Pastafarian
You are right, that went out the window when the GAB's Doyle appointed liberal retired judges decided to call the Hansen recall for the Democrats.
I'll still take 19 next Tuesday. But doesn't matter really. Your side is out 31-35 million depending on the site you read and lost 3 times now to control our state.

Majority - this is what democracy REALLY looks like.

kaysbrew, I thought these recalls were going to give the Republicans a quorum. You said so. Dose everything you say carry this much weight?
I think it does.

Kapanke is in a blue area no doubt but Hoppers seat is just out on loan for 31 billion dollars. Nov 2012 will be back in GOP hands.

Two more to gain 8/16.
And the crown jewels of Olsen and Darling are safe in spite of Obama directly telling them they are out due to their vote.
Yet, no smear ad for any of these Republicans did the liberals mention collective bargaining.
And Obama won't run on his terrible record either, counting on the by standers and minions to vote for him. Hey, it's all he's got.

Spoken like a true liberal referencing the only libertarian any of you know of in Rand, one whose works I find somewhat unrefined. But thanks for making my point in that using partisan rhetoric seems to be the only way anyone communicates here. I would also like to thank you for displaying another pillar of liberal insanity, over dramatics, it played so well at the capital last spring I am sure your continued use will make a real difference. Have a great day!

Eagle1, you are such a nightmare and threat to Wisconsin liberals and democrats, we just might all move out now that we know you live here. I fear once you start laying out all of that Ayn Rand libertarianism and infinite wisdom about the producers and the parasites choice and responsibility, and oh FREEDOM we will all bow and cower in your shining magnificance.

I find it hilarious that nobody on either side ever actually uses anything but partisan rhetoric on this site to make a point. As someone that lived in California during the Gray Davis years and had no support for him, I did not support the recall in 2003 my opinion was you should have beaten him in 2002 with a better candidate than Bill Symon. Wisconsin democrats I say the same to you, Walker did not mince words on his goals last year, anyone paying attention would have seen that he was going after public employee unions, his track record in Milwaukee county showed that. But instead you chose to run your own Bill Symon. Tom Barrett a candidate that had to be persuaded to run. Seeing how my democrat friends acted on election night it was a given a recall was coming, despite our current situation of a balanced budget, repayment to raided funds and Minnesota, no layoffs or loss of services and holy crap surpluses in school districts across the state and according to former candidate Barrett even in the city of Milwaukee. The pure partisan BS normally displayed by both sides is currently monopolized by the democrats. What will you do when Walker defeats a recall? People who lost jobs, pay their insurance and retirement saw how the public unions reacted to fiscal responsibility and you have seen the result so far. My decision to move back to Wisconsin last year was based somewhat on the change I saw in state government, I left the tax and spend hell but was happy to return 11 years later.I am sure the dems on here will blast me with class warfare and partisan bs, let me give you a little insight, I have two degrees and make 25% less than the average teacher plus pay my own benefits, oh and I am a registered libertarian truly a liberals worst nightmare.

RAF, in order for Republicans to break even they needed to survive all six recalls. They did not. Certainly this was not the ultimate victory democrats wanted or needed, nor are they pretending ultimate victory here. But ask Kapanke or Hopper if they won. Democrats lost zero seats. Keep loving and having fun though - it's a liberal concept.

The dems failed record...lost a US senate seat, lost 2 us house seats, lost the state governor seat, lost the majority in the assembly (by a huge margin), lost the majority in the senate, lost the election for supreme court justice, lost the recount effort for the supreme court office, lost the legal wranglings over legislation........yet winning 2 of the 6 targeted seats (33%) is a victory. I love watching liberals do math and claim victories.

"Funny that you label Madison as "dysfunctionally liberal". It also happens to be the community with the lowest unemployment rate in the state"
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It also employees the largest group of tax payer funded positions...the same ones that never get laid off or rarely fired.

Yes, the people spoke -- and the margins were close. We need cooperation and bipartisan leadership, not a "bull in the china closet."

