Think unions aren't necessary or helpful for working people? Consider this. Blain's Farm & Fleet raised their urgent care co pay to $75 and er co pay to $150. If they had a union i bet they wouldn't be paying these ridiculous co pays.

My two cents... the top two percent don't need to pay a higher percentage... let's just close the loop holes and generous deductions... across the board. Get real, just because the tax bracket is 35% doesn't mean they pay 35%. I can't afford fancy accountants to move my money around... let's simplify the code and layoff some accountants instead of laying off public workers. That way we all pay our share to actually balance the budget. All our elected officials are doing is moving money around. My predictions is that, two years from now, we'll be further in debt as a State and as a Nation.

Poorrichard: Not a bad idea. It might work.

The top 2% pay 50% of the taxes. What are you proposing? 60%, 75% What would be fair to you?
I agree with you on GE, that's a disgrace. The tax holes they have should be eliminated. In fact get rid of all the breaks for these big corps. and make it a level playing field for everyone. Also get rid of ALL lobbists.

Skippy13: You cannot project this onto our poor, our middle class, and our senior citizens. Be realistic. The upper crust, the top 2%, need to pay their fair share in taxes. GE paid no taxes. Now why is that? Why should the big corporations, big banks, big insurance companeis and Wall Street get away with all this crap? Because they are too greedy. Greed will get us nowhere. In this nation, we are at the point of "no return." The greedy have to stop being greedy, because the rest of the citizens (the poor, the middle class and the seniors) cannot afford to keep giving them their cake so they can eat it too.

inconvenienttruth....I'd be willing to deal with a small bout of incompetence from a county clerk, in exchange for a conservative jurist locked in to the state supreme court for the next 10 years every day of the week and twice on Sunday:)

LMAO @ Title of this article!!!

Doh! Prosser wins. Time to change the spin!

Not only are Republicans taking pleasure in finding out that one of their own is so incompetent as to be unable to perform her job, but they also choose to place the blame for her disturbing, massive error on the media.

Message? Did someone say there was a message for Mr. Walker here? LMAO!!!!!!!!

Maybe you should go protest, and quit your job if you have one so the rest of the unemployed that want to work will have a job. That would be the stupidest thing that we could do. Some people are idiots.

SOMEBODY WANTS USA TO PROTEST JUST LIKE WHAT YOU SEEING TODAYS WORLD.AND WE SHOULD.

To answer your questions of what will we do? We will allow the kids applying to colleges to take resposibility and look into things for themselves and not be deemed so helpless. We can not do everything for the children in schools for this reason it is why the majority of kids are not responsible. We have taught them that everyone else will take care of things. We have taught the youth that everything will be done for them, and that they have no responsibility in this. That is wrong. You say that it takes librarians to help with the 21st century technology, yet it is the kids who are teaching us. The children know more about the technology then us. How many counselors do we really need? Are there that many problems with children that it requires that many counselors? If so then how do we curb the real problems they face. I agree that we need to look now too the future with questions, but lets be realistic and break away from the stupididty that takes away responsibility. Is it right to put everything on the school system? Nope. We all have to share the blame that has gotten us in the spending problems we have. It is not one persons fault.

That sums it up; your own words already do you such a disservice as it is, I don't need to add to it.

+1 brain, couldn't have said it better, spot on.

"Oh...that's right...liberals don't make mistakes. Maybe I'll hire a couple." - clarity
The only person alleging a certain political persuasion is incapable of mistakes was you. Don't defensively project your delusion onto me just because you're so easily refuted.
You might also want to explain why you've just admitted to illegally basing your employment decisions on political affiliations.

You're right clarity - Kloppenburg shouldn't have been as unsuspecting of Republicans' inability to participate in the election process competently. Shame on her for extending them the benefit. She - and all of Wisconsin - now knows better.
Just another example of how the GOP is benefitting Wisconsinites.

inconvenient truth: Right on! Incompetency at its best!

clarity: You are not setting a very good example, a very poor one, I might add. And I would wager they are not all conservatives. Give them a little credit. They are probably smarter than you think.

If anyone has ever wondered where the term "liberal media" comes from, just read this article. I've read Op/Ed pieces that were more balanced, in fact, I doubled checked the by-line just to make sure this wasn't some misplaced opinion piece.

After 2 months of the most angry, and loud protests in recent state history, people got to vote. The left successfully turned the state supreme court race into referendum on the budget/collective bargaining. On top of that, the chips lined up perfectly for democrats, as the two biggest liberal strongholds of Milwaukee and Dane Counties had major Mayor and Co Exec. races to drive even more people to the polls, while most other areas had few if any other high profile races.

But despite all of those advantages, we got a 50/50 tie, with it looking like Prosser will win.

Yet, this article ignores all of that, and concludes that because Prosser didn't win in a landslide, and because Milwaukee County and its 60% Democrat voters voted for a liberal who outspent the conservative by a huge margin in its county exec race, that "Voters sent Gov. Walker a Strong, Angry Message?"

A Message was certainly sent on Tuesday. It said that Wisconsin is split over the Governors plan. But despite the huge, loud, protests in Madison, there are just as many people who agree with the Governor, but rather than show up at the capitol with bullhorns, drums, and signs, they simply show up at the polling place.

"I don't have to supervise my employees. They are all conservatives and self
motivated workers." - clarity
.
Kathy Nickolaus (a self-motivated conservative) disproves your laughable stereotype.

Funny, isn't it, that when Kloppenburg is up by 200 votes, Republicans charge obvious fraud. But when Kathy Nickolaus is so incompetent at her job as to lose an entire city's worth of votes for 2 days, and so arrogant as to object to a review of the election results that she keeps on her own computer despite previous concerns about the potential for errors, then it's a reason for celebration and congratulation.
Speaks volumes.

--good for the "swing" in votes--what's the old saw?--can't put a pig in a silk robe?? can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear??--not sure, but pig and silk are in there someplace--

If Clarity is a boss, she is never working to supervise her employees because she is on the blogs all day long.

vatoloco: We are still waiting for the results of the teachers info. that you promised several days ago. And I am waiting for the info. on the 10,000 jobs that will be lost in Wisconsin. You have never provided any info. on any of this. Because you don't have any, do you?

