AN ELECTION MOMENT
The results in Wisconsin in Tuesday's election are obviously a repudiation and shot across the bow to Governor Scott Walker. I hope he is paying attention to what the people have clearly stated, and not just acting as a delivery boy for the Koch Brothers and other wealthy supporters who tried to take the state away from the people. Don't gloat, Democrats, don't act like the arrogant right-wingers who see elections as victories for their ideology and not a way to help the people.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court race was expected to be an overwhelming victory for David Porsser. The primary election had him winning in a landslide. JoAnne Kloppenburg was a very weak candidate. She had been by-passed for a judgeship nomination by both President Obama and Democratic Governor Jim Doyle. She has never been a judge. She has a dull personality. Yet she is now running neck-to-neck with Prosser. That tells us a great deal. If an extremely weak candidate can run so closely in an election with a man who served on the Supreme Court for over ten years and had the infusion of hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars in just the last several days, well that is evidence of a strong rejection of the Republican actions of recent weeks. Prosser even had said that a vote for him would help in carrying out Walker's plans. Are you now paying attention? Please, Justice Prosser, no more calling women on the Supreme Coury "bitches." Start acting like a Justice on the state's highest court.
In the Milwaukee County Executive race, the anti-Walker vote resulted in a 2/3 vote against him. Walker had held this office before ascending the golden throne of Governor [in his own mind, that is]. Once again, a candidate with no prior elected office experience [Chris Abele], a man convicted of two drunk driving convictions [and failing to even show up in court], a man who could not have won this position at any other time, got almost 2/3 of the vote. Amazing. Jeff Stone, Abele's opponent, very much identified himself with Walker. This outcome was stunning. Stone had some pretty impressive credentials and lots of experience in elected office and business.
I talked to some of the leaders in the drive to obtain a recall election of State Senator Alberta Darling. They told me that they have just about met the number of signatures, and are intending to have many more than the minimum required. That is indeed good news. Even if she were not to be recalled, it is further acknowledgement that there is a voters revolt underway.
Scott Walker has just been elected Governor, and he cannot be recalled ...yet. Otherwise there would be a strong grassroots movement to petition to have that happen.
Since the rise of Scott Walker to the Governor's Mansion, people who voted for him are having a change of heart. A revolt is definitely brewing in Wisconsin. This is good. I hope it does not lose steam. Let's see if the state Republicans and those from outside the state who financed the right-wing candidates, received a cold shower from this election and will move to be conciliatory and more level-headed.
No gloating. The work is ahead of us. None of us should lose interest. Wisconsin needs real leadership, or at least a leader who starts paying attention to the needs of the people and the state.
