What I had to hand-type from a version that was scrubbed from the web.
What does that tell you, huh?
"Early results from exit polls conducted for the Associated Press found voters about evenly split between Walker and Barrett, and sharply divided on the changes to collective bargaining laws.
It's another 2004 situation (when exit polls historically failed to match. And ever notice exit polls are always fine for fraudulent foreign elections?)
Hundreds of Walker opponents gathered Tuesday night outside the Capitol, banging on drums, blowing horns, and holding signs, awaiting results.
How absolutely crushed they must have been when the numbers started at 60-40.
"Wisconsin governor survives hotly contested recall vote; Republican had angered unions after taking office" by Scott Bauer | Associated Press, June 06, 2012
MADISON, Wis. - Governor Scott Walker beat back a recall challenge Tuesday, winning both the right to finish his term and a voter endorsement of his strategy to curb state spending, which included the explosive measure that eliminated union rights for most public workers.
Related: Sunday Globe Special: War in Wisconsin
The rising Republican star became the first governor in US history to
survive a recall attempt with his defeat of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett
and the union leaders who rallied for months against his agenda.
This thing reeks even more with each paragraph.
My printed article:
"Barrett applauded voters for turning out in force and for being
prepared to wait a while to cast their ballots. "Obviously, the lines
are very, very long, which we take as a very encouraging sign. People
are engaged in this," Barrett said, adding that the energy around the
state the past four days has been "building and building."
The exit polls showed most voters made up their minds about the candidates before the final ballot had even been determined. About 9 in 10 who voted said they decided before May. Those who made up their minds in the last month broke for Barrett by nearly 30 points.
Union households made up about a third of the electorate, and about two-thirds of them backed Barrett, about the same level of support he received from the group in 2010. The Democratic candidate improved on his 2010 performance among African-Americans, those with incomes below 50,000, and independent."
This thing reeks even more with each paragraph.
My printed article:
The exit polls showed most voters made up their minds about the candidates before the final ballot had even been determined. About 9 in 10 who voted said they decided before May. Those who made up their minds in the last month broke for Barrett by nearly 30 points.
Union households made up about a third of the electorate, and about two-thirds of them backed Barrett, about the same level of support he received from the group in 2010. The Democratic candidate improved on his 2010 performance among African-Americans, those with incomes below 50,000, and independent."
I can't believe he didn't receive more union support, but considering the other groups mentioned one wonders how Walker won -- or not.
In an interview, Walker said it was time “to put our differences aside and find ways to work together to move Wisconsin forward.’’
The governor said he planned to invite lawmakers to meet as soon as next week over burgers and brats to discuss ways to bridge the political divide.
With nearly 80 percent of precincts reporting, Walker had 55 percent of the vote, compared with 44 percent for Barrett, according to early returns.
In his concession remarks, Barrett said the state had been left “deeply divided’’ by the recall battle. “It is up to all of us, their side and our side, to listen. To listen to each other,’’ Barrett said.
That was one of the lamest concession speeches I've ever seen. The faithful needed to be rallied and bolstered, and that guy tossed in the towel. The faithful needed to hear the fight will go on.
Democrats and organized labor spent millions to oust Walker, but found themselves hopelessly outspent by Republicans from across the country who donated record-setting sums to Walker.
Republicans hope the victory carries over into November and that their get-out-the-vote effort can help Mitt Romney become the first GOP nominee to carry the state since Ronald Reagan in 1984.
I see a stolen state come November.
Romney issued a statement saying Walker’s victory “will echo beyond the borders of Wisconsin.’’
Walker “has shown that citizens and taxpayers can fight back - and prevail - against the runaway government costs imposed by labor bosses,’’ Romney said. “Tonight voters said no to the tired, liberal ideas of yesterday, and yes to fiscal responsibility and a new direction.’’
In an interview, Walker said it was time “to put our differences aside and find ways to work together to move Wisconsin forward.’’
The governor said he planned to invite lawmakers to meet as soon as next week over burgers and brats to discuss ways to bridge the political divide.