Maybe you are my boss Clarity, you don't know for sure do you. Show me baby. Show me what you can do.

Will the Gazette retract this story now?
He who laughs last, laughs best.

Clarity - Trust me, you're not my boss.

Soooo, 7500 ballots corrected in Waukesha County. Hmmm, me thinks Prosser will come out on top, when all the dust settles. Kloppenberg shouldn't have declared herself a winner so soon. Can you say face / egg???

Mouse: Have you heard the latest? Justice Prosser up by 7500! Hopefully, our liberal friends didn't spent too much money on their celebration party.

Apparently the totals from the City of Brookfield were inadvertently left out of the total on Tuesday night.

Prosser wins ! WI voters send a strong, affirmative message in favor of smaller government.

Prosser gained 7500 votes today http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepoliti...

looks like the voters have spoke....Scott Walker for prez..

poobah: How many of those elections had national interference from several of the most politically motivated organizations pumping money into his competitor's corner--yet, she only got half the vote? It is not an angry, resounding victory. In fact, the silent majority voted on Tuesday also. We are quieter, yet much more passionate--and ethical.

So, if you don't know what you're missing in collective bargaining rights - Can I also assume that you have no opinion on the matter? Or is it being a big taxpayer and a boss over public sector workers valid enough reason to have a strong opinion about bargaining rights? In other words and back to my original question, does it matter "who the boss happens to be?"

916WI- I see your one of those that would rather be a part of the problem than part of the solution. You're so wrapped up in the idea that this is about unions you can't see the rest of the picture. I pitty people like you that thinks this is unions against non unions or public against private jobs. Its not about that. Its about us vs. them. And by them I mean the corporations and their CEOs. We the people let them get richer and richer at our expense. Republicans only further corporations agendas. Thats what the party was designed for. So I take it your okay with Transocean giving out huge bonuses to its CEOs for a "good safety year" even though 11 people died. Your party is about profits not people!

Clarity, but you're a taxpayer - I assume.

What are we going to do about all those ballots that were supposedly shredded in Mequon?

Mouse: I agree, that Chinese campaign commercial was the worst I have ever seen in my life. Definitely scare tactics on the part of the Repubs. Just shows you "how low" they will go to get what they want.

Reagan couldn't help grandstanding the labor unions plight in Poland even after he crushed the air controllers union here. "These are the values inspiring those brave workers in Poland. The values that have inspired other dissidents under Communist domination. They remind us that where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. They remind us that freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. You and I must protect and preserve freedom here or it will not be passed on to our children." -- Ronald Reagan, defending collective bargaining rights. Is it just tough luck, that the bosses holding dominion over the white and blue collar workers in the public sector are those freedom-loving rights- granting US taxpayers? Does "who the boss happens to be" make collective bargaining rights any less noble or important? Isn't that dictatorial? Like communism?

For One-Term Scotty; just another nail in his political coffin. It has always amazed me how, when the Republicans get a little momentum going for themselves, they manage to screw it up.

We're reconciling our vote tallies - we don't like the results we posted on Election tuesday.

stinkybstrd10......Nope, not waiting in the wings for another job--perfectly content with the one I have. Income taxes and property taxes in Wisconsin are already 25% above the national average, I'm fine with paying that to support our state, but any more than that is out of the question. With the local union's rallying cry being "tax to the max" it really doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how they plan on covering part of the deficit. Like I said, your FDR quote and it's direct application to the labor unions is appreciated.......

I guess Tim Cullen needs a link to the 2008 Milwaukee Police report on voter fraud

Now that Prosser is ahead in the vote count, the angry Democrats will create 250,000 jobs all by themselves by hiring 250,000 lawyers to try and prove the vote fraud that Tim Cullen denies exists. Funny world isn't it?

So I take it all you Walker supporters have jobs waiting in the wings too like Deschanes son? So thats how he planned on creating 250,000 jobs huh?

916WI- not surprising you missed the point. You just keep giving your money away to the 1% and I'll keep fighting for your rights. You'll thank me later.

And FDR was complete against government unions

Stinkybstrd10.....100% correct on the FDR quote you posted. That provides an excellent description of why the labor unions need to have their power removed, or at the very least, seriously reduced.....

“The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it comes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group,”
Franklin D. Roosevelt

wislady
Thank you - this is why you don't rush to claim victory until the count is "official" - it may still change again.

Winnebago County vote-count change alters Supreme Court race

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepoliti...

kaysbrew -- good catch. i meant 72 (giving prosser 40).
thanks

I believe there are 72 counties.

nugnrose,
you said "kloppenburg took 32 counties."
hmmmm - there are 70 counties in the state.
prosser took 40.

i_pay_my_way, I guess you only post and don't read previous comments. I've given a reasoned response as to why the Supreme Court Justice election results were very significant. I'm not re-posting it for fear it's going to send vatoloco into a grief-stricken meldtown.

It is easier for me to vote than to buy psueudoephedrine.

Here SG - the left leaning Capital times agrees with you - no message sent except the silent majority is still here.
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/go...

SarahB1
There are three Democrat Senators that may be in play as well who's district turned out for Prosser. Holperin, Wirch, and Hansen
Maybe the Demos would even lose a seat in this outcome. Hopper's district also favored Prosser

http://www.channel3000.com/news/27465517...

here's the link to the latest recall.. Hopper is a real piece of work.