The people have spoken, and next week we will speak again. Dems thought they had the momentum, but again, they didn't. Dems and their "everybody is a winner" mentality is what the media is reporting today. Is Walker worried about his future? Not in the least. You don't go into battle worrying about dying, you go into battle with one intent - destroy your opponent. Politics is the last non-PC bloodsport left folks, and it will always be that way. Walker tells a reporter that he would like to try this/that, much like Obama does the same. Posturing is all it is, rhetoric and posturing. Once we accept the fact that our govt. is no longer about we the people, but rather one dollar equals one voice, we will be that much closer to restoring the original intent of what our founding fathers created.

My aging mother told me the other day, that despite all her health problems and the recent decline in her health, she wants to stick around long enough to make sure that Walker booted out of office! He definately makes her blood pressure shoot up and we try not to talk politics with her too much.

I thought the 3rd time was a charm? Apparently not when you're talking about democrats! For the 3rd time, your side pulled out all the stops and lost. Lastnight, it wasn't even close. Give up and move on! You have a presedential election to lose next.

hiredgun - In case you have forgotten, the people spoke with regards to Feingold during the elections also.

Before Republicans get excited about these results, they should realise that two of their ilk representing Republican leaning districts were booted out. Walker will now have to face recall involving ALL the Wisconsin districts. He should expect much larger anti-Walker margins in the Democratic districts and closer margins in the others. This doeas not bode well for him if the Dems can get a credible candidate to run against him--like maybe Russ Finegold.
Beam yourself outa here Scotty!

The people have spoken again.

"Walker: Results show voters want bipartisanship"

It's too bad that it took recall elections to get this thru Walker's thick skull.

Good luck with that!

Pop! I just heard a bubble burst!

I think every one here is forgetting that there is still one more election next Tuesday. The two Democrat Senators are in districts that could go either way. If the Republicans gain both, they will have lost nothing. 19 count majority.
If the Democrats win, they have won nothing. Still do not have majority, the "all in" day was today.

Recall Walker? I don't think so at this point. Do you really think the unions and other powerful professional interest groups are going to give up Pres. Obama resources for that recall? No, I don't think so.

Obama 2012-End Of An Error

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.
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You should have folded. Would have saved everyone a bunch of $$$$.

SarahB1: With all due respect ... Madison should have a low unemployment rate with the tremendous number of workers involved in the government, universities, and hospitals. These are areas where employment has been growing. Government has led the growth in the past decade while manufacturing goes overseas. Why? Well in part because they tax citizens and print money to pay for their growth. They are not competing against the rest of the world in selling a product such as a vehicle, clothing, electronics, etc. In truth, as high as unemployment is in Madison at this time just shows how bad the entire economy is. No longer a case of always being able to find a job in Madison if you want one. In fact, a friend of mine just lost her job at Dean Health Care there through cutbacks

Iriss said, "MOUSE... Ok...$5000.00 if Scott Walker loses a recall Election. Last Chance."
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Iriss, what happened to you? Just a few days ago you were preaching about the immorality of homosexuality. And now you're proposing an illegal, and presumably immoral, bet and using a public utility and common carrier (phone or cable company) to do it -- that makes it two crimes.

Scott Walker says the voters want bipartisanship? Is that a joke? Neither him nor the hardcore Dems know what that means.

Now that WE THE PEOPLE (sorry, just couldn't resist the CapsLock key there) have affirmed our desire for the current healthy public policy we have begun enjoying under the Walker administration, it's time to work up a shopping list of additional reforms to apply to Wisconsin before the RNC drafts Governor Walker for the Presidential race in 2016.

We should also look into ways and means to mainstream a dysfunctionally liberal Madison, and to a lesser extent, Milwaukee back toward political and social normalcy.

Next year, I'm hopeful that we will have a successful recall election against Senator Cullen and the other legislators who fled to Illinois that weren't eligible this year. Running away is not serving (SELF-serving perhaps).

Amazing, Walker finally realizes Wisconsin doesn't want him! His removal next year is the quickest path to bi-partisanship -- a Republican house and senate - a Democratic governor. Walker is finally making some sense but it cost the Republican party 2 seats in the Senate to convince him.
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GmaDonnaLadyLiberty, what happened to your pre-election statistical analysis that all of your senators were "safe."

Walker talking bipartisanship?! I think Scooter can see the handwriting on his recall wall.

It seems like the Dem's pulled out all the stops to get Kloppenberg elected and it failed . The Dem's also went all in on these recall elections and it failed . They will be stubborn and continue on the path to recall Walker and (IMO) it will likely fail also . Then when 2012 comes around if Walker's plan actually works and the budget is balanced who will the people in the middle (not Lib's or Cons.) vote for ? It will be quite revealing...

Geesh,
Some people just can't see the writing on the wall.......
Next they will be thinking they can re call Santa Clause....
You lost.
Now buck up and start planning for next voting season. You already blew a big bunch on this thing...

This is where "4 of 6 Republicans winning" doesn't describe the whole story. In this case it is terrible news for the GOP. Republicans cannot win something they already had - control. They could only survive or lose it and by all accounts, they were very lucky to survive and keep control. This was not one recall to win a percentage of but six individual recalls. Ask Kapanke or Hopper if they think they won or Republicans "won." No Democrats lost their seats and they gained two at the expense of republicans. Bu if Republicans call this a 66% winning ratio - keep winning you republicans.

Have seen next to nothing on the Gazette on vote totals .... Found out on Eysters blog that 4 of 6 Republicans won. Heard on national news that one of the Republicans that was defeated lost by 742 votes or something like that. Anyone know if that person is calling for a recount? Would seem reasonable if Kloppenburg could have the taxpayers pay for a recount when she was 10 times that many votes behind. Any true information would be appreciated. I spend part of my time in an area where there is a Democratic recall election next week. So unfortunately, I still have a week of airways bombarded by untruthful, partial truth, misleading ads by both parties and their outside big money supporters.

I believe that bipartisonship according to the Democratic mind is, I will work with you as long as you DO IT MY WAY and ask no questions.

Mouse take your pills and go lay down. You remember what the vet said.

I think Scott is correct about voters wanting "bi-partisanship", the problem with his contention, I dont think he knows what that means. I think the better word would be non-partisanship would be a better route. That was in a class taught after he dropped out of college.

Of course most reasonable, contributing members of society want compromise. No single group has all the answers. But riddle me this, Where is it written that to compromise, conservatives have to give in to liberals? At some point good judgement and humility must prevail with our leaders. "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

JoyM, but who's going to pay for the $1.1 billion in increased spending? You don't care if you pay more in taxes as long as you feel assured the money isn't being used to pay good wages and benefits to public employees? That is borderline hate. Because you don't receive those wages and benefits? Do you want everyone to have the same pay and benefits as you or the other guy? That smacks of communism.

I think either side declaring "victory" is deluding itself. This is hardly a "mandate" for the Walker agenda...2 incumbent Republicans in heavily Republican Senate Districts were defeated. That is unprecedented. It is also not a landslide for the Democrats who failed (by one) to gain a majority in the Senate.

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What the "silent majority" wants is for both sides to stop pandering to the extreme elements in their base. Find the middle ground. Compromise. It is time for Walker and his Tea Party cronies to abandon the hard line and start working with the Democrats. Time for the Democrats to also give in some.

Pastafarian, I don't even know what ALEC is so, I guess I'm not one of its elite members, and I don't follow links others post, just for computer safety, so no, I didn't read about it.
youkillme, my take home pay is the same now as it was earlier in the year, so I think my tax rate hasn't changed, at least not in terms of what Wisconsin has told employers to withhold. So, no, technically I am not richer, but so far not poorer, either. And, as I said, the same amount of premium dollars are going to the insurance companies, so maybe all that is happening is that Walker is backfilling his spending by having the public sector pay more for their benefits. What I do know is that I should not have to work until 70 or beyond so that public sector employees can retire at 55 or the like because the money I would have used to fund my own pension has been sucked out of my paycheck to fund theirs. They don't work any harder than I do that they should get to stop working earlier, and they don't get paid so much less that they shouldn't have to contribute to their own pension and insurance. (Note I say contribute to, not completely self-fund.)

JoyM how did this benefit you personally? Did you get a tax break that the middle class did not receive? Maybe you are a member of ALEC? It's those people and corporations that got all the goodies.
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/...

peb1127 writes --"Does the left really think a potential corporation that is considering moving to Wisconsin doesn’t consider the financial benefits that the state can offer figures prominently in that decision."-----------------What are the financial benefits the state can offer? Who pays for those benefits? Are you a Socialist?

