A blue spot of consolation for Wisconsin Democrats

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jason Stein reports:

Madison - A triumphant Gov. Scott Walker will meet with his cabinet Wednesday on jobs and start planning a Wisconsin-style bipartisan summit with lawmakers over brats and beer.

But for at least five months, it appears that he could have to accommodate a newly Democratic Senate. Republicans needed to win all four state Senate recall races Tuesday to hold onto that house but were declared winners in only three of those contests.

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Voter suppression reported in Wisconsin

 

I just received this message:

 

Urgent Action Needed: We've confirmed reports of voter suppression calls to recall petition signers. These calls tell signers that their "job is done" and that they don't need to vote on Tuesday.

This is a disgusting attack on our democracy and we need your help to fight back. Post this photo to your Facebook timeline and tell your friends that we need every eligible voter to cast a ballot for Tom Barrett -- including recall petition signers.

I have good friends in Wisconsin who worked hard to gather recall petitions and who will be working hard to get out the vote tomorrow. Do your part - Wisconsin needs you! 

The Nation endorses Tom Barrett for governor of Wisconsin

Tom Barrett

Got this note from Peter Rothberg at The Nation the other day regarding the upcoming Wisconsin recall election pitting Gov. Scott Walker against Milwaukee mayor Tom Barret:

Dear Nation reader,

      If Scott Walker and his allies are recalled from office in Wisconsin on June 5, the results will be seen across the country as a rejection of the idea that cutting taxes for the rich while attacking unions and slashing services will somehow spur job growth.

That's why The Nation is endorsing Tom Barrett for Governor of Wisconsin.

A candidate whom Russell Feingold hails as “a lifelong progressive [who] stood with me in voting against the deregulation that led to the Wall Street crash, opposing the Patriot Act and reforming our system of campaign finance,” Barrett is well-known for getting people to work together, keeping lines of communication open and uniting disparate interests.

Find out how to support and join Barrett's campaign today.

All best,
Peter Rothberg, The Nation

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The people win in Wisconsin; Gov. Walker recall set

The photo of Professor Bowie was taken by a friend of hers.

Gov. Walker

 

Wow! Has it been a year since protests erupted in Madison in response to Gov. Scott Walker’s actions? In the foreground of the picture on the right, Katherine Bowie, Professor of Anthropology at UW-Madison, stares back at a couple of state troopers. She had just crawled through a window in the capitol building, shortly after the senate vote that stripped teachers and other state employees of their bargaining rights. Katherine’s rallying cry back then was, “On to the recall effort.”

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

Katherine must be celebrating this evening because the recall of Scott Walker was announced today with the primary scheduled for May 8 and the general election set for June 5. Almost immediately, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Walker’s Democratic opponent in 2010, entered the race.

Politico’s Mackenzie Weinger reports:

Barrett is aiming for a rematch of his 2010 battle with Walker, which the Republican won 52 percent to 47 percent.

“We need to bring our state back,” Barrett wrote in an email to supporters. “Wisconsin needs a governor who is focused on jobs, not ideology; a leader committed to bringing our state together and healing political wounds, not pitting people against each other and catering to the special interests. This is the governor I will be for the people of Wisconsin.”

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