Wisconsin Governor’s Opponents Have 1 Million Names for Recall

[brooklynite]

Business Week:

Jan. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Opponents of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker have about 1 million signatures on a petition to force a recall election, according to a state Democratic Party news release.

If the state’s Government Accountability Board rules that at least 540,208 signatures are valid and any legal challenges fail, Wisconsin will hold the third gubernatorial ouster vote in U.S. history. The Republican politician championed restrictions on bargaining by public-employee unions.

Before getting too excited, keep in mind that you can't beat someone with no one:

Boston Globe:

Wis. Democrats still searching for Walker opponent

Supporters of a push to oust Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker from office are prepared to declare victory in their effort to force the Republican into a recall election.

But a problem looms for Democrats. They still don’t know who will run against him.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. I suspect there will be one or two interested folks who are liberal and care deeply for their state.

[Yooperman]

2. I would think the person that ran against him in the first place would

be a solid choice. I am unfamiliar who it was nor if they would be still interested.

Go Wisconsin!!

[Ed Suspicious]

12. Uggh. I hope not. Barrett was a horribly weak candidate IMO. n/t

[midnight]

53. I thought he came out strong for jobs

via the train deal he was helping usher in.... He brought Manpower into the city from the burbs... He balanced his city budget when Walker left the co. with debt... He facilitated the building of the infrastructure for the Marquette interchange... I don't know what you know but I feel this is exactly what the rest of the state could use....

[AllyCat]

21. No. Barrett was a weak choice and lost the first time around.

And NO Kathleen Falk either. Both have already lost this race in the past. Lets move on.

[Stratetalker]

3. Did I hear

Did I hear the Mayor of Milwaukee was considering? Someone help verify...

[Jackpine Radical]

7. Tom Barrett, Milw Mayor, was the 2010 candidate

& is one of the names one hears for this go-round.

Others are State Sen. Jon Erpenbach; Dane Co. (think Madison) Exec Kathleen Falk; (Blue Doggish) Tim Cullen; retired Cong. Dave Obey (highly reluctant but would do it if necessary), & some others.

[thoughtcrime1984]

26. Do you see any chance of Kathleen Vinehout running?

She has a knack for dealing with people, very caring, good listener, understands the issues and implications of potential actions. She is able to convey a message that is direct and unambiguous, not a typical politician. I think she'd make a top-rate Governor.

[Jackpine Radical]

44. I absolutely agree with you about Kathleen Vinehout. She's wonderful.

I think she'd be a great governor, but when I raised her name in speculative discussion among various Party people, they weren't very excited. For some reason the Party pros don't see her as electable. Maybe just because she isn't a hack, I dunno. Or maybe it's her body type.

I'm certainly not thrilled with either Falk, whom I view as a Doyle tool and a true hack, or Tim Cullen, who is a Blue Dog, could fool enough of the people enough of the time to get the nom.

I like Barrett, but he doesn't exactly seem to set people on fire.

Erpenbach? Well…Dave Obey proved that a short fuze isn't a deal-killer for Wisconsin politicians…

Kathleen is smart and a good speaker, really "gets it" about the causes and consequences of poverty, and has always struck me as a truly decent human. Maybe you & I ought to starta "Draft Vinehout" movement.

[Old and In the Way]

4. That pretty much matches Tom Barrett's votes in the 2010 election.

Scott won with 1.12MM votes in 2010. I wonder how many recall signers are Republicans?

[Iliyah]

5. I'm pretty sure

some goppers have signed the petition, but, can't think of the county where surprised votes trump victory for the gops will now come in handy again for Walker.

[Jackpine Radical]

8. ?? Incomprehensible syntax (to me, anyway).

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

6. THATS WHAT PRIMARIES ARE FOR - to figure out who who on your candidate is - why are they seeing

a problem where none exists?

[brooklynite]

9. To have a Primary you have to have candidates...

The bottom line is there are no committed candidates engaged at this point, EXCEPT for Governor Walker, who will have both financial and political strength. If the Democrats don't want to waste their opportunity, they need to identify a candidate now.

[Ellipsis]

15. Oh there is... just not drawing any fire by commiting. It's smart really.

[RBInMaine]

33. I understand Tim Cullen has committed to running and that Erpenbach is giving it strong consider-

ation.

[IamK]

50. the state senators that left the state left a bad taste in the mouth of many...

they would struggle to be elected in a general election... I could see the ads now....
When the going get's tough........

