Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: We recommend Walker; his removal isn't justified

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ^ | 05/19/2012

[SeekAndFind]

No governor in recent memory has been so controversial. No governor in America is so polarizing. Everyone has an opinion about Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin.

Here's ours: We see no reason to remove Walker from office. We recommend him in the June 5 recall election.

Walker's rematch with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was prompted by one issue: Walker's tough stance with the state's public-employee unions. It's inconceivable that the recall election would be occurring absent that. And a disagreement over a single policy is simply not enough to justify a vote against the governor.

A Marquette Law School Poll in January showed that many people in the Badger State agree. In that poll, 72% of Republicans, 44% of independents and 17% of Democrats said recalls should be limited to criminal wrongdoing. Republican state Rep. Robin Vos has proposed tightening the recall mechanism; he should continue to push for that after the election, regardless of who wins.

Walker brought some of this animosity on himself. He chose an in-your-face style from the start. To his credit, the governor now acknowledges that he did a poor job of building support for his policies. "The one thing if I could go back in time is I would try to spend a little bit more time building the case," he told the Editorial Board earlier this year.

Whether any amount of explaining would have made a difference is questionable considering the breadth of Walker's vision. We think his limits on collective bargaining went too far. We think Republicans generally took an unfortunate sharp turn to the right on social issues. That led to bills in the Legislature promoting abstinence-only education, limiting women's health options and creating a concealed-carry law with insufficient training requirements.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Wisconsin: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel endorses Gov. Scott Walker.

FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.

[RavenATB]

It's hilarious that there's even a debate about why the job growth that had begun in Wisconsin has slowed. If you're a business owner or manager thinking of adding jobs in Wisconsin, would you commit to putting more money at risk in that state while the citizens put the state's recently-implemented policies of fiscal sanity in their gun sights?

Of couse not!

Other than the disastrous economic conditions created under nearly four years of Obama’s unqualified administration, which impact all states to one degree or another, Wisconsin's liberal Democrats and union goons are responsible for the slowdown in the state's economic growth.

Thankfully, it looks as if Wisconsin is watching it's southern neighbors and has decided they're not going to follow those clowns in Obama’s home state over the cliff.

[muleskinner]

Walker 2016

I could easily get behind that.

[Shady]

There IS NO REASON to recall Scott Walker. His reforms, affirmed I might add by a brave Republican legislature, are WORKING! I just wish these numbskulls in Gnu Yak would take the cue, vote the current abominable legislators OUT and then elect a conservative Governor in two years. Although Prince Andrew has done some Walkerish things, the graft and corruption are still the order of the day here.....
The MJS is just being practical....and right.

[X-spurt]

You got it! And that may be the only reason this paper is coming out for Walker.

[Qbert]

Bump.