Wisconsin voters spoke yesterday. What the hell did we say?
Yesterday was our first chance to show America (and ourselves) what we really think of corporate interests taking over our state. JoAnne Kloppenburg only garnered 25% of the vote in November’s primary; yet, she won the coveted seat on the WI State Supreme Court defeating incumbent Prosser (whose campaign made an egregious error by calling him a “complement” to the GOP legislature and Governor). Kloppenburg’s victory is a signal that this people’s progressive movement is the real deal; but, I would hardly call this a referendum on Scott Walker. If anything, it tell us that Wisconsin is the ultimate "purple" state.
Kloppenburg only won the seat by 204 votes. Precincts reported all through the night and her victory was only announce mid-afternoon today. It was one of the most emotional days I've experienced, switching between reassuring myself that the world wouldn't end and feeling like a giddy child on Christmas morning. Kloppenburg's total was 740,090 compared to Prosser's 739,886. Of course both sides are spinning it. Klop supporters claim momentum citing that this is a huge shift of voters in just a few months. Prosser's crew is claiming that this is proof that the "union thugs" can be defeated.
He'll never admit it, but Walker has been humbled too. Before this race, he had been telling the world that “the people of Wisconsin have spoken” as a justification to any antics he saw fit. Today he tried something new claiming:
"I think it’s pretty clear that you have two very different worlds in this state. You have a world driven by Madison and a world driven by everybody else in the state of Wisconsin."
This can easily be refutted by examining the precints all over the state. Only a few counties were heavily favoring one candidate - many of them were within 10 percentage points of each other switching between the two all over the entire state. But a more striking question arises for me - why is Walker defending Prosser? Furthermore, news was just released that the GOP is now helping fund the recount efforts as well. The GOP and Walker have been claiming all along that this was not a partisan race. Now, their true and ugly colors are splattered all over the place.
The voters have spoken - we are evenly divided. But a 204 lead goes to the victor and Kloppenburg justly claimed it. The win still needs to be certified by the through a special process before it becomes official. The importance of Kloppenburg’s victory cannot be stressed enough for another reason. It has effectively swung the court 4-3 in the other direction. The previous court was known for siding with big business over the working and middle class. This new formula of the court will decide the legality of Gov. Walker’s recent “Collective Bargaining Bill” that was voted on without adhering to the state’s 24-hour open meeting rule.
The most troubling aspect has been seeing the "loser" become even a poorer loser. Prosser's campaign has hired dozens of lawyers and has launched a "Prosser Victory Fund." Here is what they have to say about the result:
"After a challenging battle in which a historic number of votes were cast in a Supreme Court race, we need your help in preserving a victory for Justice David Prosser. The likely next step is a recount, requiring resources to protect the integrity of the ballots cast and deliver a win. Please take a moment to contribute, with your help a victory in this hard-fought battle is within reach!"
To be clear, I'm in complete agreement with re-counts. I would definately want one if Kloppenburg lost by this margin. But this goes beyond that. This blatently disenfranchises voters. And they are unashamed about it.
But, we have to just keep doing what we can at the grass roots level. Keeping our eyes on the next milestone - senate recalls – my husband and I mimicked many other municipalities around the state by setting up a recall booth right outside the polling place in our city. I voted for Kloppenburg with an absentee ballot last week. At the same time I also informed the voting clerk about our intentions of setting up a booth on voting day. I assured her that we would be following all of the legal guidelines laid out for us by the State’s Accountability Board. She was very helpful and gave my son a sucker.
Voting took place between the times of 7 am and 8 pm today. We staffed the booth with a group of enthusiastic retired folks during the day. Nearly every volunteer brought a friend or two with them. In the evening, we had the first grill out of the season and played bean bag toss and a Swedish yard game called Kubb. Kids also kicked a ball around with the first smell of burgers and brats cooking over charcoal filling the air. Voters were able to vote and then cross the street to sign the recall. We were able to garner another 62 signatures today toward the recall.
