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.
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The only think that Scott Walker proved in winning last night is that when you have corporate friends and deep-pocketed allies allowed to spend $70 million in nasty and untrue attack ads, you're going to be impossible to beat. This is the ultimate example of democracy for sale, where the same dark money forces that got Walker into office in the first place banded together and subverted the people in a bid to continue the agenda that has destroyed Wisconsin and will soon destroy America once the Kochs and the other corporate right-wing thugs buy the White House for Mitt Romney. Scott Walker bought this election. He did not win it http://www.sunstateactivist.org
Ohioian here. I truly believe if the DEMS had ran another candidate, say Feingold, they would have won last night. From all the sources I read during this political season, especially since Barrett won the right to go against Walker, many folks in Wisconsin did not especially like or support Barrett. I feel sorry for the folks in Wisconsin who worked so hard to maintain their unions and worker rights for they will have to live under the Walker system of government, and believe me here in Ohio we have, and still are, fighting against these republican wars on citizen rights. Forward to November!
I agree, @sunstateactivist - but all that money would mean absolutely nothing if people didn't allow their basest instincts to be indulged, to be played to, to be manipulated. The GOP is masterful at using people's worst instincts to play them for fools. No amount of money can cause one's mind to be massaged in a certain direction if at some level, you are not willing to be played for a fool. Republicans have certainly figured out just how to push that "Yes, I want to be played for a fool" button, no matter the "issue" at stake.
To my regular friends here ; My goodness gracious me , this Wisconsin Walker thingy certainly has brought the trolls out so they can gloat. Where did they come from ? I especially like the caps
@June Being brainwashed isn't really a mater of choice, but of brain development. Americans are particularly susceptible to brainwashing, whether religious or political, because your education system is laughable and the average american, with no college education, does not have the mental skills to make them immune to the kind of mind control used by advertising. This is how the corporations want it, they need gullible idiots to buy their products, so they deliberately sought out ways to prevent the american population from becoming educated. If schools taught students critical thinking skills, instead of actively preventing it, then America might have some claim to being a great nation. As it is you're mostly just dumb idiots with double digit iq scores.
If citizens would ignore the ads and look at what the candidates say and their voting records it wouldn't matter how much money was spent! Why did so many vote for Walker if they knew his agenda??
The influence of outside money is complete B.S. 90% of voters said that they made up their minds over 30 days ago before most of the TV ad money was spent. And a strong majority of those who voted felt that the recall was not justified. Walker was implementing the government spending reforms which he campaigned on and won. All the money that was spent on this recall benefited the WI economy and was a stimulus to its economy.
If you do the math, Walker raised more WI dollars than Barrett raised total. I think this is due to frustration with the recall. Walker did not do anything illegal. He was just doing his job. As a WI resident, I'm glad to see Walker win. WI wasted a lot of money on this recall. I think this shows that you need to let people serve out their term and then vote them out. I just hope republicans and democrats can move past this and move the state forward.
Totally agree. Walker was JUST DOING WHAT HE WAS ELECTED TO DO.
Unchecked powers of public sector unions are bad for those who pay their salaries and benefits; THE TAXPAYER.
Who are public sector unions accountable to? Who reins them in?
THANK GOD FOR SCOTT WALKER. The Left can spin it any way they want, but this IS a victory for the INDIVIDUAL.... THE TAXPAYER.
Now, the question is, who reins in the corporations? This was a loss for the middle class, no question. Our first election brought to you by Citizens United. Welcome to the future, "Rollerball".
The "best new thing" was last night's Tweet on the blog: "Welcome to the Citizens' United States of America!"
My condolences to the people in Wisconsin. Lets see what happens to Minimum Wage now. There are currently 4 states that have a minimum wage below that of the Federal Minimum Wage.
Mr, Walker's benefactors are the ones who benefit not the people.
Ellen: Do you know the difference between "checking" and "eliminating"?
Also, did Walker ever campaign on doing what he did?