With nearly 80 percent of precincts reporting, Walker had 55 percent of the vote, compared with 44 percent for Barrett, according to early returns.
In his concession remarks, Barrett said the state had been left “deeply divided’’ by the recall battle. “It is up to all of us, their side and our side, to listen. To listen to each other,’’ Barrett said.
That was one of the lamest concession speeches I've ever seen. The faithful needed to be rallied and bolstered, and that guy tossed in the towel. The faithful needed to hear the fight will go on.
Democrats and organized labor spent millions to oust Walker, but found themselves hopelessly outspent by Republicans from across the country who donated record-setting sums to Walker.
Republicans hope the victory carries over into November and that their get-out-the-vote effort can help Mitt Romney become the first GOP nominee to carry the state since Ronald Reagan in 1984.
I see a stolen state come November.
Romney issued a statement saying Walker’s victory “will echo beyond the borders of Wisconsin.’’
Walker “has shown that citizens and taxpayers can fight back - and prevail - against the runaway government costs imposed by labor bosses,’’ Romney said. “Tonight voters said no to the tired, liberal ideas of yesterday, and yes to fiscal responsibility and a new direction.’’
Related: Obama won exit polls
Makes you wonder how Walker won -- or not.
The recall was a rematch of the 2010 governor’s race. Throughout the campaign, Walker maintained that his policies set the state on the right economic track. Defeat, he said, would keep other politicians from undertaking such bold moves in the future.
“We’re headed in the right direction,’’ Walker said many times. “We’re turning things around. We’re moving Wisconsin forward.’’
Barrett repeatedly accused Walker of neglecting the needs of the state in the interests of furthering his own political career by making Wisconsin “the Tea Party capital of the country.’’
Walker ascended into the national spotlight last year when he surprised the state and unveiled plans to plug a $3.6 billion budget shortfall in part by taking away the union rights of most public workers and requiring them to pay more for their health insurance and pension benefits. It was one of his first moves in office.
But the unions still voted the same way as in 2010?
Democrats and labor leaders saw it as a political tactic designed to gut the power of his political opposition. State Senate Democrats left Wisconsin for three weeks in a sort of filibuster, as tens of thousands of teachers, state workers, and others rallied at the Capitol in protest.
However, Walker said that his plan would help him control the state budget and that his opponents could not stop the majority Republicans from approving his plans.
Walker went on to sign into law several other measures that fueled calls for a recall, including repealing a law that gave discrimination victims more ways to sue for damages; making deep cuts to public schools and higher education; and requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls.
Turnout was strong across the state with few problems reported as some voters waited in line to cast their ballots.
Few problems, huh?
Jeff Naunheim, a warranty analyst from St. Francis who voted for Walker first thing Tuesday, said the recall was a waste of money.
“I think the Wisconsin voters voted in 2010 to vote Walker in,’’ he said. “I don’t think he did anything illegal.’’
Actually, he did: Scott Walker Survives Recall, But Investigations May Zero In On Him
Barrett supporter Lisa Switzer of Sun Prairie said Walker went too far.
“Even if it doesn’t turn out the way we want it to, it proves a point,’’ said Switzer. “People in Wisconsin aren’t just going to stand by and let a governor take over the state and cut social services.’’
Isn't that what he has done?
More than $66 million was spent on the race as of May 21, making it easily the most expensive in Wisconsin history.
"Walker and the Republicans outspent Barret and the Democrats $47 million to $19 million, based on the most recent tally by the government watchdog group the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign."
Walker used the recall to raise millions from conservative donors and bolster his own political fame in the face of the fight. National GOP groups, including Americans for Prosperity and the Republican Governors Association, poured money into the contest.
Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and three Republican state senators also faced recall elections Tuesday, and a fourth open Senate seat was also to be filled. Democrats hoped to win at least one of the Senate seats, which would give them a majority at least through the end of the year.
Yeah, Democrats got the consolation of a slim Senate majority until the election.
