UPDATE: Live Blogging The WI Recall
Editor’s Note:
Although Shannyn and I are at Netroots in Providence, The Mudflats has boots on the ground in Wisconsin for today’s critical recall election. Our correspondent Thomas Dewar took the redeye to Madison last night and will be posting updates throughout the day and late into the night as results roll in. The importance of this election, and what it portends for America’s democracy and middle class, is hard to overstate. In solidarity with the people of Wisconsin—AKM
9:54pm CDT
Your correspondent will now beg your leave and excuse himself to go drink too much Scotch. Departing a somber downtown joint called Merchant, first made famous by asking Scott Walker to leave early on in this struggle, I’m expressing my appreciation and solidarity to their very kind staff vis-á-vis an obscene tip. And you, gentle reader, do get home safely. Remind your loved ones how important they are. Try to not lose hope, and spend your time on things that mean something to you. Because I just did, and it didn’t feel like a waste of time. #solidarity
9:11pm CDT
It’s questionable that they called it so early with people in Milwaukee still voting and only 20% in. Here’s hoping Barrett says nothing until there’s a credible indication projections reflect reality. Until then, there are still people in line in Racine and Milwaukee and therefore eligible to vote per WI law. (If you’re queued up when polls close, you’re good.)
8:53pm CDT
It’s been called for Walker. People are incredulous. Piled into Majestic Theater with a throng of photogenic, bright-eyed, idealistic people who take their citizenship seriously. I’m struck at what a fine job they’re doing redeeming the ultimate price many military personnel have paid on their behalves over the years. No, any blood shed for their democratic rights was not wasted by indifference and apathy. The silver lining is that the awesome young Mahlon Mitchell appears to be defeating Kleefish, and as Lt. Gov. will take over when Walker’s indicted.
Evening rush hour along Madison's East Washington Ave. commuter artery. (Photo courtesy of Michael Matheson)
7:25pm CDT
Registration forms can be printed out and run to the polling stations that have run out.
7:17pm CDT
via We Are Wisconsin: IMPORTANT—do not let anyone leave a polling site if they’re out of registration forms. More are on the way.
7:09pm CDT
“I have never, in all my life in Wisconsin, seen democracy operate at this level.” –John Nichols, on today’s turnout.
7:00pm CDT
MSNBC’s The Ed Show is on the air live from Madison for the next hour.
6:56pm CDT
The final push in the last hour before polls close. Volunteers are throwing all available bodies at GoTV.
The calm before the storm: your correspondent at the WI Capital this afternoon
5:52pm CDT
Right-wing AM radio is putting out disinformation and telling people the residency requirement for voting is 3 times as long as it actually is. A frantic sort of desperation is beginning to infuse the suppression efforts.
3:46pm CDT
Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl tells WTDY that “unprecedented” turnout is on pace to hit 119 percent in Madison. (Turnout can exceed 100% due to same day registration.)
3:28pm CDT
Extra poll workers are being deployed across Milwaukee to handle long polling place lines at Becher Terrace, Bradley Tech High School, Keenan Health Center, Morse Middle School, Rufus King International School Middle Years Campus and Cass Street, 53rd Street, Grantosa and Parkview schools.
3:09pm CDT
Madison was at 26% turnout by 11am (or 42,961 votes of 165,312 registered voters). Dane Co. Clerk is projecting 80-88% turnout. Those experiencing polling place problems are asked to call 866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).
2:55pm CDT
Disturbing (and credible) reports of voter disenfranchisement continue to roll in. A 20 year old in Milwaukee was reportedly told she had to be 21 to vote, and another voter in Deerfield was told she had to produce photo ID. Which is also untrue, but there are now observers in Deerfield to ensure this doesn’t continue.
2:32pm CDT
The city of Monona is hopping. The City Clerk expects an 85% turnout here, with 80-85% likely county-wide, and absentee ballots and new registrations going through the roof.
2:19pm CDT
State Democratic Party chair Mike Tate and WI labor leaders are putting out the following request via social media channels:
“Post your voter number with the following data if possible: Voter # X at polling location Y ward Z at what time.”
Smart move, keeping independent tabs on voter turnout. Not that, you know, the GOP would cheat, monkey around with an election, or anything like that. That would be totally unlike them.
2:14pm CDT
I took a few photos of creative campaign signage around Madison today:
Chess afficionados & fans of famed WI architect Frank Lloyd Wright weigh in
WI motorist showing his love for Scooter
Yard signs & garden sculptures. Ouch.
Creative reinterpretations of the offical "I Stand With Scott Walker" yard sign
If you're a Republican and this is what small business owners think of you, you're in trouble
12:03pm CDT
Turnout in Madison is heavy, and long lines can be seen winding out of polling precincts.