Sorry to go Godwin on you, but guess what? Hitler was "just doing his elected job" too. That argument doesn't work for anyone.
Ellen: Do you know the difference between "checking" and "eliminating"?
Also, did Walker ever campaign on doing what he did?
Sorry to go Godwin on you, but guess what? Hitler was "just doing his elected job" too. That argument doesn't work for anyone.
Are you reading the same chart? Corporations and out-of-state G.O.P. donors contributed more than the citizens of Wisconsin.
A sad, sad day for Wisconsin and America!
I agree with you Independent Guy...I started hearing over the weekend from regular WI citizens that they STILL didn't like Walker but they didn't like the RECALL more. They wanted to consider it a bad election but let him finish his term and learn from it. And it wasn't just one or two people. 'Journalists' will spin this election but I'm pretty sure they won't get it right. In this case voters seemed to vote for 'process' and the Unions didn't make the case for malfeasance. If anything it taught them to be more 'careful' for who they vote for the first time.
Yes , Walker raised more money that Barrett and most of it came from outside Wisconsin. Was the Walker victory a validation of the voters gratitude for having "outside" money influence their vote? Perhaps the anonymous donors protected by the Citizens United ruling are also owed a debt of gratitude. What kind of outsiders will support Mitt Romney's campaign? Maybe China would like to advance its business interests by tossing Romney a donation. Does a digital money transfer make a sound when no one is there? I do not think it is too far fetched to question the extent that outsiders are able to influence our politicians. Maybe anonymity is a good thing. It would certainly spare the GOP the embarrassment of trying to get a tee time at the Augusta National Golf Club with people whom may stand out in the crowd. But seriously , I would like to cross the aisle and thank on the behalf of the right those anonymous foreign interest who value our politicians enough to contribute thier campaigns.
Ellen I have to disagree strongly with you. I live in Ohio and our Gov also tried to eliminate collective bargaining and LOST. The taxpayers are fine, even with our GOPTP Gov giving away everything to his rich cronies via "privatization". Somehow he managed to get it done despite collective bargaining rights being intact.
I do not expect to see a day when the two parties can agree on anything. The republicans want a one party system and that is what is happening. In Michigan the govenor left the unions alone but he and his legislature are working on making the school system totally charter schools that will hire no union teachers therefore making the union a moot point. If you are rich and white you will do well under the republicans but if you are a person of color, poor or elderly watch out.
Hey Independence Guy - when your governor finishes "dividing and conquering" and you're mad as hell cause he's crossed your boundary one time too many - maybe the next time you "vote" - you'll actually pay attention to the issues and the politicians past actions - they speak loudly about what he/she really stands for and with.
Really? "Nothing illegal"? He laid the plan out, he had total control of the People's House, and his fellow Republicans not only played dirty ball with the Open Meetings Law during the fiasco of stripping union rights, along with being a suspect in a federal investigation of corruption. Two strikes against him and my fellow Wisconsinites effectively said "Meh." This election was bought lock, stock, and two smoking barrels for the Koch Brothers and the other corporate barons. We are becoming a aristocracy and private fiefdom for the corporate elite. WTG fellow "peasants", you tried, and we failed. But it was not for lack of trying. RIP to democracy in Wisconsin.
If we only knew who had donated . I think you would find that the "out of State" advantage boiled down to a few billionaires Kochs, Sheldon Adelson and such.
I wasn't there so I can only imagine the barrage of negative ads (someone fill us in)
Another factor , maybe Barret wasn't such a dynamic candidate.
Laughable. Just laughable.
I will take overly powerful corporations ANY DAY over overly powerful unions.
Are both greedy and corrupt? Yes. However, corporations cannot DIRECTLY TAKE MY TAX DOLLARS OR RAISE MY TAXES. Unless of course, your corporation is G.E., GM, Solyndra, or some other Democrat's pet project....