Shouldn't the news stories about voter fraud, the 11,000 over vote situation in Dane county for the Supreme Court race vs the next largest race, and the large amount of money spent on the supreme court race from out of state put up some red flags. Voter fraud is almost impossible to prove, which leads to the reason we should have voter photo ID required to vote. I will pay for anyone who can't afford a photo ID. Do away with the 10 day residency and make the time to live in WI longer to prevent possible fraud. Same day registering is also not a good idea. All of those things make the possibility of voter fraud possible. Why not make it much more difficult. I am not saying it happened for sure, but there sure are a lot of red flags. I'd sure like to buy you a drink Monroemom you seem like my kind of people.

these are exactly the comments I knew I would get with my posts. These are my opinions, I have not said anything bad about anyone elses comments, so I don't know why people have to be haters to mine. Relax, I didn't say I didn't like Wisconsin and I think I will stay to get all of you haters worked up!!! Have a great day!

Avoids you how mouse, how can I enrich your life today?

Mouse
Well you just keep hitting that "suggest removal" button but next time you may not want to cut and paste what you want removed.?????

That fact that she says she won and by only 204 votes doesn't send any kind of message to anyone. If there are that many that oppose our Governor, where were they on Tuesday? She should have run away with that election if anyone was sending a message and that didn't happen. Even if she won by 1000 votes, that is nothing and if it wasn't for Dane County, she wouldn't have come close.

A strong message? Really? How is winning by 200 votes a strong message? If anything it is clear that we are a state divided and electing unqualified stooges just to prove a point will not bridge the impass. If anything I think this clears up the support for Walker and answers the questions "where are your supporters?". If we can count the ballots thrown out in Mequon county I doubt the 200 vote lead would even hold.

monroemom: If you don't like Wisconsin then leave, nobody is making you stay. I have seen/heard the same accusations of voter fraud over and over again, but have not seen any proof that these things actually happened. Does anybody actually have substantial evidence to support these claims?

And Glenn Beck is out......oh it's a great day in America!

What angers me, and I am in union, the laundering of my and all union dues into campaigns that support those that bash companies and detest the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Koch_Bros, the problem I have with AP and other mainstream media outlets is that they only report their side of the story, not both sides, which is what reporters are supposed to do. Prosser IS a centrist. I may not agree with him on everything, but he is better than Kloppenburg. Quit with your sarcasm.

Inconvenienttruth – Whether collective bargaining is included in a budget bill or not is your opinion. Clear thinking people realize how far collective bargaining has pushed the ability of taxpaying citizens to pay for the demands of the unions. As long as the unions retain their right to sabotage society with their threats of walking out of class and closing schools, calling in sick along with protecting unqualified employees or employees that should be fired, things will not get better.
As far as my understanding of votes/voters, this comment shows just how shallow your thought process is. I clearly understand the types of people that vote the way they do and their reasons behind it, I only suggest they could be a bit more informed and concerned for future generations, but that must have went too far over your head. I could suggest that your lack of understanding of where Gov. Walker is attempting to take the state completely eludes your mental capabilities, but I will let others make that determination.

Mouse
How did I offend you when I wasn't even talking to you?

Why can't we have local reporters write on this instead of out-of-town AP reporters who can't disguise their left-wing agenda? They shouldn't generalize that all Wisconsin voters are displeased with Governor Walker. They probably wouldn't report if anyone did support the governor. I, for one, am happy with the job the governor is doing. Justice Prosser is more to the center, not to the right, as the left-wingers would like everyone to believe. I heard that he disagreed with some of the governor's bill. He probably is considered conservative compared to Kloppenburg, who is ultra liberal. Otherwise, he's not.

Where I voted people are honorable. I have never had a problem voting. When there is no need for ID to vote, there is always cases of voter fraud. It is however hard to prove. I am not disgusted with my accusations there is truth behind them. I had a harder time proving residency when I got my drivers license here than when I registered to vote. Read a little bit into it and you will see I am not lying.

Oh and by the way I am not from Monroe!

and nugnrose you don't know me to call me two faced. But if it makes you feel better about yourself to call me that go for it!

ngnrose I'm not complaining about anything just worried about what is going to happen to Wisconsin. Just voicing my concerns. If I was complaining you would know it.

I NEVER claimed to be a Democrat, and for a long time I have identified far more with the Republican view than not (esp after years of that idiot-in-chief Jim Doyle and his legislative fiddling!)--but the arrogance and ignorance of Walker has changed that (thanks, Scott-doggy-dog!) and has jaded me for years to come on the underhanded GOP party agenda for years to come. Hey Scotty--(sadly) you're the best thing to happen to the upcoming "O'bama" (is he Irish? Hawaiian-Irish?) campaign since Obama was elected! You, Scott, are a "true believer," and now a proven "true block-head"!

Sadly though, neither party really is supportable as a whole anymore, and this 50/50 state (and country) is rapidly heading toward a big, bad, painful split. In another era, we would have had our own little civil war "no-fly zone" over WI by now, with Scotty's threatened "briefed" REPUBLICAN (National) GUARD right up on the front lines fighting the rebel alliance forces. They'd look kinda silly in their "briefs," but no sillier than Walker has made himself and this state look since we were fools enough to elect him and his creepy cronies (and DON'T even get me started on that asinine Fitzgerald)!

"But wait," (as they used to say on Batman)..."the worst is yet to come!" Say "Bye-bye," Chancellor Walker! Hope you enjoy your year as a grandstanding buffoon. Don't worry...I'm sure you can always get a job on some late night Fox Network "newsy" infomercial program, or perhaps with some Republican "(S)think tank"! Both are always looking for outspoken fools to fill the air with their vitriolic fervor! Hey--remember the old saying: "If you can't 'do' (politics, that is), be a political commentator...on Fox!"

Hasta la vista, Scotty!

Kaysbrew- Sorry I didn't get back sooner. kidlets2 was complaining about Kloppenburg's "inexperience". My point was Prosser and Kloppenburg both hold the same experience at the time they were appointed or elected to this position. If he (she) wants to complain about Kloppenburg's "inexperience", then they should also complain about prosser's, otherwise they're being two faced. BTW, thanks for the explanation on Prosser's appointment.

I'm glad scotty can tell it's all from madison or milw. Everyone else gets no acknowledgement that they voted different from " HIS" view.

