A SMASHING VICTORY IN WISCONSIN
John Hinderaker, Powerline
Wisconsin looks to exceed our fondest hopes, as everyone has called the race for Scott Walker. With 60% of the vote now counted, Walker leads 57%-42%. That is way too big a margin for the Democrats to make up through fraud. The TV headlines to the effect that “Governor Walker Survives Recall” are really misleading. Walker didn’t just survive, he trounced the greedy union bosses who were fighting for their lives, as it turned out that a clear majority of union members were paying dues only because they were forced to do so. Public sector union membership has plummeted by more than 50% since membership became voluntary in 2011.
Will tonight’s victory reverberate from now until November? Mitt Romney released this statement about Walker’s victory:
I congratulate Scott Walker on his victory in Wisconsin. Governor Walker has demonstrated over the past year what sound fiscal policies can do to turn an economy around, and I believe that in November voters across the country will demonstrate that they want the same in Washington, D.C. Tonight’s results will echo beyond the borders of Wisconsin. Governor Walker has shown that citizens and taxpayers can fight back – and prevail – against the runaway government costs imposed by labor bosses. Tonight voters said ‘no’ to the tired, liberal ideas of yesterday, and ‘yes’ to fiscal responsibility and a new direction. I look forward to working with Governor Walker to help build a better, brighter future for all Americans.
That seems like a fair assessment. Liberals on television tonight–i.e., CNN and MSNBC–are wailing and gnashing their teeth. It has been fun to see. I actually haven’t watched MSNBC for years, and was a little shocked, when my wife switched the channel just to gloat, that compared with Fox, MSNBC looks like a public access channel in the middle of the night. Pathetic.
So, tonight is a time to pop the champagne and celebrate a great victory for liberty.
Tonight was also the debut of Power Line Live. PL Live was a smashing success, much like the Walker campaign, as more than 1,200 people occupied the tavern/chat room at the evening’s peak. Thanks to Joe Malchow, the site never wavered with posts coming across the transom every second. Those who hung out with us had a great time. The bar will be open all the time, and no doubt will attract even bigger crowds at key moments in the 2012 campaign as it unfolds.
UPDATE: One more thing: The Democrats’ last-minute smear, their absurd rumor that Scott Walker fathered an illegitimate child 24 years ago, fell completely flat. That is a very good thing–a complete repudiation of liberal smear tactics.
