• Scott Walker survives recall vote, wins by wide margin.
    96 replies, posted
[quote]Wisconsin GOP Gov. Scott Walker wakes up Wednesday knowing he’ll get to finish his term, after voters by a wide margin sided with him in a recall election that attracted national attention and divided much of the state -- from opposing political parties to neighbors and even family members. However, several key questions remain unanswered, including whether Wisconsin now can move past the recent acrimony and what impact the recall results will have on the presidential election just five months away. “Now is the time for us to come together,” Walker told supporters after claiming victory. “Tomorrow we are all Wisconsinites.” Walker’s Democratic challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, made a similar plea in his concession speech late Tuesday night, urging residents to put aside their differences. “Now we must look to the future,” said Barrett, who also lost to Walker in 2010. With nearly all precincts reporting, Walker had 53 percent of the vote, compared with 46 percent for Barrett. The margin of victory was wider than many expected and slightly better than Walker's 5.8 percentage-point victory over Barrett in the 2010 race. Some 2.5 million voters cast their ballots. Walker’s lieutenant governor, Rebecca Kleefisch, and at least three Republicans in state Senate races survived recalls. Unofficial results showed the Democrat ahead in the other Senate race, the outcome of which will determine which party controls the Senate at least through the end of the year. The recall effort began when the first-term governor and Republicans in the state legislature rolled back what they considered excesses in the collective bargaining agreements of public-employee unions -- an effort to cut Wisconsin’s estimated $3.6 billion budget shortfall. Wisconsin went for President Obama in 2008, but the recall results give Republicans hope that their presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, can win there in November. “Governor Walker has demonstrated over the past year what sound fiscal policies can do to turn an economy around, and I believe that in November voters across the country will demonstrate that they want the same in Washington,” Romney said. Republicans see Walker’s win as evidence voters across the country want their elected officials to keep government living within its means. They said this paves the way for Romney to become the first Republican candidate to carry Wisconsin since Ronald Reagan in 1984. The outcome Tuesday is also a blow to the labor movement, which poured considerable resources into the failed effort to oust Walker. Of the three recall elections of governors in U.S. history, only Walker has survived. The recall effort started about a year and a half ago, after the legislature passed Walker’s proposal to curb public employee union power, while also requiring most public state workers to pay more for health insurance and pension benefits. Democrats and unions argued the governor had gone too far, and they helped organize massive statehouse protests and gather 900,000 signatures for the recall vote. Roughly $63 million was spent on the race, with much of Walker’s support coming from outside of the state. The Republican Governors Association spent $1.5 million in a last-minute, get-out-the-vote effort. However, most voters seemed to have decided long before Election Day. Democratic groups -- including those funded by unions, the Democratic Governors Association and the Democratic National Committee -- poured in about $14 million, based on a tally from the government watchdog group the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Barrett's $4.2 million in donations were mostly from inside Wisconsin. The race attracted some big names on both sides. Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie appeared on behalf of Walker, while former President Bill Clinton came out for Barrett in the race's final days. Though Romney visited the state with Wisconsin GOP Rep. Paul Ryan earlier this year, President Obama did not travel to Wisconsin to campaign for Barrett, though he tweeted his support Monday night. Since taking office, Walker has reduced the state budget and seen a drop in the state's unemployment rate. Walker, the 44-year-old son of a minister, remained unflappable throughout the campaign, as he was during the massive protests that raged at the Statehouse for weeks as lawmakers debated his proposal. Along the way, he has become the most successful fundraiser in Wisconsin politics, collecting at least $31 million from around the country since taking office. The Associated Press contributed to this report.[/quote] Source: [url]http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/06/05/polls-close-in-wisconsin-voter-turnout-reported-heavy/[/url]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMUk1R_fKEA[/media] not this Scott Walker right?
Unbelievable. Now we know for sure that mountains of corporate money is all it takes to get people to vote against their own interests. Say goodbye to any and all labor rights in Wisconsin.
Why is this some surprise? The people wanted to vote for him, and they did twice. This shouldn't be some sort of shock or dissapointment. It should be a display of a working system of democracy.
[QUOTE=Atlascore;36221768]If everyone in Wisconsin wanted him they wouldn't have had a fucking recall vote. Thousands of people don't get together to start a recall vote for shits and giggles.[/QUOTE] Then how did he win? Magic? He won because the people wanted him, despite some strong detractors.
[QUOTE=Atlascore;36221768]If everyone in Wisconsin wanted him they wouldn't have had a fucking recall vote. Thousands of people don't get together to start a recall vote for shits and giggles.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-june-5-2012/madison-men---wisconsin-recall[/url] [i]Wyatt Cenac learns that a million-plus Wisconsinites can't be wrong, but apparently 1,123,591 can, because that's how many voted for Scott Walker in 2010.[/i]
[QUOTE=antair;36221728]Why is this some surprise? The people wanted to vote for him, and they did twice. This shouldn't be some sort of shock or dissapointment. It should be a display of a working system of democracy.[/QUOTE] People voted for Bush twice and we all know how that turned out. Yes, the people got to have their say, no one is denying that. What people are pointing out is that the voters got played by their puppetmasters. All you have to do is study the history of labor relations in this country to see what's happening. Big business is not a friend of the worker. Unions aren't perfect, but without solidarity workers(as a class) have no leverage whatsoever.
Why are people rating "Winner"? This douchebag took away collective bargaining rights for state workers in Wisconsin. edit: and the main reason he survived was probably because he spent considerably more than Tom Barrett.
I think this is kinda related. Not that Scott Walker may or may not be an alien, but the part about individuals and people. [video=youtube;2w0fInUhtnk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w0fInUhtnk[/video]
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;36221226]Unbelievable. Now we know for sure that mountains of corporate money is all it takes to get people to vote against their own interests. Say goodbye to any and all labor rights in Wisconsin.[/QUOTE] Jesus christ you are so sensationalist. Also, your condescending attitude towards the voters is pretty annoying. Not everyone is an idiot, no matter what you tell yourself.
[QUOTE=elfbarf;36221997]Why are people rating "Winner"? This douchebag took away collective bargaining rights for all state workers in Wisconsin.[/QUOTE] That isn't true for police and firefighters. Plus how were they supposed to pay for all these raises, pensions, etc that the unions wanted? By just forcefully taking the money from everyone else through taxation to pay for it all?
[QUOTE=antair;36221728]Why is this some surprise? The people wanted to vote for him, and they did twice. This shouldn't be some sort of shock or dissapointment. It should be a display of a working system of democracy.[/QUOTE] If it proves anything then it's that democracy is worthless shit.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;36222418]If it proves anything then it's that democracy is worthless shit.[/QUOTE] I'm sorry, but that's pretty much the epitome of being a sore loser
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5sx-4i5y0E&]Two more, uh, years?[/url] [QUOTE=Noble;36222112]That isn't true for police and firefighters. Plus how were they supposed to pay for all these raises, pensions, etc that the unions wanted? By just forcefully taking the money from everyone else through taxation to pay for it all?[/QUOTE][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqhtUTyqVOY&feature=related[/media]
[QUOTE=cecilbdemodded;36221939]People voted for Bush twice and we all know how that turned out. Yes, the people got to have their say, no one is denying that. What people are pointing out is that the voters got played by their puppetmasters. All you have to do is study the history of labor relations in this country to see what's happening. Big business is not a friend of the worker. Unions aren't perfect, but without solidarity workers(as a class) have no leverage whatsoever.[/QUOTE] So maybe blue collar workers weren't the ones that decided the vote. This seems more like a failure of the other side to rally netrual voters than anything else. Generally speaking recall votes also don't have much of a chance of winning, because the person who won won once already, which gives a huge advantage. [QUOTE=Awesomecaek;36222418]If it proves anything then it's that democracy is worthless shit.[/QUOTE] No, it proves that the candidate you wanted to win didn't have enough backing from people on the fence. The fact that they voted for the other side does not invalidate democracy.
It's not all bad! They recalled some state senators too and it looks like the Democrats have managed to gain a 1-seat majority so they will have to approve anything Walker wants to do
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;36221226]Unbelievable. Now we know for sure that mountains of corporate money is all it takes to get people to vote against their own interests. Say goodbye to any and all labor rights in Wisconsin.[/QUOTE] How many times do I have to say this? It doesn't matter how much funding Walker gets for his campaign, because [I]the people[/I] are voting, not the dollars. Also, where do you think Barrett got the money for his campaign from? [editline]6th June 2012[/editline] Honestly, people. Just because your side didn't get enough votes to win doesn't mean that IT'S ALL TEH EVUL CORPRSAHSUNS FAULTS!!11!1 [editline]6th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=smurfy;36222720]It's not all bad! They recalled some state senators too and it looks like the Democrats have managed to gain a 1-seat majority so they will have to approve anything Walker wants to do[/QUOTE] It actually is all bad, because if the anti-democrat sentiment continues through November, Wisconsin is another state Obama won't be winning.
