So What Did Wisconsin Mean?

     Depends on how you look at it. The GOP has predictably been doing a lot of strutting as usual about it. There have been some attempts to declare this will "remake" the electoral map.

     For an outlier Sean Hannity now makes it sound like Romney is going to win in a blowout in Wisconsin-absurd claim, which is why he and the network he does his "news" at has such a "sterling" reputation.

      In reality Obama should still take Wisconsin. What Wisconsin means may depend on what you have in mind. If you mean Obama's chances in the Fall I don't know that it makes a lot of difference there. If you mean the future clout of the unions I guess that's a different question. Some GOPers have been suggesting that the Democrats are in deep trouble because the unions are now in deep trouble.

    

     What this all predictably ignores is that if you look at the different state ballot initiatives, recalls, and referendums not every vote has been against the power of the unions. Walker's victory has been seen as categorical proof that unions are done in this country. But what about Ohio were Governor Jon Kasich's even harsher than Walker's anti union initiative failed?

    Ironically many were frustrated that Ohio doesn't allow the recall of Governors but as it turns out Ohio may have been luckier. For whatever reason apparently many in Wisconsin somehow felt that it wasn't fair to use the recall as much as it has been lately. I say "somehow" and "for whatever reason" as quite honestly it makes no sense to me.

   If recalls are only "cricket" for matters of gross corruption why is that stipulation not in the constitution already? Don't get it. I don't see why recalls are any less fair than say referendums or other ballot initiative but look for the GOP to attempt to roll back your right to recall next.

    If this is done it will not be an enhancement but a diminishing of voters' rights which is what all these GOP voter "reform" laws are all about.

    Again I don't think it will hurt Obama directly-even Walker put in a cautionary note. Interestingly Rick Snyder of Ohio again even in face of Tuesday's result that he doesn't think anymore "right to work" legislation is a good idea.

    "In Michigan, Republican Gov. Rick Snyder's office on Wednesday reiterated he doesn't intend to pursue a right-to-work bill because "it would be too divisive and create a lot of unproductive fighting," a spokesman said."

     http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303665904577450890555194260.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_3

    Really this was not quite the grand slam the GOP thinks it was overall as a Firedoglake post suggests: "GOP and Buddies Spend Tens of Millions. The Result: Wisconsin Now in Democrat Control."

    "In essence, we got the national Republicans to spend at least $40 million (and more like $100 million if we could count everything that all the billionaires secretly donated), $40 million that now can’t be spent on Mittens or GOP congressional/ Senate candidates, for an effort that cost the Dems a lot less — and which got Wisconsin a new Democratic-controlled Senate."

http://my.firedoglake.com/phoenix/2012/06/06/gop-and-buddies-spend-tens-of-millions-result-wisconsin-senate-now-in-democratic-control/