Early vs Late recall of Walker

[undeterred]

Did anyone else get an email survey concerning the timing of the Walker recall? I guess it has always been assumed that this would happen as soon as possible, but the survey raised the issues concerning gathering signatures during the holidays, not having a Democratic candidiate ready yet, not having voters educated about the voter id laws yet, and turnout issues... basically suggesting that having a recall a few months later might not be a bad option.

I am completely open on this as long as we do it, but I was taken by surprise. I am also a little shaken that we really still don't have a candidate at this point. I hope somebody is going to step up soon, at least behind the scenes.

[elocs]

1. It is very disappointing that we do not have a candidate yet.

The recall of Walker is not going to be an easy task. It's going to take a candidate with some stature, reputation, and name to defeat Walker. Just any old Democrat is not going to do.

I'd hate to see all the fire and passion we had in this state earlier this year go up in smoke, being left to explain and spin away a failed recall of Walker.

[undeterred]

2. Senator Feingold

Wisconsin needs you.

[Sportsguy]

13. Russ Needs to Retract His Statement

about not running for political office in 2012, period. We need him. I refuse to believe that Russ would ignore that need.

[undeterred]

21. He doesn't have to show his cards.

And perhaps it makes no sense to declare one is running against Walker until we have the signatures in hand. But I too, would like to believe that he will step up if we need him.

[elocs]

3. What scares me the most is that nobody is stepping up to the plate on a recall to be a candidate.

As if they don't believe the recall effort will succeed or that Walker cannot be defeated.

Getting Feingold to run would have been huge.

[Kashka-Kat]

4. I got the survey but havent done it - like most surveys it doesnt really let me say what I

want to say - which is Im fine with either Nov. OR January 1 but not a minute beyond that.

There was some noise about tying in Walker's recall election with Obama's 2012 reelection which would be a huge mistake, IMHO - way too late. And besides, as Ive been saying all along,this Uprising is not owned by the Dem Party. Progressives, greens, labor unions, AND independents/moderate repubs have all been integral parts of this thing. In fact I do think it's the latter who in many ways really hold the cards re: the outcome of a recall election.

Do we know for a fact that it can start in Nov.? There was confusion whether "1 year in office" meant 1 year from the election date, or one year after inauguration.

Was any one else at Fighting Bob intrigued by John Nichol's reference to Ed Garvey (something about how he'll always consider Ed Garvey his governor or something like that, forget the exact words). Maybe its time for a real Wisconsin Progressive Party - is it ready for prime time?

[Viking12]

5. The best strategy would be to time the recall to coincide w/ the November elections

To run 2 separate major campaigns in a single year will dilute too many resources.

[hayrow]

6. I disagree entirely with this view

"Strike while the iron is hot". There needs to be a sense of real urgency, getting rid of Walker not one day later than legally possible. The public does not want us to play politics, and must see this as something that needs to be done immediately for the good of the state. It is not only the Democrats that will be running two campaigns. If the Democrats want Walker out, do it ASAP and hope for the best. The public currently seems sympathetic to our cause, however, will turn on a dime if the issue seems completely political, especially with the lies and twists the right wing echo chamber and bought and paid for MSM will spin on the recall if it is not done with urgency and haste.

[sybylla]

7. We may not want to "play politics" with this, but you know Walker's goons will

To race forward without thought for how they will bend the system to their benefit and then act outraged - and possibly lose - because they took advantage of a system they own at the moment is exceedingly short sighted. Like making the Packers play with reading glasses on.

We all want to take the high road, but we're against an opponent who will take us down in to the manure whether we want it or not. Racing ahead without thought to the fact that we may be giving Walker an advantage only fucks us over more.

[hayrow]

10. Incorrect

We have had months to lay the groundwork. No matter what we do, or when we begin, the Walker slime will react predictably to destroy the recall. There is no excuse, from the view of the public I deal with, to delay. Their actions will not change with our delay, and any delay will be interpreted as our side not being serious regarding the damage Walker is doing to the state every day he remains governor.

[Kashka-Kat]

11. yep I agree - well said. I think it boils down to the Dems having spent a lot of $$$ on the

Senate recalls and being extremely reluctant to spend more in the months before a presidential election.

TO WHICH I SAY --- maybe its a virtue that we'll be the side thats NOT pouring tons of $$$$ into buying crappy ads on TV and radio. I honestly believe that... having talked to numerous people in the recall districts who were inundated with all that crap. And so burnt out, angry and frustrated with this politics of mutual assured destruction that is waged in the media. Mind you, these were people on OUR SIDE who were pissed that OUR SIDE was pouring all this $$$$ into attack ads.

Seems to me that Mr Feingold ran some very effective campaigns in his career without a lot of $$$ ... of course it helps to have a good personable candidate with a clear strong message.

Seriously. We have what they DONT have - people power, energy, and commitment. AND.... some really good contact lists. FRANKLY, Im a little bit tired of the avalanche of emails from the Dem Party and even Feingolds PAC asking for money money money and more money.

Put us to work going door to door and lets get er done!

[sybylla]

16. Did you ever have run-ins with a neighborhood bully?

Did you ever take a moment to think about how you approached him if you couldn't avoid him? Did you take a new path home or to school? Did you leave a little earlier or a little later?

Or have you never had an encounter with a bully that you run headlong into this one without a thought to whether you end up squarely in the middle of his turf on a day all his posse are guaranteed to be mounted and ready? (i.e. on the presidential primary election day in April)

Since when is a little thought and strategy a bad thing?

Why does the recall have to be an up hill battle? Can you not think of yourself as a martyr without one? Because that's exactly what we'll get if we start collecting 700,000 signatures in the middle of winter only to have the recall show up on the April ballot. IMHO, that's a worst case scenario.

