Everyone Should Have Seen This Coming

by Pejman Yousefzadeh on February 19, 2011

Consider the following from this profile of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (all emphasis mine):

Wisconsin may seem to the rest of the country like an unlikely catalyst, but to people who have watched the governor’s political rise through the years, the events of the week feel like a Scott Walker rerun, though on a much larger screen and with a much bigger audience.

Critics and supporters alike say Mr. Walker has never strayed from his approach to his political career: always pressing for austerity, and never blinking or apologizing for his lightning-rod proposals.

He regularly clashed with the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors over the past decade when he was that county’s elected executive. He pushed to privatize cleaning and food service workers and sought changes to pension and health contributions and workers’ hours. At one point, he proposed that the county government might want to consider, in essence, abolishing itself. It was redundant, he suggested.

“All I can think is, here we go again,” said Scott Larson, one of 14 Democratic state senators who fled Wisconsin last week to block a vote on Mr. Walker’s call to cut benefits. Mr. Larson knows the governor well, having served on Milwaukee County’s board when Mr. Walker was the executive. He says that Mr. Walker is a nice guy on a personal level, “a good listener,” but that his politics are another matter.

“Unions have always been his piñata, over and over,” Mr. Larson said. “And this time I think he’s trying to out-right-wing the right wing on his way to the next lily pad.”

As the excerpt, and the highlighted material makes clear, Walker has been an open book as a politician. He has never tried to disguise his stance on the issues of the day, and if it can be said that “[u]nions have always been his piñata, over and over,” then one can hardly be taken by surprise by his stance on unions in general, or on public sector unions in particular.

And despite–or because of–this stance, the voters of Wisconsin elected him Governor in 2010, with a 6 point, 124,000-plus vote margin between himself and his opponent. Not a landslide, but not inconsequential either, especially given the fact that Walker has not shied away from stating clearly his public policy views. In doing so, the voters not only elected Walker, they endorsed his views, views he clearly articulated throughout his career in public life.

If Democrats want to oppose his views, that is their right, and their business. But it is one thing to oppose in good faith. It is quite another to ditch the state senate, the capital, and the state, in order to try to frustrate the democratic-republican process. This latter stance amounts to open defiance of the will of the voters. It seeks to frustrate government via temper tantrum. Here’s hoping that the voters of Wisconsin remember in 2014.

Tagged as: Blue Flu, Civility, Democrats, Economic Ignorance, Economics, Hypocrisy, Joseph Welch Thou Shouldst Be Living At This Hour, Politics, Republicans, Scott Walker, State Senate, Teachers, unions, Wisconsin

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  • http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/ M. Simon

    I’m hoping they remember it in 2012.

    And there are at least two recall petitions (contract hits in politics) going out on the 14.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/GTWW5A7R5VGLQNGMPQ3OMH5CJ4 egoist_capitalist

    “And this time I think he’s trying to out-right-wing the right wing on his way to the next lily pad.” Or, maybe he’s just trying do square the whims of the unions (and their enablers) with reality; one of these won’t budge.

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  • Multitude

    The American Left only has its self to blame for this outcome. Milked dry from two decades of flat income increases combined with a radically increased tax burden (particularly through transferred taxes applied on corporations which have only increased the cost of living, usually ignored by the ineptly educated Left economists like Krugman), the middle class is declaring it can not and will not take any more.

    The collusion between the upper class elites and its mostly tax exempted, transfer payments lower class, has allowed for this unchecked war against the middle. Fat cat Warren Buffet will go before the media and shed alligator tears about how woefully undertaxed he is, demand an increase in the income tax (which has the capacity to tax less than 0.0001% of his income and wealth), and laugh to the bank at the idiots who take his advice and stick it to the middle class once again. The same goes for the majority of the progressive elites.

  • Multitude

    The American Left only has its self to blame for this outcome. Milked dry from two decades of flat income increases combined with a radically increased tax burden (particularly through transferred taxes applied on corporations which have only increased the cost of living, usually ignored by the ineptly educated Left economists like Krugman), the middle class is declaring it can not and will not take any more.

    The collusion between the upper class elites and its mostly tax exempted, transfer payments lower class, has allowed for this unchecked war against the middle. Fat cat Warren Buffet will go before the media and shed alligator tears about how woefully undertaxed he is, demand an increase in the income tax (which has the capacity to tax less than 0.0001% of his income and wealth), and laugh to the bank at the idiots who take his advice and stick it to the middle class once again. The same goes for the majority of the progressive elites.

