The recall election occurring Tuesday in Wisconsin is being carefully observed because it is expected to be a microcosmic representation of what can be expected in the general election in November.
All the elements are present; strong Tea Party influences, along with equally strong Union representation and politicking. Fiscally conservative austerity budgeting is juxtaposed with more liberal spending advocacy. Massive amounts of cash are being infused for both sides from entities unrelated to Wisconsin politics.
At the heart of the election is the recall of the Governor, Scott Walker, who has had the audacity to pretty much do exactly what he said he would do if elected, get tough with unions. Obviously there are other issues in the election, but this is the one that motivated Walker’s opponents to take the unusual step of garnering enough support to force a recall election rather than the more conventional approach of waiting for him to complete his term. Tom Barrett, the man running against Walker, is ironically not the unions’ first choice, and has already been defeated by Walker in the original election, but is back for a second bite at the apple.
Walker is running ahead in the polls, and is expected to win, but it is the margin of victory that is a concern to national parties, as this will be a measure of the strength of public sentiment, and also an initiation of momentum going forward. Anything more than a 5 point victory is bad news for Democrats, a Walker loss is bad news for Republicans, and anything in between is probably a wash.
With some of the events occurring in Europe, the election of the Socialist President Hollande in France, and the backlash against austerity measures in Greece; it will be interesting to see if this more liberal wave will reach the shores of the US, or if the belt-tightening approach advocated by Paul Ryan and Tea Party types will win the day. Of course the rhetoric of the presidential candidates will continue to moderate toward the center on occasions, but all concerned realize that the real power and money is at the poles, not in the middle, and increasingly the electorate is demanding a stand be taken.
As in marriage, the best policy between political parties is cooperation. But again as in marriage, that only works when both parties share a common vision and are basically moving in the same direction. If the vision and goals of the parties becomes too dissimilar and possibly even diametrically opposed, then an attempt at cooperation is futile, and the war begins. Pacifism is an ineffective strategy when someone is trying to destroy you. In divorce there are no winners, but nice guys always lose.
As I anxiously wait for Tuesday, it boggles my mind the ridicule Scott Walker has received. As you mentioned, he is doing exactly what he was elected to do and yet the Unions and Democratic Party are acting like they have been swept off their feet in complete surprise. Imagine the nerve of this guy, lowering deficits and taxes and creating jobs no less! No wonder they want him removed.
The part that really bothers me is this “attack on collective bargaining” is nothing more than aligning Union pensions & benefit contributions with that of the public sector… you know the one’s that pay for those salaries and benefits. Anything else is just rhetoric.
Bashing Walker as a radical supporter of the TEA Party is also pathetic as though they are so far right they are falling off the edge of the earth. “Taxed Enough Already” is hardly a radical statement. Conservative values, spending within your means, and smaller government is a threat to the wellbeing of our country??? Please!!!
Win Scott Walker, WIN!!!