Last night’s election results in Wisconsin should serve as a highly motivating and energizing event for Democratic organizers and activists in Michigan. Although they did not succeed in flipping the Wisconsin Senate to blue, they did make shift the balance by four and, with several more moderate Republicans on board, this could dramatically influence any future legislative initiatives in their legislature. As kos put it this morning:
But let me just say, if tonight was a loss, I hope we have many more such “losses” in 2012.We took the fight into red territory, and took two seats. What was a safe 19-14 GOP advantage is now a narrow 17-16. If we had those numbers going into 2011, the anti-labor bill would never have passed—one GOPer voted with the Democrats (and hey, Sen. Dale Schultz, the water is mighty fine on our side of the aisle!).
Kos makes a great point here. They not only got very close to flipping two very, very red seats to blue, they actually did flip two others to blue. Right in the heart of Republican Wisconsin.
It can be done.
Here in Michigan, we have our work cut out for us. Some of the resources available to the Wisconsin organizers are not available to Michigan’s organizers. The Michigan Democratic Party is very noticeably missing in action. So far, the only union to formally get on board is the Michigan Education Association (MEA.) And, frankly, Michigan activists could stand to get a little more activisty. We don’t have the huge throngs storming the castle as they did in Madison and the recall efforts are a patchwork with, until recently, little coordination or funding.
But the tide is changing. With the help of Daily Kos [three cheers for Chris Bowers!], the effort to recall Governor Rick Snyder is picking up a head of steam and they are helping to coordinate the recall efforts against Republican legislators. The Snyder recall effort is collecting no less than eight signatures per dollar spent which is eight times better than their detractors said would be needed. This morning on Michigan Public Radio, political analyst Jack Lessenberry described Wisconsin’s results as a complete failure by Democrats but he is the same guy who said it would cost at least $1 per signature for the Snyder recall. In other words, as a political analyst, he is laughably fail. It’s very clear that Michigan residents are increasingly unhappy with him. His approval rating has dropped to 31.5% this month from 44.5% in March with an unfavorable rating of 58.4%.
But we do need to get on the stick. As of right now, in addition to the Snyder recall effort, there are 26 different recall efforts ongoing. The deadline for getting them on the November 2011 ballot passed last week and only one of them was successful. However, the organizers for the remaining 25 continue to collect signatures with the aim to put the recall on the February 2012 ballot.
The organizers for the recall of Paul Scott (R-Grand Blanc) collected 12,200 signatures in only 13 days. The petitions, 2,115 pages worth, were submitted to the Bureau of Elections in the Secretary of State’s (SOS) office in Lansing August 8th. 9,604 valid signatures are needed. Scott is appealing the approval of the petition language and contends the collected signatures are invalid because of it. The SOS accepted the petitions anyway and Scott is filing an appeal with the Court of Appeals. Because he is the chair of the House Education Committee, his recall is seen as key to reversing or at least halting much of the anti-union legislative garbage happening in Michigan and a prime target for the MEA.
The effort to recall Rep. Nancy Jenkins (R-Clayton) was dealt a demoralizing blow when, due to a medical emergency, collected petitions were at a hospital in Ohio and not delivered on time to get on the November ballot.
In an unbelievable twist, Rep. Nancy Jenkins (R-Clayton) will not be up for recall on the November ballot because of a car crash, MIRS reports.Organizers of the recall against the Lenawee County House member said on Thursday they had more than the 7,317 required signatures.
However, the man who was supposed to deliver the signatures to the Secretary of State’s office had a family member involved in a car crash, MIRS reports. A recall campaign spokesman said he rushed to a Toledo hospital, not realizing he had the petitions in his car.
That meant that the campaign missed the 5 p.m. deadline to turn them into the SOS office in Lansing in order to get Jenkins’ recall on the November ballot. Republican Secretary of State Ruth Johnson’s office turned down a request for an extension.
Here are some of the other recall efforts still underway in one form or another:
- Pat Somerville (23rd House District)
- Anthony Forlini (24th House District)
- Jeff Farrington (30th House District)
- Andrea LaFontaine (32nd House District)
- Brad Jacobsen (46th House District)
- Rick Olson (55th House District)
- Dale Zorn (56th House District)
- House Speaker Jase Bolger (63rd House District)
- Mike Shirkey (65th House District)
- Al Pscholka (79th House District)
- Kurt Damrow (84th House District)
- Joel Johnson (97th House District)
- Kevin Cotter (99th House District)
- Phil Potvin (101st House District)
- John Pappageorge (13th Senate District)
- Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (17th Senate District)
- Mike Nofs (19th Senate District)
- John Proos (21st Senate District)
- Mike Green (31st Senate District)
- Judy Emmons (33rd Senate District)
- Darwin Booher (35th Senate District)
- John Moolenaar (36th Senate District)
- Howard Walker (37th Senate District)
- Tom Casperson (38th Senate District)
For details on each of these recall efforts, go to FireRickSnyder.org.
We have work to do, people. It’s time to get involved. You can start by donating some pocket change to the effort to recall Rick Snyder. You can do so HERE.
Then, go HERE and sign up to volunteer. Wisconsin is showing us how it’s done. Now it’s time to get it done.
For more information and updates, visit FireRickSnyder.org.
