Recall drives could make history

[cal04]

Rarely have multiple lawmakers faced such action
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/117501513.html

As improbable as the last three weeks have been in state politics, Wisconsin is about to embark on another wild ride into the political unknown - a series of legislative recall campaigns on a scale the nation has rarely, if ever, seen.

"I don't think there's a precedent for what's going on in Wisconsin," said Gary Moncrief of Boise State University, an expert on legislative politics. "I don't think there's ever been a case where pretty much everyone has been subject to a recall attempt at one time on both sides. That's really amazing."

Formal recall campaigns have now been launched against 16 state senators - eight Republicans and eight Democrats. That's everyone in the 33-member Wisconsin Senate who is legally eligible to be recalled this year.

Even though state law is designed to make recalls difficult and rare, some political insiders expect the petition drives now under way to succeed in forcing multiple lawmakers to face recall elections this summer.

[rpannier]

1. The irony or ironically humorous thing would be

All 16 stand recall and the 8 repubs lose to Democrats and the 8 Dems lose to Repubs and were back to square 1.

[roguevalley]

2. the test is getting the signatures. I don't think the pugs will get them

against the dems but I think the ones against the pigs will go fast.

[rpannier]

3. Very true

But it creates an interesting picture

[pacalo]

5. Measuring the size of the union protesters & the size (& sustainability) of the baggers,

which side has more heart to get those signatures needed?

[Mybrokenchains]

6. LOL

then it would be a mulligan and the protests would start over

[iwishiwas]

8. SPLAT!!

[toddwv]

4. I've read that the Dems need to net 3 seats to pick up the majority.

That would be awesome. Put some fear in Republicans in ALL the recall states.

[FBaggins]

9. Yes. But that's three out of eight.

And those eight won their seats in 2008 (a democratic year), not 2010 when a republican "wave" won them seats that they otherwise couldn't win. While the reverse is true of the handful of democratic senators facing a recall.

[DCKit]

11. Those elected in 2010 face recall next year.

Along with Dear Leader.

[FBaggins]

12. That's a year from now... at least.

Even assuming that energy levels stay this high for that long (a thing unheard-of in politics), there's still over a year before that becomes a reality. Lots of damage can be done in a year.

[DCKit]

13. Not if the Dems pick up those three necessary seats over the summer. nt

[FBaggins]

14. Which brings us right back to post #9

The ones who are eligible for recall in the next several weeks, are not the most vulnerable senators. They won their seats in a very democratic year. Targeting them won't be as easy as would a handful of the seats won last year that had previously been democratic seats.

[DCKit]

15. I'm willing to wait and see how it all shakes out.

Arguing over what may happen is pointless.

[FBaggins]

16. Oh, I'm not "arguing"... I'm willing to wait and see as well.

I'm just pointing out how substantial a hurdle this process is. We've got a whole lot of people here on DU who seem to assume that a sleeping giant has been awakened and we'll now see a wave of victories all across the country any day now.

The reality is that this is uncharted territory, and that both sides have some advantages and disadvantages in the 16 districts that have potential recall elections coming.

[cognoscere]

17. Your analysis is probably accurate if you don't include the backlash.

I read some post that told of people in Waukesha, the most Republican area in the state, being against Walker. One can only hope that is true.

[The Wizard]

7. It's a method for

paralyzing a totalitarian government.

[elocs]

10. A question would be if each of these recall elections would be on the same day.

They well might not be and in that case the side which is more motivated to get out their vote is more likely to prevail at the polls.

A sign I saw in Madison: