The arrogance of out of state Union money, distorts reality. The good people of Wisconsin will stand with Scott Walker and keep him in office.

I like when Patch comes together like this to give us an overview of what's going on. Thanks, Patch! Can't be easy!

Even the left wing rag, The Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel pointed out the early successes of Walker's policies. If left to fulfill his campaign promises Walker will transform this state for the betterment of ALL its citizens, not just those in the unions as in the past. That is actually the impetus behind their selfish drive to recall Walker. Walker's success has gained national attention and if allowed to achieve his potential it could spell doom for many unions both within and outside of Wisconsin. The unions will pour millions of out of state money into this pointless campaign that makes about as much sense as the foolish "occupy" movement.

@Michael - while I think unions being tamed is a good thing for Wisconsin and America I think to call the impetus for the Occupy movement "foolish" is very short sided of you. What American's are blind and reluctant to see is that the "economic meltdown" of 2008 that has devastated our country, ruined our credit standing, cost millions of people their jobs, homes and retirement savings and has had a ripple effect throughout the world, was in fact one huge ponzi scheme. Washington turned its back and let the financial sector commit fraud, gamble with risky investments, duck all rgulation and standards and become predators. Why? Because between campaign donations, lobbyists, free loans and the promise of jobs inthe private sector, our politicians (at EVERY level) were involved. After they crash the market and wipe out our jobs and savings, congress rams through a massive bailout on our dime. After they are bailed out they are allowed to go back to their scrupulous ways without one person being prosecuted or punished. Now it's back to business as usual. In 30 years all the huge expansion of prosperity has gone to the top. They call middle class and poor people "takers" Well our government has taken from us and given to the rich for three decades. What makes it worse is when I hear middle class republicans defend tax breaks for the wealthy and call any effort to have them do their fair share socialism. We've been played and used for 30 years. That's the genesis of Occupy...

Do they really think the people of Wisconsin want to go back to the days of budget deficits, over-spending, stealing money from one fund to cover another, increased fees and taxes?
Governor Walker fixed all this just by having public employee union members contribute what is still less than what most private sector employees do to their own benefits.

jw

I used to be a Democrat but I grew up and am now a Republican - a conservative person. I wish the liberals would grow up also. They are making Wisconsin look ridiculous spending their time and money on a recall when they could be volunteering in the city of Milwaukee and elsewhere. Use your talents wisely! Governor Doyle did not know how to save money and move our state forward. Governor Walker is doing just that and we should feel proud.

This constant cycle of eternal elections has to stop. That is why we have regular election cycles. Let them work. We cannot have recall elections everytime someone does not like a policy or vote. Who pays for all of this. I do not see outside interests, either left or right, repaying the state and indirectly me for the costs of running these recalls and extra elections.

For the folks saying "Let him do his job," don't overlook the fact that unemployment has RISEN 10% in WI since Gov. Walker took power. If we "let him do his job" until the end of his term this number will balloon. He isn't concerned about jobs. He's concerned about an extreme right wing social agenda (e.g. abstinence only education, which is sure to add millions to the welfare rolls) and demolishing unions to stack the deck in favor of Koch-type money funnelers so that Democrats structurally can't compete in elections. It's transparent and profane to sqay the least.

Milwaukee Journal Editorial Board would beg very much to differ with it being called a "Left Wing Rag." Please google Milwaukee Journal Editorial Board.

WALKER LIED:....he said he would balance our budget and cure the deficit..Based on the comments in here I'm sure he didnt do that.......or did he ???
JGK
Shorewood (River West Annex)

Terry, you misread my comments. The unions want Walker recalled because his success will expose their hipocracy and obsolesence. There's no connection to the "occupy" movements except their pointless rhetoric. I think ALL Wisconsinites as ALL Americans should be concerned by this growing polarization of the parties, the brewing class war and a left wing acceptance of truly socialistic ideals introduced by our unions and their puppet President of the USA. Do we want a Democracy or Socialism for our children?

Jenny, I stand corrected, The Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel Sports, Cue, Ads, and Food sections show no political bias whatsoever.

Steve..just what is an "extreme right wing social agenda?" Allowing school districts to manage their own budgets and employees without union interference and threats of a walk out? Is accountability for ones own performance without an overwhelmingly powerful union at their backs what frightens the left? Not raising taxes? I realize thats a foreign concept for the left (especially Doyle supporters). Balancing the budget and living within our means during a national recession? Is that too "extreme?" Creating a tax friendly environment to draw business and jobs to Wisconsin...is that too extreme too? Walker has been in office for one year. He has worked to better the State for us all. He has broken no laws...the recall effort is groundless and is an "extreme left wing social agenda."

Did these people at Walkers house take a day of vacation, get a slip from the nurse,
a note from Mom (or union rep) or are they just out of work....or, better yet...getting paid for the day...Those unions are great...
JGK
River West Annex (Shorewood)

I don't live in Wisconsin but in Seattle. I grew up in Milwaukee & attended UW-Madison before moving west. I have to weigh in on the Scott Walker issue.