I'm sorry , but unions are not taxing you .... And who do you think gets all that money when it cost $50 to fill your gas tank 1 week , then $100 the next? How about you take a wage and benefit cut for the good of the economy , then everyone else will follow right after you buck up sister , then we can all have a race to the bottom like the koch clowns and company are bucking for
Ellen ; You seem to be extrapolating an argument for something I didn't say . None the less I am glad you will be happy with the Koch brothers running the show . They only have your best interests at heart
Corporations are absolutely taking your tax dollars. Every day. Billions of them. Where do you think the subsidies paid to the oil companies come from?
Um, public unions are most certainly taxing us, which is why Walker targeted the public unions. Private unions are subject to the success of their employers - if they go too far, the company folds and everyone loses. But public unions have the taxing power of the state behind them - until now a bottomless pit of cash. So, private unions: by all means, bargain away. But public: stop raising the middle class' taxes.
If you think about the fact that corporations receive, to some greater OR lesser extent, tax credits (in other words don't have to pay taxes) then they are taking your tax dollars. You have to pay more in taxes to cover revenue that the corporations don't provide.
Will from NJ,,,You can not give an example of an over paid public worker tho , and the union is not taxing anyone , investing in communities is beneficial to everyone , one can imagine the shanty towns without investments , the profits you obsess about is having a thriving community , and not a banana republic...
Investing in america is not profitable ? That sound pretty anti american communist to me
Pantango - Google Bell, California. :D And that is only ONE, in a relatively small city. And you don't think it runs rampant in government? You're fooling yourself.
@Will from NJ,
Thank you for explaining!!! Reagan was able to explain this to people, too. I don't have a problem with PRIVATE SECTOR UNIONIZATION; they have a company to negotiate with for raises and benefits. If they bleed the company dry, that (usually) doesn't directly affect my taxes (unless it's G.M., and a Democrat gives them bailout money).
It baffles me how Lefties can stand behind the concept of the unchecked power of public sector unions. Do these P.S. Union workers get paid from heaven? Does the money just fall from the sky like manna? Or is it taken from average, John Q. TAXPAYERS, WHO ARE ALREADY STRAPPED?
How is it that the unions are "for the worker"? Am I, the private-sector employee and taxpayer, not a "worker"? Are you (P.S. UNIONS) not insisting upon taking more from ME, THE INDIVIDUAL WORKER?
Ellen,
Since you hate public employees but apparently think it's fine for private unions to collectively bargain, do you honestly think that Walker is going to stop here? Next up: "right to work" legislation that will eliminate all collective bargaining, followed by privatization of all public services.
Remember that when your house is burning or you're trapped in your car, waiting for FireCo or AmbulaCo to come rescue you. After you've signed all the waivers and paid up front with your credit card, then they will help you.
People who risk their lives for you at least knew they had a secure retirement. That's gone now.
As for John Q. Taxpayer being strapped, maybe it's because you're not part of an organization that can effectively represent your rights. Like a union.
@ bdop4, Who said anything about "hate" for ANY EMPLOYEES, private or public sector? Where did I express a hatred for ANYONE?
Because I don't want a public sector unions to bleed my state's budget dry, suddenly, I am a "hater"? Because I want someone to work on my behalf to rein in spending, I am a "hater"? Again, the money to pay P.S. employees has to come from somewhere; it doesn't fall from the sky. You understand this, right? How much do you pay in taxes? Maybe you've got money to burn, money you don't "need" (as Obama is fond of saying); please feel free to donate your barrels full of extra money to your favorite P.S. Union.
Typical liberal refuse: vilify and whine. Fortunately, common-sense taxpayers won; they're not going to eat the rotten taco of liberal theivery in Wisconsin today. Thank God for Scott Walker. Thank you sir, for standing for THE INDIVIDUAL. Wasn't is Obama who said, "elections have consequences"?
Ellen you are so off base I find it difficult to have any kind of rational conversation with you!
The main reason money determines elections is that most people don't think beyond the bumper-sticker level. But Democrats need to make a better case that they are working for the middle and lower income workers, and stop letting Republicans constantly brand "unions" as a special interest.
