The Grassroots of Astroturf
With the grassroots recall drive continuing at a brisk pace…….. Wait, I can’t even write that with a straight face. There is no grassroots movement to recall the governor. This has been well orchestrated action from the beginning and it appears the actual recall election will be no different.
Let me first take you back:
It all started before the election in November, when the public sector unions told their followers that the election of Scott Walker would mean the end of all things good. We were told that under a Walker administration mass layoffs would occur in education. Then because of that our classroom sizes would jump to 80 kids per class. Oddly enough, where Walker’s plan has succeeded schools are doing better and where the unions were able to thwart Walker’s plan the schools are doing worse.
After the election the unions continued inciting their followers by crying about how Walker was undermining the will of the people. They encouraged the Democratic Senators to leave the state instead of voting. Claiming the will of the people (aka - those that lost the election) was being served by not voting. Strange how leaving the state to prevent the democratically elected majority from doing its job, was actually cancelling out the will of the people.
When that was unsuccessful, they told their followers that Walker lied during his campaign. They claimed he never said anything about collective bargaining or never said he would go this far. He must be recalled because he lied (as if that would be a first for a politician). Only to find out that the teachers union was circulating information to its followers stating that the election of Walker would mean changes to collective bargaining.
I will admit all of this is old news. Hashed and rehashed on numerous blogs. However, the story just got more interesting. At the end of last week, Daniel Bice had an article in the Milwaukee Journal about possible contenders for the recall election. http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/2-unions-discourage-barrett-from-running-in-a-recall-053igi2-136173703.html It was interesting, because it was the first real time I had seen it discussed. Even more astonishing is that the unions are at the center of who runs in this election.
In the article, an email was obtained stating the unions sat down with Tom Barrett to kindly instruct him not to run (like the kind instruction given by Tony Saprano). The unions, without a care for the people in the state, have decided they want Kathleen Falk to run against Scott Walker.
WEAC has also sent out an email to union officials stating they should pressure Barrett not to run. Mary Bell was quoted in the email stating, "We continue to pursue the message on other fronts, but could use your assistance in telling the story from your perspective and with your reasons, to those with whom you have connections that might be more effective in delivering that message to the Mayor," Delivering the message. What is next a horse head in his bed?
As if asking their own officials to assist in pressuring Barrett wasn't enough, they are also circulating ‘a polling memo on Thursday that suggests Falk and former U.S. Rep. Dave Obey have as good a chance as Barrett to unseat Walker’. Assuming that their followers aren’t smart enough to find other Democratic polling information that shows Barrett has a much better chance then Falk.
I realize that behind the scenes of every election we have groups pushing people to run or sit it out. However, this entire process is for no other purpose then to regain union power. This email obtained by the Milwaukee Journal is only more proof that the Democratic Party and the unions are better bed fellows then some of us knew. The true lie and cover up within this whole recall process has been that the unions are the puppet masters behind the recall. Whether they are inciting their followers with their lies, paying for out of state people to help with recall petitions or deciding for the people of Wisconsin who should run in the election; the common denominator is the Unions.
Bren
7:41 pm on Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Well, props for creative interpretation, J.B. The difference between a grass-roots and astroturf initiative is that the first is a ground level-up movement, the second is top-down. A grass-roots movement can be very well organized, if people with the right expertise are involved. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin was also a relatively late entry into the recall movement.
Union workers' rights are certainly part of this movement, but there are other issues involved. Not everyone supporting the recall is a union worker, and I believe it's naive to believe otherwise. The Democrats would speak to unions as they are campaign contributors and share similar pro-worker values--there is nothing insidious or unusual about that.
I also believe it's wise to wait until the recall effort is successful before names are named. Personally, I believe Obey, Falk, Erpenbach, and Barrett would all honor the office of Governor.
I would say that the common denominator in all of this is Scott Walker: ultimately it is his choices that led to the recall.
Ed Willing
7:49 am on Friday, December 30, 2011
Actually, Bren, his choices were our choices. Try recalling half the state. It's called fair elections, and you apparently can't handle it. The common denominator here is SEIU, WEAC, AFL CIO AND AFSCME. Walker was gonna be recalled from day one. Had little to do with the decisions we expected him to make.
