Actually, I think the ratio was just above 7 to 1, with most of the $30 million for the Republican Scott Walker coming from out of state.
And it worked. Walker prevailed 53.5% to 45.9%. Walker is the first governor in US history to survive a recall election.
Last week, Karl Rove and the Koch brothers announced that they plan to spend more than $1 billion on the November election.
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9 Comments
Agony. This news is so depressing. Must keep our heads up and march into the Rove/Koch etc billions and hope democracy can survive kleptocracy.
It was very disheartening. Walker may sill end up in prison, but the fact is that a majority of his citizens believe he should stay in office – and it is that belief that is frightening. Whether they got it from the massive overspending, or they got it from massive ignorance, or they just truly believe that the Tea Party agenda is the right thing for the country doesn’t matter, because it is reality.
Just in case the Republicans end up taking full control in Novermber, I am getting things in order to move to New Zealand.
Ironic that the rich/aristocracy in Germany 85 years ago funded Hitler. First thing Hitler did in the 30s wash abolish the Unions. He then abolished any control on government. And it worked beautifully didn’t it? You allow less money for people to spend by lowering wages. People then can’t spend for goods. Romney with all his wealth can only buy the same amount of toilet paper as the rest of us.
Rove and the Koch brothers are undoing everything this country stands for.
I find it very ironic that Walker received so much money from out-of-state special interest groups to fund a recall campaign ignited because of his attack on in-state special interest groups. Do the people of Wisconsin not see the hypocrisy? Walker railed against unions for taking money from the state to bully the government and manipulate the public. He took away a major tool the unions use to do their work. Then, when he faces the anger of his constituents, he takes millions of dollars from out-of-state donors, and funds a major political campaign to keep his power.
What really bothers me, though, is how people can look at this and say it’s “Democracy at work.” Well, you could say that same thing about any election, but it misses the point that this was a bought-and-paid for election for Walker. He didn’t stand on his principles; he stood on a pile of borrowed cash. That’s not Democracy.
Arthanyel: share your plan except I’m closer to Canada, but don’t think they take old people 🙂
@Patricia – Canada is fairly forgiving 🙂 And I am closer to Canada than New Zealand, I just worry that Canada is too close 🙂
In all seriousness, however, even ignoring the partisan hyping we really ARE at a decisive point in the history of the nation and we really DO need to decide on a direction, and if that direciton is the Tea Party then we all have to think about our parachute plans. Hopefully the majority of the citizens will realize this and choose more wisely.
Having lived in England, Canada, and New Zealand, I have to say that if I wanted to leave the US, New Zealand would be my first choice. Canada would be second. I haven’t lived in Australia, but I would much prefer New Zealand.
Actually, when Bush was re-elected, I did move to New Zealand, but only for 5 months. If the Republicans take over our government, I’d be very tempted to go back.
You people sound like you have the money to make that move. But what about many of us? We don’t have the money to move, or perhaps our health is too poor to put up with the rigors of it. What about us; what shall we do? If you move, still think about the rest of us. That’s all.
JC: I would MUCH rather stay here and fix the problems – I am as much a patriot as anyone. That said, fixing problems requires acknowledgement there is a problem in the first place, and the way Republicans have been going they leave zero room for compromise or focusing on fixing problems for everyone and not just their friends.
We can fix the politics in this country. On average, more people are able to vote (and do NOT) than the total that elect any national or local candidate. Think about that – if every person capable of voting that did not vote in 2010 voted for Jon Stewart in 2012, Jon Stewart would be President.
We all need to find a way to reach the cynical and disconnected citizens and get them to realize that they hold the power to change everything. I just wish I knew how to get to them.