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  • pairodimes

    Amazing, Democrats fleeing the state so that no quorum can be had. It seems Dems are all for democracy except when they lose.

    • Watty

      Doesn’t this kind of prove the Wis Dems want this to be a Socialistic State? They want everyone there when they have the power but then they leave and go crying to mommy when they no longer have the power.

  • daveinboca

    Walker’s strong and courageous stand has encouraged Republican governors across the country to look at the institutionalized corruption that public sector unions have become. The whole concept of public unions should be illegal, in that it allows members to be represented twice, once directly at the negotiating table as a union member, and again at the polling booth as a citizen of the locality. Simultaneously, each of those privately-employed citizens who together pay the bulk of the union members’ salaries have but one vote, and effectively no power to fight off the unions’ ever-greedier demands. One man, one vote? Not when there are public unions, who offer nothing but specious rationalizations and thuggery when challenged. Public unions are undemocratic in theory, and stink of nothing but corruption in reality. They must all be dissolved.

    This morning on Chris Wallace’s Fox Sunday Morning Show, Bill Kristol said that the Republicans should consider running Paul Ryan for President and Scott Walker for Vice President. When asked whether this is legal, Bill replied that it’s legal, but never been done because both candidates would only be assured of WI’s 10 electoral votes…! Then he repeated that these two are now the Republican Party’s two strongest leaders, and started singing ‘On Wisconsin….’ and saying that that would be the theme song for the GOP [which co-incidentally was founded in Ripon in 1854]. The song was inspired by the leader of the regiment, the 24th Wisconsin, Arthur MacArthur, in which my great great grandfather was an officer and who died in Andersonville prison camp. Sorry for the digression….

    • Mhjhnsn

      The XII Amendment requires that a State cannot give its electoral votes to both a Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidate from itself, so the VP candidate would have to forego those electoral votes.

      In 2000, Ceney went to some effort to confirm Wyoming residency, rather than Texas, for that reason.

  • Anonymous

    Dismantling the so-called Blue Machine, the Democrats’ system of patronage, sinecures and money-funneling schemes built over the last few decades, will require enormous willpower and steadfastness, but it must be done.

  • http://pumping-irony.livejournal.com/ Wilbur Post

    When the going gets tough, the Democrats hi-tail it to Illinois (ironic choice of destination.)

    • TerryOtt

      They Senators went across the border looking for Spain, Greece, or Italy where they would feel more at home. They had no idea how far those were from Wisconsin so they just settled for Illinois which, politically, is pretty close to those 3 countries

      • Betts920

        You are right – Illinois is a lot like Greece. I know, I have lived here all my life and now am thinking that neighbor Indiana is looking better and better.

  • Yeegrek

    Wow, deleted and banned in less than 5 minutes. You really are gutless.

    Well, enjoy your little band of cultists.

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  • Anonymous

    Public sectors unions are the biggest source of funding for Democratic Party campaigns. Unionize the public workers, collect union dues, pay the union bosses outrageous compensation packages, then use the rest of the union dues to finance Demcorat campaigns so that they can expand government even more, collect more in union dues to finance more Democrats, etc. It’s a vicious cycle. And this is the real reason why Obama weighed in and why Organizing for America is involved. Because Obama and the highest level Democrats understand that if the unions break down in Wisconsin and it spreads to other states, a huge source of funding Democrat campaigns dries up. It literally could put the two party political system in jeopardy.

    The teachers unions were never about the children. They were never about working conditions. They were always about siphoning money off the teachers salaries in the form of union dues to finance the Democratic Party and make union bosses fat and happy.

    • Lee Rittenhouse

      I FEEL YOU ARE WRONG ON ONE POINT,THE UNION BOSSES PRESSURE THE MEMBERSHIP TO “DONATE”TO THE POLITICAL ACTION FUND,THEY DON’T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE DUES THAT IS THEIR GOLDEN EGG.

    • Fjelly

      The WI SEIU local that I’m a Fair Share member of has acknowledged that 20.06% of my dues for the year 2009 to May 2010 was used for purposes non-germane to collective bargaining i.e. the money was used for political purposes.

  • Anonymous

    The union leadership especially with its use of imported rabble rousers and goons is pooping on itself. This will be a crushing defeat before it is over. Sad for the vast majority of hard working, decent public employees tarred with this brush.