Bren
12:44 am on Sunday, January 1, 2012
People I know who voted for Scott Walker had no idea he was going to cut $1.2b from education or give massive tax breaks to corporations in his budget (paid for off the backs of public union employees-except police and fire, whose unions endorsed Walker). People voted for him because of his "jobs" platform. Legislating abstinence-only in public high schools isn't creating jobs; cutting 21,000+ state jobs from the payroll isn't creating jobs--I could continue.
It will be interesting to see what happens at the recall polls, now that we know all about the "real" Scott Walker and his bosses, the Koch brothers.
Ed Willing
7:47 am on Friday, December 30, 2011
I love it. Great post JB.
Jason Patzfahl
9:52 am on Friday, December 30, 2011
"Whether they are inciting their followers with their lies, paying for out of state people to help with recall petitions or deciding for the people of Wisconsin who should run in the election." ~ Are you flippin' kidding me "J.B." ? Remember it was the Republican Party of WI that hired out-of-state felons to collect signatures to recall Democrats, not vice-versa.
I have been collecting signatures since day 1 and have NEVER been paid a single $, or have I ever come across anyone who has been paid to collect signatures, or ANYONE from out of state. These statements are outright lies spewed by right-wing blowhards like Mark Behling and Charlie Sykes.
Jason Patzfahl
9:56 am on Friday, December 30, 2011
. . . but every time I am out collecting signatures I am approached by people (Walker fans) who ask the same questions - What state are your from? Do you pay property taxes? Do you belong to a union?
And I answer them - I am from Greendale (the "L" section), I own my own home, always pay my taxes on time and I do NOT belong to a union. I do however, unlike you, understand the difference between right and wrong . . . and destroying unions by stripping them of all of their rights because labor unions typically donate to Democratic candidates is wrong!
Bren
12:47 am on Sunday, January 1, 2012
Well said!
J. B. Schmidt
10:28 am on Friday, December 30, 2011
@Jason
I don't disagree that some of the recallers are under the impression that they are part of a grassroots movement. However, as I point out, the Unions have been feeding you misinformation since prior to the election. If you have bought into it, then you may believe that you are correct in your thinking and part of a grassroots movement. Just a like a sock puppet doesn't know it has a hand up its butt, most recallers are not aware that they have been duped.
Both parties have done bad things with elections (ie cigarettes for votes by Democrats). That doesn't change anything I wrote. I am not arguing whether you have a right to do it. I encourage you to legally collect signature if you feel your side is right. The problem is that while your small circle of recallers are legit, there are those that aren't. When a guy can brag about signing 80 petitions, another about signing 200, or the Democratically controlled GAB can allow Hitler and Mickey on recall forms; it should draw question to the whole process.
I hate to beat a dead horse; but, the privileges taken from union members did not destroy the unions. The members now have the option to contribute or not; hence, they are allowing the unions to flounder. Anyone part of a Wisconsin public union now has the same representation as Federal unions and on par with most private unions. Since that is the case, this fight is strictly about how much power the union have within state politics.
Bren
8:28 pm on Sunday, January 1, 2012
Then please explain my support for the recall effort. I have had no contact with union leaders, I'm not a public employee.
I was however, a resident of Milwaukee County during Scott Walker's time in office. I am well familiar with his shaky math and legal skills. He tried to fire public workers since day 1 (parks, trash collectors) and cancelled a public art contract that cost the County tens of thousands of dollars in fees. His illegal firing of security workers at the Courthouse cost we taxpayers more than $750,000 alone.
I sat in on a County budget hearing listening to the woman who has designed and executed the beautiful displays at the Domes for decades (yes, those nationally known displays) pleading for her job-Walker wanted to cut her position (ending a cultural legacy at the Domes!). I listened to a federal judge explain how Walker's proposed and egregious staffing cuts would impact his court's capacity to function.
I didn't need a union leader to tell me that Scott Walker would be a poor governor--and that before I learned that the Koch brothers were bankrolling his campaign.
The recall effort for me (at least) is strictly about putting an end to sedition from the far right in this country, beginning with business here at home in Wisconsin with Scott Walker.
J. B. Schmidt
11:50 pm on Sunday, January 1, 2012
@Bren
I want to thank you for including Koch in your posts. It just isn't a 'Bren' post without it.
