Wisconsin has its first recall election tomorrow (Tuesday July 19)

[Gigantopithecus]

One other possibility: In our highly divided, high stakes political environment, it may well be that margins are relatively fixed no matter how much is spent nor how loathsome may be a particular candidate. If the recall elections end up returning all nine incumbents, we'll have pretty strong evidence that party has replaced personal characteristics.

This isn't necessarily all that bad, either. If we take as a given that the two parties are more alike than not, and we take as a given that where they differ, each party will tend to behave as its strongest element wills, then a loathsome but honest example of the side you least fear may be better than a sterling example of the side you most fear.

That's an interesting and truly terrifying idea. To consider that so many Americans see the world in such polarized light, and care more about a narrow set of principles than character is disheartening.

I've voted for both Rs and Ds in the past simply because they struck me as reasonable, intelligent people - I might have agreed with the other candidate on more issues, but I'd rather have a smart person making reasonable decisions I don't necessarily agree with than a moron who represents some of my beliefs but is unbending on the others I don't agree with.

 

[soundforbjt]

The unions are essentially trying to buy the government of Wisconsin and the Republicans are fighting back any way they can.

Kinda like the Koch brothers did for Walker?

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Kinda like the Koch brothers did for Walker?

Exactly! I don't like supporting greedy unions or greedy corporations. The only reason I'm less charitable to unions in this state is that my life is directly (negatively, imo) affected by my forced membership in a public employees' union, whereas I can buy Corporation Koch's competitors' products.

 

[her209]

Exactly! I don't like supporting greedy unions or greedy corporations. The only reason I'm less charitable to unions in this state is that my life is directly (negatively, imo) affected by my forced membership in a public employees' union, whereas I can buy Corporation Koch's competitors' products.

So you work for teh gubment?

 

[Gigantopithecus]

So you work for teh gubment?

Indirectly. I work for the University of Wisconsin.

 

[a777pilot]

Indirectly. I work for the University of Wisconsin.

Then you work for the government.

 

[soundforbjt]

Exactly! I don't like supporting greedy unions or greedy corporations. The only reason I'm less charitable to unions in this state is that my life is directly (negatively, imo) affected by my forced membership in a public employees' union, whereas I can buy Corporation Koch's competitors' products.

You have to buy the Koch Brother's products, if you own a gasoline powered car and buy gas for it.

 

[sportage]

The recall thing is a travesty.

You can't run a state like this. They need to raise the recall bar higher so it doesn't turn into a tool for political gain like this.

Arnold brought this to a new level in Kalifornia.
Gray Davis was a good man. And as CA voters later discovered, more desirable than Arnold...
What goes around comes around.
Too late to complain now.
Send a nasty Western Union to Arnold if you wish.
And ........."LET THE RECALLS BEGIN!!!".