This from Alex Altman at Time. I wouldn't disagree with him.
To protect their imperiled star, the GOP has assembled a solid ground game buoyed by robust fundraising and a clear economic message. By contrast, Walker’s opponents are a fractured force: a loose constellation of Democrats, political-action committees and labor groups with overlapping goals but spotty coordination. The Democrats have been unable to drive a consistent message, careening from collective bargaining, Walker’s purported dishonesty and the “war on women” to jobs and education. In part, that’s because the recall push remains balkanized, with the state party, labor groups and PACs like We Are Wisconsin and United Wisconsin each acting autonomously. And some of them are fine with the mixed messaging. “You always see liberals suffering from it to a certain extent,” says Reeder, the Solidarity Sing Along leader...
The DNC’s tentativeness about plunging into the contest, which Republicans attribute to fears that a loss would tarnish President Obama’s chances in the state, has irked some local activists, who note that two-thirds of Walker’s $25 million haul came from out of state, while the RNC pledged to go “all in” to protect its imperiled star. “It’s very disheartening,“ Reeder says of the DNC’s absence in the race. During an interlude in the singing, he instructed his brethren to “call the DNC, tell them we need the help. We are on the front lines. We need it now.” The mention of the national party sparked a few boos.
Long-time readers know that I am neither a fan of these recalls nor of Scott Walker. But if the Democrats come up bone dry on June 5th - realistically, the most likely proposition at this point - one has to wonder if union activists will recognize their attitude of "if democracy is good, then more democracy is better" is hurting more than helping.
The Kapanke and Hopper seats were gimmes last summer, and most other recall targets won by larger margins than they did in 2008. The unions failed to beat Justice David Prosser last spring in what was effectively turned into a referendum on collective bargaining. Prosser will be recall-able next year.
Will the left be able to resist? When does it stop?
4 comments:
Yes, the silence from the national party is indeed interesting. I don't see a big push for a Prosser recall as I think both sides have had enough of that. If the Dems are smart, they'll realize that they need more than just labor support, and that inclusivness (women, minorities, etc. as well as labor) is where their strength lies. As such, regardless of the outcome of the Walker recall, they should focus on finding good candidates for 2014. They have two and half years to get their shit together and tell the Kathleen Falks and whatnot to take a hike. And keep Walker's feet to the fire on his jobs promise.
I think win or lose, the recalls are done now. The only way anybody would even have the energy to recall Prosser would be if Barrett beats Walker, but I doubt it would happen either way. Yes, there are a couple of idiots who want to recall anybody and everybody including Paul Soglin. They will find approximately the same level of support that the Recall Jim Doyle campaign found.
Also, Pat Roggensack is up for election in 2013. If a liberal candidate managed to win that race, it would have the exact same net effect as recalling Prosser (discounting the possibility of beating both of them because that would never happen.) It also has the virtue of not needing 540,000 signatures.
Also, Pat Roggensack is up for election in 2013. If a liberal candidate managed to win that race, it would have the exact same net effect as recalling Prosser
So you're saying that the opportunity to win a spot during a regularly scheduled election would placate the desire for immediacy and "I want it my way and I want it now?"
Maybe, but most recent history doesn't quite support that. I think it was something like a third of the Senators who faced recalls last year, the opposing party didn't even bother to field a candidate against them in the prior election.
You're all forgetting that the odds of a successful recall of anyone, ever again, became non-existent the day the decision was made to publish a searchable database of recall signatures.
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