"Tom Barrett lost last night, but he wasn't the only one."

[babylonsister]

Posted with permission.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/06/12083907-the-lasting-impact-of-the-wisconsin-recall?lite

The lasting impact of the Wisconsin recall
By Steve Benen
-
Wed Jun 6, 2012 7:59 AM EDT

As the dust settles in Wisconsin, and the right basks in Gov. Scott Walker's (R) recall victory, the obvious question is coming to terms with how the incumbent managed to overcome the extensive grassroots opposition to his agenda and candidacy. There is, however, no great mystery here -- consider this chart we aired on last night's show:



Those pie charts are to scale, by the way. Walker's financial edge over Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) was nearly eight to one, thanks to far-right support from across the country. (By some estimates, the margin may have even been closer to 10 to 1.)

Money doesn't always translate into success, but in a compressed calendar, and coming quickly on the heels of a heated Democratic primary, this kind of enormous financial advantage meant the deck was stacked in the governor's favor. Democrats, unions, and progressive activists gave it their all, but they ran into a juggernaut of conservative cash that proved to be too formidable.

Going further, however, the reason Wisconsin's gubernatorial recall race mattered so much, and generated so much national attention, is because the traditional Democrat-vs-Republican contest was only part of the larger picture. Walker faced this challenge, not because he's an unsuccessful far-right ideologue, but because he set out to rig the game -- stripping unions of their power in order to rewrite the political rules and make it all but impossible for Democrats to ever win a statewide race in Wisconsin.

Walker's agenda has always been about taking a level playing field and making a permanent change, tilting it in the GOP's favor forever more. And after last night, he's gotten away with it.

In the process, the governor, his party, and his very wealthy allies have also created a blueprint for other Republicans to follow elsewhere -- crushing public-sector unions in order to destroy one of the pillars of the Democratic Party's electoral foundation. If labor can't organize, Democrats can't compete.

Tom Barrett lost last night, but he wasn't the only one.

[dmosh42]

1. Wisconsin can now bow down to the plantation owners! Always easier to kiss ass!

[rhett o rick]

2. k

[Doctor_J]

3. This is just a warm up for November

The hyper-rich and their corrupt SCOTUS have completely destroyed democracy in the US. The only remaining question is, will we accept it? As my magic 8-ball would say, "Signs Point To Yes". There has up until now been zero useful pushback. The Founders would be mortified at our timidity. Instead we all congratulate each other on our useless high road "resistance".

[EnviroBat]

15. I think we truly are a nation of cowards.

I've completely lost faith in this country. November will be the deciding factor. I'm 45 years old. I don't intend to live out he rest of my years under the governance of fascism. If Mott Romney becomes POTUS, I'm done with this fucked place...

[GeorgeWW3]

18. From the mind

of a child raised in an abusive household.

[harun]

24. 100% correct. This is what November is going to look like. Democracy RIP.

[shcrane71]

4. Investigations are needed.

Investigate how NBC can call an election with less than 10% of precincts reporting.

Investigate how unprecedented record turn out for a soon to be indicted governor were from closet Republicans.

Ask the Carter Center to oversee Wisconsin's next election.

[chervilant]

5. Well, now...

Time for us to bend over and grab our ankles?

(How many of us are willing to go quietly into their dark night?!)

[90-percent]

6. MY question for Rachel last night

So "NBC" called it after 10% of the votes were in?

Just who the fuck are the individuals at NBC that came up with this conclusion?

Are they similar to the Bush relative at Fox News that called 2000 for GW and our lemming MSM just went along with it?

-90% Jimmy

[bullwinkle428]

7. Thank you, Supreme Court, for destroying this once-great country.

[ThomThom]

8. last one out turn off the lights

say bye bye

[Blue_Tires]

9. ttt

[ProfessionalLeftist]

10. "If labor can't organize, Democrats can't compete."

That's the reason for all this union-busting nationwide. And Dems who said "we don't need unions anymore." - have IMO a terribly damaging tunnel vision & have completely missed or are inexcusably ignorant of the bigger picture.