You are right, Democrats don't scream very well. I just came from a blog where the Repubs are still screaming....not an intelligent conversation, just screaming.
I guess you have to talk real loud when you have nothing to say. And that is all part of the plan. Keep the kids dumb and they will vote Republican. When they get done stripping our school curriculum of science, they will take out the part that includes the history of the unions and how we might not have a middle class at all without them.
I have never been particularly pro-union and have actually come up against them a time or two, being in business for ourselves, but even I know from my history that we all enjoy the lifestyles we have today because there are men and women who died fighting for enough pay to actually feed your family. All our boats rose when the union brought higher wages.
I can feel the boats sinking each time the Repubs win. Why is it that we get austerity and the super rich get tax cuts?
Hey Dan,
In order to make a better case, you have to spend a lot more money! And, therein lies the rub...the right has effectively bought the media. Now that "Citizens' United" is the law of the land, it will be even more difficult to get a fair message heard. Money buys air time to confuse issues, and to outright smear good people. The climate discourages good people who are just trying to live a normal existence.
Great comment Dan!
Public Sector Unions ARE a special interest group, only worse. They take not from the rich, but from the average Joe taxpayer. Average Joe taxpayer has a FINITE amount of money. P.S. Unions cloak their real agenda with a feigned benevolence for "the little guy"; AMERICAN TAXPAYERS ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THE DECEPTION AND THEIVERY.
Even FDR and the magnificent James Earl Carter were AGAINST PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS. Wonder why?
I can't recall an election where the loser of the previous one to the same subsequent incumbent has ever won. The huge mistake was indulging Barrett's vanity. That said, money had something to do with it also. Stripping "special rights" from public service jobs is all the rage now. With the politics of pure resentment, folks don't ask how they too can have defined benefit pensions and collective bargaining but rather if they don't have thse things, they don't want anyone else to.
Two referendums (although they we probably local) in Calif. did that last night. Democratic state, Demolunatic Governor.
They are "collective bargaining PRIVELEDGES", NOT "rights". To collective bargain against the taxpayer with your "bought and paid for" politician across the table is NOT a "right". It's BS and shouldn't happen. Private unions serve a good purpose and the negotiating is fair. Public unions rip off the American taxpayer, who has no voice at the bargaining table. At least not until we discovered our voice is at the ballot box. It wasn't big money, it was pure grass roots. The support he received out of state was 70% from donors $50 or less. People are fed up with this scam.
Also, since people in WI were now given a choice on whether they wanted to pay union dues, union membership is waaaay down. They aren't dumb, they know they get nothing for their money they don't already have through protection under the law.
Tiger57 - what utter crap. Low to medium wage jobs have been declining with the unions. If you're in management or one of the professions then yeah, a union isn't critical. But you're deluded if you think a person in the service sector is better off negotiating his salary alone with an employer who is invariably affiliated with an association whose lobbyists write the laws dictating his rights.
Seriously Tiger? UNIONS are the reason that there is a "middle class"! Exactly how many children should be in a class before you believe that a teacher is overwhelmed and the whole student body is learning everything - give me a number 40, 50, 60? And exactly how much do you think a teacher making maybe $50k/yr. should make for the privilege of being not just a teacher, but the nanny/nurse/sometimes parent of those 40+ kids in her class - how much would you ask for?
How much is it worth to YOU to know that when you dial 911 - that the fireman or policeman will respond - should they not have protective gear to help them out (fire-fighters, bullet-proof vests, etc.) - and do you believe that those services will be better if privatized and when the price you have to pay for those services fluctuates like gas - will you still be willing or able to pay for those services since your paycheck may not be keeping up with inflation?
How much are weekends, sick days, holidays, the ability to have leave on the books instead of being docked a day's pay worth to any of you belly-aching about those public sector UNIONS? Because you've lost your minds along with your empathy - maybe you all should actually do some research to understand exactly what this loss means in real "dinner table" language!!