[quakerboy]

56. Correct me if I am wrong

But weren't 4 of them recalled by the R's in the last round, and all 4 won convincingly, with turnout approximating a good general election level?

[Bjorn Against]

57. You are mostly correct...

The only error in your statement is that there were only three dems who faced recalls out of the eight that Republicans circulated petitions to remove. Of the three Democrats who faced recalls all of them won by double digit margins and one got a 2:1 victory.

[quakerboy]

60. Thanks for the correction

I couldn't remember whether it had been 5:4 or 6:3

Either way, my original point stands. Thats a heck of a "bad taste" that they supposedly left, eh?

[IamK]

63. they did not have to win the state

the just had to win the district that had already elected them.....

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

62. FUN FANTASY: could we maybe have an INSTANT RUN-OFF primary? Pick our top three

favorites? Does the PARTY decide how they do their primaries and determine candidate - or is done by state law?

WHAT IF we could try something new???

[Scuba]

10. There are several excellent candidates that can beat Walker....

Feingold
Erpenbach
Barcus
Kind
Obey
and others.

[WIProgressive88]

17. Feingold's stated previously that he's not interested in making a run for governor this year.

Too bad because he would have been an excellent candidate.

[Scuba]

19. There are those that hold he said that so it didn't become....

... a distraction to the recall effort, and might now agree to run.


Jon Erpenbach is my favorite.

[AllyCat]

22. I hope you are right Scuba.

Of the rest, the only ones that I like are Mitchell and Obey. Feingold would rock though!

[Scuba]

29. I like Maholm Mitchell but I'm not sure he's a lock to win. Russ, Jon, Dave - no problem.

[AllyCat]

32. I really like Jon, but I foresee the rest of the state saying he's a "Dane County librul"

Russ and Dave are politicians, but not now. Both have good name rec and are well liked. Dave is not from Madison or Milwaukee.

I hope Russ reconsiders given the voice from Wisconsin who needs someone to fix this. And soon.

[Ed Suspicious]

25. I would take either of them. Congrats Scuba! Year of the Badger!!!! n/t

[mojowork_n]

28. I kind of liked the idea of

the Firefighter's Union guy:

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/10/wisconsin-mahlon-mitchell-scott-walker-recall-governor

You couldn't miss Mahlon Mitchell at this winter's populist uprising in Madison, Wisconsin. Mitchell, president of the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin, gave impassioned speeches on the steps outside the state Capitol in defense of workers' rights, and he led firefighters in a march into the rotunda to roaring cheers from the protestors. Mitchell's role in the protests catapulted him into something of a celebrity among union members and activists in Wisconsin, especially considering that firefighters were exempted from Gov. Scott Walker's anti-union budget repair bill.

Now Mitchell is eyeing a bigger stage: the governor's mansion. In an interview with Mother Jones, he said he was "seriously considering a run" for governor in a potential recall election targeting Walker. He said he believes Wisconsinites are sick of professional politicians not following through on campaign promises, and that a populist candidate running against Walker stands a better chance of unseating the governor.

[Bjorn Against]

35. I like him a lot too, hope he goes for Lt. Governor

The only downside with Mitchell is he has no experience running for public office and this is a huge statewide campaign with a shorter than normal time frame. I think it would be best to let someone else lead (my hope is that Feingold will reconsider) but Mitchell would make an excellent Lt. Governor candidate.

[RBInMaine]

37. Forget about Feingold. He says he won't do it. Let that sink.

[Bjorn Against]

55. Hell no I won't let it sink...

He can still change his mind and I am encouraging everyone to post comments to his Facebook page asking him to reconsider. Hundreds of people have done so today and he is staying quiet, I am going to keep encouraging people to post until we get a response from him:

http://www.facebook.com/russfeingold?ref=ts

[Phlem]

11. When is

the recall supposed to happen?


-p

[Ed Suspicious]

13. I believe the recall will take place when all signatures are entered into the

Last edited Tue Jan 17, 2012, 05:12 PM - Edit history (1)

new database and verified. We might not have the official verified count until close to summer. (That's what I heard on NPR yesterday) Stay focused and stay diligent.

[Phlem]

46. Thanks!

-p

[midnight]

54. Can you tell me about this new database?

[snacker]

14. to my fellow signature collectors...

thank you, thank you, thank you....I hope this experience was as positive (despite threats and vulgarities) for you as it was for me...met sooo many wonderful people, heard so many heartwarming and heart-wrenching stories, and got a lot of fresh air....and I'm ready to go out again tomorrow (after I celebrate today!!!). I am so proud of Wisconsin!

