John Nichols: Numbers show Walker recall a real prospect

[highplainsdem]

http://host.madison.com/news/opinion/column/john_nichols/article_02549746-3262-50e1-8833-17ff333c92ef.html

Numbers show Walker recall a real prospect
JOHN NICHOLS | Cap Times associate editor |
Posted: Sunday, April 24, 2011 6:45 am


-snip-

The first political response came April 5, when almost 750,000 voters swept a previously unknown candidate, Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg, into close contention with Walker’s mentor, Supreme Court Justice David Prosser. Never before had a court candidate come from so far behind to a virtual tie — a result so close that it is now the subject of a state-sanctioned recount. On the same day, county executive races in three of the state’s largest counties (Milwaukee, Dane and Outagamie) pitted candidates who were supporters of the governor’s agenda against candidates who strongly opposed it. In each case, the opponents won.

Now comes the next political test, and it will be as remarkable as it is unprecedented. At least five Republican state senators who backed Walker’s assault on collective bargaining rights are now all but certain to face recall elections this summer. The number could rise to eight. At the same time, petitions have been filed to recall three Democratic senators. While serious questions have been raised about whether some of the signatures on those petitions were gathered deceitfully, at least some of these recalls are likely to proceed.

-snip-

And it doesn’t stop there. The Democratic recall drives in five Republican-friendly districts have yielded roughly 115,000 signatures. There are 33 state Senate districts. If the pattern were to hold statewide, that would yield roughly 760,000 signatures — probably considerably more when heavily Democratic areas such as Madison and Milwaukee are added to the mix.

The baseline number of signatures needed to recall Walker, in a process that can begin next January, is 540,208. Do the math and it becomes clear that, while 2011 is shaping up as a remarkable political year, 2012 could well be the year when Wisconsin shows the whole country what democracy looks like.

[Sancho]

1. On Wisconsin!!!!

:dem:

[Bozita]

2. Recommended with a big grin

[Bluzmann57]

13. Love your pic!

That should be standard at every Pro Union rally in every state.

[Bozita]

14. Here's my favorite union pic...

[Lifelong Protester]

3. Hot damn!

I've been out of touch for a few days, so I am glad to come back here to see this. I intend to be manning a clip board for that recall.

[AllyCat]

4. People stop me all the time to talk about the recall (bumper sticker initiated)

Lots of people just waiting. Lots of misinformation out there as many think they can sign now...so I explain. For once, I think my bumper sticker is actually doing some good as it gives me the opportunity to talk about the laws and when we can do something about this madman.

If people are mad enough after another crummy holiday season, maybe we can recall all those other Senators too!

[Historic NY]

5. From NY ........Excelsior Wisconsin.

[Scuba]

6. This is what democracy looks like....

[xchrom]

7. Excellent. Nt

[TroglodyteScholar]

8. K & R

[lunatica]

9. Wisconsin is our Flagship

I can't say it enough

[MaeScott]

10. K and R. nt

[undeterred]

11. Senator Feingold, we'd be honored if you'd run for Governor.

:patriot: :kick:

[highplainsdem]

12. +1,000,000

[MadMaddie]

16. Oh man wouldn't that be something?

[Poiuyt]

15. Am I the only one who feels that recalling Walker will be really difficult?

Voters typically have short memories and it will be hard to maintain the electricity that surrounded Madison a few weeks ago. Unless Feingold is persuaded to run of course.

[undeterred]

18. I feel just the opposite, really.

Walker has overreached and he will keep on overreaching. The anger that people feel is over long term things like their jobs, their security, retirement... its not the kind of anger thats going to go away in a year. And the kind of enthusiasm that has been there for the rallies has been there for the recalls and the volunteers needed for data entry, etc. I truly believe that recalling Walker is a sure thing. He may be so cocky that he tries to pull even more outrageous things like they are doing in Michigan- financial martial law- and then people will just lose it.

Whether Feingold will run or not is not so sure- I really hope he does, and I think his greatest appeal is that he is a known entity all over the state and people do trust him. What you see is what you get. He did the listening sessions all over the state, and Republicans know who he is and he is a capable leader. I think we would be lucky to have him step up for it.

[Poiuyt]

23. I like the way you think

I'm up in Appleton, which isn't as liberal as Madison, but not as conservative as some other parts of the state. I've seen the anger, but not to the degree that was exhibited in Madison.

I've always had the impression that the bar was higher for a recall than for an election. I really hope we can maintain the energy needed to remove that loathsome worm.

[mountainlion55]

17. Man we can only hope.

:smoke:

[LynneSin]

19. Are folks allowed to gather the signatures now and then turn them in on the first anniversary

I'd hate to lose time once we are able to give him the boot

[undeterred]

21. No, but there is already an online database of people who have signed up

ahead of time indicating that they are willing to sign a recall petition when the time comes. So that should make it go much faster.

[LynneSin]

22. I can't wait. That's smart to do that

Plus it'll validate their signatures even moreso

[Roci]

20. If there

is a better, or more fitting example of a political "dead man walking" that Walker of Wisconsin, I wish someone would show me. If Democrats state wide don't rise up and throw this guy about as far from Madison as they can, it will send exactly the wrong message to the Koch Brothers and the people who stand with them. You want to see things get REALLY bad in Wisconsin? Let Walker survive a recall. Talk about the brakes being off the wagon!