The 5 Ways Snott Walker Screwed Up

[flamingdem]

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/March-2011/The-5-Ways-Scott-Walker-Screwed-Up/

1. Having a state capitol in the same city as the University of Wisconsin

Consider the fact that the protests have been going on almost continuously for three weeks. I don't think it takes away from the dedication of the protesters to note that a historically left-leaning city that houses both the state capitol and the largest public educational institution in the state is an inconvenient place to try to break public unions. A lot of people in Madison have reason to sympathize with public employees, especially educators.

It's not a bed Walker made, but he does have to lie in it.

2. Public sector unions are more popular than private sector unions

It's true. I can think of a lot of reasons for this. The main reason, I submit, is that people have more interaction with the work product of public-sector union members, and the union members themselves. If you buy a car, the components may or may not be the product of union members, and you can only know if you research. If you go to public school, or send your kids to one, or call the cops, or your house burns down, or use public transit, you're dealing with a union member. Not a day goes by that I don't, which isn't the case with private-sector union members. Their presence is much more immediate.

Another reason, I think, has to do with political history and its interaction with popular culture. Unions have always been a flashpoint in American culture (particularly in the home of the Haymarket Riot and the Pullman Strike), but the 1950s were a turning point with the McClellan Commission (which lasted three years and was followed by Robert Kennedy's book The Enemy Within) and On the Waterfront.

Put simply, it's not the NEA that beats up Marlon Brando.

3. Teachers are really, really popular

Also true. By the time we reach adulthood, most of us have spent almost as much time with teachers as our parents. Of all the union members Americans interact with or rely on, we're most likely to have spent time on the job with, and the ones parents are most likely to entrust their kids to. Teachers aren't the only union members Gov. Walker is battling, but they've been at the center of attention, in part because teachers' union members got the Wisconsin protests off the ground.

4. His divide-and-conquer busting of the unions failed

Notably, Gov. Walker didn't take on public safety unions. That backfired on him, as firefighters and cops have been protesting in solidarity.


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[FBaggins]

1. Did I miss a news report that we had won?

There seem to be lots of post-mortem analysis of where Walker screwed up... but if he ends up winning, what does any of it mean?

[Arkana]

2. Because if he wins the battle he's still lost the war.

There will be an effort to recall him and the 8 eligible GOP senators. Whether that is successful or not, Walker will not be reelected in 2014.

I think that's what they mean when they say he's screwed up--in the long term, and politically.

[reformist2]

5. Let's win this battle first! Definition of winning: They give in.

[FBaggins]

6. I look forward to the day where that may become true.

But it hasn't happened yet.

[Bluzmann57]

3. Walker is a piece of shit

But his given name is Scott. Sorry, the calling a person a derogatory name for his or her first or last name bugs me. Anyway, peace to you. Have a great evening. SOLIDARITY!

[Kolesar]

4. The Progressive Movement started in the upper Mississippi Valley

I rode my bicycle through Rockland, Wisconsin last year and, by chance, the village was holding their annual "Progress Days" fair. After one century

[babsbunny]

7. I thought he won

eveerything, almost.

[tavalon]

8. They missed one:

He's a dumbshit. Really. Stupider than a rock.

[flamingdem]

9. In his mind he's a Supastahr!

A teaparty titan! A rightgeous rethuglican!