@Tiger57, SPOT ON CORRECT. Nobody here will concede this truth, but you ARE CORRECT.
Public Sector Unions are as necessary to the taxpayer as a buggy whip in a Model T.
This is a victory for all WISCONSIN INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS. The money to pay P.S. Union workers does not fall from the sky, it comes from average, hardworking taxpayers, not just "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeevil rich fat cats".
We can discuss the details as you're scrounging around for money to pay the "charter school fees" because your children (or grandchildren) go to, when the "PUBLIC education" system dries up.
Thank you Zora - I bet all the public union nay-sayers commenting here went to a public school and benefited from their teacher's efforts! not to mention police, fire-fighters, librarians, social workers, etc.
Wisconsin election? It's a fix, innit?
What kind of machines were they using?
What is the likelihood that the exit polls would diverge so massively from the actual count? Statistical variation would suggest something smells wrong.
Sounds like a good time to be a con man (or woman.) I mean, this money's being thrown around like the money we sent to Iraq at the beginning of the war, and I wouldn't be surprised if there's a similar level of accountability.
Apparently the democratic leadership does not agree with your assessment Steve , they feel wisc possibly going permanently red is not worth the fight , on the other hand you have the strange anomaly that the same people who vote for walker , will vote for obama ...So gop light obama is all right with them?
After watching gop policies destroy america the last 11 years , the GREED IS GOOD generation has decided they have theirs , to hell with everyone else , this is reagan america
I read a blog that sang the news, and I asked it for some happy news.
The night of June 5th never goes well.
No bigger Benen fan anwhwere than me, but ... no. This is hype. This oddball election victory does not signal the end of the labor movement, or of the Demcratic Party. It's a battle, in a big war. And I seriously am going to start ignoring, and then boycotting, lefty material and shows that can't help but do the gloom and doom routine every damned day. Just knock it off, all of you. is there anyone here with a hair on his but, or fight in his attitude? Or is everyone just going to roll over and die for this butthead governor from Wisconsin? I for one am not rolling over and mumbling an obituary for progressive politics. I strongly urge the rest of you to grow a pair and snap out of it.
You are correct. It is a battle lost within a larger war and certainly the left needs to grow a pair and snap out of it. Nobody could have said it better, except Magneto.
You're looking in the wrong party, if you're looking for someone with a "pair". :)
We know tiger, the right has all the balls you have to have them in abundance if you are going to lie and cheat - the righties are tighties on the warm fuzzies - just look at their record!
That money couldn't work is people weren't stupid. But people are stupid and this country has already begun it's second Gilded Age -- thanks to the support of the gullible Useful Idiots who are our fellow citizens. Everything the country learned the hard way in the 20th century will soon be gone.
Yes, and the reason is your school system is an effing joke. In science America is in last place in the developed world. Americans are stupid, it wouldn't surprise me that the national iq average is below 100.
Servin - do you include yourself on that stupid American list?
Congratulations to the out-of-state billionaires and Super PACs - you now own Wisconsin! You earned it; you spent $22.92 for each of your 1,331,076 votes while Tom Barrett's backers only spent $3.37 for each of his 1,158,337 votes. This is a great day for the Supreme Court members that voted in favor of the Citizens United case; you proved to the rest of us that democracy for sale is alive and well. Seven of the top ten political contributors in the state of Wisconsin were right-wing Super PACs, and since you've squashed the only three left-wing contributors in the top ten (all unions), you've pretty much insured success at the polls for years to come. Congrats, you should be so very proud!
Gee, isn't it funny that liberals tout Obama's "billion dollar war chest" (which he has yet to accomplish btw) as a milestone to his great and wonderful re-election. Where do you suppose that money comes from? Filthy rich Democrats and Unions pretty much. And yet it is completely OK for him, but when you've lost, now all of a sudden it's "evil money" that somehow bought the election in WI. How much money do you suppose Obama will spend for each of his votes, if he is planning to way outspend his opponent? And then it is OK for him to buy the presidency because it's your guy? Hmmmmm.....I smell quite a bit of hypocrisy.
