what OMG wanted it to be, just a contest between his side and ours. But it's not. This was an argument of fantasy versus reality, and fantasy seems to have won.

We've already seen what a world without unions is like, and it ain't pretty.

[Omg a Black Conservative]

Originally Posted by BigT

This isn't a win for Republicans, but a loss for all of Wisconsin. I wish this were what OMG wanted it to be, just a contest between his side and ours. But it's not. This was an argument of fantasy versus reality, and fantasy seems to have won.

If (when) Scott Walker wins, it'll be because fantasy lost and reality won. If your entire argument for why we need unions today hinges on what they did in the early 20th century, then I think it's safe to say that unions really aren't necessary today.

[elucidator]

Ah, good, they are unnecessary, then? Because the terrible practices that made them needful are gone, yes? And the greed that made them so, that has been expunged from our nation, the men who own our country are pure now, and unsullied by avarice. Yes. Of course. Our recent history is clear testimony to their wisdom and generosity.

But still no unicorns? I do so love unicorns in my fairy tales.

[Lobohan]

Originally Posted by Omg a Black Conservative

If (when) Scott Walker wins, it'll be because fantasy lost and reality won. If your entire argument for why we need unions today hinges on what they did in the early 20th century, then I think it's safe to say that unions really aren't necessary today.

And we don't need vaccines today because no one has polio. And we don't need environmental regulations today because you can't set Lake Erie on fire anymore.

This line of thinking is the result of ignorance. You look around and see good results, but you don't understand that we are where we are because of things like unions, vaccines and environmental regulations.

Conservatism thrives on this kind of ignorance.

[Lobohan]

Originally Posted by Bricker

That's a fair point. I don't deny unions were instrumental in the formation of what we have today.

But I believe the pendulum has swung too far the other way. I don't mind unions fighting employer abuse by legitimate means. When they use intimidation and threats they go too far. Call replacement workers "scabs" all you want. But throwing eggs on their cars goes too far. Throwing bricks and slashing tires is right out.

That's fair. Although I'd like to know how common those things are in practice.

[BobLibDem]

Now it's confirmed that Walker is the target of a criminal investigation. Win or lose, he could wind up trading his office for a cell.

[BigAppleBucky]

Originally Posted by Bricker

Wow.

Well, that one oughta do it. When a much respected author writes that, there's just no hope left for the target. Surely the voters will now rise up in righteous indignation.

Historian - local Milwaukee. He is much revered. John Gurda is Milwaukee's non-pareil local historian. The guy is a Wisconsin treasure.

He is not at all known as a political pundit. He was moved, as he said:

Some readers, I know, believe that historians shouldn't have opinions, even when they're expressed in the opinion section of a daily newspaper. Well, this historian has definite opinions. I view Walker as an ahistoric figure who represents a sharp and painful break with Wisconsin's past. He is an ideological outlier whom history will judge as the extremist he is, a divisive figure who has unleashed a toxic cloud of partisanship over the entire state. We can only hope that the aberration is temporary.

How do we extricate ourselves from this morass? Surely there is a balance point that will allow us to live in harmony with our neighbors again. Surely there is a way to govern that the great majority of us can endorse - a middle ground between the nanny state and the nano-state, between spending like drunken sailors and cutting like drunken surgeons. It is emphatically not a middle ground we will ever reach under Walker.

For the sake of Wisconsin's future, he richly deserves to be recalled.

[rocking chair]

Originally Posted by elucidator

Ah, good, they are unnecessary, then? Because the terrible practices that made them needful are gone, yes? And the greed that made them so, that has been expunged from our nation, the men who own our country are pure now, and unsullied by avarice. Yes. Of course. Our recent history is clear testimony to their wisdom and generosity.

But still no unicorns? I do so love unicorns in my fairy tales.

i read and heard from someone, that mitt romney is a unicorn. i can't mention names but a lot of people said this. so...

there be at least one unicorn!