We must thank Gov. Walker though for opening the eyes of many voters. In the past we didn't all go to the polls as we did not think our vote mattered and would let others vote while we just complained. We now see that letting others vote got Walker elected and he has since screwed Wisconsin by giving back our stimulus money and now trying to take away our unions, senior care, and other important issues he tried hiding in his bill. The people of Wisconsin are not going to take it lying down anymore dear Governor we are mad as h*** and we are not going to take it any more!!!

sloback, you've apparently missed the discussions about the ovwerwhelming advantage that incumbent judges have in their re-elections. Incumbent judges win 95% of the time. And as others have pointed out, only 5 justices have been defeated since the mid 1800's. To win against an incumbent judge, or even come close, is like dragging a piano in a 100 yard dash and winning. In case you're interested in the facts, here's a nice study done on this issue.
-
http://www.stanford.edu/~cshlim/Judge_Oc...

kaysbrew,

I find that if you even toss out an opposing viewpoint to anyone you are subject to name calling. Discussion? What's that? Some posters on here find it easier to bully people and use nothing but histrionics and hyperbole. It's sad really.

Here is an article from the left leaning Capitol Times that I think is very good - that we are still here for Walker and recalls may not be very successful.
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/go...

Give me a break. There was a definite split 50/50. The only message was there are a lot of people who support the Governor, but you wouldn't report that, would you.

resourcefull
this is a discussion board - we love talking to each other, exchange view points, ideas, and jabs. As long as you follow the rules listed above the comment box.

"Wis. voters send governor strong, angry message"

This is exactly what we talk about when we say there is a "left leaning" media bias (I'm hoping this is a wire headline and not Gazette). However it is also clearly an editorial and belongs on that page, no here. Very disappointing.

Apparently they run elections a lot differently in Monroe than they do here.
A lot of dedicated and honorable people work very hard to conduct our elections.
Your ignorant comments are a cowardly attempt to dishonor them.
You should be ashamed of yourself and your despicable allegations.

It’s probably fair to say that when you have to post more then six or seven times that your just trying way to hard to shove your political beliefs down everyone’s throat’s

Of course they can, Klopp just doesn't happen to be one of those people - or judge - probably not why she was passed over 4 times but because she is left of left, out there wacko

Oh, great, kaysbrew! So then you are admitting that Democrats do have the capability of being non-partisan? I hope this is how you truly feel and it isn't just a grief-stricken reaction.

monroe would you like some cheese to go with that whine?

Wrong again

No, kaysbrew, you and I were talking about the so-called "non-partisan panel" that was created to select Prosser.
-
I guess they were all Republicans because you've never given Democrats or Independents enough credit to possibly be non-partisan.

grandys618>you sheeple keep voting for the same two party's that are controlled by corporations. Most of us that don’t bother to get off the couch voted for other party’s at one time, but at some point most that don’t vote just have realized that there vote doesn’t matter when we live in a country that will be controlled by the dems/reps until the sheeple have had enough and stop voting for them.

Can we get some grief counselors over to Monroe, please?

Talking about a Judge not a politician - the left turned this into something else.

Geez, kaysbrew, I was under the impression from all of your comments that only Republicans were capable of being non-partisan.

I would think that the way she won this election would have her be embarassed. People voting twice, not of age to vote and election officials looking the other way and telling concerned citizens to mind their own business when speaking out about the fraud that happened. This is not a victory it is showing the true colors of the Democrats. Desperate for a win they knew wouldn't happen unless they cheated. Way to go! So proud to live in Wisconsin. NOT!!!!!

Hm, looks like the link wasn't reliable...
*ahem* THIS is the strong, angry message in undeniable terms : )
http://twitpic.com/4hrvx8/full

nugnrose
No one complained about Prosser's appointment because Thompson put a non-partisan panel together to find a Judge. He wanted three names from everyone and Prosser was the top of everyone's list. Not one party or the other -
He is the swing vote that most lawyer's have said do not know how Prosser will go.

grandys618: You are totally correct. There were many people who still did not vote and that is despicable. No matter the person you voted for, voting is part of the American way and if you don't exercise that right you should be "called on the carpet."

Honorfirst said, "Clearly, many of the student population in Madison voted for the Democratic candidate and they have very little concept of paying property taxes or providing for the next generation, they are simply sheep being led by their liberal teachers and politicians."
-
First of all, good morning to all of my conservative friends in Gazette land! Hope your grief is waning.
-
Secondly, let me assure you, Honorfirst, that your friends in Madison are fully aware of paying property taxes - be they homeowners or renters. And talk about sheep being led around by their noses, how about you and your low to middle income families and friends who have swallowed the economic elitist twaddle that if you cut their taxes they will trickle down their wealth to you? Have you seen what's been happening to the wealth disparity gap in America over the last 30 years? People who buy that economic elitist drivel are more like a slice of lemmings than a flock of sheep. Have a nice day.

Honorfirst - "People still seem to be oblivious to the fact that the state needs to make fundamental changes in order to survive financially in the future."
.
You seem to be oblivious to the fact that the unions conceded to ALL of Walker's non-negotiated fiscal demands. You also seem to be unaware that the collective bargaining issue has no bearing on the budget:
http://www.channel3000.com/politics/2739...
You're apparently in as much denial about the budget as you are about the nature of votes/voters supporting Kloppenburg.

UNHEARD OF ????? Ever hear of Scott Brown ?

This is the strong, angry message in undeniable terms.
http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/f...

This vote is a total message to Walker. We took an inexperienced and less qualified person for the justice seat that no one even knew about 6 weeks ago and propelled her into possibly winning a seat in our highest court. Unseating a incumbent who has been there for some time! This is totally unheard of. Prosser's only mistake was claiming his allegiance to Walker.

