The more I look at the conditions and environment for recalling Governor Walker, the more I am convinced that now is not the right time for such an action.
Polls show the state is split down the middle with the Walker supporters currently holding a slight edge, 49 percent supporters and 48 percent non-supporters. At this point to gain even a slight majority in a state wide election would be very difficult if not impossible. Although, I think the non-supporters can garner enough signatures to force a recall — but that is not winning the election.
Currently the Democrats do not have a powerful enough candidate to run against the governor. The potential candidates with the greatest statewide name recognition have already declined to run. Who do the Democrats have that can make a credible run? At this point I would say no one and to create a candidate starting at ground zero is expensive and risky.
Another issue that impacts the likelihood of mounting a successful recall is that the governor’s policies have, pretty much, only had minimal impact on the day-to-day lives of the citizenry. The stories of doom and gloom put forth by his opponents have largely yet to materialize. The average citizen has not yet seen their schools shut down, class sizes blossom, a drop off in public services, or any other noticeable negative impact. The only fly in the ointment for the governor is that the state is still under performing in job creation and he has been successfully able to pass that on as a problem at the federal level and not at the level of the state.
In addition to the other issues so far raised is the money the governor has attracted to fend off a recall. Money has been flowing into his coffers like water flowing over Niagara Falls. His local supporters are opening their wallets in record numbers. Also , the size of the contributions is not limited for the 60-day period while collecting signatures. If and when a recall finally occurs, the governor will have accumulated an unprecedented war chest. The Democrats will have a difficult time matching it during a presidential election year and a major run for the open .
As many of you that have followed my positions will attest, I am no supporter of Governor Walker. I would like nothing better than to see him kicked out of office. I find his philosophical and ideological positions to be a plutocratic and oligarchy focused. For me, his election was achieved under dubious conditions; whereas, he did not fully disclose his plans for breaking the public employee unions or the vilification of public sector workers. I still feel that if he had been open and honest with his plans that Tom Barrett would now be governor. Although he claims his actions are for the welfare of the state, it is obvious that his actions were in fact, political maneuvers to enhance his power and the likelihood that the Republican Party would continue to hold onto power in the state.
My approach to neutralizing the governor would employ the following strategy: I would go ahead and collect the signatures necessary to command a recall. However, the last day of signature collection I would not submit the signatures to the Government Accountability Board. I would forgo the recall election at this time. What will have happened is that the governor would have accumulated all this money with nowhere to spend it. I, in turn, would concentrate all my cash and effort into winning back control of the State Legislature and retaining the U.S. Senate seat. Also, by waiting to recall the governor it will buy time for the governor’s policies to finally fail or show no progress. It is pretty certain that the problems with his plans will begin to crop up before the general election a year from now. After the general election, if it so warrants, he can then be recalled and it will have a higher likelihood of unseating him.
More importantly is that Walker was more than sly and conniving when he ran for office --- he was upfront about the high speed rail (which has cost our state millions of dollars and thousands of jobs) --- but the first actions he took were never on his campaign agenda --- the war against public employees and unions. His selling of offices and positions for either contributions or political favors have almost reached the point to make Cook County appear to be a virtue of Clean Government. On a micro scale --- I was happy to see the gasoline spill and controversy in Shorewood ---NOT because I enjoy pollution, but as an example of the kind of damage on a macro scale that Walker is encouraging in his fight against environmental laws and regulations in his coat tail kissing to the Wisconsin Realtors Association and the WI Manufactures Assoc. Yes -- he is fooling most of the folks (barely) at this time -- but these actions will catch up with him in time to make a Recall successful. And in the unlikely case it is not successful --- it will still have a chilling effect upon the Republican juggernaut that will be disfragmented in trying to protect their seats and his.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19236454
These new high speed train line projects are highly speculative in nature. They are not in response to demonstrable demand, like the roadway improvements. Also, I would not bother with the MAD leg of the train line until the, relativity popular, CHI-MKE segment is operating at high speed. Then, we can measure the ridership levels and do a cost benefit analysis, with the conversion to high speed. At this time, no plans are being made for 200 mph trains between CHI and MKE.
Also those great colored lights that cost us how much ($200,000 +) -- that look like junk and get washed out in the glow from downtown --- hardly a good spending of our money. I also noticed that when they did Capitol Dr in Shorewood, they lit that bridge up like its the Washington Monument --- a little excess on the lights on Cap Dr --- don't you think. We can point to endless examples of cost over-runs and under-runs ......... I personally don't trust that an under-run is because of efficiency --- remember we had endless warm winter days when they were able to work that they could not have anticipated beforehand and who knows what was padded into the costs. Let's wait a while and see if it holds up better than the Hoan and the Parking Structure!! I agree with you on the speculative nature -- but isn't everything? Eisenhower didn't know for sure how the I system would work -- but he had a feeling seeing the Auto Bahn in Germany -- where they also happen to have high speed rail
I'd buy into/agree to a +/- 10% on any project and call it on budget and on time. But, the 300% cost over-run that CA high speed rail is experiencing, in less than one year from voter approval, just screams incompetence. It tells me, WI made the right decision. Even China is suspending much of their high speed rail building, due to severe cost over-runs and design problems(multiple major accidents). If we want to build a Midwest HSR system then the 90 miles between MKE and CHI needs to be completed before the MKE-MAD segment. Oh, and we are talking $80/million a mile construction costs;3/4 of a billion dollars total(I think that's 12X the total annual WI budget).
9 month work year to continue to provide our state with the outstanding MPS. Can anyone imagine a harder occupation that is so little rewarded...JGK