I know, I know, it's way too early to be thinking about this, but the path he's on Scott Walker is almost certainly looking at a recall election -- perhaps as soon as next January, which would be the earliest constitutional opportunity to get rid of him. The polling data (but see Nate's discussion of the recent Clarus poll) is quite clear that Wisconsites strongly do not approve of his initiatives, but instead of backing down the tone deaf college dropout is doubling down.
So, he's making enough enemies now that a year from now he'll be easy pickings for a recall election. So let's assume that a year from now he's gone.
Who's going to replace him?
Well, it so happens I know a pretty popular Wisconsin politician who just recently lost his day job.
Now for the moment, Russ has expressed zero interest in taking Scott Walker's job. In fact, in an interview yesterday he even refused to join the growing groundswell in favor of recall. But there's little doubt in my mind he would win a race for governor in a cakewalk, and not only would he win easily he'd also make a top-notch chief executive for the state. Doing a successful job healing Wisconsin's wounds would restore his national reputation, and perhaps even give him the executive experience to position him nicely for a run at the Oval Office in 2016.
Wisconsin is clearly feeling buyer's remorse with the teabagging Kochites they swept into office last November. We need to seize the moment and press the initiative the workers' protests at the capitol have given us. We may or may not prevent the governor from ramming his initiative down our throats, but we can still win the game in the long run. How?
First, we need to start recall campaigns for the six or so Republican senators most vulnerable to recall, those who represent districts that voted for Obama in 2008. Start those campaigns now, and they will keep the issue on the front burner through the spring and into the summer.
Second, start a Draft Feingold for Governor campaign. Do that now as an organizing tool for the recall campaigns -- a positive solution to the mess the Republicans have brought upon the state -- but it has the added benefit of being able to go throughout the year. Given his statement yesterday that a recall needs to wait until Walker has fuller leadership record, Feingold almost certainly won't sign on until at least the summer, but an effective campaign driven by the unions will keep Walker's intransigence in the public eye and offer a positive alternative that people will find attractive.
Finally, recall Walker! My understanding is that the constitutional provision won't allow for a petition drive to get started until November, but get it underway at the earliest opportunity. Again, having a positive alternative to the weasel Walker will help drive the campaign forward and make it easier for folks to sign on to it.
You don't need Feingold's approval to do any of this. You do, of course, need his acquiescence.