[QUOTE=Pennywise;36222489][url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5sx-4i5y0E&]Two more, uh, years?[/url] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqhtUTyqVOY&feature=related[/media][/QUOTE] He said "that particular part doesn't save any" in reference to the provision about having annual votes for the workers to decide if they want to be represented by a union. That doesn't mean the entire proposal doesn't save any money.
[QUOTE=Strongbad;36222740]How many times do I have to say this? It doesn't matter how much funding Walker gets for his campaign, because [I]the people[/I] are voting, not the dollars. [/QUOTE] It's a lot easier to send your message (be it positive or an attack) to voters with a considerably larger budget (Walker had at over 2x Barrett's funding). Things like TV/Radio ads have a huge impact on your campaign's success, there's no denying it. Look at Jon Huntsman for example, he was considered by quite a few people to be the most reasonable GOP candidate with the best chance of beating Obama. Unfortunately, his campaign had issues with funding and they were unable to get people's attention.
My comp-sci teacher is being forced to get a second job from the cuts, or else he'll have to move out of state
On facepunch, anytime a republican wins an election, democracy has failed us. :v:
[QUOTE=Strongbad;36222740]How many times do I have to say this? It doesn't matter how much funding Walker gets for his campaign, because [I]the people[/I] are voting, not the dollars. Also, where do you think Barrett got the money for his campaign from? [editline]6th June 2012[/editline] Honestly, people. Just because your side didn't get enough votes to win doesn't mean that IT'S ALL TEH EVUL CORPRSAHSUNS FAULTS!!11!1 [editline]6th June 2012[/editline] It actually is all bad, because if the anti-democrat sentiment continues through November, Wisconsin is another state Obama won't be winning.[/QUOTE] fyi this is actually one of those circumstances with a very simple linear correlation in almost every presidential election in the united states sans one or two the victor won by spending more money. more money equals more votes. it's really not opinion, it's solid fact.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;36222418]If it proves anything then it's that democracy is worthless shit.[/QUOTE] The problem isn't with democracy, it's with the current state of democracy. It can work, and it should. The issue is there has to be a system in place which protects against corruption and corporate influence. The public should be educated and made to think independently of the media.
[QUOTE=Funcoot;36223365]On facepunch, anytime a republican wins an election, democracy has failed us. :v:[/QUOTE] Democracy doesn't always choose the best person for the job, we just wish it did.
This election is absolutely maddening, the republicans were running "fake democrats" to screw with the voters.
[QUOTE=Funcoot;36223365]On facepunch, anytime a republican wins an election, democracy has failed us. :v:[/QUOTE] When a republican has to pay more than $20 per vote and still only wins by 7% something might be up.
[QUOTE=Biotoxsin;36223546]The problem isn't with democracy, it's with the current state of democracy. It can work, and it should. The issue is there has to be a system in place which protects against corruption and corporate influence. The public should be educated and made to think independently of the media.[/QUOTE] Just like Monarchy can work if the ruler is fair and honest, and just as Anarchy could work if everyone was nice towards everyone else, and just like Communism would work without greed and lust for power... Each political system has it's weaknesses. Weakness of democracy is that if the people who vote are gullible manipulable retards. Which this clearly presents to be the case; which is simply an example of utter failure of democracy. It can work, but as you can see, right now, in this case, it doesn't, at all.
[QUOTE=BrickInHead;36223373]fyi this is actually one of those circumstances with a very simple linear correlation in almost every presidential election in the united states sans one or two the victor won by spending more money. more money equals more votes. it's really not opinion, it's solid fact.[/QUOTE] No, it's opinion. I hate to crush your dreams of being the top dog around the idealist forum, but the fact of the matter is, no amount of annoying phonecalls, commercials and newspaper articles are going to help sway public opinion to any noticeable degree. Walker won. Deal with it.
[QUOTE=Strongbad;36223714]No, it's opinion. I hate to crush your dreams of being the top dog around the idealist forum, but the fact of the matter is, no amount of annoying phonecalls, commercials and newspaper articles are going to help sway public opinion to any noticeable degree[/QUOTE] Can you please show one single fact to support this claim? Just one. Because, he has, like, 95% correlation. It might be a proof, but, you know, it's something.
wow you guys really are a bunch of sore losers
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