Wisconsin’s Summer of Recall Elections Begins

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: NY Times

Voters in Wisconsin on Tuesday began going to the polls — an odd time for an election, but only the beginning of what is to be a summer of elections for a state in the throes of political discord.

In the balloting on Tuesday, residents in some parts of the state were voting in primary elections that are part of the broadest recall effort in state history. The outcome, to be determined in votes next week and then again next month, will decide whether Republicans, who last fall took control of the governor’s seat and of both chambers of the Legislature, maintain their hold on the State Senate.

The experts who ordinarily offer predictions about how high or low turnout might be had little to go on Tuesday; never before have nine state senators been the subjects of recall efforts all at once, much less in the dead of summer.

Leaders of both parties voiced confidence about the outcomes, but the divide in the Senate is 19 Republicans to 14 Democrats. The flipping of three Republican seats would upend their domination in Madison. The flurry of political commercials now playing — included some financed by national groups — makes clear the size of the stakes.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/13/us/13recall.html

[Ian David]

1. It's Recall Election Day, & Right-Wingers Are Reportedly Robocalling Voters 2Tell Them to Stay Home

It's Recall Election Day, & Right-Wingers Are Reportedly Robocalling Voters 2Tell Them to Stay Home
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=186x34463

[meegbear]

2. With the "fake democrats" on the ballots, what's the law on write-ins?

[Scuba]

3. Call me paranoid, but I think there's a very real threat....

...that Republicans will turn out in force and vote for the "fake Democrats". If the Dems are caught sleeping again it's going to be bad.

[old guy]

5. If you are paranoid,

that will make two of us at least. I live in a red township in Polk Co. Wi. and voted at about 10:15 this morning. My wife and I were #53 and #54 to vote which is high for this early in the day. Robo calls have been daily for the last week or so. Very nervous, but hopefully we can at least break even in the tally as that would, in itself, be a win.

[elocs]

8. I voted at my city clerk's office last Tuesday. It took minutes, and why wait?

We had 9 days before this week when we could have voted early and possibly many did what I did. No matter what, there is absolutely no excuse not to vote. Every election is important.

[backtomn]

4. Political life in WI could be exciting this summer.

I don't live there, but I will be watching.

[zeemike]

6. And I am sure there will be an all out effort to steal it if necessary

Really what's to stop them?

[elocs]

7. If Republicans are so omnipotent and unstoppable, able to steal elections at will,

then why bother to even try? If resistance is futile, then why resist?

The answer is that they are not omnipotent, they are stoppable if Democrats care enough to turn out and vote. Had Democrats chosen to vote at the same rate as Republicans did last November none of this would be happening now.

[midnight]

9. If the software the GAB wrote and used was so hackable, my concern is not about the turnout but the

election fraud....

[elocs]

13. I live here and I refuse to cry election fraud any time a Democrat loses. Some do.

An election may only be stolen if it is close. If Democrats care enough to turn out and vote we can overcome an election close enough to steal.

[zeemike]

14. Did not mean to imply they were unstoppable.

But if it is close they can and will steal it because we let them.

[elocs]

16. All powerful, unstoppable, being able to steal elections at will & there's nothing we can do.

I don't believe it, and as a Democrat I get tired of us playing the victim after any election loss. Sometimes the voters just do not prefer the Democrat for whatever reason. I know that is bizarre and unbelievable, but it happens.

We are not helpless and the first thing we need to do to help assure an election victory is to turn out and vote. If an election is a narrow loss or even a few thousands votes and thousands or even tens of thousands of Democrats chose not to vote, there is the answer.

If we truly believe that an election was stolen and there is proof, then we need to take any and all legal action possible to address the situation and not just cry that "we was robbed".

[bobthedrummer]

10. I voted for Jen Shilling (D) over the GOP operative James Smith to recall Kapanke Aug. 9 n/t

[Scuba]

11. You rock Bob! ....

... maybe we can jam next time I'm in LaCrosse.

[bobthedrummer]

12. I'm in Vernon Co Scuba and so are friends studios where my kit currently resides...

[iwishiwas]

15. Get out and vote and bring a friend.