by Datechguy | August 10th, 2011
MSNBC went all in last night on the Wisconsin recall, they broadcasted live from Wisconsin surrounded by union activists with Ed Schultz and on Morning Joe this morning the scheduled Sam Stein and Bill Press anticipating talking about the democratic victory.
Unfortunately for the unions who like MSNBC once again went all in it didn’t work out that way. When I got home from gamenight, there were still Union Crowds around Ed Schultz talking tough but on Morning Joe it was all doom and gloom for the left. On Twitter this morning the left is so busy trying to spin their failure to take the senate into a victory that I started a new twitter tag #bsintolemonade
As for the actual vote…
Turnout was very large, which is good, after all it was a bell-weather election for the nation.
Of the six recalls four were not close, Three Republicans (districts 2, 8 & 10 ) and one democrat (district 32) won easily. The district 32 margin win was a surprise since big successful recalls win usually require malfeasance.
Two races were much closer, in district 18 democrats won a 51-49 race and in district 14 the GOP managed a four point win.
Oddly enough the last race of the night to be called was district 8 even though it wasn’t close. The democratic stronghold of Milwaukee held back their vote as long as possible, traditionally the tactic when trying to game the system, but there apparently was too much scrutiny and too large a margin in GOP districts of Waukesha & Ozaukee that also took their time reporting, to overcome. (I wonder how those laid off teachers in Milwaukee who lost their jobs after the city rushed to lock in the old pre-Walker contracts voted)?
In the end I would have perfected to hold all six seats but considering the amount of money spent by the union I guess it just wasn’t possible.
The only bright spot for the left will likely be the Democratic recalls. Although running away from your job is a pretty good reason to recall someone, since only the strongest democrats were likely to survive the big red wave of 2010 it seems unlikely that even their Midnight Ride would be enough to cost them their seats.
Already we are seeing the left cry fraud, If I’m Scott Walker my response is to push a voter ID law to counter fraud.
Bottom line: Politically this failure is likely the final nail in the national power of unions outside of the most liberal cities and districts and it’s an even more bitter defeat since it was self-inflicted.
What does it tell us about 2012? I know what it tells me:
Ride right through them they’re demoralized as hell!
Aw you guessed!
Update: cleaned up one line that sounded off.
Update 2: Here come the headlines:
Beltway Confidential: Unions lose big in Wisconsin
J. S. Online: Republicans take 4 of 6 in recall elections, hold Senate
Political Animal: Dems come up just short in Wisconsin
Top of the Ticket: Wisconsin news: Unions’ recall drive falls short; GOP holds state Senate
Hotair: Al Sharpton tries to cope;
Truthdig: Wisconsin Republicans Win Recall Battle
Don Surber: Democrats lose Wisconsin. Again
Powerline: Dems Foiled
The Guardian: Democrats fall short in heated Wisconsin recall elections
Politico: Wisconsin GOP holds on to Senate
TPMDC: Wisconsin GOP Holds On: Dems Take Two Seats In Senate Recalls, Not Magic Three
That last one is the closest to a happy headline for democrats I saw.
The Other McCain: GOP Wins Recall Battle in Wisconsin
The Lonely Conservative: Good news in Wisconsin
It’s kind of funny if you examine the #wiunion and #wirecall threads Democrats are claiming victory but none of these headlines reflect it. Here is a story that they aren’t pushing:
As elections took place Tuesday in six state Senate districts, Gov. Scott Walker privately signed legislation to redraw their boundaries along with the remaining legislative districts.
Walker waited until nearly the last possible moment to announce he had signed the legislation, which will give Republicans an advantage in the upcoming 2012 elections for both the Legislature and Congress.
No word how this map will affect the newly elected democrats. I’ll give the last word to Ann Althouse:
Imagine if they’d gotten their majority. What gloating and grandiose claims would gush forth? They’d be merciless. The recall elections were a referendum on Walker! A referendum on the Tea Party! A victory for Obama and for taxing the pants off the rich! Especially the Koch Brothers!
It was just one state senate seat that made the difference. The Republicans got it. Should they exult and make their version of the extreme statements the Democrats would be making right now if Fred Clark had managed to scramble over the top in District 14? (If only he hadn’t quipped that he’d like to smack that lady around, or if her answering machine hadn’t caught it, this country would be a completely different place today, now, wouldn’t it?)
It is this fact more than any other that put Democratic crowing on twitter in context.
Excellent post. One crucial piece of information to make you smile reference, “Already we are seeing the left cry fraud, If I’m Scott Walker my response is to push a voter ID law to counter fraud.”
On May 25 of this year, Governor Walker signed a voter ID bill into law.
And, yes, the dems and unions were apoplectic.
Great post! I’m delighted that the union won’t have that $30 million to spend where it might make a difference.
One minor nit – the term is spelled “bellwether”.
Good! Thrilled to hear that 4 of the 6 held their seats.
What the left does NOT want is for us to copy their tactics. It’s sad how they are getting more thuggish and desperate – first crying to the courts, then screaming racism/sexism/whatever, then recalling people. They just don’t accept that this country is not going to be bent to do their bidding.