Those of us who view this from the outside are appalled at Walker's controversial decisions and feel his turncoat legislation and autocratic gov't is troubling. It's also out of the norm that a governor would derail union benefits vs negotiate. I'm surprised that legal entities haven't initiated lawsuits against his administration. In Washington state our Governor wouldn't do this. She did bargain with employees to reduce benefits to save jobs and are concerned about unemployed and poor people. WA state also works to bring in new industry to build our economy and create jobs. We suffer as you do in Wisconsin with budget deficits and reductions in programs. They found money for training programs and pay tuition for unemployed to return to school. Jobless rate in Seattle and State is > 9%!

Washington and Seattle are generally liberal as we have some of the world's major tech and other companies who provide jobs and pay healthy taxes. We also pay high sales taxes of over 9% too. We have Republicans in Eastern Washington, but most aren't as extreme as Walker.

Walker is a right-wing Republican who probably gets support from the right-wing Koch Brothers, Prosperity for America. They have tremendous influence in politics, starting the tea party and trying to get rid of Obama.
I wish you luck with your efforts!

It appears we're not doing as well as the Walker ads proclaim. This was reported yesterday: "Wisconsin lost an estimated 9,300 private-sector jobs in October in the state's fourth consecutive month of job declines, according to the state Department of Workforce Development....Abdur Chowdhury, chairman of the economics department at Marquette University in Milwaukee, noted that Wisconsin lost private-sector jobs during the same months that the national economy added private-sector positions, albeit haltingly."

Cathy...they're called workers "benefits" they're not "rights." One may have a Constitutional "right" to be part of a union with collective bargaining benefits...but an employer, like the State of Wisconsin also has a Constitutional right to decide whether they will or will not abide by that power shift in employee negotiations. Benefits can be legally recinded and/or changed by an employer at the end of a contract and if no contract exists then at free will. That is, and what has been done in the private sector for a couple decades or longer. Why is it so gosh darn hard for some on the left to realize that? Collective bargaining power was abused by the unions and finally someone stood up for the State to limit its powers. Frankly, the State could no longer afford the cycle of rasing taxes to keep pace. On jobs, personally speaking, regardless of which side of the aisle you prefer, regardless of the level of government, it IS the employers, those corporations under attack for just about everything, that create the jobs and actually HIRE people, NOT those politicians that promise those jobs to help them all get elected. Its a buzz word. So, creating a employer friendly environment to encourage the employers to hire and/or move to Wisconsin is about all Walker or any politician can do. In that regard Walker is already surpassing what Doyle did.

I welcome this new group to the fold. Thank you.

http://democurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2011/11/more-merrier-another-recall-group-hits.html

Saturday, November 19, 2011

More the Merrier! Another Recall Group Hits the Streets.
From Channel3000:

A second group filed paperwork with state election officials on Friday aiming to seek out Republicans and independents in the effort to recall Gov. Scott Walker. The Walker Recall PAC's treasurer, Randy Bryce, of Racine, delivered the papers to the GAB late Friday. It's the second group to start a serious effort against the governor, behind United Wisconsin, which filed Tuesday.

Bryce, a union ironworker, said his group will seek signatures from independents and Republicans who are upset with the governor. "We're specifically targeting independents," he said. "There are Republicans who have changed their minds since they last cast a ballot, and we're going to be reaching out to those people -- people whose doors aren't knocked on." Bryce said his small group will not be able to gather hundreds of thousands of signatures itself, but said he hoped to collaborate with United Wisconsin. "I can't see why we wouldn't," he said. "If they don't have enough and they need some more, well, here you go. It's kind of like an insurance policy."

Republicans are hypocrites. Some participated in Recalls of Democrat US Senators because of their position on abortion. Now they cry that we can not do a recall because no crime has been committed by Walker. tsk tsk!!

http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2011/11/wisconsin-gop-leaders-have-loved-recall.html

Sunday, November 20, 2011
Wisconsin GOP Leaders Have Loved The Recall Process

..........let's not forget that Neumann signed and spoke in favor of recall petitions in 1997 circulated unsuccessfully by abortion foes against US Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl, ,,,,

2 Senators Face Recall Effort In the Midwest.
April 22, 1997|By From Tribune News Services.

CEDARBURG, WISCONSIN — U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann has signed a petition to recall both of Wisconsin's senators, including one whom he likely will challenge in next year's election.

Speaking at the state Lutherans for Life Convention here on the weekend, the Janesville Republican urged the audience of about 140 to sign petitions to recall Democratic U.S. Sens. Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl. ....

A separate report also says Walker received money from the group after its failed effort.

And, of course, Walker walked into the County Executive office in Milwaukee after a successful recall of then-incumbent Tom Ament, and even made a glitzy spot about that
"extraordinary thing" for his gubernatorial campaign.

See and copy it, here, before it disappears.