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11/24/2006
The "tidal wave" roared in Wisconsin
State Republicans were “swamped by a national tidal wave that swept Democrats into office because of the war in Iraq and economic issues.” State Senators Kanavas and Kedzie cited it as one reason Wisconsin will lose even more control of its rapacious spending. Mark Green said it election night as well.
That “tidal wave” was extra high in the 16 states (Wisconsin included, of course) that still allow voters to vote a straight party ticket.
FoxPolitics News included an article this week from The Hill that does a great job analyzing the widespread impact the straight-party vote had on the November 7th tsunami, stating that “on average, about one-third of voters use the option where it is available.”
“In Wisconsin, Green Bay-based Brown County cast more than one-third of the 8th District’s 275,000 votes and saw straight-Democratic voting increase from 7,300 to 14,000. Democrat Steve Kagen wrested the Republican-held open seat by about the same margin.”
Wow. That’s a message the GOP better be hearing loud and clear.
J.B. Van Hollen heard it. His campaign dropped leaflets – only 1,000 - in Milwaukee, Waukesha and Dane counties AND only at homes that had Doyle signs in their yards. The leaflets said “You can be a GOOD DEMOCRAT and VOTE AGAINST Kathleen FALK.”
From The Hill article once again: “The straight-party option is largely seen as a boon to the party with the larger segment of the population…[and] has predominantly been fought by Republicans… in recent years.” Missouri is the most recent state to kill the straight-party option; Illinois killed it in 1997. Michigan tried in 2002, but a “Democrat-led ballot initiative saved it.”
Wisconsin’s limits on tax levies will most likely expire with a Democrat-controlled State Senate. Any TABOR-like (Taxpayer Bill Of Rights) revenue or spending restriction will be dead on arrival. And now straight-party voting. Sounds like Wisconsin GOPer’s would want to get rid of that one-pull option - yesterday.
It’s just one more reason Wisconsin Republicans must be darn highly motivated to take back the State Senate and governorship. Fast.
COMMENTS
I am seriously thinking the convenience of straight ticket voting. Since moving the Valley in 2000 I have been voting straight GOP, but I am hearing certain OCRP candidates come highly praised by lefties or endorse lefties. I voted straight GOP in this last election.
However, this applies to local partisan races.
Mu Phi (Sat Nov 25 23:22:03 2006)
It's the tax levy stupid, you're starting to sound more like Bill Clinton.
Forrest Weber (Sat Nov 25 23:52:56 2006)
Straight partyline voting may be a voter's most effective expression of satisfaction -- or dissatisfaction -- with the behavior of members of a political party in the months leading up to Election Day.
Even though some political candidates in their advertising and "literature" like to pretend they don't know what the "D" or "R" stands for, the voters know.
And when one party alienates a voter, be it on the issue of Iraq and the economy, or by placing wedge issues like the marriage amendment or the death penalty on the ballot, the voter may be justified in venting his or her anger at the entire party, not just at an individual candidate.
After all, we don't have parties only to provide representation to the special interests, do we?
Straight partyline voting is a function of a democracy that sees value in political parties. Do away with partyline voting only if you do away with the parties too.
A Jeffersonian Madisonian (Mon Nov 27 10:12:31 2006)
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