If this were a real battle field, even the winning side would have few left standing. This was a bloody, brutal win. This election proves to me – and should prove to the country - that the progressive movement is real. The people are still in charge of this state and the people are in charge of this country. But, we will lose sometimes. And when we do - we must pick ourselves up and keep fighting. And we must stand in solidarity, not allowing division to seep in. It will be difficult and we will need perseverance. And, we must do the work for ourselves.
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He tried to dismiss its importance by saying they never elect conservatives there. HIS old job. Can a tongue get more forked?
No, I think he is shaken. Slow and steady. Keep the pressure on. What the voters said today was "we are awake now. And it took a while to get up the momentum, but here we are." I'm so pleased for you and for Wisconsin!!!
R
I know because I have done my fair share of recounts.
The first domino has fallen. This was the hardest one. The rest will be easier. The recount will be very similar to what occurred in Minnesota with Al Franken, and could be in the headline for months. But the recall efforts against the legislators will continue, and because of the ongoing headlines on the Supreme Court recall process, the legislative races should get national coverage too.
The rock at the top of the mountain has begun to move slowly, and in a year it will be an avalanche. +++
While Obama's re-election campaign is dismal -- in 2007 he promised that as president he would put on "comfortable shoes" and join anyone whose collective bargaining rights were threatened, but he never showed his corporation-loving face in Wisconsin -- Wisconsin offers the rest of the nation the hope and the change that ObamaCorp offered but never delivered.
A million thank-yous to Wisconsinites!
Nevertheless, keep up your fight. I admire your active participation in the political process.
Try to develop some solutions. There will always be "the other side". It's time to develop the ability to chat with them.
Maybe the reason for the close vote was that the unions had a record amount of PAID protesters and voters in the street. The slim margin could be due to the paid union members showing up more than the unpaid Wisconsin voters. You could very well be pushing a progressive agenda onto Wisconsin voters that do not want that agenda. The Wisconsin voters who did not show up to vote against your progressive agenda, well, then they deserve what they just got. The vote does count. You need to ready yourself for the building crescendo of grumbling that will come from the background of unpaid Wisconsin voters. An example is the vote in 2008 and the vote in 2010. That was a huge backlash.
With elections that are that close, you could have serious issues between ideologies. You might have pushed something on the Wisconsin People, which they did not want, through organizing mobs of paid union members. Like I said before, you are now on the side that sides against 50% or more of the Wisconsin people. You may have had more voters but not more of the Wisconsin people who approve. The “Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it” quote really comes into play with what happened. You may have just placed a huge monkey on your backs, all the way to 2012. If the Wisconsin economy tanks and business’ revolt against the unions by moving to another state, you have just taken on the responsibility of being at fault and the reason for the economy.
Just saying.
Anthony – Thanks so much for the support
Ron – I know it!! No one wants to claim victory b/c we don’t want to get our fragile hopes slashed yet again…but if the other side won they would be crying “FOUL” at our attempts for recount
Thoth – yeah – some states have it much worse, others far better. We are smack dab in the middle…like luke warm water that you want to spit out…
MrsRaptor – no I don’t know much about recalls…I don’t suppose I could convince you to write about your experiences with them so the rest of us know what we are up against? That would help a ton
Lefty – “The first domino has fallen. This was the hardest one.” Oh man, do I hope that you are right!
Thefuddler – don’t leave! We need all the help we can get! The 240 vote margin out of 1.5 highlights that more than ever
Robert – I am just becoming familiar with all that you are saying here…I’ve been taken under the wing by an old-time activist in our town. We calls us nightly re-invigorated and bringing his friends to our rallies, canvassing, and booths. He suggests that we prove to Obama the HE needs US. He has said that Obama only needs to be left of the Tea Party to get a ton of corporate support. It is time the progressives in this country prove to him that he needs to be much further left than that…
Scanner – my husband has been approached, feelers have been sent out a bit w/ me too – but he loves teaching and I love writing and we both love grassroots organization…we’d be tools to be broken in the system as it is, I fear…but we’ll do our part w/ the gifts we have and the passion that propells them
Matt – “The tide may indeed be turning back to sanity.” I pray you are correct!