  • Mhjhnsn

    Walker as a consistent conservative and challenger of the public sector unions, who is acting exactly as he said he would and consistent with his record?

    Unlike, say, one Barack Obama, who misrepresented himself as a moderate, non-racialist unifier from the moment he entered the national arena in 2004, but nonetheless insisted that his election be viewed as an ideological mandate for the Left?

  • Me

    I was looking for a way to contact the blog admin, however I was unsuccessful. I would just like to clarify the name of one of Wisconsin’s 14 hero Senators. In the post, he is listed as “Scott Larson” (Political hybrid of good and evil, maybe?), but in actuality, his name is Chris Larson. No biggie, just want to add some accuracy to your blog.

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  • John

    If Walker won by 6 percentage points that means his margin of victory equals Obama’s margin of victory in the popular vote.

    I recall hearing and reading repeatedly that Obama had a mandate. Therefore …

    • Anonymous

      I do believe that we have a winner.

  • Slackward20

    My apologies to the “Union People”. I am unemployed and cannot pay taxes to support your pension and healthcare needs. I am so sorry.

  • Perryrenee52

    This article just makes me like the Governor more! About time we had someone who doesn’t pick and choose his words carefully but says what he means and means what he says! My sister is a retired Librarian and said that the pensions they get are sinful! She even complained when she was still working for the city. This is nothing but stealing from the taxpayers because of the unions unsustainable demands! Now the Piper has to pay! The gravy train must come to an end! Too much power by the Unions. Just look at the football contracts coming up for review and the demands they are makinng or they will shut down the NFL season. Everyo9ne has to step back and sacrifice. People are tired of the Unions demands for more and more for them and their coffers!

  • Frank

    Coming soon to your state.

  • YOCKEYJONES

    just love a good fight.you know when the real winner is found ! as for the unions and there frothy want a hand out from me to pay there way, teachers who teach are children what to think instead of how to think. think again you losers,your selfish and coy attemps to find support is failing because your short sighted politcal views! come join the rest of us tax paying folk who are getting are swords sharpened to end this mindless (un) substainable path of corruption! yea we are trimming your purse strings! and you will have to live in this world of realaity/ with me and outhers who support you and this future AMERICA of INTEGRITY.

  • Midlandewing

    We could sure use him here in North Carolina.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_6C3EDACO2724UDGGROD7FUT52M brett

    Since the presidential election, how many times did we, the GOP, have to listen the “elections have consequences” taunt from Obama and his cronies? Honestly, can the vast majority of true Americans not see how unAmerican the Wisc. Dems and the President are acting?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XIORCJCFERNJEPEMSASXQGRYNY Ed F

    I hope the WI protests continue and are well covered by the MSM. The protesters are turning more and more people against them and their unions with each passing day.

  • Bossman

    I don’t recall seeing the Republicans fleeing D.C. when Obamacare was crammed down.

    Just sayin’

    • Janice Eastman

      I hear two of the people who fled were republicans, you may want to check out this fact.

  • Anonymous

    Have you seen the photos of those people who are teaching children? They need to be fired. The National Guard should have teachers who can replace these people until replacements can be found. They aren’t mentally fit to teach anyones child. If they are willing do show themselves this way in front of parents can you imagine what they are feeding children behind closed doors?

    Protest Saturday in Wisconsin Pictorial

    http://hotair.com/archives/2011/02/20/pictorial-protest-saturday-in-wisconsin/

  • Anonymous

    Corporate/government “partnerships” are no less repugnant than union/government partnerships. Both rig the system against average citizens and should be eliminated. The only way to accomplish the task is to have legislators give up power, the last thing they are voluntarily willing to do.

  • Anonymous

    Corporate/government “partnerships” are no less repugnant than union/government partnerships. Both rig the system against average citizens and should be eliminated. The only way to accomplish the task is to have legislators give up power, the last thing they are voluntarily willing to do.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tim-Kindred/1053890146 Tim Kindred

    It is this sort of nonsense from the Teacher’s Union(s) that made it an easy decision for me to home school my daughter.

    This way, she’ll get a REAL education, instead of a political indoctrination and a “check off the appropriate boxes” type of schooling.

  • http://radical-moderation.blogspot.com/ TheRadicalModerate

    I’m glad to see the recall petitions are already going out, but I hardly think they’ll be necessary. The peculiar personality disorder that motivates politicians makes them exquisitely sensitive to the slightest erosion of their power, and they simply can’t maintain that power from Illinois.

