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I forgot to note that yesterday, June 6, was the anniversary of D-Day. But that oversight had its upside, for it caused me reflect on the fact that June 6 was merely the first day of the battle for Normandy, which stretched into August of 1944. The story of that battle—one of the most decisive in world history—is well told by Max Hastings in Overlord: D-Day and the Battle for Normandy (1985). Highly recommended.
The flip side of the Left’s debacle in Wisconsin is the story of Governor Scott Walker’s impressive victory. How did he do it? There were several factors:
First, Walker beat the Left at its own ground game. With an assist from the National Republican Party and conservative donors, he was able to mobilize a highly effective get-out-the-vote drive. This more or less negated the unions’ on-the-ground organization.
Second, the Walker campaign’s financial advantage enabled it to dominate the airwaves. The national Democratic Party’s reluctance to chip in for Barrett reinforced the incumbent’s advantage.
Third, Walker was able to campaign on a proven record of success. Voters in Wisconsin—even some who’d opposed him initially—could see that his reforms had indeed staved off a serious crisis in state finances while avoiding large-scale layoffs of teachers and other government employees. They could also see that the state’s economy was beginning to improve.
Fourth, never underestimate the significance of character. Walker kept his cool throughout the recall campaign and refused to be baited. He came across as a low-key, reasonable guy. Thus the Left’s over-the-top attacks, e.g. cries that he was a “Tea Party rock star” and the darling of the radical right, failed to make much impression. Walker’s unflappability served him well.
Sad news: American author Ray Bradbury has died at the age of 91.
Sample Tweet from a distraught progressive, reacting to the outcome of the Wisconsin recall election: “Someone from the NRA should shoot Scott Walker in the head, GTA-style.”
Much more here.
Meanwhile, DNC Chairperson Debbie Wasserman Schultz took to Twitter to wag a cautionary finger: “Despite the disappointing outcome, #WIrecall effort sent Scott Walker a message that his brand of divisive politics is offensive & wrong.”
Absolutely, Debbie. Maybe someone will “Lincoln his ass.” That should drive the message home.
There were several reasons.
First, the recall election couldn't happen until Walker had been in office for a year. By that time, it was clear that his reform program was working fairly well and that his opponents had been wrong in their dire predictions of disaster.
Second, the Democrats picked a weak candidate: Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, whom Walker had already beaten in 2010. Nor was he Big Labor's favored candidate.
Third, the recall came to be regarded as a naked power play on the part of the Left and the unions. It still had its fervent supporters, but a critical segment of the Wisconsin electorate, some of whom had not voted for Walker in 2010, became convinced that the effort to recall him lacked legitimacy. Thus he not only won, but he improved on his 2010 performance.
Fourth, the national Democratic Party punted. The Left has been whining that Barrett, was outspent by six to one or something like that, and they're right. But that's because the national party didn’t go all in. As time when on, Democrats outside Wisconsin grew increasingly skeptical of the recall's chance of success. While giving it rhetorical support, they kept a firm hand on their wallets. President Obama in particular displayed a marked lack of enthusiasm for Big Labor’s great crusade. This not only denied Barrett financial support, but made him appear to be a likely loser.
This debacle for the Democratic Party and Big Labor will no doubt be remembered as one of the most glaring examples of political malpractice in American history.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker survived your attempt to recall him. Time to form the circular firing squad…
Simply pathetic: “@BarackObama It's Election Day in Wisconsin tomorrow, and I'm standing by Tom Barrett. He'd make an outstanding governor. –bo’”
Well, Tom Barrett has been hoping for a show of support from the leader of the Democratic Party and President of the United States, and Barry came through for him right on deadline—with a shout-out on Twitter! Talk about the bare minumum!
Once again, I find myself astounded by the tone-deafness of Obama and his cabal. Today’s Wisconsin recall election is a big, big deal and both parties have a lot riding on it. So what did Barry do? He more or less ignored the whole thing, to the consternation and anguish of Democrats and their union supporters. The latter have a huge stake in the outcome of today’s election. If (as seems probable this morning) Barrett fails to unseat GOP Governor Scott Walker, the President’s tepid little Tweet will surely come back to haunt him in November.
(Hat tip: Bill Kristol at the Weekly Standard)
I know, I know—Barack Obama is supposed to possess the most majectic intellect of any US president, ever. So explain to me, please, why it is that he and his administration do such stupid things. What am I talking about? This:
Last week, President Barack Obama rejected the world's most powerful living symbol of anti-communism, anti-Sovietism, and victory in the Cold War. The White House declined to have Lech Walesa stand in for the late Jan Karski, who posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Our president spurned Walesa, first president of free Poland, who had once risked everything to courageously join Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II in keeping Solidarity alive in Poland.
Is Obama resentful of Walesa's role in bringing down the Soviet Union or something? I just don't get it.
(Hat tip: the American Spectator's Paul Kengore)
Looks like Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is going to survive the union-inspired effort to recall him from office. Late polls show the Republican incumbent with a three- to six-point lead over his Democratic challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (who lost to Walker in 2010). The election is tomorrow.
For several weeks now, not one poll has shown Walker below 50%. These things are hard to judge, of course, but it appears that a majority of voters in the Badger State have concluded (1) that Walker’s policies have worked and (2) that the effort to recall him is unwarranted. Good news for the Governor, the Republican Party and Mitt Romney. Bad news for Barrett, the Democratic Party, Big Labor—and Barack Obama.
The President’s decision to steer clear of the recall campaign is likely to hurt him in November. After famously pledging (in 2008) to “put on my walking shoes” and join union members on the picket line when their rights are threatened, Obama ducked and covered when it began to look like Walker would survive the recall. And he loses either way: if Walker wins, the President gets part of the blame; if Walker goes down, the President gets no credit.
John Paul Jones once remarked that “It seems to be a law of nature, inflexible and inexorable, that those who will not risk cannot win.” If Barack Obama goes down to defeat in November, this would be a fitting epitaph for his misbegotten presidency.
Q: Tom! How do you come up with such great blog posts?
A: Like this:
