Wisconsin state senator recalled

[The Sushi Bandit]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/10/23/wisconsin.recall.ap/index.html

MADISON, Wisconsin (AP) -- Democratic State Sen. Gary George, who spent almost 23 years in office fashioning a reputation as a maverick politician, was swept from office in the state's second recall of a sitting senator in seven years.

Democratic State Rep. Spencer Coggs defeated George by a 30-point margin Tuesday, making him the only candidate in the November 18 general election for George's seat, which represents inner-city Milwaukee.

[E_Zapata]

1. It isn't a RECALL, as in Calif type recall, right?

Are we now going to take the real meaning out of the word 'recall' to cloak the subversion of democracy in California?

Wouldn't it be more correct to say "unseated"?

Or did the citizens really RECALL George? (oooooo, I like the sound of that: Recall GEORGE!)

[RetroLounge]

11. He won't be missed.

eom

[CMT]

2. I'm from Wisconsin

and George was replaced by another Dem. He was recalled by his heavily democratic district for supporting a GOP budget opposed by Dems and Dem Gov. Doyle. He has often been a trouble maker in the party and while I oppose recalls I'm not sad to see him gone.

[ewagner]

9. Agree

This was more of a "quality control" effort I think.

I'm not sad to see him leave.

[alexwcovington]

3. Phew. A State Senator

We'd be up a shit creek if we lost Feingold.

[Wickerman]

4. Wisconsin impresses again

Sometimes the urge to jump the river gets really strong!

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

5. Behold, the Power of Cheese!

Sorry...

[alexwcovington]

6. Wisconsin's a lot more than Cheese

They're the home of the Harley!

[northernsoul]

8. What made Milwaukee famous

made a loser out of me...
;-)

Least that's the word from George Jones!
:beer:

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

12. Let's not forget...

Rhinelander, Point, Leinenkugel, Huber, Old Style and Mickey's.

Darned good venison sausage, too!

[northernsoul]

7. ain't that depressing!

When I've got to look east of the St. Croix to find decency and common sense, I know we've bottomed out here in L'Etoile Du Nord. Those people put wedges of cheese on their noggins, fer cry-eye!
:evilgrin:

god damn you, Tim Pawlenty.

[progressiverealist]

13. well, look...

we stick cheese on our heads but at least we don't wear silly blonde braided wigs and purple "Viking" horns :)

Seriously- you are the state that gave us all Paul Wellstone, and thus his inspiring legacy.

And Joe McCarthy was from Wisconsin. So is Tommy Thompson.

We have, and have had our share of idiots too. But you're right, Pawlenty sucks from everything I've heard. Coleman? Don't even get me started on him.

PS... hey are you going to the UW-UM game in a couple of weeks?

[Serial Mom]

10. Get the people to VOTE

<snip> from your link above

With all precincts reporting, Coggs had 4,538 votes, or 65 percent, while George had 2,477 votes, or 35 percent, according to unofficial returns. An estimated 8 percent of voters went to the polls.

This is sad - that means that out of approx. 100,000 Registered voters, only 8% bothered voting!

Now I understand that this wasn't that big of deal election or vote, but we also have to know that this was in an area of many black voters and we have to help get everybody to the polls! I hate voting during week - so many parents (especially in city) work (some 2 jobs), then have to pick up kids or take kids somewhere, then have to make dinner, feed kids, get kids to bed and really don't bother with voting.

If all elections were held on Saturdays or Sundays, I think the dems could/would do better.

[demdave]

14. I assume you work the polls every election?

I do and I am tired of hearing about how elections should be on the weekend or have longer hours or how the ballots should be hand counted by the workers.

After over 13 years of being a poll worker let my clue you in on a few points.

People are stupid! It wasn't the butterfly ballots or the hanging chads that lost Florida. It was the muddle headed voters that voted for 2,3,7,and all of the candidates at once. You could have a hand vote and voters would screw it up. (I saw it happen on Survivor. :))

People are lazy! I don't care what the hours or locations of the polls, you will never get the voters to turn out. Your best bet would be to have the polling stations in a bar. If you can't get to the polls in the 13.5 hours they are open, you aren't trying. You know they do have absentee ballots that are available by mail for weeks before an election. But, I forgot, people are lazy.

