Good morning, everyone!
Well, let's cut to the chase, shall we?
The last round of Wisconsin recalls didn't exactly fill the alleged hearts of the Freeperati with hope and joy. I've had to wall off an entire section of the iso chamber to contain the rationalization and cognitive dissonance. Let's get to it!
LIVE THREAD: Voters go to the polls in Wisconsin's two final recalls - with links to live updates
Yahoo ^ | 8/16/11 | Brendan O'Brien - ReutersPosted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 11:43:14 AM by NormsRevenge
Elections Results from the AP
August 16 Wisconsin recall election results from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
44EAGLE RIVER, Wis (Reuters) - Voters in two Wisconsin State Senate districts head to the polls on Tuesday in the last of nine recall elections triggered by the fight earlier this year over Republican-backed curbs on the union rights of public workers.
In Tuesday's two final special elections, Jim Holperin and Robert Wirch -- two Democrats who opposed the anti-union measure and even fled the state for weeks in an unsuccessful effort to prevent its passage -- are defending their seats.
Holperin seems to be in the tighter race. His rival is Kim Simac, founder of the Northwoods Patriots, a Tea Party group. Though Simac is a political novice, the district has leaned Republican in the three years since Holperin was elected.
No matter who wins, Republican Governor Scott Walker and his Republican allies will retain control of the legislature, where the battle over public workers' union powers was waged earlier this year with public protests, legislative maneuvering and court challenges.
With seven of the nine recalls over, Republicans have managed to keep control of the state senate -- 17 to 16 if they score no wins on Tuesday -- because Democrats failed to unseat three Republican state Senators in the key round of six GOP senate recalls last week.
***********************************
Usually, sanity wins out in affairs like what we witnessed in Wisconsin the last year..
Fingers crossed..
1 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 11:43:15 AM by NormsRevenge
At first it's pretty upbeat:
To: NormsRevengeIt would be SO wonderful if the Dems lost both of those seats! Millions and millions and millions of union dollars spent to overthrow the will of the majority, with no overall change.
5 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 11:52:06 AM by American Quilter (aka American Hobbit)..To: Opinionated BlowhardIt's all about turnout. The Dems are depressed...they fgailed last week, and today means nothign for them. Will they turn out with the same intensity..if not we can take both seats.If we do take both, I think it will put a real hurt on plans to recall Walker..they won't find it so easy to get the funding for that effort..
12 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 12:00:06 PM by ken5050 (Should Christie RUN in 2012? NO! But he should WALK 3 miles every day..)..To: NormsRevengeThere’s not much incentive on both sides now that control can’t change.
Non sequitur allert!
But if I were to guess I’d say the Tea party has a bit of an edge as they are still ticked off over this BS and want to send a message.
2 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 11:46:05 AM by for-q-clinton (If at first you don't succeed keep on sucking until you do succeed)
To: for-q-clintonThere’s not much incentive on both sides now that control can’t change.
++++++++++++
Not so.We currently have a one vote margin and that one vote is a super RINO who is threatening to switch parties. That would give the Dems their third seat and the the unions would win after all.
We need to win at least one seat tonight or that RINO will control the Senate agenda one way or another.
14 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 12:07:23 PM by InterceptPoint (w)
To: SmithLI received an e-mail from a group called "Campaign to Defeat Obama"
which claimed that one of the winners in last Tuesday's election was thinking about switching parties. I don't know anything about this group, but this is a portion of what they sent me:Throughout today we've learned more details about the possibility that 'moderate' Republican Dale Schultz may bolt the GOP and join with the Democrats. He is under intense pressure from Senate Democrats to switch sides - in fact Schultz once was a Democrat. Schultz also was the ONLY Republican who voted against Gov. Walker's budget reform bill and then publicly criticized Governor Walker for his efforts to bring fiscal sanity to Wisconsin.
We learned today that Schultz even went to the Democrat Leader in the Senate and offered himself as a vote for them in the Senate.
This would be disastrous and would mean Democrats would be able to block Gov. Walker's agenda in Wisconsin. We can't let the Left win this way.
That's why we are going all out to win in the 2 RECALL campaigns against Democrats that take place next Tuesday. In fact, if we prevail in these two races the net gain for Democrats through this entire RECALL process will have been ZERO (0) seats. They will have spent more than $30 MILLION for nothing!
To: ohioWfanHiya dear friend! I’m going to go pray more, from my bubble bath,
Dear Jeebus - please let me find my rubber ducky. Amen.
but I’ll be back to monitor and hopefully, participate on this thread!