UncleChri – “but it probably can't be funded.” You are so correct about this being a major difficulty. To highlight the need, we get emails that ask for: “$3, $5, $10 – whatever you can afford! Let’s stop Walker and his big money agenda with massive grassroots support!” It is really telling that almost everyone we know gives a few bucks
TommyT - I am humbled by the fact that the results are close. I’ve said that repeatedly. Beyond that – we have no common ground. I am asking that from now on when you stop by my post - site your sources please and let us decide for ourselves. Critical thinkers can surf throught the information. For example, I’ll tell you the facts and links to prove it.
The truth is this:
1) Every republican recall attempt is being run by the people within that district. I’ve documented my husband and my leardership roles this entire time. We fund it – we run it in our town – we hand in our recall sheets to a funded group called Advancing Wisconsin who has ONE paid staffer. ONE. I know because I tried to get a job with them and they only deal with volunteers in our area. On the other hand, every democratic recall is being funded by the same outside private interest group from Utah called “Americans against Immigration Amnesty.”
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4747146
2) More special interest money was spent on this Supreme court race than in WI recorded history - libs being outspent 2:1 by corporate interest supporting Prosser, 2.2 million compared to 1.4 million.
http://gazettextra.com/weblogs/latest-news/2011/apr/06/outside-spending-supreme-court-race-36m/
These are the facts supported by first person accounts and credible news organizations. This grass roots. Accept it, or not, but the facts prove it.
Steve – “these close divisions mean that any victorious party that claims an undue mandate proceeds at its own risk.” Exactly…our county went 51% to Prosser. This tells me that we should choose a right leaning dem for the recall election against Harsdorf to make sure that the person speaks for most people locally – also ensuring a vitory. We don’t want to repeat the mistake Harsdorf made and only speak for a super minority – plus we’ll get their sigs for a recall but they’ll stay home on election day when neither side speaks for them…
If this has to be what has become typical of American politics--polarization--then give me the message that you and others are delivering. I just can't abide with the Palinista approach to government.
Walter – exactly…exactly. The last thing we should do right now is “pretend” that we won, when clearly the vote is 50/50. It would be a slap in the face to be on the receiving end of that – no matter if the other side has been doing it to us these past 3 month. We should be humbled by it and proceed with the concerns of all Wisconsinites in mind.
*R & L*
Look, I attended two pro-labor rallies at the California state Capitol here in California. No one "PAID" me a fucking penny to show up. I showed up because stopping the fascism that calls itself "freedom" under the banner of the Repugnican Tea Party is, literally, a matter of life or death for me and for millions of Americans.
I don't need to be "PAID" by someone to save my own life and the lives of my fellow citizens. Corporate greed, which the "tea party" traitors support, quite literally KILLS.
Really, Wisconsin? It's OK for 1% of the population to control and own us along with all the planet's wealth while the other 99% suffer directly or indirectly? Just can't get enough of the RWWRC? Don't worry! They're not finished yet! When the rich claimed FDR ruined this nation while betraying his class, they vowed to return us to pre-FDR days. And gosh darn it! They're doing it! No labor laws, no unions, no minimum wage, no eight-hour day, no benefits, no sick or vacation days, no Unemployment benefits, on and on, no environmental laws to prevent dumping toxic pollutants directly into our water, air, and ground. Nothing like turning back the clock in the 21st century! Slavery, here we come!!
But then, as I wrote in a recent series of posts, Americans are the most controlled population on earth and don't even know it!
Robert – yeah right. It is not very smart to stick with the “paid” argument after the historic voter turnout on Tuesday…I can at least see them trying to make that argument before the vote, but after? That tells me that they’ve run out of good logic to justify their position
Steve – HA! I know. My eldest son went with my husband to vote and heard the whole thing, “we might lose but we keep our chins up and move on.” What is the other side teaching their kids? If you lose – you cheat to win? Again, I can see a recount, but trying to find new ways around a vote is the most undemocratic notion that they’ve proposed.