If you think you can do a better job than the people getting paid 6-8 dollars an hour to stay from 5:30 AM to 8:00 PM at the polls that deal with all the foolishness and stupidity that walk in the door, then DO IT.


P.S. The biggest trouble makers are always Dems.. They refuse to remove campaign items, they drop liturature, they make the machines and they rant and rave entering, during and leaving the polls. Why is that? It is pointed out to me by my Rep. counterparts damn near every election. I am tired of making excuses.

[FlemingsGhost]

15. Rant and rave, demdave.

Good one. ;-)

[Serial Mom]

16. settle down . . .

You evidently didn't read my post very well - I made no comment about those who work at the polls and no I do not work at the polls.

I work trying to drive people to the polls who might otherwise not vote. I just started that (although I did not do it in this Wisconsin recall election).

But that is my point about changing to weekends (it has nothing to do with the people working there - how could that equate to getting more people to vote?).

If it were on a weekend, I could put forth a better effort to help get people to the polls (I wouldn't have to take off work), people who vote would have a little more time (even if they may be lazy), but it would just make it easier - they wouldn't be so busy with their work, their kids, their family/house responsibilites, allows more flexibility about the weather (when they can go),

And I resent your last paragraph

P.S. The biggest trouble makers are always Dems.. They refuse to remove campaign items, they drop liturature, they make the machines and they rant and rave entering, during and leaving the polls. Why is that? It is pointed out to me by my Rep. counterparts damn near every election. I am tired of making excuses.

- what do you mean they make the machines? what are they ranting and raving about entering and leaving the polls - where the H do you work - I have voted in almost every election for 30 years now and it has always been quiet - I barely hear other people even when there have been lines at the polls.

[demdave]

17. It has everything to do with the people working there.

Who do you think will work on the weekends? I refuse to give up my weekends because people are too lazy to get to the polls. Half the people who do vote only do because they are either coming or going from work. I believe the numbers would actually drop it elections were held on weekends.

I mistyped make, I meant mark, as in using markers or pens to write on the plastic overlays that you should push. They rant about removing campaign stickers or buttons. They rant about having to declare party affiliation during the primaries. They rant about anything their little activist minds seize on at the moment. It is my job to keep the polls politically nuetral. We can not have literature strewn in the entrances, posters hastily slapped on the walls and petitioners at the entry doors.

You spend a whole 15-30 minutes at the polls, I spend 13-15 hours 2 times a year for over 13 years. I vote for taking my word for it.

As for you resenting something, you can resent the facts till you are blue in the face, it will not change them. Whenever we find these problems occuring it is always a Dem. poster or literature. We have to check the machine constantly for markings, so we know who was in each one only moments before. I used to try to make excuses or argue who did what when the Reps on the board would dog me about this, but I have yet to get a chance to counter with one of their own doing it....IN OVER 13 YEARS. About every other general election I have to frog-step some ranting ultra-liberal fool out of the polls.


So if you want to resent something, resent the fact that there are fools out there giving our party a bad name by not being able to follow simple rules and obey the election officials orders.

[bobbieinok]

18. it probably depends where you are

In 20+ years voting in IA, I never noticed people in either party breaking election laws by bringing in signs, buttons, et. (I was in Ames IA, where most people tried to be civil.)

In OK, I have heard of precincts in churches where pro-repub chrisitan coalition material is on church bulletin boards and not removed on voting day, etc., etc.

The local democratic party: 'Who's going to go public and complain in right-wing, religious right OK?'

[FlemingsGhost]

19. Are you sure you should be an election official?

No offense, but you don't seem to be getting much satisfaction from assisting these "fools."

"Resentment," indeed.

:shrug:

[demdave]

20. Ranting ultra-liberal fools

Yes I do resent having to take time away from voters that I can help because someone thinks their opinion needs to be illegally expressed in the voting place. I also resent the image of our party that they present, especially in front of people about to vote. I hope nobody is ever negatively influenced by these antics.

The vast majority of folk are kind and really interested in performing what they see as their civic duty. I know most by name and almost all by sight, and that spans 2 precincts. We have 2 precincts in the same room where I serve.

[FlemingsGhost]

21. You even have a name for them. How charming.

I'm so glad I vote by mail...