Clearly I am disappointed with the outcome of the election, and especially for Rock County that has such a difficult time. You would think with the jobs lost in Rock County due to union demands that have closed businesses, the people would be a little smarter, but they obviously are not critical thinkers. The left leaning zealots were out more in force which may have elected one they hope will legislate from the bench rather than interpret the law. I think we need to hold off on the party until the recount and determine if there was any fraud which in many of the previous elections, people that were felons, deceased, illegal, etc., voted for the Democratic candidate. Clearly, many of the student population in Madison voted for the Democratic candidate and they have very little concept of paying property taxes or providing for the next generation, they are simply sheep being led by their liberal teachers and politicians.
People still seem to be oblivious to the fact that the state needs to make fundamental changes in order to survive financially in the future. When exactly do you want to make changes to a system that can not survive on the present course? You do realize that at some point someone will have to begin the cuts, but because of selfish behavior and little regard for the one or two generations coming behind us, we will continue to dig ourselves deeper in the hole making it all the more difficult to turn this problem around.
That said, it sounds like we may have collected enough signatures for recalling a couple Democrats and hopefully, if the election results hold true, it will motivate enough Republicans to get out and vote to build on the majority. I hope you that have pushed this agenda so far can make peace with your children and grandchildren for selling out their future for your own greed.

kidlets2- Where were your complaints when an inexperienced Prosser was appointed to the bench?

nugnrose
Thank you for the verification, I apprciate that very much

Kaysbrew- I made no claim of a "solid victory". I was pointing out the error in your "Mostly in the motivated city of Madison" statement, winning 32 counties indicates there was statewide support for Kloppenburg, not just Dane County/City of Madison. 204 votes is a tenuous victory, but a victory non-the-less. Will there be a recount? No doubt, if I were Prosser I would ask for one, certainly can't discredit him for that.

It is very clear that every union worker in Wisconsing came out to vote. It took non union voters by surprise and they didn't go out to the poles to vote. thus this lady got in because Prosser voters did not get out and vote where union voters did.

We complain about how bad our state is with Walker. It is going to be just as bad putting and inexperienced person on the supreme court. Wisconsin is going in the wrong direction!!!!!

Impactbike- Your statement "Unions have had protection for bad employees too long" begs a response. Let's consider that only 11% of Wisconsin businesses are unionized, that means 89% aren't. Of that 89%, what are the chances that nepotism, good old boy network, shop/office politics, or plain old head up the boss's behind behavior might just protect a "bad employee" from layoff/discharge or give a "bad employee" a promotion over a more deserving or better qualified employee? I'm thinking the chances are pretty fair considering the differences in the percentages. Yet you complain about a few and ignore the many in your attempt to discredit unions. Anyone who may claim this doesn't happen, and happen often, in real world Wisconsin is either blind or untruthful.

nugnrose
32 out of what? 72 counties in Wisconsin
1.5 million votes and 204 positive (for now)
maybe higher, maybe lower but hardly a solid victory

It sounds more like 50/50 to me , no angry message from 1/2 the state . Our state is split like our country 1/2 the people think we are in BIG TIME financial trouble and should cut , cut, cut to get on solid financial ground and the other 1/2 does not see it that way . Only time will tell and God help us if the our fine Country goes Bankrupt ! Have a good day all , we still live in the greatest counrty on the planet !

kaysbrew- Kloppenburg took 32 counties, there goes your "Mostly in the motivated city of Madison" theory.

Not a union fan & even less so now after watching these crybabies act like idiots over the past month. Unions have had protection for bad employees too long. Get ready to lose your jobs in the future if you don't perform. You think this message was clear? Wait till 2012 when Obama bites the dust in another massacre.

At least with the libs happy over the outcome (altho reading these blogs one might not be sure) we won't have to worry about another siege on the capitol by a bunch of protestors or dem senators running away because they can't face their jobs. And thank goodness we don't have to have Jesse Jackson or Michael Moore in the state again. Phew!

GOD HELP US ALL!!!!!

fearandrhetoric, I am being honest - the election results were not 50/50 (aka a tie). Nitpicking the exact percentage doesn't change Kloppenburg's win any more than it changes my valid point. Also, I made no call for Prosser's concession, so I'm not sure what you're referencing to, especially given your request for honesty.

At least it got the lefties out to vote. That's new!

I'm late to this party but this article is laugh out loud funny. It was a spring election and only 2% voted "against" Walker. Mostly in the motivated city of Madison

Don't worry, fearandrhetoric4dummies, I meant no disrespect. I'm an Engineer, which might also make me an OCD math weirdo . . . You were saying she won by only 0.1 millipercent, whereas it was actually almost 7 millipercent. Move that decimal point around and change the prefixes and you're in a whole different ballgame. I think it was worth noting is all . . .

"why are all you lefty's so angry? you won. have a shot and a beer and relax for cryin' out loud."

Oooorrrrr, they declare it a mandate and use it as a reason to justify wild swings to the left in their policy. Wouldn't that only be fair?

YO! Rizzo, you some kind of OCD math weirdo? I was off by like 6 thousandths of a percent! I was more just making a point, but hey you made yours! Way to win the blog math meet, normally we are in agreement so what point exactly are you trying to make? I saw the real numbers too, just dont keep the site up and dont have all the decimals burned into brain! Everyone needs to have a beer and a shot as our nutty conservative friend suggested! Cheesh!
This may be the one time I agree with you booch.

why are all you lefty's so angry? you won. have a shot and a beer and relax for cryin' out loud.

I hope the people of Wisconsin never forget the way and manner the Republican Senate and Assembly (except for Dale Schultz) cast their final votes on the Budget Repair Bills. Thank God we have youtube videos to remind us. Walker and those GOP legislators are radioactive.

This was clearly a referendum on Walker.

1. In the preliminary election, Prosser had 55% of the vote. Klopp a mere 25%

2. Many counties that voted for Walker in his election voted for Klopp.

3. Prosser had outside spending on his behalf in a ratio of 3:2 over the outside spending for Klopp.

4. Turn out across the entire State was immense, record setting.

Those of you who argue a Major Union Influence, sorry there aren't 700,000+ public employees. Walker has made many many other missteps besides trying to take away collective bargaining.

The bright side is that Walker's brash style and dogma has energized democracy in this state for both parties.

The down side is that he's polarized us as well. Hopefully real leadership and voices of reason can step up and bring us together again.