64 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 7:01:29 PM by onyx (If you enjoy FR, support it! If you support Sarah Palin & want on her Busy Ping List, let me know.)..
To: NormsRevengeThe madness has to end. Hopefully we can take these seats. I’m hoping we’ll take back two. One would be ok.
73 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 7:14:38 PM by Indy Pendance (HEt)
To: MestaMachineIf they're not carrying (local outlets carrying results) they don't expect any "news" out of this election.Looks like a signal the GOP came up short.
Dems will see this as a "great victory" and act accordingly.
177 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 8:35:34 PM by newzjunkey (Wisconsin Vote Today: Kim Simac vs. fleebagger Holperin)
..To: Free VulcanName Party Votes Vote % Holperin , Jim (i) Dem 1,294 56%
Simac , Kim GOP 1,009 44%
10% in, not looking good. This was the one we were supposed to pick up. The other is still at 7% and we are up.185 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 8:40:19 PM by GonzoGOP (There are millions of paranoid people in the world and they are all out to get me.)..To: Free VulcanOuch, Simac getting whacked in Oneida!
208 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 8:59:13 PM by Free Vulcan (Obama/Biden '12: No hope and chump change.)..To: Free VulcanHow the Hell any rational person can sanction people vacating their job on the public payroll, allowing them to cash their paychecks, and then rewarding this behavior is beyond me. Especially at 9 percent unemployment.
..
To: nbenyoThe first recall, the stronger candidate, Nygren, failed to gather enough signatures to GET ON THE BALLOT. If he had managed to gather a whole 400 valid signatures, he would likely be the new senator.
..To: MediaMoleWhat makes him a strong candidate if he can’t gather 400 signatures?
226 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 9:11:31 PM by Truthsearche..To: TruthsearcherWhat makes him a strong candidate if he can’t gather 400 signatures?He had no arrests, or baggage.
"A GOP candidate with no arrests? Well, bang goes his application, then."
His failure to gather 400 valid signatures was sheer over-confidence and laziness.
230 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 9:13:57 PM by afraidfortherepublic..To: Allhttp://www.co.kenosha.wi.us/countyclerk/election_results/voteresult.phtml
Robert W. Wirch (DEM) 15302 57.65
Jonathan Steitz (REP) 11200 42.2
Write-in 40 0.15The DEMs are going to win both of these.
233 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 9:15:21 PM by freedomwarrior998..To: freedomwarrior998I smell something.
235 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 9:17:16 PM by TribalPrincess2U (democRATS—just doing al Qaeda ground work? Obama owns it all now.)
To: afraidfortherepublic“His failure to gather 400 valid signatures was sheer over-confidence and laziness. “
Which makes him a good candidate how? People who fail on the small stage don’t suddenly become successful on the bigger stage, they tend to fail even more spectacularly.
241 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 9:18:50 PM by Truthsearcher
.
To: TruthsearcherNygren was an incumbent member of the assembly.
He gathered about 420 signatures, but 22 were thrown out, leaving him with 398. It was a stupid mistake. In a normal election, it would have been enough, but he should have known that the rats would challenge every name on the nomination petitions.
I thought you guys were all worked up about "voter fraud"? Oh - only when you imagine it's being perpetrated against Pubbies? Carry on, then.
David VanderLeest, the Republican who faced Hansen had many personal issues that pretty much disqualified him from office, including unpaid taxes, domestic violence and questions about serious drug use.
"And whereas in most professions these would be considerable drawbacks, in chartered accountancy the new GOP they are a positive boon."
..To: ScottinVALanglade, Lincoln, and Vilas counties have yet to report any precincts in Simac’s race and they are the bulk of what’s left. Let’s hope they are wildly GOP.
252 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 9:24:31 PM by Free Vulcan (Obama/Biden '12: No hope and chump change.)
From Facebook:
MacIver Institute
It is all but certain that the current 17-16 GOP majority in the Wis State Senate will remain unchanged as both Dem Senators likely victorious tonight by large margins.
2 minutes ago
256 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 9:27:09 PM by Hunton Peck (See my FR homepage for a list of businesses that support WI Gov. Scott Walker)
To: Free VulcanI don’t understand people.
That would be because you don't know any. Get off this damned FR board and go meet some.
And apologize to them.
Do they have a deathwish? WHO in the world would vote for their own destruction? Knowingly.
264 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 9:32:46 PM by MestaMachine (Mama always told me if you cain't say something nice/use duct tape. Ever try to ducttape a keyboard?)
To: AGreatPerIf you’re going to give Wisconsin an enema, that’s where you’d stick the tube. (I went to college in Kenosha. What a crap heap.)