Soapbox Amy – “corporate media worldwide.” You mentioned a lot of great stuff – but I wanted to take this chance to tell you all about the media coverage that this received in OUR STATE yesterday.
None.
That is correct. I even listened to Wisconsin Public Radio from 9 off and on at the news (top of each hour) until 4 pm and we received a one liner “state supreme court race still undecided” only one damn time. Even our public radio ignored this historic vote. Jack Crap on the local news until 5 pm when we the race was the lead story locally but NO ONE is claiming a Kloppenburg victory. NO ONE has said it yet. Everyone is just conceding that the recount will determine the victor.
WHERE THE HELL ARE WE LIVING??? This is madness. If Prosser had won it would be plastered all over the frong pages everywhere ‘Union Thugs Defeated by voters!”
r. for giving this blue Buckeye hope.
I'm going canvassing for the recall now, and I won't be back for a while. I feel like I've been punched in the gut...numbness surrounds...so I'm going out there to keep fighting. Do what you can to keep this country ours.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119421429.html
Here's something that the margin of victory does not reflect: Incumbents don't lose State Supreme Court elections in Wisconsin, maybe not anywhere. The last incumbent won 99.94% of the vote--few vote in these kind of elections and supreme court positions are considered to be almost lifetime appointments. I know you can attest that like in Eau Claire, the polls resembled a presidential election in terms of energy and turnout--our county ran out of paper ballots mid-day and had to make them on the fly. I guess Altoona residents wouldn't even use the electronic ballots (because we don't TRUST them ! :)
But, I know that the turn-out would not have been so great (blowing away the usual 10-25% turnout for this kind of election) had people like yourself and Scott not been out educating and informing and writing and working your asses off to organize and spread the word.
I was afraid that when the protests tapered off, so would the citizen action--this election is a HUGE upset for Walker and the repubs--they are taking note all over the country. If they aren't thankful already than progressives throughout this country need know that what you and the voters have done is (hopefully) prevent similar obstructions to democracy in all these other states. As if Walker supporters and other govs want to have to pour all this money into an 'un-loseable' election!
On to the recalls!!!
Much love my friend--you make me so proud.
Life really, really sucks this evening.
Counted those chickens a little to early didn't we?
With the news today, it's fitting that you ended your piece with this message.
For those who don't know, the most loyally Republican county, Waukesha, said they forgot to add in an entire city last night during the election. Adding that city swings the vote to Prosser by over 7,500 votes. If those votes hold, that'll be it...Kloppenburg loses. What a fleeting feeling of victory.
Now, I have to keep reminding myself and everyone else that I'm trying to keep volunteering that some fights you don't fight to win; you fight them because it's right. Gov. Walker and the other Republicans don't get it. All they worry about is the Wisconsin's budget; I'm worried about its soul.
Since you're so willing to strip away stereotypes, here's another one for you.
Over 800,000 people (nearly 50%) of the people of WI voted for Kloppenburg. They don't all live in Madison and they're not all union thugs. Let's at least be honest and stop the political spin...our state is deeply divided along political, philosophical ideologies.
Here's another myth, everyone in a union can elect to have their money witheld from political campaigns...ask anyone. And you don't think your tax money goes to corporate welfare?
Where are you getting your numbers? Over 1.5 million voted yesterday and until a few hours ago, Kloppenburg was up by 204 votes. Now, it looks like she's down by 7,500. So, I repeat...nearly 50% of the voters were for Kloppenburg...you're not going to be able to spin your way out of that. Even the counties around where I am: Polk, Burnette, St. Croix he only won by a slim margin and he lost in Pierce (normally conservative). So, that myth that it's Madison against the rest of the state is not only wrong, it's insulting. Once again, the gov. thinks he can simply dismiss the 50% of WI citizens that disagree with him...and believe it or not...it's losing him his middle voters. Believe me...they keep coming up to sign my recall petition.