This is statistically significant.
-
Historically, incumbent supreme court justices only lose re-election 5% of the time. That means it is 'statistically significant' that Prosser lost... pending recount, of course. (Credit poobah)
http://www.stanford.edu/~cshlim/Judge_Oc...
-
Only 5 incumbent judges have been unseated in WI since 1852. (Credit Kingrizzo)
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepoliti...
-
In February, the nonpartisan primary afforded Prosser 55% of the vote and Kloppenburg 28% of the vote. Again, the unofficial results indicate a significant shift in the electorate regardless of who wins the recount. (This report also suggested that "Prosser should easily coast to victory.")
http://www.wigderson.com/index.php/2011/...

Elections only send a message if Republicans win.

Walker wins with 52% of the vote: "The people of Wisconsin have spoken! BUST THOSE UNIONS!"

KloJo wins with 50.01% of the vote: "NO MESSAGE. VOTER FRAUD!"

It's a shame so few people seem to take the real message: there are lots of dems and repubs in Wisconsin - let's try to meet in the middle, shall we?

"more like 50.0001 to 49.9999."

How about we do the freakin' math instead of just guessing at each other? You're both off by orders of magnitude.

49.9931 vs. 50.0069

Booch11--
Saying that no other county is as liberal as Dane is not quite accurate. Bayfield (67%), Douglas (69%), and Ashland (71%) all are very similar in their support of Kloppenburg. And those counties are way up north!

@inconvienienttruth- more like 50.0001 to 49.9999. If were gonna be honest, lets be honest. Also to call for Prosser to concede is silly, nobody here would, why should he? Especially when errors are completely possible.
I voted for Kloppenburg, and would like to see her win, but every vote needs to be counted, fairly and accurately, otherwise what is all the fighting for?
What I do predict is a ton of lawyers trying to discount a lot of votes. That would be a SHAME! On either side.

It is interesting that this election is being used to show the people sending a message. I would like to be shown how a 50/50 vote has ever sent a message other then half the people like this person and half the people like the other person. The only thing it shows to me is a higher voter turnout.

Clarity- Lets be reasonable here. You are a resonable guy , lets look at this fairly. Three suburban counties surrounding Milwaukee(Waukesha, Washington, and Ozaukee). The cast about as many votes as Dane county, and turn farther right percentage wise than Dane goes left.
While we are all emotional about the election, lets not blame Dane county here. 181,000 of 1.5 MILLION votes were cast there. To act as if less than 10 percent of the vote is to blame is really silly. Kind of blaming the 8 percent of union workers for the whole election.
Facts are that most people, unions or not, support collective bargaining. The people that turned out for Kloppenburg voted against Walker, the folks that turned out for Prosser were defending Walker. While SOME folks did genuinely support them both, this was a referendum, a VERY split one at that.
I would also like to point out that there are LIBERAL parts of Wisconsin, there are very conservative parts of Wisconsin, just like America. You cant just throw em out, you can't discount them, it just doesnt work that way. This was a VERY fascinating race, and its NOT over. But to blame Dane county or to say they riun the state is just waaay out there. Sorry Clarity, but you are a lot smarter than that. I have respect for your POVs, but this time you are waaay off.

There's no "automatic recall" (you mean recount and, no, it's not automatic), in_my_opinion, and it wasn't "50/50," but rather 50.1/49.9. Considering Prosser was heavily favored as the incumbent in February, it's a very strong message indeed that in just a few months his opponent could surge to the point of beating him in the election. Wisconsin voters have made clear that there's a price to pay for anyone aligning themselves with Walker or his agenda. This is only beginning.

in_my_opinion, do you know what percentage of voters are represented by unions? Less than 12%, since unions represent only about 12% of all working people.

What is "automatic recall"?

"Seems that either Prosser or Kloppenburger will have to recuse themselves from any court issues involving most of what has been happening in Madison in the last 3 months to be ethical."
.
There's absolutely no reason, ethical or otherwise, for either to recuse themselves, Maynard - as you said, both are "individuals not even involved" in the recent legislative issues.

There was no strong, angry message. That would make sense if the vote wasn't 50/50 and subject to automatic recall.
The only message that was sent is that this non-political race was very political.
I can't believe how many would vote for someone because the union told them to (sheeples). It makes me sick.

Maynard, I found it just as sad that the citizens of Wisconsin would punish Tom Barrett and reward Scott Walker due to anger against Jim Doyle instead of voting on the merits of the two candidates. Barrett had great plans to create jobs and make some cuts without torching the state. Instead we got this nightmare.

"You have two very different worlds in this state," the governor said. "You have a world driven by Madison and a world driven by everybody else out across the state of Wisconsin."

Welcome to your "different worlds" Scott. What a tool.
http://ericcompas.wordpress.com/2011/04/...

I agree that the results of the Supreme Court election were a direct vote against Gov. Walker and his budget bill(especially the union busting segments). That said, I find it sad that the citizens of Wisconsin would punish Prosser and reward Kloppenburg due to this anger instead of voting on the merits of the two candidates. Those votes belonged in the recalls against or for candidates that voted for the bill or that left the state for 3 weeks depending on your opinon. It is a sad day when the citizens throw the baby out with the bathwater with anger directed towards individuals not even involved. I can only hope that Kloppenburg or Prosser -- whoever comes out the eventual winner keep their promise of neutrality which is called for in that job. My hope is that neither the union or the big corporations were able to BUY a vote on the Supreme Court ... Seems that either Prosser or Kloppenburger will have to recuse themselves from any court issues involving most of what has been happening in Madison in the last 3 months to be ethical.

This was an unequivocal victory for the working people of Wisconsin. Prosser is a well known justice, who beat Kloppenburg by 30 points less than two months ago. Even though she was little known, and outspent two to one, Kloppenburg won in a race that should have been a cakewalk for Prosser. Wisconsinites woke up (60% for Kloppenburg in Rock County)!