288 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 9:48:13 PM by 50cal Smokepole (Effective gun control involves effective recoil management)
To: ArmstedFraggWe must fight as hard as they do.
I say recall them all.
How'd that work out for you guys so far?
Baffle them with bullshirt.
I'm truly baffled by your bullshit. But you still lost.
Dazzle them with brilliance.
Throw the Rats out ASAP.
315 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 10:35:56 PM by TheConservativeParty (PALIN 45 -The cure for "meet the new boss, same as the old boss." Resisting Tyranny Since 1-20-2009)..To: MestaMachineBy the time the 2012 elections roll around, we will finally have Voter ID in place.
We will also be seeing even more benefits from what Governor Walker has done.
Tonight is a disappointment, to say the least.
But we will continue the fight.
"Forward the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!" he said.
Thanks for your support, and thanks to all the other FReepers who were pulling for us!
301 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 10:14:09 PM by TheConservativeParty (PALIN 45 -The cure for "meet the new boss, same as the old boss." Resisting Tyranny Since 1-20-2009)
2 Wisconsin Democrats keep their Senate seats
AP/WorldMag ^ | Aug 16, 11:19 PM EDT | SCOTT BAUER
Posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 10:35:00 PM by quantim
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Two Democratic Wisconsin state senators targeted by Republicans survived their elections Tuesday, ending a tumultuous summer of recalls spurred by anger over how lawmakers reacted to Gov. Scott Walker's proposal curbing collective bargaining rights of public workers.
Democrats picked up two seats through the nine recalls but were unable to wrest majority Senate control away from the GOP, which now holds a narrow 17-16 majority. Before the recalls, Republicans had a 19-14 edge in the chamber.
The two senators facing recall Tuesday were among the 14 senators who fled the state in February in opposition to Walker's proposal which passed despite their absence and has been held up by the state Supreme Court.
Democratic Sen. Bob Wirch of Pleasant Prairie defeated Kenosha attorney Jonathan Steitz, and Sen. Jim Holperin of Conover beat tea party Republican Kim Simac of Eagle River.------------------------------------
No Fleebaggers tossed...
.
To: quantimThe lesson from tonight is that the GOP here needs to run good candidates that are squeaky clean and can appeal to a middle of the road voter. This doesn’t mean RINO’s but it does mean people who don’t scare off a portion of the independents.
In our district up north we nominated a Sharon Angle/Christine O’Donnell type in Kim Simac. I give Kim credit for running and putting up a fight. But at the end of the day, Simac was involved in a bizzare spouse swapping situation years ago and didn’t pay her taxes. Nor could she articulate anything in hostile environments outside her one talking point. The GOP and Tea Party are not going to win running candidates like that.
The other district was a pretty solid Dem working class district. The GOP candidate Steitz was a pretty good guy. But he’s from Illinois, works in Illinois and is a corporate attorney who has an office in London. That type of guy is not going to win in a democratic/Archie Bunker type traditional Dem district. Just not going to happen.
This is why it is so crucial we get the Presidential nominee right in 2012. That’s why I’m agnostic on Rick Perry at the moment. Can he win the middle of the road voter in Ohio, PA, WI, MI, MN, Iowa, Colorado? Maybe he can. Not sure yet.
8 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 10:48:18 PM by SteveAustin..
.
To: WaterWeWaitinFor“The trouble with the GOP is that we have jobs, families, etc.”
I know, I know I am sounding like a bitch. But this goes for everyone who uses that phrase, which is all the time.
There was plenty of time to make arrangements for someone else to take of the children (if you have small ones) in one’s absence if one couldn’t be home.
Also, voting is scheduled to accommodate those who work.
The only excuses for not voting are a sick person within the household, car problems at the last minute, a car wreck (the gods forbid) along the way. I am sure there are other good reasons, but I can’t think of any
30 posted on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 8:54:06 AM by Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)
To: reformedliberaleh, I’m angry that a supposed “R” leaning district, swung in favour for the Dims.
We need the people of Wisconsin to wake up, but given their repudiation of the Rs, show me why I should believe that Wisconsin “gets it”. I’m sure not seeing it.
Every election I always see Wisconsin does “just enough” to support the Dim. Every. Single. One.
..To: 1912comebackEverything I`ve read about Kohl`s seat is that it`s Feingold`s for the taking, and the few polls taken reflect that sentiment. Much of Wisconsin (not all) apparently longs for the “good old days” of being pinned by the neck to the floor under the union thugs` jackboot.