Your post proves a very valuable point. That many people had a very good understanding of what Walker would do. You, like many others, are Democrats that are mad you lost the last election and don't want conservative policy instituted. Instead of waiting for the next public election, you and the recallers are attempting to erase the last election. As your last sentence states, it is only about power and control. Your only purpose is to get a Democrat in office. That is an abuse of the recall.
Many people appreciate the things Walker did in Milwaukee. Just because liberals say they were the wrong decisions, doesn't mean they were. It means you disagree. If disagreement is basis of recall, then why do we have elections? Lets say hypotheticaly, that Falk or Barrett win a recall election; as soon as they do anything liberal should Republicans start a recall effort in 2013? Especially since I can make a list of things they have done I didn't like.
Jason Patzfahl
11:51 am on Friday, December 30, 2011
I have not had ANY contact with a union "leader" since the whole recall process began, nor do I read the WEAC letters. And lets not fool ourselves - this is not about balancing the budget, it is ALL about destroying unions, because unions typically give to Democratic candidates, who favor the plight of the employee, not the employer.
And we all know that Scott Fitzgerald admitted that this is all about bankrupting the unions and thus defunding the Democratic party. If you have no idea what I am talking about - http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/03/09/149655/scott-fitzgerald-obama/
J. B. Schmidt
12:11 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
@Jason
Did you read your post? Why would I support the laundering of tax dollars from Wisconsin citizens through public employees into the unions so they can give it to the democratic party? There is NO other institution that works like that. If republicans had a money funneling system like that you would be outraged as well. Look how outraged liberals get when the GOP cuts taxes for the rich, and they don't give all that money back to republicans.
As for helping the employee, ask MPS teachers how if the union is for the employee.
Maybe you are not in direct communication with the unions; however, they appear to be at the crux of everything recall.
As for destroying union, please point out in Act 10 where that has been done. Yes, it has reduced their ability to bargain, but only to the level of other unions. I fail to see how making them equal with other unions is the same as destruction.
Stormy Weather
12:48 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
J.B. Schmidt - Thanks for a great post! Yes, we all know that they have been planning this from day one. RUSD even had a meeting last summer and Corey Mason got to put in his two cents about how much he doesn't like Governor Walker. Someone asked a question at that meeting about recalling Walker and if they could then get collective bargaining back. And the teacher's union has been circulating their political information via their school mailboxes. How convenient for them to use the public school mailboxes.
Lyle Ruble
8:28 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
@J. B. Schmidt & Stormy Weather...Why is it so difficult for the two of you to accept the reality of the recall movement. If the Democrats would have pulled the same stunt to shut off the flow of money from WMC, WRA, WCC, etc; we would be seeing the same thing coming from the Republicans. It is now common knowledge that this has had nothing to do with balancing budgets, lowering taxes, etc. It's all about taking and securing power for the Republicans and the conservative right. Let's let this work itself out and the question will be decided one way or another with the recall election if it should happen.
Dan B
6:48 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
So this isn't about balancing the budget? I guess that just happened by accident. Wea (c) stole over 300 million a year from the WI tax payer through the corupt collective bargaining PRIVILAGE (not right) and you on the left want to go back to that? What the heck is wrong with you?
The unions now exist by keeping their members feeling that they are mistreated by the employer, even though they are paid well, have great benefits the union has to keep them feeling the employer is screwing them otherwise they will realize what they have and see that they really don't need the union.
I have a question for you perpetually p-oed liberals. What will you do if Walker wins again? How miserable will your miserable entitlement driven lifes be?
Lyle Ruble
8:15 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
@Dan B....Where have you been hiding? Walker's testimony before congress established that it didn't take restrictions of bargaining rights to balance the budget. As a matter of fact the initial estimates of a $300 mm savings turned into a projected surplus of $300 mm. Balancing the budget was nothing more than a smoke screen for the following power grab. You need to become more politically aware.
Stormy Weather
9:49 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Lyle - To answer your question. Go ahead and recall all you want, but quit spending tax payer money to do it...
Lyle Ruble
9:59 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
@Stormy Weather...Sorry to disapoint you, but taxpayer money is my money too. Recalls are as good a use for it as the massive business welfare program that Walker and friends are doing. At least with the recalls we can actually see something for our investment and not just more empty promises.