Today's the day Democrats decide who will go up against Scott Walker (or will Progressive Republican Arthur Kohl-Riggs boot Walker off?) on June 5 and whether fake Democrats, listed first on the ballots, will boot off the real Democrats running to replace 4 recalled Wisconsin State Senate Republicans.
I like to vote in person, on election day, at about the same time as my voter number often predicts turnout. Today, I voted 2 hours earlier than usual. My number tells me turnout is high. Higher than the 30-35% predicted turnout. I have always found my predictions to be accurate in the decades I've voted. However, as always, we'll see.
I'm not keeping my vote secret. While voting for Mahlon Mitchell for Lt. Governor and then crossed over (yeah, legal in a recall election) to toss my vote for Governor for liberal Republican Arthur Kohl-Riggs. This was an interesting possibility promoted in a diary by Wisco Wherls and one that I thought a lot about in the past day and a half.
Frankly, I don't care what Democrat wins the primary for Governor since I will fully and enthusiastically support whoever it is. Nobody I talked to and no group I associate with has said anything different. The GOP, however, hoped that political ambition would cause the Democrats to attack and smear each other in the primary - essentially doing the Republicans dirty work for them.
But that's not what happened. Each Democrat focused on what was important - restoring Wisconsin. I commend them all for keeping it classy and keeping their eyes on the reason we are having a recall. The reason people stood out in the cold and snow. To return our state government to sanity by recalling politicians who serve the monied interests and their political careers at the expense of the citizens of this great state.
Here's a few linkies for you who are just dying to know what's going on:
WTMJ - Milwaukee NBC station has sort of real time personal reports here and video.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has info on the candidates and last campaigning here.
WISN - Milwaukee ABC affiliate has crickets on the home page about the election, but does have local stories about a deputy sheriff resigning after being caught with child porn, the return of a missing teen, a story about child abuse, a story about pets becoming victims of domestic violence, and other stuff. Maybe later....
Local Fox offers this with some very nice video which I was, unfortunately, unable to embed here (I tried).
CBS 58 has this offering along with video.
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No voter ID is required because of the permanent injunction (thanks, judicial system, for standing up for the citizens right to vote). You can also register at the polls with an ID and 2 proofs of residence (like bills sent to your house).
So......go vote.
For your continued reading pleasure, allow me to send you here for John Nichols discussing People Power vs. Money Power and the recalls.
Let me tantalize you with:
There is no way that working people and the organizations that represent them can raise and spend the kind of money that the super PACs are pumping into the process.
But there is an alternative to a politics defined by money. It is a politics defined by people. And that different, better politics is taking shape in Wisconsin.
and
We all would like to imagine that grassroots activism can counter $21 million. Well, there is some good evidence that it is.
What did $21 million in spending by the governor and millions more by his allies get Walker? According to the new Marquette University Law School Poll (which usually skews a bit conservative), Walker's approval ratings have ticked steadily downward as he recall has developed:
-- In January, he was at 51 percent
-- In March, he was at 50 percent.
-- In May, he was at 47 percent.
The Marquette polling also suggests a clear trend toward the Democrats -- particularly Tom Barrett -- who now leads the governor by a narrow 47-46 margin among registered voters.
Trust me, the whole article is well worth your time (and not all that long).
Update: Everything I'm reading in news sources and in your excellent comments tells me that the Election Turnout Puddy-O-Meter is still pretty accurate. Prime time for voting starts now with the end of first shift so early high turnouts normally predict high later turnout. Polls will close 8 PM Central Time (9 PM Eastern).
I'll update as new information comes in or with any awesome Wisconsin news.
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