[Fear Itself]

Originally Posted by rocking chair

i read and heard from someone, that mitt romney is a unicorn. i can't mention names but a lot of people said this. so...

Well, we haven't seen his birth certificate, so it must be true.

[BrainGlutton]

Originally Posted by rocking chair

i read and heard from someone, that mitt romney is a unicorn. i can't mention names but a lot of people said this. so...

there be at least one unicorn!

I find it difficult -- and undesirable -- to associate Mitt with anything having to do with horniness.

[Omg a Black Conservative]

Originally Posted by Lobohan

And we don't need vaccines today because no one has polio. And we don't need environmental regulations today because you can't set Lake Erie on fire anymore.

This line of thinking is the result of ignorance. You look around and see good results, but you don't understand that we are where we are because of things like unions, vaccines and environmental regulations.

Conservatism thrives on this kind of ignorance.

Hey, look. A ridiculous straw man trotted out for no other reason than to avoid the fact that you can't give any reason why unions should exist today other than because they did some good things in the past! Color me surprised. Or don't.

[Typo Knig]

First, there is our right under the US Constitution for free association. Secondly, unions continued existence prevents a recurrence of the massive abuse of people that occurred in the past. Including the recent past, and right now. Unions also provide a check and balance on the power of management. Maybe instead of the C-Suite executives and their buddies the board of directors voting themselves big raises and bonuses they would gives raises and bonuses to the people who did the actual work.

[Bricker]

Originally Posted by Lobohan

That's fair. Although I'd like to know how common those things are in practice.

Common enough:

LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) — Hundreds of Longshoremen stormed the Port of Longview early Thursday, overpowered and held security guards, damaged railroad cars, and dumped grain that is the center of a labor dispute, said Longview Police Chief Jim Duscha.
Six guards were held hostage for a couple of hours after 500 or more Longshoremen broke down gates about 4:30 a.m. and smashed windows in the guard shack, he said.
No one was hurt, and nobody has been arrested. Most of the protesters returned to their union hall after cutting brake lines and spilling grain from car at the EGT terminal, Duscha said.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union believes it has the right to work at the facility, but the company has hired a contractor that's staffing a workforce of other union laborers.

And:

The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a second superseding indictment charging 10 members of Operating Engineers Local 17, based in Hamburg, New York, with engaging in a violent scheme to extort jobs and compensation associated with those jobs from both local and out-of-town businesses and their employees. The second superseding indictment specifically accuses the defendants, including high-ranking officers of Local 17, with conspiracy to commit racketeering, and seven counts of extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion, and attempted extortion. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. In addition, should a defendant be convicted of the racketeering charge, that defendant’s interest in Local 17, including their management positions within the Union, would be subject to forfeiture.

And:

According to court papers, the executive who was stabbed in the neck asked a union organizer what benefit he would get if he hired members of the union. "You guys slash my tires, stab me in the neck, try to beat me up," he protested. "What are the positives?"

"The positives," reportedly replied the organizer, "are that the negatives you are complaining about would go away."

Then there's:

A United Parcel Service driver who was beaten and stabbed with an ice pick after crossing a picket line during a 1997 strike won an undisclosed settlement in a civil suit against a Teamsters union local in Miami, his lawyers said. Rod Carter, a UPS driver and former linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys football team, was pulled from his UPS truck by a group of men, beaten and stabbed six times with an ice pick Aug. 7, 1997. The attack came during a 15-day Teamsters strike against the package delivery giant. It came one day after Carter was interviewed on a television news broadcast and said he kept working during the strike in order to provide for his family.

And this one:

A union coal miner has been convicted of all Federal charges in the fatal shooting of a nonunion truck driver as the victim crossed a picket line last July.

The defendant, Jerry Dale Lowe of Yolyn, W.Va., was found guilty of shooting Eddie York, 39, of Lenore, in the back of the head at the entrance to a mine owned by the Arch Mineral Corporation. Mr. Lowe was convicted of conspiracy, attempting to disable trucks used in interstate commerce, disabling the driver of a truck and using a firearm in the commission of a Federal crime.