We get one shot at this. There are plenty of us here who know what happens when a bully wins. You saw it in February. If it happens again, he'll think he's untouchable. A bully who thinks he's untouchable is a dictator.

If you think failure isn't a possibility, then you've sunk deeper into Happyland than I originally thought.

[hayrow]

17. We need to play the hand we were dealt, and it is not a bad hand

From my working with the general public in Northeastern Wisconsin, I believe most of the constituency does not like Walker. However, they also do not like us. We must be sincere and serious. There needs to be real perception of urgency, that every day Walker is Governor he is doing more damage to the citizens of Wisconsin for the benefit of his cronies with the Koch's. Most people do not pay much attention, and perception is the key piece of a strategy to get the recall signatures required. That is why IMHO the recall drive should begin ASAP.

[Kashka-Kat]

20. Hey lady, we're on your side - what's with all the put downs?

All the eff-ing this and eff-ing that. Believe it or not I have my opinion for pretty much the same reason you have yours – I think it’s strategically better.

Im not quite understanding why you think it’s such an advantage to wait until November. If forces are massed against us in April, won’t they be massed again in November? Is it purely about money/advertising or is there some other dimension to it that I’m missing? Please elaborate and make a case for it. I am open to new information.

BTW, I thought you were gonna say we should stand tall and proud and face the bully, and not run away and hide. You know, like in all the countless old movies and TV family sitcoms. Well, that's what we've been doing since February and that's what we'll continue to do.

[sybylla]

15. Of course their actions will not change.

That was my whole effing point.

But as someone who worked quite closely on two summer recalls, I can tell you that the weather and the timing of the recall mattered in turnout and had an effect on any number of other factors - all within our control.

Anyone who thinks it didn't, who thinks it's just the lame-ass Dem party who didn't step up, wasn't paying attention.

[ClassWarrior]

27. +1

NGU.

[dragonlady]

14. We may not be able to time it perfectly

The timing is not completely up to us because the Republicans can stretch it out with appeals. Our finely crafted timetable could go out the window.

[N7Shepard]

22. And more fake primaries

[Disorientedx3]

18. in my gut i agree

but no matter when... i'm going to be out there working EVERY day.

[sybylla]

8. No candidates will come forward until the recall paperwork is filed

It's like counting your chickens before they hatch and that always comes back to bite you in the ass - especially in politics.

We have to be content with their silence and focus on making the recall a reality instead.

Hopefully you've all heard the names being tossed around. Feingold, Obey (to finish the term only), Kind, and I'm sure there will be several others who express interest - only if we can make the recall happen and are committed to seeing it through.

[undeterred]

9. Well, there are a lot of parts of this game that I have never seen

played before as I assume is true for most of us, since recall elections are so rare. I am glad to hear that the people in charge are thinking through every aspect of it.

Mike Tate has done a great job leading the Wisconsin Democrats this year. People have volunteered during a "non-election" year in numbers we couldn't have imagined. So although the whole thing still feels a little shaky at times, I have to believe we are still moving forward and we will get our state back on the right path.

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[Yon_Yonson]

12. This recall mission has a lot of issues and what I hear they are being worked on

I have heard both sides of the ‘recall now or later’ argument and both sides have merit. What I want to see is a unified effort, so lay the plans well and when the CALL TO ACTION is issued lets go after this WALKER NEOCON RAT TURD.

It was announced at The Follett Fest that recall groups are meeting and planning public listening sessions across the great state of Wisconsin. That is a good sign!

In the mean time I shall stay motivated, informed and active in anything that presents itself but first I travel to DC for October 2011 :hippie:

http://october2011.org/

[bobthedrummer]

19. I heard, from a Democratic candidate (disabled veteran) that the Democratic Party of Wisconsin will

launch the Walker Recall in January-which makes sense. My source is a Party member, sits on committees, and is running for Assembly. His name is Tom Johnson.

As far as a candidate, Russ cleared the way to open up the field (I voted for Barrett and would do so again, then again I've voted for Kathleen Falk in primaries in the past). Whoever emerges from the Democrats will have grassroots favoring them, there might very well arise an indepenent too.

I hope to see the Socialists reborn-like the three Socialist Mayors of Milwaukee--many of US here are very open about our Socialist leanings.

I thank the 14, I thank the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, most of all the AFL-CIO and all organized labor activists and supporters.

We, the people, will RECALL WALKER!

[AllyCat]

24. I voted for Tim John. I'd do that again too.

[ClassWarrior]

26. The DPW, as I understand it, will not launch anything. From what I understand, they will...

...support United Wisconsin in their recall effort. So the ball is in UW's court.

NGU.

[AllyCat]

23. I voted for earlier rather than later. I think we need the momentum on our side.

It is disturbing there is no Dem willing to run for this. All this work and our ire are for naught if no one runs.

[undeterred]

25. Its late in September and Jon Erpenbach

has not announced his candidacy for Congress in the 2nd CD as he previously said that he would. Three other people have announced. So I am hoping this means that he is ready to run for Governor instead. He would make a good candidate.

[AllyCat]

28. He is well liked in his district and made a good showing during the height of the protests

He would be a good governor. I'll keep my fingers crossed and was looking at Sybylla's post about no one really putting themselves on the line until the recalls are underway. That makes sense too. I just think we should move on this sooner. I have visions of people in shopping malls during Christmas collecting signatures. But whatever... I'll sign whenever.

[undeterred]

29. He is very energetic and well spoken.

I don't care if he has a temper... lots of good politicians do. He's got the right values and experience and he's had good exposure this year because of the Senators leaving the state. People across the country know who he is. He's worked on some good legislation.

Next to Feingold, I think he's the most electable candidate we've got.