Paul Krugman: The President Surrenders
The New York Times ^ | July 31, 2011 | Paul Krugman
Posted on Sunday, July 31, 2011 11:25:53 PM by 2ndDivisionVet
A deal to raise the federal debt ceiling is in the works. If it goes through, many commentators will declare that disaster was avoided. But they will be wrong.
For the deal itself, given the available information, is a disaster, and not just for President Obama and his party. It will damage an already depressed economy; it will probably make America’s long-run deficit problem worse, not better; and most important, by demonstrating that raw extortion works and carries no political cost, it will take America a long way down the road to banana-republic status.
Start with the economics. We currently have a deeply depressed economy. We will almost certainly continue to have a depressed economy all through next year. And we will probably have a depressed economy through 2013 as well, if not beyond.
The worst thing you can do in these circumstances is slash government spending, since that will depress the economy even further. Pay no attention to those who invoke the confidence fairy, claiming that tough action on the budget will reassure businesses and consumers, leading them to spend more. It doesn’t work that way, a fact confirmed by many studies of the historical record.
Indeed, slashing spending while the economy is depressed won’t even help the budget situation much, and might well make it worse.....***************************************************
Is he obtuse or insane?1 posted on Sunday, July 31, 2011 11:25:58 PM by 2ndDivisionVet
.
To: 2ndDivisionVetQuit whining Krugman.The most interesting part of the article is what Krugman did not assert. He never stated, as far as I can tell, that there should have been a tax increase. Also, boy genius stated that now is not the time to cut spending because we are in a poor economy, AND he stated that this bill does not solve our debt problem.
He should crack open a book on economics, not open an economic crack book.
To: 2ndDivisionVet
tub o' goo
16 posted on Sunday, July 31, 2011 11:36:23 PM by BookmanTheJanitor
To: Gator113Here’s where I’d be if I had the funds to move:
Wassamatter, bunky? Invisible hand of the free market hasn't made ya rich yet? Well, obviously the solution is more tax breaks for corporations, and to turn your Govermnent Pension into a 401K.
41 posted on Sunday, July 31, 2011 11:57:41 PM by 2ndDivisionVet (I'll raise $2million for Gov. Sarah Palin. What'll you do?)..To: 2ndDivisionVetHave you been to the Philippines? My neighbor goes there on business and I can't remember what he said about it but it wasn't very good. You can't drink the water or it is not safe for you to travel around,
To: Freeport“...no welfare, looser building codes, no minimum wage, and few restrictions on weapons.”
Oh no, they are trying to re-create Somalia!
31 posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 2:26:52 PM by silverleaf (The super rich do not pay taxes, they collect taxes.)
One of the first blog-based books, the anthology Special Plans examines Feith's role in misleading America into war. Buy from 
Scott Walker for President??????
You guys are supposed to put the bubble mixture INTO the bathwater, not drink it in hopes of farting out a fairyland.
whisper/ Hey, let's take up a colleciton to get Tommy a new ISO suit, one with the sports package, spoiler and cd changer. The stains on his old one are NEVER gonna come out. Don't tell him, though. /whisper
Posted by: left rev.; proud cheesehead | August 22, 2011 at 09:18
The problem with Dale Schultz is that even if he flips, Tim Cullen has made it clear that he will be supporting the Repubicans all the way in a misguided show of Obamaesque conceding before the fight even begins. I am despondent over the future of the state and the country. The Democrats just don't even begin to get it.
Posted by: Aaaargh | August 22, 2011 at 11:11
the rite is getting o the terminal stage.
Posted by: pansypoo | August 22, 2011 at 11:50
left Rev, Quite on the point. I don't know about WI, but here in MO they just outlawed the "bath salts" that are supposed to give you a high. ;-)
Failing upward. Peter Principle. Etc. ?????????
Posted by: MapleStreet | August 22, 2011 at 15:50
If he and his wife would have bothered to sign his petition themselves he would have reached 400. He ended up with 398. His lawyer tried to argue that when he signed the bottom of a form, as a petition gatherer, that should have counted. The judge said “no”, but that still would have left him at 399. What a maroon.
And can’t bother to sign his own petition.
Tommy’s been running around putting duct tape on everything he can see.
That means people who don’t have a snowball’s chance in Hell of getting nominated.
And there’s the rub. Those are the only ones they do run.
Bachmann-Palin Overdrive!
Ummm, maybe that’s because Wisconsin does get it, and every time they let it be just close enough that you’ll come back for another kick at the football?
Hmmm, the Nobel Prize committee seems to have had a different opinion of Krugman’s grasp of economics.
--Kibitzer
Posted by: Kibitzer 2006 | August 23, 2011 at 02:03