[ginnyinWI]

11. I'm done with this state.

I have lived here most of my life and it is true: you can fool some of the people all of the time!

Five years to retirement and then we are out of here.

[Worried senior]

19. I feel the same as you do

but we are on SS so moving really isn't in the cards for us.

I am just sick about this but one consolation, I won't be living all that many more years. I worry about my kids but apparently they don't care so nothing I can do about it.

[Mayflower1]

21. Where are you going?

[ginnyinWI]

30. probably the Minneapolis area.

That's where one of our daughters and her husband live, and they're putting down roots. They aren't totally happy with their government there, either but it seems overall more progressive than here.

I don't think Wisconsin is a particularly good place to retire, anyway. Property taxes are pretty high.

[EnviroBat]

12. Do you all realize that Walker was able to take advantage

of a little known WI State law that allowed virtually unlimited campaign contributions for his campaign? An advantage the Tom Barrett did NOT enjoy. In the event of a recall election, the incumbent may raise unlimited campaign contributions, the challenger however, is limited to 10k dollar per contributor. This bullshit law should never have been on the books to begin with. Just shows how far back the corruption goes...

[AnotherMcIntosh]

22. If more than 10K-per-contributor could have been given to Barrett, would the super-rich

who could make such contributions have been looking out for our best interests?

FDR was unique. As was JFK. It's unlikely that we are going to see many from the super-rich category that are going to be looking out for us.

If fact, we have seen many who have de-coupled from us except to take advantage of public resources, avoid the shared-responsibility of paying taxes, and use their money to ship and keep manufacturing jobs to foreign countries.

[Dustlawyer]

13. In light of what happened, I wish the Repugs had kept the Senate too.

Sorry Wisconson, but I think it would be instructive to watch what the Repugs would do w/total control. Texas gives you some idea already, but to watch things go from what they have now, to what things are like 6 months, 1 year.... The rest of the country could see what things will be like if they go all Red. As for the union dumb asses that voted Republicon, I hope you are their 1st targets!

[ananda]

14. Well, I've been wondering why..

.. people didn't keep occupying the statehouse until
their grievances were redressed.

That's one thing about government: the people have
to literally wrench it out of the hands of the corrupt
and plutocratic.

That's what happened in the sixties.. but people didn't give up then.

[caseymoz]

16. Now wait . . .

Even if labor can't organize, that doesn't undercut votes against Repubs. In fact, the discontent with will only grow. This will not go away.

Now, it could break toward Repubs, but that depends on whether the tons of propaganda money could continue to misdirect the anger. That's an open question.

[certainot]

20. The money emphasized lies already established on radio- we have to fix radio

Walker and the teabaggers operate from an alternate reality established by years of coordinatd talk radio repetition.

Everything the right does depends on UNCHALLENGED radio repetition- and until the left finally pulls the iPods out of theirears and takes their protests and actions to those radio statiOns and their blowhards theyre just going to keeP yelling over us, distorting our message, swift boating our candidates and short
circuiting democracy.

[Peregrine Took]

25. Bingo! AM radio is their main vehicle for spreading propoganda - esp to the

ubiquitous "low info" voters.

I always felt that when Limbaugh first started the public daily bashing of Clinton in his unique relentless fashion that Clinton should have challenged him to a public debate - like a "High Noon" scenario.

He (BC) would have destroyed him but I think "Rusty" would have wimped out and then he would be seen for the coward he is and would have lost faith with his low life audience.

[haele]

29. Boy, you really bought the shackles the corporations want you to wear, didn't you?

"So many people sit at home and collect a check for doing absolutely nothing?"
Other than being disabled and unable to work, or looking for jobs that aren't there because they can't afford to move to where there are jobs, or taking care of children - or elderly parents?
So many people are at home collecting support that they worked long hours paying into, so that this support would be available when they needed it.