11:45am CDT
Scott Walker and his corporate patrons have outspent those supporting his recall by a 25–1 margin. Apparently this isn’t enough thumb on the scale, and there are now breaking reports of last-minute robo calls misinforming Wisconsin voters that “if you signed the recall petition, your job is done and you don’t need to vote on Tuesday.”
Meanwhile, (unionized) members of the state’s iconic heroes, the Green Bay Packers, are urging Wisconsinites to exercise their democratic rights and take back their state.
9:42am CDT
Driving through the east side of town from the airport, one sees the streets lined with pro-Barrett and anti-Walker signs of both the professionally printed and creatively, painstakingly homemade variety.
9:07am CDT
Just landed in Madison. It’s a gorgeous, clear, sunny day (ie, perfect voting weather).
Wisconsin native John Nichols is an editor at The Nation magazine and at Madison’s Capital Times newspaper:
“For Jeanne—
In Cheesehead solidarity with our Caribou Comrades!
In solidarity!
John Nichols”
Ach, didn’t see what was the live blog until today.
I’m in mourning. (being a normally-brained Wisconsinite)
I too look forward to an indictment of the real John Doe, Scott Walker, or, as I like to refer to him, Droopy Dawg.
He is such a snively little idiot.
Make that sniveling (not snively, although snively fits him too, and snidely, also, too)
Care to see the infographic on who spent what? I posted it on The Forum, but many of you only read here:
http://unitedrepublic.org/2012/money-wins-the-day-in-wisconsin/?akid=123.118887.DE0s7e&rd=1&t=2
My post disappeared into the ether, so I’ll say it again. I’m eagerly awaiting Walker’s indictment. His friends the Koch brothers can hire the best attorney in the land, but they can’t stack a jury. Sorry, Wisconsin. We still stand with you.
I guess we have to wait for the criminal chages. 🙁
Can’t sleep. only cliches are coming to mind over and over.
Forgive them for they know not what they have done.
Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.
Despite so much bad news, it looks like the Dems may regain control the the state senate.
Hey! The Dems won a recall challenge to the Racine state senate seat, and now have the majority in the Wisconsin senate – 17-16. So Walker hasn’t gotten a walk.
sadz
Hey guys, there’s something not quite right about the vote in Wisconsin. It was called WAY TOO FAST.
Think about it. All day they said they couldn’t keep up with the demand — needed more registration forms and ballots. And then they must have had people lined up right at closing time.
HOW COULD THEY HAVE HAD THE TOTALS ALL NEATLY TIED UP SO QUICKLY?
** Someone needs to check out the voting machines and the clerks — PLEASE. ** Believe me, in 2010, the Waukesha County Clerk (Walker’s County) screwed things up in 2010 and never suffered from it. The voting machines in Wisconsin are really suspect.
PLEASE check out Bradblog — we need his help!
Thanks, guys!
Thanks for blogging. Thanks, all, for trying.
I stand with Wisconsin. I hope these early results don’t ruin Netroots for anyone.
I’m on pins and needles!
The race in Wisconsin couldn’t be any tighter. I can see Walker’s sweat running clear down to Iowa.
Thank you for blogging this. Much better than trying to watch people on television.
119% – wowza – how very cool.
I was once in Madison many years ago and I really liked that place. Makes my heart warm. 🙂
I love Wisconsin, I love new voters, I love cheese!!
Go MUDFLATS!!!! Go Wisconsin!!
I voted first thing this morning as I always do. I had to park 2 blocks away in my little village of 8000 and there were dozens of people already in line. in 2008, I was voter #26, this year I was voter #49 at 7:05am. Amazing!
Thank you so much for blogging the recall election for us! You have no idea how much I appreciate it. Tell the folks in Wisconsin we are with them in spirit today.
to enjoy while you are waiting.. LOL
.http://www.borowitzreport.com/2012/06/05/canada-bracing-for-wisconsin-boat-people/
I love Wisconsin! I love voters. I love cheese!
“there are now breaking reports of last-minute robo calls misinforming Wisconsin voters that “if you signed the recall petition, your job is done and you don’t need to vote on Tuesday.””
Simply despicable.
So far, the only cases of election fraud I’ve heard about have been on the GOP side. If they can’t win the honest way, they have no compunction about cheating, lying and stealing…and then accusing the Democrats of doing exactly what they’re doing.
This election is about so much more than the governorship of one state and has far reaching consequences for us all. For the sake of fair and honest elections and the rights of all American citizens, I am holding my breath along with Wisconsinites that Walker is soundly and thoroughly defeated.
That side on the over pass is great! I’m so excited you are blogging this today.
How does this one teacher figure in the 30,000 new jobs “created” by Walker?
Obvisously the teacher doesn’t teach math =)