I like that walker hates unions and wants to get rid of them, unless you are a union that donated to his campaign, those would be untouched. Classy. Its also nice that republicans get elected and instead of job creation during this hard time, their main energy goes to trying to defund NPR and Planned Parenthood. Those are their most urgent problems,

It's "moot", not "mute", poorrichard. Very different meanings.

boss walker must not have seen that kloppenburg won a total of 31 counties. It is not just Madison and Milwaukee that are disgusted with him.

If you take away right heavy Waukesha county this would have been a land slide victory for Kloppenburg, but Waukesha County is part of Wisconsin just as Madison and Milwaukee are.

walker is a joke.

booch11: Yep. He ran away from the Capitol cuz he couldn't take the heat.

yada: Your family is not the only one that got a laugh out of the "brown bag lunch" thing. I said it a wk. ago, I wonder what planet Walker is from. I'm still laughing. You've heard it's good to have a laugh a day. Well, when I read that, I literally cracked right up. I couldn't stop laughing for a long time. Everyday something new with this man. He's a real circus act.

yada,
walker went around the state for a couple weeks while all this was going on. i hardly think he has shied away from his constituents.

Joe Knilans, pay attention! Your brother got it last night, Perotta got it last night. You're next!

More GOOFY comments from Walker! What planet is this guy from? Although I must say our family had quite a laugh when we heard he was going to have "brown bag" chats on YOUTUBE. If you have not heard about it - - check it out. You email him questions, or twitter, etc Then King Walker will reply to the ones that he HAS SELECTED. He does not have the GUTS to show up in MOST cities because he knows that he can't take the heat from the public.

Who writes these headline? It should have read " Angry Wisconsin Union's Hose Us Again"

Conservative politicians know that "silent majority" is just a mantra, void of reality, right? They don't actually believe their constituents are a bunch of sheepish, apathetic mutes, do they?
And for that matter, although many (if not most) Republicans respond positively to authoritarianism and the fallacious concept that "majority" invariably amounts to "good," how could a voting citizen find that characterization of them by their representatives to be desirable or flattering?
Walker to his supporters: "Oh, it's okay, I know you're too useless to speak up for what you believe. But no worries - there are plenty more just like you!"

booch11, but the exact same can be said for those three conservative counties outside of Milwaukee. If we removed them from the equation, the "rest" of state would have went for Kloppenburg. It's what fr4d wrote - it cuts both ways. The rest of the state is not as ginned-up conservative as those three counties are.

pardon the double negative in my final bullet

i'm just sayin'...
*** 100,000 protesters in madison (dane county - and lots shipped in) hardly speaks for the hinterlads that make up the remainder of WI
**** dane county is extremely liberal (i don't think anyone could argue, right?), and turned out in massive numbers for a local election and to voice their collective walker outrage.
***** i don't think the remainder of the state is sending the message AP is claiming in this headline
***** had this been a 60-40 outcome, or better, a kloppenburg victory DESPITE the massive dane county turnout, then i would agree 100% with AP (and all the people who disagree with me)
***** the proof will be in the recall pudding. personally, i don't think one WI senator or assemblyperson will lose his or her position on a recall
****** again, i'm just sayin' - the rest of the state isn't not as ginned up as dane county (and not nearly as liberal)

Don't forget, this was a small election. Many older people who vote republican show up, many younger people who vote democratic in bigger elections don't always show up. Conservative Republicans want to cut education and teachers and shcool funding. Great idea for the future. I'm sure it's in their interest to have a less educated public.

Speaking of the 100,000 that showed up to protest on a cold day, I find it hilarious when Walker or his supporters say the rest of Wisconsin showed their support for his plan by staying home. That must mean when Doyle presented his budget plans over the years, the empty Capitol rotunda was a sure sign of statewide approval.

unclesmoothie: "please send me a link to the budget proposal Obama put out there..... oh that's right he didn't proffer one up. didn't even try. Seems kina lazy of the president when there is so much riding on this."
.
FY11 - http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/...
FY12 - http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget
.
Do you usually make assumptions without checking the facts? It's like you didn't even try. Seems kind of lazy...

booch11: I suggest that you ask Gov. Walker to set up a Dismemberment Committee, which would be tasked with deciding which counties stay and which ones go. Of course, you'd need to come up with a plan to find receiving states for the ones you kick out. And you need to work fast, before Walker is recalled.

*

Or, looking at it another way, your committee could identify which counties want to leave the rest and form a new state, say, Wississippi. And then you could load it all on a flatbed and drive south. Yep. That would probably work better.

Remove waukesha, washington , and ozaukee counteis and Klop wins by 8 points. The amount of votes cast in those 3 conservative strongholds equals the amount cast in dane.
You people that act as if somehow we could add this and change that. It works both ways, so just cut it out! Whoever wins should be proud. Huge turnout for a spring election.

you seem to be forgetting that prosser lost a huge lead of around 30 percent in just two months. So no matter how you slice it this is a overwhelming vote against walker's anti labor bills.

i'm not saying that ONLY dane county went to kloppenburg -- i AM saying that if you remove dane county from the equation, prosser received 53% of the remainder of the state.
i also realize the I CANNOT remove dane county from the equation (oh that i could).
you'd agree wouldn't you, that 53% of the rest of the state is hardly an "angry, strong" "anti-walker" message? in fact, perhaps the opposite.

FYI, They would have to remove Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties to equal the voting population of Dane.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we're living in a house of cards in a tornado. I know I don't have the solution to the trouble this country is in. I have no faith in either of the major political parties. We need fresh ideas and creative solutions to overcome this current mess. All I am certain of of that "business as usual" isn't working.

Paul ryan calls social security an entitlement now. This guy has been sucking to many tea bags to even know the difference anymore. How many private sector jobs has ryan ever had?

Sure wish Dolt was still the Gov. cause I'm getting really worn out from the consent crying and hisssy fits from the lefty's. If we could have kept him in office 4 more years we would have been bankrupt and all this would have been mute. But of course Obama will bankrupt the whole country before he's done.

And Dane County should be removed because... oh--that's right--because you don't like the outcome. Poo to you.

