In an email to supporters on Friday, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced he is “all in” for an upcoming recall election of Gov. Scott Walker.
Barrett, who has come up short twice in bids for the governor’s office including in 2010 against Walker, is the fourth Democrat to declare their candidacy.
The Government Accountability Board, the state agency that oversees elections, on Friday . A recall election of Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch was also certified.
A Democratic primary is scheduled for May 8, with former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Secretary of State Doug La Follette of Madison and state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout of Alma all announcing bids.
“This was not a decision I made lightly,” Barrett said in the email to supporters. “I love this state and I care deeply about our future.
“Starting tomorrow, I will crisscross the state, taking our message directly to the people in every corner and working everyday to restore our values and move Wisconsin forward.”
Meanwhile, the Republican Party of Wisconsin said Barrett hasn't taken the hint after he was rejected by voters in the 2010 gubernatorial race against Walker.
"Voters have no desire to take Wisconsin down the disastrous path Tom Barrett has led Milwaukee," spokesman Ben Sparks said. "Wisconsin rejected Barrett and elected Governor Walker by an overwhelming majority because they wanted to move Wisconsin forward from the eight years of failed liberal policies that culminated in 150,000 lost jobs and a $3.6 billion budget deficit."
GOP to run 'protest Democrats'
The state GOP also said Friday it will run placeholder Democrats to ensure primaries take place in all recall races and general elections are held on the same date for all targeted Republicans.
"The Republican Party will not actively campaign for the protest candidates, other than collecting nomination signatures to ensure their place on the ballot," Republican Party of Wisconsin Executive Director Stephan Thompson said in a statement. "Without protest candidates, the Democratic Party would be able to control the dates in which Republican officials face election, potentially separating the elections for state senate and lieutenant governor from the governor."
Wow, you mean to say that a Union leader said something bad about a CEO of an auto company. STOP THE PRESSES!
Scott Walker's SUV @ScottWalkersSUV If Falk, Barrett or even LaFollette win then I won't have to give Vicki McKenna rides anymore. She has bad hygiene. #wiunion #wirecall
Kelly Steele @steelekelly @Barrett4WI smartly unloading on Scott Walker for his "dropped the bomb" comments in Wausau speech. Underused attack. #wiunion #wirecall Tom Barrett @Barrett4WI Speaking to a packed room in Wausau of Marathon Co Dems - amazing enthusiasm and energy! http://pic.twitter.com/rCN7bS8o
Unfortunately I'm less than inspired by illegally firing public workers and cancelling signed contracts that cost Milwaukee County nearly a million dollars. I'm less than inspired by a man who tried to fire the landscape artist from the Domes because he apparently didn't understand how the show dome sells admission tickets. I'm less than inspired by a man who would show up at events talking up arts and education then turning around and slashes the county arts program. I'm less than inspired by a man who surrounds himself with people who seem to think they are above Open Records law and arrogantly set up a private email system in the County Executive's offices (taking a page from the George W. Bush administration). Yes Pam, everyone needs a hero...
Ani Sangye @SangyeH Tea Party legislators have passed 135 bills nationwide to limit women's reproductive rights THIS YEAR. http://bit.ly/FRMe4C #GOP #waronwomen
You quote him about "Prosperity for All", yet his pay is up and incredible, one of the highest paid execs in the country, yet Ford sales are flat, and labor thinks he is immoral. Your quoting him really falls flat. He seems like one of those "slogan of the month" execs a lot of us have to endure in the workplace. Should be "Prosperity for Mulally, if you get rid of me I will be even richer with my platinum parachute."
There are none so blind than those who are bought off by the Koch Brothers!! And they want to cut educational funding and teacher funding to keep voters dumb and compliant! Pam - there is NO Excuse for supporting Walker as he has done NOTHING but Lie, Cheat and Steal... an indictment can't be far behind!! Just check with Blago!!!
Actually, I thought the "point" was laughable, so I didn't comment. But I will briefly comment now. First of all, I don't think what he is paid is too high or too low. Whatever it takes to keep him is at least worth considering. He really has wanted to retire, but is hanging around to get the transition team in order. Having said that, your only other point is that sales are flat. True. So why is he still so respected? Prior to 2000, the Ford family leaders at Ford realized that they could not manage the company. They searched the country for someone with the skill to run a manufacturing company that wanted to be known as a technology company, and also someone who had experience turning a company around. They found their guy at Boeing, and begged Al to come. Since then, Al has reorganized the company, saving it from bankruptcy due to union greed and economic downturn. All that was done without borrowing money from the federal government. So, as far as I can understand, your only other point is that sales are flat?? Since you insist, I will tell you that sales are flat because a big portion of Ford's sales come from Europe, where the Greek public union sector greed has thrown the entire region into a recession. The BOD at Ford understands the balance sheets and the marketing obstacles that exist in the present global environment, and they are, therefore, quite pleased to keep him on as long as possible. Prosperity for ALL.
He is talking with Charlie Sykes. http://www.bluecheddar.net/?p=20266#comment-2692 .... If you listen to the longer interview recording, you will hear Barrett say that he would not go all the way with what Walker wanted to do to unions. He says that he would alter health insurance and retirement benefits but he would vote “no on the changes in collective bargaining”. Barrett: “The vast majority of the people in this state agree that public employees should pay more towards their healthcare and toward their pensions.” Sykes: “Except they don’t”. Barrett: “Except they don’t. But the bill will do that and and the bill will pass and the bill should pass.” Sykes: “But the bill can’t bind local governments and the 100′s of local unions.” Barrett: “But it can do a lot. Certainly with those who are in the Wisconsin Retirement System. Those are almost all public employees with the state with the exception of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County… “ Barrett: “But again, if someone really wanted to end this stand-off the way you would end it is simply have a separate vote.” Sykes: “Would you favor that?” Barrett: “I would certainly favor that.” Sykes: “Would you vote for that.” Barrett: “I would vote for the changes in the healthcare and the pension. I would vote “no” on the changes in collective bargaining. But there’s the rub.” ,,,,,,
Too busy trying to figure out how to cover up previous verbal and financial support of John Thomas for Milwaukee Comptroller.
