The State of Wisconsin is recalling it's acerbic Governor.
Only two Governor's have been recalled in our long history. It looks like the Wisconsin Governor will make history by becoming the third.
More than 1,000,000 signatures -- weighing more than 3,000 pounds -- were gathered by citizens of the Badger State and turned into the Government Accountability Board in the 60 days they were allowed to gather signatures. Once the GAB has certified the signatures, which could take up to 61 days, the election will be set and the people will have a say in the status of their present governor.
The recall of the controversial governor is another important step in reclaiming democracy. It will set the stage for recanting the electoral mistake they made one short year ago.
But, will the recall supporters prevail?
What began with a single signature on November 17, with a goal to collect more than the 540,208 signatures needed, is not only a recall of the Governor, but the Lieutenant Governor, Rebecca Kleefisch, and four of the State Senators. More than 840,000 signatures were gathered to remove the Lieutenant Governor. Wisconsin has already recalled two State Senators.
Clearly, in state after state, voters miscalculated the consequences of their 2010 votes. This is not only true in Wisconsin, but in Ohio, Michigan, Florida, New Jersey, Indiana, and Pennsylvania among others.
The aggressive assault on public workers was unpredictable based on Walker's campaign. So was his immediate handouts of benefits and tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy in a time of extreme budget deficiencies.
But that was what Wisconsinites were confronted with after Walker took office; a steady stream of Republican ideologies contrary to a healthy state environment and a vibrant democracy. Repeated refusals to work with the people.
The right-wing agenda of Republican governors included -- as did Walker's -- busting unions, voter suppression, transferring wealth, and selling public assets to their rich benefactors.
The recall effort is: the proud people of Wisconsin fighting right-wing oppression and an attempt to reclaim their freedom. Their efforts are the platform for other states fighting the same battle.
So the next battle begins, setting the stage for a protracted fight pitting 'the people -- hard-working Americans -- against the wealthy supporters of Walker -- the Koch Brothers financed, Americans For Prosperity, and other radical right-wing organizations. It's Wisconsinites against outside interests.
Supporters of Walker, those that helped him buy the governorship, will be pouring millions of secret dollars into the state to prevent Walker's recall. Some have estimated that supporters will spend four times the money of recall Walker supporters to keep Walker in office.
In order to counter the inimical influx of confederate dollars those of us that believe in the voice of 'the people,' in the rights of Americans, and the battle against suppression, need to support the recall through contributions to United Wisconsin.
We must also continue to support and encourage the recall efforts throughout the country.
Wisconsin is still the battleground for the middle-class and their strength is our motivation to continue to fight; to take back America.
Walker's day has come.
And the fact that Wisconsinites gathered more than a million signatures is an incredible sign -- a great motivator.
Follow Jim Worth on Twitter: www.twitter.com/authorofmystery
To be sure there are problems with unions, and policies that do not always benefit their members, but those issues pale in comparison to the havoc wreaked on our country by the corporations who have shifted jobs and entire industries overseas, produced legislation (via campaign contributions) that have created massive tax loopholes for the very wealthy, erased barriers between commercial and investmenmt banks, and eliminated regulations that have made fraud andmtheft legal.
Some of the comments made about dictating budgets, "secret money", etc. are accurate. They're just directed at the wrong target.
We asked the public union employees to pay a small portion to their health care and pensions, much less than the private sector and all hell broke loose. We gave the union employees the right to keep their dues instead of being forced to feed the union bosses.
There is no voter suppression...there is responsible voter ID...since an ID is required to drive a car, buy a car, a home, fly on a plane...and Wisconsin will pay for it if the individual can't pay for it.
Democracy is giving communities and taxpayers the right to dictate budgets instead of public unions.
No one bought Walker's governorship...he earned it with the votes of Wisconsinites that resist the liberal, social, entitlement agenda and he will earn the trust of the majority of the working class again in May.
That said, there will still be a vote to be had, and despite the fact that the opposition is incredibly vocal, it hardly spells doom for the Governor. I think calling out “secret money” being raised for Walker is rather hilarious given the record amount of spending we’ve seen from unions, and despite the massive lobbying effort from unions in the state senate recall election (http://bit.ly/rdchdL), Republicans kept their majority.
Walker may very well be recalled, but the idea that this is a one sided fight, and everyone in the state is against Walker is simply not the case. He certainly has a large contingent of followers (http://bit.ly/yDlA2E), and while they may not be as vocal as the detractors, all that really matters is what happens during the vote.