--more--"
Related: 1 million signatures on recall petitions and just over 1 million voted to remove Walker. So, 99% of those who voted Dem signed the recall petition? Is that remotely credible?
Voter-suppressing robo-calls reported in Wisconsin recall
How Republicans Are Preventing Thousands Of Wisconsin Students From Voting Today
That's odd because my printed pos I'm looking at on the desk says:
"Turnout was strong across the state. There were lines at multiple polling places, but no major problems were reported. Anyone in line after polls closed was allowed to cast a ballot."
Hey, the status quo, system-supporting media needs you to believe in AmeriKan elections.
Next Day Update:
The Globe has a message for you, Massachusetts unions; however, I think you already got it.
Related: Unions Surrender Rights in Massachusetts
Mass. Unions Gave Back $80 Million
Yup, state tax collectors just don't have the dough despite the allegedly three-year old economic recovery, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
You see from the links where all the money is not coming and coming from and where it is going and not going, right?
"Mass. doled out $171m in tax credits; ’11 funds subsidized films, land cleanup" by Todd Wallack | Globe Staff, June 05, 2012
Massachusetts gave companies and individuals more than $171 million in 2011 in refundable or transferable tax credits for making films, rehabilitating old historic buildings, redeveloping contaminated land, creating life sciences jobs, and other activities.
And you teachers, cops, and firefighters had to give back how much?
These special types of tax credits can be bought, sold, or exchanged for cash....
See: Massachusetts Lets Hollywood Roll Credits
Yup, and the STATE APPROVES! That's right! The SAME STATE TELLING YOU TO TIGHTEN YOUR BELT and how BROKE THEY ARE is IN FAVOR of TOSSING AWAY TAX LOOT for PURPOSES NOT INTENDED.
Companies typically trade the tax credits back to the state for cash — or sell them to corporations and wealthy individuals seeking to lower their tax bills....
That what probably the intention all along knowing who government really $erves now, but it sure as hell wasn't sold to us that way.
--more--"
Yeah, you have to give back benefits so that tax loot can be doled out to corporations and the well-connected. And that is not counting the TENS of MILLIONS of dollars EACH MONTH that go for debt interest service to banks and bondholders.
Related: ‘Sunset’ some tax breaks, panel says
How about sunsetting all of 'em?
Also see:
Massachusetts' Lost Decade of Jobs
Those Are the (Tax) Breaks in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Model: Tax-Exempt Memory Hole
Memory Hole: Massachusetts' State Budget
Yup, so hard to cut corporate and bank welfare, but your hard-earned and promised benefits.... ??????
Of course, everyone knows that the state and media are looking out for you, dear cop, firefighter, and teacher. Always singing your praises when they need to sell a story on how great is AmeriKa -- until you ask for collective bargaining rights.
"Unions lose 2 votes on benefits in Calif." Associated Press, June 07, 2012
LOS ANGELES - As Wisconsin residents voted Tuesday not to recall Governor Scott Walker - who has become an enemy of labor unions nationwide - two California cities dealt blows of their own to organized labor.
In San Diego and San Jose, voters overwhelmingly approved ballot initiatives designed to help balance ailing municipal budgets by cutting retirement benefits for city workers.
Around 70 percent of San Jose voters favored the pension
measure, while 66 percent of San Diego residents supported a similar
measure.
“We’ll get control over these skyrocketing retirement costs and be able to provide the services they are paying for.’’
--more--"
You know, if you CAN'T COUNT on CALIFORNIA to DEFEND YOU, who can you?
Democrats Abandon Unions in New Jersey
Mass. House Worse Than Wisconsin
Biden's Boast
Nope, not even SOLID DEMOCRAT STATES will DEFEND YOU, public worker. I certainly could understand if you feel under attack and under siege.
Look, I've never been a big fan of the public employee vis-a-vis the taxpayers (me); however, I RESENT this AGENDA-PUSHING CAMPAIGN by the $lavish political $ervants and the moneyed-mouthpiece media that it is PUBLIC WORKERS WE ALL KNOW and who LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES that are BREAKING OUR BUDGETS!
