Democrats, Labor Set Sights On Recall Of SIX Wisconsin Republican Senators

[Tx4obama]

WASHINGTON -- The chaos that accompanied Wednesday night’s abrupt passage of Gov. Scott Walker's (R-Wis.) controversial anti-collective bargaining legislation gave way on Thursday to a series of strategy sessions by aggrieved parties plotting out a response.

A cadre of labor groups, progressive institutions, and campaign arms began informally coordinating a comprehensive pushback that some described as even more critical than the legislative battle itself. The most dramatic of these moves is acceleration of a campaign to recall Wisconsin Republican state senators who ended up backing not only the collective bargaining bill but also the backdoor parliamentary maneuvers used to pass it.

Union officials and progressive activists on the ground in Wisconsin say that six specific lawmakers have been targeted for recall (before Wednesday night that number had been eight). Of those, three were considered top tier “gets:” Sen. Randy Hopper (District 18) who won his last election by 184 votes, Sen. Alberta Darling (District 8) who won her last election with 51 percent of the vote, and Sen. Dan Kapanke (District 32) who also won his last election with 51 percent of the vote, in a district where President Obama won 61 percent of the vote in 2008. The other three lawmakers on the list were Sen. Robert Cowles (District 2), Sheila Harsdorf (District 10), and Luther Olsen (District 14).

“Without full capitulation this is the best possible political outcome,” said one top-ranking labor official, trying to put a good spin on a damaging development. “It is going to drive (Walker’s) negatives over 65 (percent) and we are looking at possibly winning six recall elections”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/10/democrats-labor-set-their_n_834232.html

[FBaggins]

1. I'm pretty sure that only three are really vulnerable...

...but three is all it will take!

[elmerdem]

2. unless it is overturned

recall does no good. They have the governor & the state assembly.

[Tx4obama]

4. Yes it does good. If the dems control the senate then the gop can't pass anymore BS bills.

And when Walker get recalled in Jan 2012 we can get a dem governor in office and then the GOP will lose all control.

[atreides1]

5. Then they'll have to work together

Because a majority in the State Assembly won't do it...if the Democrats hold the majority in the State Senate.

Walker will have to compromise, and it will put fear into the Republicans in the State Assembly.

[yourout]

12. It may only be for a few months but while we are recalling Walker why not take out a few.....

Assemblymen.

[Fire Walk With Me]

3. ...

:applause:

[damntexdem]

6. Good for now -- then there's after January.

And, of course, November 2012.

[Tx4obama]

7. Yep.

What ever happens between now 2012 can be reversed

There are 8 republican state senators eligible for recall right now.
Then Walker will be recalled January 2012.
Then Wisconsin can vote out the republicans that are in the Assembly.
Once the dems take back the seats of the Gov, the senate, & the assembly they can give all the rights back to the public employees!

Nothing that the GOP'ers passes is written in stone, it can all be reversed.

[LonePirate]

8. Don't several members of the Assembly need to be recalled?

Sure, taking control of the Senate will stop the bleeding; but Dems will still need to recapture the Assembly and boot Walker before this damage can be undone.

[Tx4obama]

9. Would be kinda hard ...

to recall that many I think.

The Wisconsin Assembly has 96 seats: 57 republicans, 38 democrats, 1 independent.

We have to replace 21 of them to take back the majority.

Might have to just wait until the next regular election to toss the bums out.

[LonePirate]

10. Only 11 (not 21) seats need to switch from R to D to regain the Assembly majority

With a 96 seat chamber, 49 seats is an outright majority and Dems are 11 seats from that. They are trying to recall 6-8 Rs in the Senate so why not double down and go for the Assembly as well. With all of the anger and smaller numbers needed for Assembly seats, it should be within reach.

[Tx4obama]

11. Heehee. You're right I did my math incorrectly.

I guess I subconsciously wanted to grab all the extra seats that the gop'ers have now! LOL :)