I was laughing to discover all the negative stuff on the blog here only AFTER Prosser gained the lead...if you notice the different tones....I claimed that we need to listen to them b/c we are evenly split - when they take lead they are arrogant and entitled, pushing the rest of us off as though we are insignificant...anyone might judge good and evil just by that tendency alone...enough said - keep up the fight - we certainly are doing just that...I will be organizing for tomorrow - so thanks everyone...this isn't over by a long shot...
This majority/minority argument could go on forever, splitting hairs...and it may only be the case that it's a statistical split. We can no longer afford politicians (on either side of the isle) that take a slim margin as a "mandate" to ignore the other half and push EVERYTHING through with no concessions. We all deserve better than that, since they're supposed to work for us. There is a true middle ground, here, if our leaders can stop being so childish and compromise. You can't possibly believe that all that unions have given workers and this country is bad. Their time and need is far from over. It doesn't mean we can't reform bargaining, but you don't fix something by exterminating it. We can't afford our military spending, either. Should we just gut it or eliminate it?
This is not a matter of whether we can keep spending without revenue...it's a matter of what gets cut. I can not state this adamently enough, I can not stand by any policy that cuts from the most vulnerable people and gives breaks to the wealthiest. My faith won't allow me to do that, and our ethics shouldn't allow any of us to.
You say the unions' time has come. If that's true, God help us all, because that means the workers time and the middle class time has come, as well. Don't believe me? Look at any country without unions. Case closed.
As I said before. You can keep worrying about WI and the national budget. I'll keep worrying about their soul. Some things are just right and wrong. Using a few examples of welfare abuse or a few bad teachers to justify taking away aid to the poor and dismantling all union bargaining is wrong...period.
And it is in my mind every day that I'm out there.
Solidarity.
and to Y Heron: You are the only one who constantly talks about "Seniors on a fixed income losing medication, Farmers who have fed tens of thousands of us and the are losing healthcare for themselves and their children, veterans who have sacrificed their lives for us are losing 53% of their benefits, removing the mandate to recycle, destroying the earth for our children and grandchildren..." etc. I tried to find these cuts and was not able to find any proposed cuts to all these groups. Where do you get your information?
Just google "end recycling mandate in WI" and you will find that Walker has done this. It is unbelievable to me that you are allowed to vote without knowing...you are a mouthpiece and a tool because you don't even know what is in this bill....all you ever spew is hatred for unions when you are hurting so many of our most vulnerable with you blind, ignorant loyalty...
plug in "Badger Care" and "Budget Repair Bill" go REASEARCH for yourself - it is all over the place....
Senior Care and "budget repair bill" Medicare folks are being force onto Plan D
And Veterans have PROTESTED at the Capitol - it is documented all over the place - they had their own rally - http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative
....unbelievable to me that you know NOTHING about these things- you hurt people with your support
In regard to “end recycling mandate in WI” – you’re not saying that the proposed bill is not ending the recycling process. It just makes it the responsibility of the communities. Yes, everyone might pay a little bit to have this service, but in many states it works already, and works beautifully. In my state these changes are already implemented: this year we were provided with recycling bins and we should put them to the curb once a week. That’s it. Instead of removing the garbage twice a week, as it was before, now it’s done once a week. Believe me, we survived! But you’re leaving the impression that the recycling program in WI is killed by the governor – what is it the ignorance or misinformation?
We can protest until we’re blue in our faces – it won’t change anything. When we overspend in our own households – we get broke and get punished. What’s going on right now is our collective punishments for our collective irresponsibility.
You don't know what you are talking about - nor did you justify your stance about removing funding for our vets and seniors. I'd love to hear how you justify that stance...bring it on - but ONLY if you use facts from WI. If you can't do that - move along.
I'm at a loss of how to argue with your logic. To be honest, I find your reasoning is what bothers me the most about conseratives now days. You take ONE anecdotal story and use it to build an entire philosophy. And then, you seem to cling to that one story and your few talking points to drown out any and all facts that refute you. It must be nice to just know what is right without any of the facts to back it up.