What's truly bad for this country is that over 40 years, wages have been stagnant in the name of "the Profit" for shareholders and wanna-be plutocrats who have demonized any sense of community by means of propaganda and intimidation. "Unions are socialist!" - and treating your employees like people and your business as part of the community rather than tools to be discarded as soon as they become a burden to the bottom line.
"Freedom isn't Free" - because what they don't tell you is that you have to be making enough money - essentially to do anything you can to get into the "1%" - to buy your way into "Freedom".
"Business breeds Entrepreneurship and Development" - Wrong. Modern "Conservative" - which is actually Neo-Liberal or "hands off Laissez Faire" business practices thrive off imitation and incremental improvements, not taking true risks and investing in long term development.

Neo-Liberal Capitalism is all about buying up competition, conning investments out of people with promises of services while in the mean time, hedging against losses, and ultimately selling others the rope to hang themselves with - all while expecting your profits will buy your way into safety when everything disintegrates around you.

The modern Capitalist business model requires a minimal workforce at minimum cost to provide maximum production - and promotes the fact that there are 14 million too many people in America who are looking for middle class jobs, and not enough minimum wage workers willing to give up their labor for free.

If you are working 60 hours and barely making ends meet, thank an Anti-Union corporate stooge.

I'm over 50. I remember people making a living and being able to buy a house on Janitor's wages. I remember stock clerks being able to raise families, and their kids able to afford college. I remember that millions of people who will never be able to get one of the few management jobs, or professional jobs were able to pay bills and make ends meet, and it was only temporary or part-work that didn't pay enough.

That's the America I want to get back to. Not this Capitalist Hell run by the money-lenders.

Haele

[laundry_queen]

32. He thinks the 'moochers' are why he has to work 60 hours a week.

Whatta dumbass.

It's the corporations that pay nothing in taxes, that demand giant bailouts, that refuse to pay a living wage because their profts have to keep rising exponentially that are forcing him to work 60 hours/week. And the more he shits on people that are in his dilemma (and he will be one of those 'mooching' people if an illness or lay off hits) and the more he votes on the right the more he enables the real thieves and the longer he will work. But he's just to dumb to know this. He'll just keep yelling at the poor, "why are you stealing from me." and keep voting for the wrong party and keep working longer hours and he'll never ever be able to connect the dots.

Where's Red Foreman when you need him? Dumbass.

[olegramps]

27. Is this a preview of what will happen in the General Election?

I fear the Republican agenda of voter repression coupled with unlimited Super Pacts will be the determining factor. The working class continues support their own destruction by voting for ideologues that are intent on establishing a society in which it is survival of the fittest. The powerful elements of Evangelical Christians who support the extremists right wingers along with the inherent racism that persists will for the present determine elections.

The Republican ultra-conservatives have done a superb job of gaining control of the media in which they can spew their propaganda without a mummer of opposition. The working class appears to oblivious to their own threatened economic enslavement.

[olegramps]

31. After watching Cris Matthews last night I want to add these facts:

He clearly provided the facts that the Republican Party has moved to the far right and the Democratic Party has remained committed to its original values. While the 78% of Democrats believe that government has a responsibility to assist those in desperate need has remained the same, Republicans have decreased from about 60% to 40%.

Isn't it strange that the Republican Party has firmly gained the allegiance of Evangelicals Christians and and increasing number of Roman Catholics whose hierarchy is now dominated by right wing extremists and yet their beliefs totally contradict the most fundamental of Jesus' teachings of our duty to care for our fellow mankind? Numerous surveys have revealed that active Republican church members far out number Democrats and Independents. It only makes me wonder if they are using the same Bible that I read in my youth.

It is gross hypocrisy at best and truly makes me wonder where our Republic is headed. It just beyond my comprehension that so many of our fellow citizens don't give a damn whether the children, disabled and elderly are left in misery and starved to death while they bask in luxury. I am reminded Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan who came to the aid of a Jew that had been beaten and robbed and been ignored by his fellow countrymen as they went about their business. As should be recalled the Samaritans were regarded as heretics by the orthodox Jews which makes the story even more poignant.

[Turbineguy]

28. The wealthy Walker donors

are going to want their pound of flesh. But those who voted to keep Walker will not notice the upcoming changes. Fox news will tell them that the sky is yellow and water is brown.