Oh, and before Corporations could contribute to political campaigns, the only ones who could were unions, who contributed almost 100% to Democrats, giving them a very unfair advantage. Go figure they are screaming like stuck pigs now that the "playing field is leveled". Liberals don't want fairness, they want the deck stacked in their favor.
Tiger57, were you born stupid or do you take special lessons? Your partisan gloating is incredibly ignorant. This isn't a team sport, this is our lives. All kinds of people have been opposing big money in politics since forever. Nobody with a brain and a heart and a conscience is happy that the people we elect to do a job spend half their time fundraising.
Unfair advantage...sigh...where to begin in the face of such monstrous stupidity?
Putting aside all of the money that poured in for Scott Walker--- the people still voted--- and it was a landslide victory for Scott Walker. This is what Wisconsinites wanted--- and they got it! They got Scott Walker along with his buddy, Paul Ryan. Will Scott Walker now change Wisconsin into a (Right to Work State) ?--- like Florida. A year from now, Rachel--- you can head over to Wisconsin and ask them how they like it? Talk about feeling like a Cheesehead!
I have absolutely no compassion for the Wisconsinites--- they Voted him back in! *** Elections do Matter ****
And in Florida; at least--- when Rick Scott won--- it was a very, very tight race--- he basically barely won!
Diana B
Yeah, I wonder if they will tell you how much they hate plenty of jobs and low taxes.
Tiger57 - We'll see how well WI is doing in 3 years. I seriously doubt there will be "plenty of jobs" when there are few able to pay for products and services in the state. Conservatives have been claiming that low taxes will create an economic boom, but all they have created is MASSIVE DEBT from charging tax cuts to the state credit card.
Congratulations to the out-of-state billionaires and Super PACs - you now own Wisconsin! You earned it; you spent $22.92 for each of your 1,331,076 votes while Tom Barrett's backers only spent $3.37 for each of his 1,158,337 votes. This is a great day for the Supreme Court members that voted in favor of the Citizens United case; you proved to the rest of us that democracy for sale is alive and well. Six of the top ten political contributors in the state of Wisconsin were right-wing Super PACs, and since you've squashed the only three left-wing contributors in the top ten (all unions), you've pretty much insured success at the polls for years to come. Congrats, you should be so very proud!
Be careful what you wish for. This is not a glib statement like "have a nice day" but rather a dark and perilous omen, Amercia!
(: - D
yup--- Agreed!
And--- Only in America do we have roads that have pot-holes like a 3rd world country; bridges that collapse; people "turned away from emergency rooms"; people that have an infection and wound the size of a golf ball in their mouth because they cannot afford a dentist;--- but--- at least Romney will send us off to war somewhere--- somewhere else.
BTW--- I watch Andrea Mitchell all the time--- is it me?? she seems to like War as much as FOX news does-- I think watching Andrea Mitchell is kind of like watching FOX news
Diana B
Liberals don't seem to have a problem with George Soras financing the liberal agenda. I don't see any one going after the Job Czar Big Jeffery Immelt from GE sending jobs overseas to china.
So why are you so concerned about where Scott Walker gets his money from. Take care of your own backyard then worry about others.
Just freakin' STOP IT. You guys have a problem with Soros. Yes he's a liberal Billionaire but the operative word is 'a'...not 50 of them. Get over yourself.
Liberals don't seem to have trouble spelling, as opposed to whatever you're calling yourself this week; "tea-bagger"? "conservative"? "Amercian"?
I'm more concerned about the citizens of Wisconsin who kept Walker in office than I am about where Walker got his money!
If those who care about freedom and democracy aren't now wide awake after this strong indicator of what's going on in American, they never will be. It's time to REALLY do something. Commenting from the comfort of our armchairs or from Facebook won't cut it. We need collaborative thinking, strategizing, and action! Complacency is not an option!
