The New Republic

This is a vicious, bare-fisted, take-no-prisoners style of politics. Bravo! Long overdue.

- DC Spence

March 8, 2011 at 11:51am

I have mixed feelings about this. We Californians recalled our guv a few years back. Suppose this WI recall works at well. It will undoubtedly be a huge story, and likely set a precedent. I have no idea just how many states allow for such recalls, and in what circumstances, but do we really want recall to become the default option when any politician proposes an unpopular policy (gun control, abolition of capital punishment, reduction of carbon emissions, etc. etc.) ? No politician would be willing to go out on a limb and buck majoritarian sentiment. But the majority is not always right! . T

- robertgorton

March 8, 2011 at 12:01pm

umm, robert? Walker IS going out on a limb and bucking majoritarian sentiment. You are correct in that the majority is not always right, but this IS a democracy and so majority rules as a first principle. I also happen to think the majority is right on this one; the Republican Tea Party is ramming legislation through that is destroying the state, everything they've ever accused Obama of and more.

And the rule stipulates something like waiting 1 year before recalling an elected official, so there is no real threat of being able to redo an election because a sizeable minority didn't like the outcome. It seems to me the law is well designed and working as intended by giving the citizens of WI an option when they realize they've been bamboozled by their elected officials.

- GSpinks

March 8, 2011 at 12:21pm

Finally I can comment. My operating system kept crashing. I don't think that there is a snowball's chance of Scott Walker compromising. He is from that wing of the Republican Party - wait a minute, wing, hell, it's virtually the entire party - that would rather be "right" and partisan than be pragmatic and compromise. So it looks as though a recall is the way to proceed. But your point is well-taken, rg, and it is a prudent objection, as opposed to the ideologues who "know" exactly how to proceed.

- liberalref

March 8, 2011 at 12:22pm

Please. Recall is certainly NOT the "default option". What's happening in Wisconsin is pretty unique -- a Republican Governor, elected while saying one thing, then implementing draconian policies against state workers, while the Democrat Senators leave the bloody STATE to prevent this power-grab? Discussion and compromise are the "default options". That the Governor is currently not open to compromise is a problem with the Governor, not the system. These are exceptional circumstances. Recall is perfectly appropriate in these circumstances.

- AllanL5

March 8, 2011 at 12:24pm

Yeah, I don't think we need to worry that defeated political parties are going to be forcing recall elections all the time, leading to constant instability and electioneering. A party seen to abuse the process would receive a beating at the polls even worse than the one they just endured. Besides, recall laws could be changed to make them more difficult if they become too common. Basically, recall elections exist to deal with people who are hopelessly corrupt, bring the state into great disrepute [think Evan Meacham of Arizona], or govern in a way entirely inconsistent with their campaign, making a joke of the election mandate. It's going to be pretty rare.

- DC Spence

March 8, 2011 at 1:06pm

Rule by recall is inefficient. Supermajority quorums are also wrong. Unions and collective bargaining aren't constitutional or natural rights. Given all the talk over the years about states being laboratories, let the WI GOP do this and take the consequences. Yes, that's harsh for the WI gov't employees, but at some point duly elected government gets to do what it wants even if it's thoroughly misguided. Implied tangent: why not petition for state constitutional amendments to establish the right for state and local gov't employees to form unions and enumerate the proper subjects of unions' collective bargaining? That is, take this off the table (except via constitutional repeal) so the governor can't do this? If WI has popular constitutional amendments, that'd seem to be the more direct course to take.

- hrlngrv

March 8, 2011 at 2:24pm

This is great. These Republican Loyalists deserve to be recalled - and then some. Their loyalty is to their party - not their Country. The New Republic is a fun read and their splendid commentariat make it all the more so. Thank you - to All of You.

- Bukharin

March 8, 2011 at 3:10pm

Nevermind if Walker will ever compromise. The more interesting question is whether recall efforts will make any of the Republicans compromise/change their proposed vote(s). I haven't read much about the individual Republican senators involved other than their names. Depending on their own goals and aspirations, they may be more inclined to compromise rather than be recalled. A six month stint as a State Senator has little to recommend it on a job application.

- danbd

March 8, 2011 at 3:49pm

Walker is using government to further the political strength of Republican party. That is not a legitimate government purpose.

- Nusholtz

March 8, 2011 at 4:16pm

dan, from what I hear from the front line 3 or 4 Republicans have already said they won't vote for the bill, and another has publically indicated he's changing his mind and this was before I heard any talk of a recall. WI is generally a moderate state, so I wouldn't at all be surprised to see more start jumping off the bandwagon in the next few weeks. I guess it depends on what percentage of Republicans in WI are torch and pitch fork carrying Tea Partiers and the subsequent chances of surviving a challenge during the next primary.

- GSpinks

March 8, 2011 at 7:55pm