Final two Wisconsin recall elections today

[Riot]

Originally Posted by wiphan

You have outdone yourself with the above post. BRAVO

Some of us realize that "spending cuts" are real people. To others, it's just a screeching political demagoguery. So it goes.

[Danzig]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44155855/ns/us_news/


Wisconsin Democrats sought Tuesday to hold the ground they gained in last week's recall elections by fending off Republican attempts to oust two senators who fled the state in opposition to Gov. Scott Walker's proposal curbing public employee collective bargaining rights.

Based on unofficial early returns, one of the Democrats was losing to his Republican challenger while the other Democratic incumbent was ahead.

Democrats needed to win at least three of six recalls last week targeting Republicans, but they only captured two. That means the best they can manage from Tuesday's elections is to keep the ground they gained, which left the Senate in Republican control by a narrow 17-16 margin.

A third Democrat, Sen. Dave Hansen of Green Bay, survived a recall election last month.

A pair of Republican wins Tuesday would leave the Senate in the same partisan split as it was before the recalls.

[Riot]

Early returns were from outlying Republican precincts. Both Dems up well now, should win. Not definitive yet, but all the remaining precincts out tend to go "Dem". Holperin (D incumbent) currently 54%, Wirch (D incumbent) currently 56%

AP results here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/e...CTION=POLITICS

** AP calls Wirch (D- incumbent) winner.

Holperin still ahead 54% - 46%.

[Riot]

Final result tonight: both Dems win, hold their seats.

At the start of this, the Republicans held a 19 seat majority over the Dems 14 seats.

After the introduction of Walker's union-busting bill, unhappiness among the electorate lead to nine districts obtained enough signatures for recalls:

The Republicans obtained 3 of 6 eligible Democratic recalls
All three Democratic members retained their seats. None were recalled.

The Democrats obtained 6 of 6 eligible Republican recalls
Republicans lost 2 seats to Democrats, and held 4 seats.
Two Republicans were successfully recalled.

Final result at the end: Republicans lost 2 seats, now have a 17 seat bare majority. Democrats gained 2 seats, now have a 16 seat minority.

The public has spoken: they turned the legislature more Democratic, just months after seating new members. There is one Republican that voted against Walker's union-busting bill, and has no objection to working across the aisle with Democrats when he sees fit.

This swing vote is pretty much now the most important vote in the legislature, as this person does not predictably vote Republican.

[Clip-Clop]

The teachers UNION is the "biggest racket ever", not the teachers themselves. The only paid job I can think of that performance has absolutely zero effect on pay or promotion. Good teachers HATE the union.

[nebrady]

After all the recall stuff, the republicans are still in control! You sound like the democratic speaker in wisconsin, they gained 2 seats big deal in the long run the republicans have majority. So in the end spend more money on useless elections. Lets just hope the protesters leave the state. Its over go to some other state and protest. Face it walker and republicans were voted in by the public and are doing what they campaigned on! Lets not forget it was the democratic cowards who left the state not the republicans.

[wiphan]

Congrats on the win by the dems last night. Would have thought wirch could have been taken out, but too many questions involving the republican he faced. Now the dems can focus on trying to recall governor Walker.