I so totally agree with this and have been posting the same thing today. It is not enough to bitch about it online and then not even take the time to volunteer to help get the vote out, take our neighbor who has no car to the polling place or even to get out of the chair long enough to go and vote ourselves. People should read books like 1984 and The Handmaiden's Tale and what happened in Germany before Hitler came to power and then look where America is today. It is a very scary sight and if we don't get off our butts and do something we just might bring all of those things to life.
It may be worth noting that the Italian people voted to elect Benito Mussolini to high office during the 1930's and look how that turned out. Sometime history repeats itself. Apropos of nothing, he did meet a bad end, hanging upside down along with his mistress.
Oh please get off the George Soros = satan bandwagon, it's old and tired. Nobody likes that GE didn't pay taxes (even liberals). Nor do we like that ExxonMobil didn't pay a cent in 09. But that's beside the point. Welcome to Wisconsin, now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Koch Brothers.
GE did and dose pay tax....
And the koch bros do not own WI...
You socialist got beat like a well rented mule last night.
Deal with it....
Sorry - GE has not paid Income Taxes for 3 years - and their profits have increased and their employees decreased. There are at least 30 Corporations that have not paid Federal Income Tax, please just google it and you will find numerous articles.,
stupidita....perfect name for you
Maddow you sore loser, your guy lost get over it already and whip the tears out of eyes.
What do you bet your show will not be on TV in 6 months....
The American people are real sick and tired of hearing you spewing your socialism agenda.
Why don't you and the rest of the talking heads on MSLSD take your dog & pony show to Greece.
They love unions and big tax rates and big government and socialism.
You people will fit right in there.
Your name is appropriate; it informs your reader as to what is coming. I'm sorry you didn't have a comparative political systems course anytime in your past and Fox has failed to inform you of what Socialism is. And you might consider that, even though you aren't a union member and you hate unions like a possessed harpie, that by just being there and helping others, they raise incomes for the middle class and most certainly you (who is clearly not a membr of the elite, either financially or intellectually). That income will now be going to the 1%. I guess you call that having a good day. I'd call it bragging about having a bad day at the races.
Liberals: Helping iliterate right wing trolls with spelling, grammar, punctuation, and proper definitions for years.
We live in a democracy (for now anyway) if you do not like her show than do not watch. Not rocket science.
I'd scarcely call it a democracy. When the laws are written for the monied without the public being able to watch the sausage-making of corporations, and political campaigns can be waged without disclosing where contributions are coming from, something is going to go wrongly for those who don't have a seat at the table. Those bad things have been going on for 30+ years, which coincides with ..., well, you know.
So the real question that hasn't been asked yet is this: When do we use Change.org to petition Warren Buffett to take some of that tax break money he's gotten over the years and create his own counter SuperPac? This is not a joke. It must be done, because with the announcement the other day that Rove and Koch et al are going to spend over $1 billion in this election, we are actually way behind already. This is, along with voter disenfranchisement, are the two key elements in this race now.
What we need to do is start a movement to take money out of politics completely.
It's totally doable. All that's required is the public will. Ban political advertising and create a social media infrastructure where everyone has an equal voice with no restrictions of free speech. You just can't do it in the form of a misleading advertisement.
The cost would be nil compared to what is currently spent.
I agree...totally and completely! I also think we need to either go completely to paper ballots that leave a trail or everyone who uses one of the touch screen voting machines gets a print out of their vote when it is counted. It is time to stop voter fraud along with pouring money into campaigns. Common sense should tell everyone that something smells very fishy when there is 1.5 billion dollars lined up behind a candidate for the Presidency which only pays $400.000 a year. The people who contribute that money are not doing it for nothing. They will expect something in return and the person they get elected, like they just did Scott Walker better be ready to dance to the music because they will be the piper and it will be time to pay.
