The contract over at InTrade is up to 86% for Walker as of this writing. As of the last week or so, the people on the Barrett side seem to have finally given up and are bailing furiously. Here is the chart.
The MSM is in a full court press to try to save Barrett but nothing seems to be working. The first three stories on our local “news” last night all bashed Walker in some form or another. It was ridiculous. They don’t even try to act impartial anymore.
Walker’s enormous war chest is crushing the Dems with wave after wave of mailers and TV ads. On top of this he will probably have $$ left over to spend for his candidates this fall. I have read that the national funding has dried up for the Dems. I think the unions are out of money. I don’t have any real proof of these things besides what I am hearing and seeing.
I don’t know how the state senate recall races will end up. I have a feeling the senate will be lost, but no big deal. Walker’s reforms are already through and are working. In addition, there is no legislative business until next year, and the R’s can perhaps peel back some of the D’s gains in the state senate (if there are any) this November.
There is more good news – super liberal congress critter Tammy Baldwin is behind ANY of the three Republicans currently running in polling for our vacant US Senate seat. That would be a pick up for the R’s as Dem Herb Kohl is (finally) retiring.
I don’t want to start celebrating yet, but the fat lady looks to be arriving at the opera hall pretty soon.
Disclosure – this blog is an InTrade affiliate.
I have never once been even tempted (nothing personal Dan) to set foot in Wisconsin. Yet what is happening now gives this California resident reason for hope. I suspect there are some rather nervous political strategists at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue right now.
@Jason – Wisconsin is a beautiful state with a lot to do, whether you enjoy indoor or outdoor activity. The people really are quite nice. If you are adverse to cold weather I would recommend that you stay away from until after the leaves fall to May or so.
I love California – I have participated in running races across the Golden Gate bridge before and I just love the Bay Area. I have been watching the Amgen Tour of California this week and it looks like I need to make a trip or two out there to ride my bicycle.
My mom was born in neighboring St. Paul. Once in a blue moon she’ll travel back their and marvel about how amazingly polite and nice everyone there is.
That’s the good ‘ol Minnesota nice. It is a Midwest thing. In the larger cities of Madison and Milwaukee you will meet some dregs and losers, but in general people really are great here – and this goes across the political spectrum.
@Jason – I heard the most interesting comparison to California and Greece yesterday – that the politicos were similar. Both politicians are elected to serve particular constituencies.
In CA it is the public labor unions. (as it is in WI although Walker has really shakened things up.
@Dan – I saw the Amgen a few years ago when they started in Davis – probably the bicycle capital of the world. Well, to be perfectly accurate one of their stages started there.
Talk about hard core – it is pouring rain and the streets are packed with spectators.
I just wanted to see Lance Armstrong.
On WI my niece – in Minneapolis – had her wedding and some WI people were there – the men were wearing these loud red sport coats – is that a Badger thing? ;-)
The Bay area is beautiful – and to me – the Peninsula has to be one of the most desirable places to live in CA. I went to school there for 2 years in Menlo Park (next door to Palo Alto). Just to the west was a small mountain range – and in the winter you’d see the fog come over the top and just stop.
In those mountains you’d be among the pines and 20 minutes later the ocean (although I have to admit the beaches are best for admiring – not swimming – San Francisco is another 30 minutes north – the bay 15 minutes east – to top it off the most temperate year round weather you can have.
But the cost of living is astronomical.
“Wisconsin is a beautiful state with a lot to do, whether you enjoy indoor or outdoor activity. The people really are quite nice.”
Unless they are rioting union goons.
“Unless they are rioting union goons.” I was there for a lot of the “protests”. There were a LOT of folks here from out of state (I asked). Of course there were some gooney people here from Madison and Milwaukee, but that is baked into the pie. Even the most ardent union goons, if you get them at home and/or outside of that environment, are pretty decent folk.
“Even the most ardent union goons, if you get them at home and/or outside of that environment, are pretty decent folk.”
The same was said of members of the SS.
@Robert – oy. I call Godwin’s law.
Bill I’m sure you remember the special initiative election we had out here a few years ago. That was also a proxy on labor unions and proved to be a disaster for Schwarzenegger. Which is why I’m pleasantly surprised about Walker’s situation. I figured he was toast.
A comparison and contrast between the two situations (Walker/Schwarzenegger)may very much be in order.
@Jason I would like to see that in print someday. I personally don’t know enough about the Cali situation to comment on it intelligently.
Isn’t it time to start forming the recall committees for whatever Dems win Senate offices? I mean, why wait? You’ve only a limited amount of time to get at them before the next election…
Good to hear that Walker is kicking ass
“the special initiative election we had out here a few years ago. That was also a proxy on labor unions and proved to be a disaster for Schwarzenegger”
Arnold made disastrous errors in that event. He called a special election instead of waiting for the next regular election, which would have been a June primary. The teachers” union mortgaged their union headquarters building in Sacramento to spend $50 million to defeat modest reforms. One argument used by the unions effectively was the cost of the special election !
After he lost, he surrendered and hired a left wing chief of staff. He spent the rest of his term having cigar smokers in a tent outside the capitol. Totally useless.