[reACTIONary]

41. THANKS from those of us out of state also!!!! (nt)

[hue]

16. WhooooHooooo!!! This is historical!!!!! n/t

[Myrina]

18. Personally, I think it should be someone 'outside' the existing Dem structure ...

... seems like state and local elections are rife with the same old candidates that never move up, and never go away. If you've lost once (or twice) already, don't try again. Find someone new, with new ideas, that can bring in voters & re-energize existing ones.

Indy has a dolt of a GOP mayor that's pissed off all sides of the aisle but he got re-elected because the Dem candidate was someone who's held just about every office within the city structure already and has alot of baggage & old platform ideas. Had it been an 'outsider' with some fresh ideas and new energy, they likely would have defeated him.

I hope my fellow Cheeseheads don't send up a re-tread 'cuz the Kochboy's gotta go!!

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

61. YESSSSS - Ive been saying that - it really is a golden moment - opportunity

Considering a considerable number of independents/ moderate repubs who think TPs/ Walker are too extreme signed the petition - and even CIRCULATED petitions - we have to bring them along or its not gonna fly.

Doesnt mean some wishy wash centrist necessarily, just someone who can work in a new paradigm in alliance with other people who may not be the same "party faithful." No more business as usual please!

[Ellipsis]

20. Ahhhh!

I need a cigarette!

[AllyCat]

23. So proud of my Wisconsin today!

[stevebreeze]

24. AllyCat, I could not agree more!

[liberal from boston]

36. So proud of Wisconsin

Way to go WISCONSIN!!!! It was Wisconsin who first started the movement to stop the GOP from taking over our Democracy. Be Proud Wisconsin!!!

[barbtries]

27. So i Win?!?!?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=177051

[AllyCat]

31. Nice!

[secondwind]

30. I would love to see Russ Feingold step in and save the day. :-)

[RBInMaine]

38. He WON'T DO IT and has clearly said so. There are MANY other good choices. It will be a good primary

[Bjorn Against]

49. He can still change his mind and I hope he does

Hundreds of people have been posting on his Facebook page encouraging him to run, he said no long before it was clear just how much support there was for a recall and he could easily say now that the situation has changed and he has decided to jump in the race. I hope lots more people encourage him to do so, there are other good candidates but he is the best.

Everyone should go here to drop him a message asking him to run: http://www.facebook.com/russfeingold?ref=ts

[onethatcares]

34. you go, you Badgers, you go

yeehaw, I cannot tell you how happy that just made me. Now, maybe pinkslip rick(prickscott/florida) will start to think about where he's taking our state.

We have no recall measure available

you guys deserve this and more.

[PuffedMica]

39. Ker-plunk! Another Repug in the can

[Lifelong Protester]

40. "Looms" my foot, there are SEVERAL good choices out there

Don't worry, we Dems. came to play this time.

[reACTIONary]

42. One Million - FOR THE WIN!!! (nt)

[midnight]

43. There will be a someone to beat walker..

Here is a link to some suggestions...http://scottwalkerwatch.com/2012/01/15/possible-democratic-candidates-to-run-in-2012-recall-races-for-governor-poll/

[Bozita]

45. It feels sooooo good to recommend this thread!

[Mister Ed]

47. Kicked and Rec'd, with awe and gratitude for those who worked so hard to make it happen. n/t

[senseandsensibility]

48. THAT IS SO IMPRESSIVE!

Yes, I am screaming. It's hard not to when you imagine all the hard work and grassroots energy that went into this. Woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[joanbarnes]

51. Feingold?

[Bjorn Against]

52. That's who I am hoping for...

He said a few months back that he was not going to run, but he can still change his mind. Hundreds of people have posted comments encouraging him to run on his Facebook page today and he has yet to respond to them. The fact that he has not repeated the word "no" today when he is being flooded with encouragement is a good sign. Head over there and let him know you want him to run:

http://www.facebook.com/russfeingold?ref=ts

[brooklynite]

66. Or, maybe the fact that he's -already- said no means "no".

Maybe he doesn't feel the need to answer the same question over and over.

[Bjorn Against]

67. Maybe, but neither you nor I know that to be the case.

There have been other occasions in which prominent political figures said they would not run and then reconsidered, I don't see why people should give up on the candidate they want when there may still be hope.

[lonestarnot]

58. wOOhoo! Now who?

[unkachuck]

59. K&R....n/t

[Kennah]

64. Goooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!

[Lefta Dissenter]

65. Just got home from celebrating.

What a day. I love my Wisconsin.