Government pays for it's spending by taking money out of the taxpayer's pocket. Walker increased spending by $1.1 billion. JoyM, how is that you will have more money to spend on other things OF YOUR CHOOSING? Explain how that works.

These recall results speak for the silent majority of voters who want to give Walker’s plan a chance to succeed. The unions have done their shouting sessions and rallies at the Capital thinking that were intimidating and speaking for the majority of Wisconsin taxpayers…WRONG! The left doesn’t even want to consider the possibility that the budget plan may actually work which means the budget would be balanced and taxes aren’t increased. While I recognize that the way the Governor pushed this through was surprising, I feel it was necessary because we have such a financial hole to dig out of that was left by the Doyle administration.

As far as the collective bargain issue, does anyone actually believe that every teacher union in the state would have agreed to the financial concessions? Our own teachers union president here has made it clear that the JV teachers are unwilling to open the contract. What a bunch of hypocrites! I’m curious, why aren’t the teachers unions up there during the summer for a symbolic protest? Could it be because they can’t call in sick and get paid for deserting the students in the classroom? The opposition agrees that cuts have to be made….just don’t any of OUR benefits. That’s really sacrificing. Here’s a news flash; a lot of people that work in the private industry actually don’ have taxpayer subsidized benefits so when the unions want taxpayers to pay more in a tough economy, it falls on deaf ears.

Not only will I sign Cullen’s recall petition but I will speak to as many people as I can about ousting him. I hope there are plenty of commercials on TV that remind us all about the Senators who fled and decided to make their decision which is their job when that’s what they get paid to do. I see a few “ recall walker” bumper stickers on cars around town. I hope that effort is not paid for by the taxpayers and fails miserably.

Does the left really think a potential corporation that is considering moving to Wisconsin doesn’t consider the financial benefits that the state can offer figures prominently in that decision. Those jobs could be middle class, decent paying wages in manufacturing , but we don’t want those, unless their union, right?

Posterguy, I looked up my password just to answer you. That $47 million (your number, not mine) was always going to the insurance companies - but now it's not coming straight out of the taxpayers' pockets. The insurance companies aren't getting any richer because of Walker - but I'm a little less poor because of him. And now I can spend my money on other things OF MY OWN CHOOSING, which means other people get paid to provide a service or a product to me, which means they can spend money on other things OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING.... Do you understand how that works yet?

These recalls were mostly in solid 70/30 - 65/35 republican districts. Only one race was won by republicans in that range. Walker's the big fish - he's in deep, deep trouble.

Call the Wambulance!!!!!!

The Democrats are delusional

Yes, we want bipartisanship. We do not want a small group of extreme right-wing republicans ramming through a corporate-first agenda on the people of this state. Beginning August 26th, 175,000 state and public employees will see a combined cut to their paychecks of about $47 million per month going straight to insurance companies. How does this help the economy?! Unemployment is up since Walker took office. How does this help the economy?!

Thank you to the Wisconsinites for turning out (in a lot of areas) in record numbers to show their support/vote for a better Wisconsin.
I have to say I was a little disapointed with the Democrate side for not addressing at anytime durning the recall election the true reason for the recall, the collective bargain issue. If you felt so strong about it than why campaign for it?

I believe "bipartisanship" is what most of the citizens of Wisconsin have been expecting and asking for all along. Why the revelation now?

50/50?? only the Hopper race that will be much harder for you democrats in 2012. They are basically renting that seat for a few months.

The unions are going to hard press to convince people to poor yet another 31 million dollars to take out a Governor in a state that has clearly flipped red.

Yea it doesnt say how close the races were, practicaly 50/50. His time will come. What jobs does he keep spewing about? Minimum wage jobs you cant support a family on? Whatever!

For sale mouse: one Recall Walker t-shirt for you, price 31 million dollars.

The Republican victory overall was 53%. One more percent then Walker's 2010 victory. All 6 districts were won by Obama in 2008.

You message mouse is for losers.

Time now to move the Walker Agenda forward.

Singing the praise on high!!!

The voters of Wisconsin have spoken . . . again. Governor Walker, be strong and keep fighting for the taxpayers and job seekers of our state. Keep showing the rest of the country how to balance a budget, control spending and taxes and encourage business to relocate here. Washington, are you watching?