April 2, 2012 Local Section Associated Press, Madison Surprise contestant, Barrett's announcement shakes up recall election "He also became a hero to many in 2009, when he was brutally attacked by a man with a tire iron after trying to intervene in an argument the man was having with a woman."
Walker has put out ads --since NOVEMBER--chirping all about his good stuff. Folks are sick of them! http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/washington-secrets/2012/04/shock-poll-majority-would-recall-wis-gov-walker/435816#.T3nMG4T7DHQ.twitter Shock Poll: Majority would recall Wis. Gov. Walker 8 hours 29 min ago A new Rasmussen poll finds that Republican Wisconsin Scott Walker is in trouble of being recalled June 5, with a majority, 52 percent, saying they will vote him out less than two years after he took office and immediately went to work to cut the power of public service unions. The poll revealed a remarkable shift from February when 54 percent of Wisconsin voters said they would vote against the recall. In today’s poll, just 47 percent said they would vote against recalling the governor. Details will be released at 1 p.m. Worse for Walker: 53 percent disapprove of his job as governor with a whopping 46 percent saying they “strongly disapprove” of Walker. Majorities of both men and women now support his recall. Rasmussen found that his support among Republicans and conservatives remains strong.
Search OptionsShow search tools 54% in Wisconsin Oppose Recall of GOP Governor Walker ...
Oops - kind of pulled in a poll from 5 weeks ago, bubba... The poll you're referencing was from 2/29.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_state_surveys/wisconsin/52_in_wisconsin_support_recall_of_governor_walker
The Center For Public Integrity has claimed that Scott Rasmussen was a paid consultant for the 2004 George W. Bush campaign. The Washington Post reported "... the Bush reelection campaign used a feature on his site that allowed customers to program their own polls. Rasmussen asserted that he never wrote any of the questions or assisted Republicans in any way..." The do-it-yourself polling service is used by Democrats as well as Republicans today through a company that licenses Rasmussen’s methodology. Rasmussen has received criticism over the wording in its polls. Asking a polling question with different wording can affect the results of the poll; the commentators in question allege that the questions Rasmussen ask in polls are skewed in order to favor a specific response. For instance, when Rasmussen polled whether Republican voters thought Rush Limbaugh was the leader of their party, the specific question they asked was: "Agree or Disagree: 'Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican Party -- he says jump and they say how high.'"
(1) Graduated from law school in 1980 (2) Served as a law clerk for Judge Robert W. Warren on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin from 1980 to 1982. He was a Private practice lawyer and served as a bank examiner for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. (3) Made his first run for office at age 28 for the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1982, but was unsuccessful. (4) He ran again in 1984, this time served two terms before (5) making a successful run for the Wisconsin State Senate in a December 1989 special election. He continued to serve in the State Senate (6) until moving to higher office in 1993 where he represented Wisconsin's 5th congressional district until 2000. (7) Unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2002 against Jim Doyle. (8) In 2004, then out of office, Barrett ran successfully for Mayor of Milwaukee. (9) 2012 successfully ran for Mayor of Milwaukee while at the same time getting into the Governor's race. Guaranteeing himself a continued political position, whether he wins the governors race or not. Other than about 4 years, after graduating from law school, Tom Barrett has not held a job that is not as a politician.
You are looking at an old Rass poll. Support for the recall is GROWING. YOU are one with the WRONG facts. See this---direct from the Rass site@ http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_state_surveys/wisconsin/52_in_wisconsin_support_recall_of_governor_walker 52% in Wisconsin Support Recall of Governor Walker Monday, April 02, 2012 A majority of Wisconsin voters now support the effort to recall Republican Governor Scott Walker. A new Rasmussen Reports statewide survey shows that, if the recall election was held today, 52% of Likely Voters would vote to recall Governor Walker and remove him from office. Forty-seven percent (47%) would vote against the recall and let him continue to serve as governor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)...
Barrett now joins that group of WI Whine Wagon riders. WHO is PAYING for his costly joke on people in Milwaukee? The people of Milwaukee. Or maybe not. Th close to re-election move for power grab shows his lack of integrity or support of the City and citizens of Milwaukee. This state of chaos, called Wisconsin, is in such sorry shape...wake up and see the BS people. THINK, read, learn, use honest, integrity based logical thinking (there is that word again) and then vote. Leave the beer and brats behind...THINK with a clear mind! Oops, too tough, huh? 1. Think 2. No beer and 3. Clear mind? :-)
Downward pressure on wages won't help. Pushing the burden down to the local level won't help, no matter how much you go on about 'tools', because if property taxes can't go up, the city just becomes a less attractive place to live -- horrible schools, no garbage collection, no parks, no police and fire when you need them. So who's perpetuating the costly joke? And when it comes to riding the Whine Wagon, I'd point a finger at the upper income brackets, who complain so loudly about the horrid sacrifice they must make when it comes to income tax. And Thank you, Sinead -- I was born here, remember how things were in times past, and I recognize BS when someone presents me with a pile of it.