A couple of points:
1. Equality DOES NOT mean the same. Again, that's an oversimplification of two things that have nothing to do with each other. People can be equal AND different. Besides, no one so far has argued for economic equality for all. You're making the mistake of assuming that to ask corporations to pay their share and stop blackmailing us for their tax loopholes is calling for socialism...that's ridiculous and a fear tactic.
2. You state that 50% of people pay no taxes. Well, last I heard GE and approximately 2/3 of the wealthiest U.S. corporations paid ZERO federal taxes last year. Where's your righteous anger over that? Again, I know that fact is inconvenient to your political/economic philosophy but it's FACT. You don't think your tax money is going to give them corporate welfare and loopholes?
3. Why do you assume that corporations suddenly woke up and developed hearts? I'm glad that you agree that unions accomplished a lot of good, but if you think it will stay that way without them, you're mistaken. The five lowest states for education are states with no collective bargaining or unions. Do you think that's coincidence?
4. We have to make cuts. I agree. But until you're willing to make those cuts for EVERYONE, don't bother talking to me. That includes a hell of a lot from defense. We spend more on military than the next 9 countries combined. I know it's politically unpopular to talk about cutting it, but let's "MAKE THE TOUGH CHOICES" as you say. Taking from the poor, because your afraid to mention taking from the rich and the military is not a tough choice...it's the easy one.
5. Finally, my right to bargain for my students' curriculum needs, textbooks, class size, and my workplace conditions is hardly vying for power, as you say. Again, get from behind your talking points so that we can have a REAL conversation and please start using facts, rather than your few anecdotal stories. You can't and shouldn't built a philosophy around them.
We can all win by balancing the budget elsewhere - cutting military or increasing corporate tax. But some would still take from the poor - and make no mistake - that is exactly what you are promoting. Shame on you. Shame.
I have one question for you – and if you have enough integrity to get from behind you talking points, I would like an honest answer.
What would you do in my shoes? Pretend for a moment that you are me and direct my course…
You are a stay-@-home mother in a family of four. Your 2010 tax returns indicated that your family earned $48,000 that year on your husband’s teaching salary. He has 7 years of experience, teaching in 3 states, and a maters degree w/ $64,000 school loans and you have $20,000 school loans of your own…taking a break from the fast track until your young children enter school. For the first time in your young family’s time, you were able to save enough for one date night/month. You have no credit cards – you live within your budget promised to you by contract with the school and state. You live within your means. You are grateful and happy. You save to buy something…the way that you were raised. Life is good. You don’t mind that your kids wear hand-me-down clothes, and you sew patches on them to last longer. You also take clothes from sisters and friends b/c you can’t afford to buy a lot. You don’t mind. Some people don’t have clothes. You feel happy that your family has the most meaningful things in life. You garden in the summer to save money for grocery bills and freeze extra to supplement throughout the year. You eat venison from hunting to afford meat. Your husband drives the most beat up, 17-yr-old car in town, but he is just grateful to have a car. You use the public library to get books and movies b/c you can’t afford to rent a lot or buy. You are so grateful that you have that service.
Now you learn that a new bill is being passed that would devastate your family. Devastate. Your father, worked hard, never complained, his whole life - would lose his Badger Care health, along with his girlfriend. Your step-father, two cousins, and two uncles, veterans of war in your family, are losing benefits promised to them by the government. Your 89-year-old grandmother, who already lives the most meager existence, is losing Senior Care benefits. Cuts to the library will eliminate your options for free information and entertainment for your family. You own family’s income will be reduced by $5000 the next year eliminating any chance of helping your own. Your siblings, also teachers, will lose $5000/piece as well. Both of their husbands are in construction - and have been out of good work for years.
For all of the ideological ideas any of us have on this debate. This is real. This is my life.
This is why I fight. Not out of hatred for the “other side.” It is out of love for my family.
What would you do if you were me?