The Wisconsin Recall-Governor Walker projected winner

10pm-CNN projects that Republican Governor Scott Walker is the projected winner of the Wisconsin recall election! He ran against his former competitor in the 2010 election-Democratic Mayor of Milwaukee-Tom Barrett.

The road to the recall election began when the new Governor passed legislation to limit the bargaining rights of unionized government workers. In layman's terms it means that union dues became voluntary, unions had to re certify every year, most state workers, including teachers, had to pay more for health insurance and pension plans and had a limit on pay raises. This was all done to help the state's deficit. Of note, Governor Scott of Florida experienced backlash last year when he proposed that Florida teachers contribute to their pensions. He suggested that teachers who received free pensions be forced to contribute 5% into their pension funds. This did not seem unreasonable to me since along with most Americans, regardless of income, contribute 95-100% towards their pension plans. But back to Wisconsin....

The state has obviously been divided on this issue. Democrats and Unions held rallies in the statehouse-a statehouse that was run by a republican majority-elected along with Governor Walker in 2010.They obtained almost 1 million signatures to force a recall vote. They obviously felt strongly that the new legislation infringed on union rights. Republican supporters felt that the new legislation was reasonable to help the state as a whole financially. Pollsters asked Scott Walker supporters how they felt about the main issue at hand. They stated it was time for state workers and unions to "feel the pain" so to speak of private sector workers who have had wages and benefits cut in a tough economy.

This was also felt to be a precursor to the presidential election in the fall. President Obama won the state in 2008 and it is considered a swing state. Does the failure of the recall mean a win for Mitt Romney in the state in the fall? Many would say yes.

I have to say in general I do not believe in recall elections. Unless in cases of  complete fraud or federal crimes (not indecent exposures:-), everyone should have to accept the decisions made by the governor, president, congress and senate that they elected. Once the person gets in office, you should not get to kick them out because you do not agree with a law they have passed. If that was the case then there would be pure chaos in states and in the white house with elections being recalled and overturned every month or every year. There have only been 2 other recall elections of governors in this country's history and they have both failed. This will make the third.

Thoughts?