Whenever I see someone on the right mention George Soras I chuckle because it means Fox, Karl Rove and the rest have done a fine job of brainwashing folks that he's the boogieman on the left. He's one guy and he's generally behind some fairly positive charitable donations. Just this line from his Wikipedia entry makes him a creature apart from the Koch Brothers, et al on the right: "Between 1979 and 2011, Soros gave away over $8 billion to human rights, public health, and education causes." Fox and their comrades know how to spin things VERY well, but this is another example of where their isn't parity between the left and right in America. Wisconsin shows what a bad education system, a lazy electorate and a lot of cash can do. But yes, it should rile up progressives to get in the game any way they can before too many changes come down that can't be turned around in our lifetimes.
Well well, what have we here.... a Classic case of the New World Order= The New Right - The New Nation called Citizens United, NOT "United States". The New Nation owned and run by the Corporations. Stalin called that in the 20's Fascism.
But I digress...
Is it new what we just experienced in Wisconsin last night? HELL NO!!!!!
We've been seeing this trend since Jr. Bush amassed so much freakin' power and money by the most insidious means possible since the year 2000. Where is the opposition to all this rigging, manipulation, assault????
You see in my mind, it doesn't matter how much money "they" have... sure they own it all, but it still is 1-3% of the population. This is another clear case of how this stupid country is driven into submission by the rich mobsters and when it comes to the polls... only the freakin' wacos right wing nuts show up!!! where is the people who get affected soooooo much by the lunatic "Free Market" bull@!$%#?????????????? that's what I want to know. Not how much money the loonies have. That's not news.
Where are the (real) People?????
Don't you know? The "real" people are watching Fox. They are your loonies' helpers. The loonies have convinced the people they step on to get in their path so it's easier to step on them. They are the USEFUL IDIOTS. You can catch them watching Fox, listening to Limbaugh, Coulter, ...
Gee, it's so much fun to come over here now and then and see just what liberals DON'T know about the other side. :D One thing to remember, there are STILL more conservatives than liberals in this country. That gives me hope. :D
Tiger57 - We only go by the stupid statements they make in public. If there is some hidden rationale that is based in fact, I suggest they go public with it.
Why don't you tell us Tiger just what liberals are failing to understand about the Fox-educated other side? You see, over here in reality we can take assertions and determine if it truly matches reality. In Fox land, assertions are provided to match conform to ideology. If the assertions don't conform to ideology, the Fox-educated reject the assertions.
Love your post fgr1111!
The war on liberals brought to you by Limpy and Murdock. What a country, to allow such people so much ownership and control over what is reported as "news" (and people actually believe their b.s.). To give folks "ammo" as I was told, they "arm" themselves with talking points and spin, to the delight of people that enjoy brutality and cheer for more.
Well, I will congratulate them all... when it comes time to outsource your jobs. Odd how that the people they defend as their authority daddy to bring the country to plutocracy, aristocracy or theocracy or whatever these people are confusing with democratic republic. I am working class person, now known as "serf" to the haves, the persons that buy into this business job creator get all the perks, even if they ship jobs and revenue away from the U.S.
I retired after 41 years, so I am looking at Social Security soon, but no that has to be cut, along with Medicare. So the wealthy won't have to pay taxes.
I feel very sorry for the younger folks coming up. I would never have what I have without a Union, with fellow workers having each other's backs to bring up families to send some to college. But now what do the college grads have to do to find a job in their field? What jobs are the non college grads going to have?
This free market stuff is not working out, because the jobs once done in the U.S. have left. Not because no college grads, because labor cheaper elsewhere. Why do you think the CEO types want to bust unions? So they can have people groveling for low wages.
So he should be allowed to serve out his term....to do more damage?
Well he's been elected to serve that stretch of time twice, now. I'd say they're stuck with him.
Unless Romney selects him for VP and they win. And I don't like that option, either.
Anybody wanna try converting Walker to some religion that requires withdrawal from public life?
Right? That is the most idiotic sentiment I have heard in a really long time.