And even if it's not murder:

But Verizon has taken the union to court seeking an injunction so that employees can go to work without the taunts of picketers. A three-judge panel in Suffolk Superior Court has been hearing testimony for the past three days over whether or not union workers are creating an unsafe environment. Verizon says the thousands of managers doing the striking workers’ jobs are being cursed at, harassed, having things thrown at them and intimidated.

“They are chasing us in their cars,” said Verizon spokesman Phil Santoro. “They are surrounding work locations where we are at a customer’s house or up a pole and trying to do some work and they are trying to prevent us from doing that work.”

Lyons doesn’t dispute that.

“We are definitely trying to slow them down in their efforts to keep business going,” he said. But Lyons says they are obeying the law and there have been no arrests in Massachusetts related to the strike.

And:

Confrontation and intimidation are vital weapons in keeping any strike alive. Oddly, for a profession that thrives on aggression, the football players didn't seem all that interested in picketing. Although strikers pelted scabs with eggs a few times and some fists flew, many teams were not manning the lines day in and day out. ''It's damn important to look a scab in the eye and say, 'Do you know what you're doing?' '' says Bernie Hostein, who helped coordinate the steelworkers' picketing against USX this year.

[Bricker]

Originally Posted by BigAppleBucky

Historian - local Milwaukee. He is much revered. John Gurda is Milwaukee's non-pareil local historian. The guy is a Wisconsin treasure.

He is not at all known as a political pundit. He was moved, as he said:

And yet the voters seem to be ignoring his sage advice.

Those ungrateful voters! Don't they realize he's a Wisconsin treasure? A Wisconsin treasure!!

[Bricker]

Originally Posted by Typo Knig

First, there is our right under the US Constitution for free association. Secondly, unions continued existence prevents a recurrence of the massive abuse of people that occurred in the past. Including the recent past, and right now. Unions also provide a check and balance on the power of management. Maybe instead of the C-Suite executives and their buddies the board of directors voting themselves big raises and bonuses they would gives raises and bonuses to the people who did the actual work.

So far as I can tell, no one is telling unions they cannot freely associate, in violation of the First Amendment.

But the right to freely associate does not require that an employer deal with a union. The union can strike, collectively, of course. But the employer can then fire every worker that does not report to work, and hire replacements.

Now, if the employer can't get replacements with the right skill sets, then the employer may come to believe it's in their best interest to deal with the union. I have no problem in the world with that.

But if the employer can't get replacements because the unions workers throw eggs, or punches, at their would-be replacements.... THAT I have a problem with.

[Euphonious Polemic]

Originally Posted by Omg a Black Conservative

Hey, look. A ridiculous straw man trotted out for no other reason than to avoid the fact that you can't give any reason why unions should exist today other than because they did some good things in the past! Color me surprised. Or don't.

If you use the term "straw man", it would behoove you to at least try to understand what it means.

[Omg a Black Conservative]

Originally Posted by Euphonious Polemic

If you use the term "straw man", it would behoove you to at least try to understand what it means.

I would think that before you (try to) criticize someone for not understanding what a straw man is, I think it would behoove you to ensure that you do know what one is. Otherwise, we end up with posts like the above quoted.

[Happy Lendervedder]

Since Wisconsin allows same-day voter registration, I wonder how much that could potentially skew polling? If one side or the other could get unregistered voters (who presumably haven't been given much attention by the pollsters up til now) out to the polls to register and vote, that might flip the final vote to a Barrett upset or a Walker blowout.

[mkecane]

Originally Posted by Happy Lendervedder

Since Wisconsin allows same-day voter registration, I wonder how much that could potentially skew polling? If one side or the other could get unregistered voters (who presumably haven't been given much attention by the pollsters up til now) out to the polls to register and vote, that might flip the final vote to a Barrett upset or a Walker blowout.

The MJS reported that Milwaukee had called in extra poll workers ( ) because of long lines and lots of new voters.