    In 2004, we had this happen with the Democrats in Texas over redistricting (the local radio played a wonderful re-wording of an Eagles song entitled, “Welcome to the Hotel Oklahoma”) and they all slunk back in short order when it became clear that nobody really cared if they held their breath until they passed out. As an Austin resident, I do worry, though, when people get disgruntled and decide to retreat to a hotel called “the Clock Tower”. Hopefully, none of the Wisconsin senators are named Whitman…

  • Louisiana Man

    Who is covering the expenses of the Democrats who ran off to a resort in llinois …. rather than face the music the Republicans were playing? Will the DNC …. certainly not the taxpayers of Wisconsin?

  • mvt

    Thank you for standing up and drawing a line, Gov Walker.
    I support you and am praying for more men and women like you and Gov Christie.

  • http://twitter.com/Mr_Pinko Mr_Pinko

    Please, bust the unions!

    • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/LVBV54PK6UKA7BYDRTBLJLGQR4 Randi

      As someone who has seen the best of what unions can do, I can’t support a call to bust all unions. Neither can I see the logic of allowing unions in the public sector to hold taxpayers hostage to their every demand.

      Private unions negotiate with representatives of the businesses they work in. Those businesses have a stake in the outcome of the negotiations. They’re going to wind up paying for the new contract and any increased benefits will directly affect their bottom line.

      Public unions have no similar check on them. They negotiate with the state which simply signs off on the contract and then passes the bill to the taxpayers.

      The relationship between unions and the Democrat party is incestuous. Watching what they’re doing in Wisconsin turns my stomach.
      .

  • Shelbygtdriver

    Tell me again–WHO WON?

  • Anonymous

    He said here’s what I’ll do if you elect me. He won. Now he’s doing what he said he would do and all hell breaks loose.
    Liberals are children. I want, I want, gimme gimme! When they don’t get what they want they throw a tantrum.
    And who backs them up? The Tantrum Thrower in Chief. The man who ignores the Courts and imposes his will on the populace. The Child King whose power exceeds that of the Courts and the People.
    He should butt out.

  • Equity3617

    Go Scott Walker!!! Wisconsin is very fortunate to you. Walker is doing exactly what he said he would do if elected. Governor Walker is sincrely concerned about the citizens of Wisconsin and wants to balance their budget. It is time unions paid their dues to the American public instead of taking advantage of the little guy year after year. It is sad the liberal democrats are trying to stir up chaos in Wisconsin. Wisconsin teachers abandoning their students proves they are more concerned about their wages than teaching the children. Apparently the teachers do not care either if harm comes to Wisconsin for not balancing her budget. Also, the doctors that were giving out fake excuses were not professional at all. The doctors turned their backs on non-union workers that pay the bills in Wisconsin. Do the doctors in Wisconsin only care for those that are unionized? They were a disappointment to their profession along with all the teachers that walked off their jobs. Anybody that supports the actions of the teachers and the unions could not possibly care for Wisconsin or America.

  • Anonymous

    Just reading some NYT comments wondering why repubs feel its OK for private sector unions to collective bargain but not public sector….they are incapable of understanding that private sector unions are negotiating for a share of the PROFIT made by their company, while successful negotiations by public sector unions can only be compensated for with TAX increases.,,,because there is no profit to share.

  • transplant

    When it hurts in the person’s pocketbook, that is when values of many people change…

  • Anonymous

    It’s the unions and welfare against the people who pay them. It’s Obumma and
    his private army against anyone who supports the Wisconsin governor. It’s the feds against state government and the Tea Party. We could have a nice little civil war going on here in no time if the president has his way.

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  • Anonymous

    I’m not from WI but have been following this closely. I think you guy’s elected a helluva governor and I hope he succeeds. The rest of the country can learn from this. I have to chuckle when I have heard some disgruntled teachers crying about this getting “shoved down their throats”and how it was unfair. I could only think of Obamacare and how that was shoved down ours! What goes around comes around! Keep it up Governor Walker!!

  • Anonymous

    “Elections have consequences.”, whatshisname

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  • Missy

    Democrats are “flea-ing” the state to avoid participatory government. This tactic is abandonment of their jobs, pure and simple. They should be terminated from their responsibilities. Why are they getting paid for being out of state and in essence not on the job reporting for duty and doing their duty? How on earth are they getting away with this stalling tactic. Also, why are the people “camping out” in the state house. Close the house and fumigate to remove the stench of having people there non-stop for two weeks. Yuck!

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