That may be so. But a plan was at least presented. I may not agree with it but it's there.

"if you remove dane county"
*
And don't forget Rock County. You'd have to "remove" that one too. And don't forget the nineteen counties, especially La Crosse, Sauk, and Dunn counties, that went for Walker last fall but flipped to Kloppenburg yesterday. You'd have to remove them too.

And by the way, just exactly how do you "remove" them?

unclesmoothie, where's the GOP budget to run government? Paul Ryan? His classwar proposal is a fictional plan to dismantle Medicare and Medicaid - where's the GOP annual budget?

hmmmmm resorting to name calling. i would be happy to pay for my card. Or we could just add another fee (tax) like Diamond Jim Doyle kept doing. But please, try to be civil. I don't call people names. I just present opposing views for discussion. Unfortunately, nobody likes to discuss things here. It's easier to try to degrade people and call them names.

if you remove dane county from the equation, prosser wins 53% - 47%.
that's hardly an "angry, strong message" from the entire state.
from dane county - yes.
from the remainder of the state, hardly.

"Doing an about-face just to get re-elected is something else entirely though."
*
ROFLMAO. Quick, look out the window. Judging from the otherworldly content of this post, the writer must be beaming a message from a UFO. I hate to bring you down to earth, but most politicians will do anything to get reelected. And those who won't, don't.

Hey Smooth One,
Shouldn't voting be free? Who will pay for all the ID cards, processing? Plus, I thought you guys were about full freedoms, do not tread on me and less government. You are a clown.

Oreally... please send me a link to the budget proposal Obama put out there..... oh that's right he didn't proffer one up. didn't even try. Seems kina lazy of the president when there is so much riding on this. He seems to show nothing but indifference until the clock strikes 12.

"Tea Baggers and their Republican stooges"
*
Teabaggers are dancing around the government shutdown that they called for in Washington. Hmm. Makes me wonder if any of them would be so bold as to emulate their forefathers and pull a Reichstag II event.

Do you mean flip flopping like the cartwheels Obama is turning in Washington?

"Republicans worried about re-election could ask their leaders to drop the union rights provisions, he said"
.
Flip-flopping just to get votes is not an attractive quality. I can respect a politician for changing his/her stance after receiving new information or because it is obvious that the majority of their constituents feel strongly one way or the other. Doing an about-face just to get re-elected is something else entirely though.

"No voter fraud unless you repubs are doing it......." Why are the democrats so vocally opposed against national voter ID cards?

I bet Prosser would like to show walker the business end of a gavel about now..

Walker downplays this and discounts that: I wonder how he's going to react when he gets the news that he has been recalled. Deny, downplay, discount? Barricade himself in his office?

Yeah, a virtual tie is a STRONG message.

Prosser can thank Walker for this one!
Republicans should be happy (sarcasm). They are the ones that want new blood in offices since they believe in term limits when they are losing and wanted Walker and Ron Johnson instead of Barrett and Feingold.

The WI Supreme Court has the mandate now!
(even more funny!)

Well, Gov. Walker, how much do you owe the Koch's anyway? Must be bundles. Don't know if you can "walk" your way out of this one, Walker.

Mandate? Mandate, you say. You might as well say "dictatorship."

No massive vote fraud anywhere unless you Repubs. are doing it.

I hate to tell you all here that Walker is the tea party. And so now is Rep. Ryan. And the tea party is not the normal Republicans. Radicals, they are!

Here's something else Walker needs to ignore: nineteen counties that went for Walker in the 2010 elections this time flipped and went for Kloppenburg, including LaCrosse (59 percent), Sauk (56 percent), and Dunn (56 percent).

"Walker discounted Abele's win"
*
Ostrich man: tail up, head down. Facing life in that posture seems more comfortable for him, since he that way he doesn't have to explain anything. He must like the taste of sand.

"While Walker downplayed the significance of Tuesday's elections"
*
Well, there's one person who doesn't have the luxury of "downplaying" their significance: David Prosser. Just a couple months ago, the election was Prosser's to lose. Then along came Walker . . . I'm sure Prosser can connect the dots.

"While Walker downplayed the significance of Tuesday's elections"
*
Ostrich man: tail up, head in the sand. But Republicans running for office this fall need to bear in mind that the man has no coattails. Best keep a safe distance.

The unhinged vitriol of the left confirms towards Walker confirms that they, the left, are aware of a rejection of their failed policies that have made Wisconsin a Michigan in waiting.

The mandate comes from Walker not just winning the governor's office but also both houses of the legislature flip flopping into republican control. So...don't read too much into a supreme court election. November 2nd was way more meaningful than what we saw yesterday.

Walker is in denial. Just like the rest of e Tea Baggers and their Republican stooges.

"You have two very different worlds in this state," the governor said. "You have a world driven by Madison and a world driven by everybody else out across the state of Wisconsin." Scottie forgot to add the little world he lives in which, in truth, really does not exist.
-
I would agree with you jv93, IF the race was expected to be a toss up. In that case a 60/40 in favor of either candidate could have been viewed as a mandate. In this case Prosser was expected to garner well over 60% of the vote. In fact, his vote total is lower now, when it really counts, than it was in the primary. Obviously, thousands of Wisconsin residents didn't believe Prosser would view the law with the same impartiality that Kloppenburg will. Walker won by less than two percentage points yet he considered that a mandate to ram his legislation down the throats of ALL Wisconsin residents. His next "mandate" will be trying to save his job.

jv93, the corporate wealth, media and institutionalized powers the wage class earners have against them are nearly insurmountable. Prosser was considered a heavy favorite against the relatively unknown Kloppenburg. Running 50/50 was nothing short of a miracle.

If the race had come out 60/40 in favor of Kloppenburg I would agree. After all the demonstrations, drum beating, and posturing by the unions the best they could muster is 50/50? Definitely NOT a "strong angry message." I actually expected a more overwhelming outcome. This result really is a non message if anything. Nice try at spin and creative interpretation though.

This is a clear misinterpretation of this election by the AP.