[Amasia]

I just finished an 8 hour stint working the polls in Madison. Turnout was high and I registered many voters.

[Lobohan]

Originally Posted by Amasia

I just finished an 8 hour stint working the polls in Madison. Turnout was high and I registered many voters.

I feel kinda weird just saying it, but thanks for being a part of it.

[elucidator]

Come what may, this has been a good effort. The first enemy of progress isn't the Republicans, its apathy. And I second Lobohan's shout out to Amasia: you go, person!

[mkecane]

Thirding that. Thanks, Amasia.

[Amasia]

Thanks ya'll! There are seriously few things that will get me up before 5am, but this is one of them. Honestly though, the real thanks goes to the people here in Wisconsin- I saw more than one person spend quite a bit of time trying to find documentation so they could register this morning. Many people had complex residency situations because of recent moves and they were all patient ly dedicated to figuring out how they could vote. It was very cool to see!

[elucidator]

From your good friends at Daily Kos: Wisconsin Turnout Through The Roof

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/0...of?detail=hide

YEEEEE-haawww! America! Fuck, yeah!

[mkecane]

Are you near UW? I've been curious since it was announced months ago that the election would be in June how the student population would figure in voting. I don't even know if it's better now when a lot of in-state students are home and can go to their local polling place rather than file absentee ballots, or if it's worse because Madison may be out of sight, out of mind, and some would lose enthusiasm for this.

[Amasia]

Originally Posted by mkecane

Are you near UW? I've been curious since it was announced months ago that the election would be in June how the student population would figure in voting. I don't even know if it's better now when a lot of in-state students are home and can go to their local polling place rather than file absentee ballots, or if it's worse because Madison may be out of sight, out of mind, and some would lose enthusiasm for this.

The polling station I worked at is on the near east side of Madison has a significant UW population (my guess based on living nearby). It has more grad students (who tend to stick around during the summer), but I was surprised by the large number of student-aged turnout. Several other people mentioned that as well. I don't know if that means that more people were around to vote or they just had extremely low expectations because of what's been covered in the media. Don't forget- Wisconsin also has early voting, which people were constantly complaining about the lines being extremely long over the last few weeks. Our absentee list was pretty substantial although I don't recall the exact number.

[Calabasita]

Originally Posted by Amasia

I just finished an 8 hour stint working the polls in Madison. Turnout was high and I registered many voters.

I'd like to say thank you as well. My husband and I both went UW, and he stayed for his Master's and medical school. We lived in Verona and participated in the protests last year, but he was matched in Chicago for residency so we didn't even get to sign the recall petition before we had to move. I am with you in spirit today though, and obsessively following the live blogging at the Cap Times for polling updates!

[Fotheringay-Phipps]

I see a lot of confidence here that Barrett is going to win.

To those who genuinely believe this, I would observe that you can make a whole lot of money betting your convictions over at Intrade, where you can currently sell shares of Walker winning at about $9.25 for $10.00. IOW, you get $9.25 a share regardless, and you pay $10 if Walker wins and nothing otherwise. Works out to be about 12.5 to 1 odds. Sounds like a good deal, if you really believe.

http://www.intrade.com/v4/markets/co...tractId=759686

[Skammer]

I think everyone in this thread realizes that Walker is a strong favorite based on all the recent polling numbers. Don't mistake hopeful enthusiasm for confidence in a Barrett victory.

[Calabasita]

I'm pretty confident that Walker will win- that doesn't mean I don't have hope (feeble that it is) that he won't.

[elucidator]

... Don't mistake hopeful enthusiasm for confidence in a Barrett victory.

Not me, I'm a pessimist. Nine times out of ten, money talks, money votes, money wins. And if there's one thing the Forces of Darkness got in buttloads, its money. Being a pessimist means you don't get many surprises. But when you do, its a beaut!

[kaylasdad99]

Originally Posted by elucidator

Come what may, this has been a good effort. The first enemy of progress isn't the Republicans, its apathy.

To be sure, the second enemy of progress is Republicans.