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Flip Pidot and Richard Fowler on the chances of Gov. Walker surviving the vote
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-- about want to let you respond to your feeling about the fact that President Obama did take Wisconsin.
But now in this recall election.
Many of the people in Wisconsin the polls would show are satisfied.
With where things are in Wisconsin.
Under Governor Walker what do you expect will happen.
-- -- -- -- -- Oh I'm sorry Richard I'm looking -- U.
But but but but but it's five.
All we know I think what's gonna happen Jamie -- I think the jury's still -- -- be out we're got to see what happens to the voters and what the voters decided Wisconsin at the end of the day I think what it's important to note is that.
The voters were the ones half million of them so that we do not want this guided your governor and if we're gonna recall him.
Whether or not he makes of the recall a -- in a week in his position as governor but beyond that.
I think would also shows that they're Americans are wholeheartedly rejecting austerity they saw what happened in Europe they saw that Britain that the United Kingdom is now back into -- recession.
And they know that austerity is not the answer all of and that is I think going to be the distinction between.
Global this election an election November and about choices you can choose to have a policy of -- -- -- -- where we caught.
-- we cut spending we cut programs that benefit the working -- middle class or do you have a policy where.
We find ways to make Smart not draconian cut -- Smart cuts and our economy and the same time -- invest in America's greatest resource its people.
What what role do you see unions playing in this election.
Richard oh well you know I I I I think you know clearly though the public the public service employees.
On the understand what's at stake they understand it if Scott Walker on continue wins -- he'll be reaffirmed that.
You know collect getting rid of collective bargaining and getting rid of the working and middle class is okay and I think they will be don't want that so they're gonna do the best they can't -- mobilized.
There -- their supporters but also their members to say that we've had enough of this it's just that simple -- at the end of the day.
Firefighters worker -- firefighters police officers garbage -- teachers understand what's at stake in this election.
All that I think all Americans and all people in Wisconsin Wisconsin -- understand that you know going against these individuals go against them the -- the backbone of our communities.
There we do -- up to those folks I'm they do have a powerful voice.
But are they bankrupting us it is is -- how do you see this -- as a real issue for all of us.
And I'd love to hear from folks on the live chat if your member of a union or even if you're not if you have an opinion about unions.
Flip what do you think.
It's definitely it's bankrupting several states Wisconsin among them it union is the unionization in general legacy costs that -- -- build up over decades.
Frequently bankrupt airlines the bankrupt car companies that it did it there's no.
Real room for interpretation there of the economic reality of what these these union overhang costs due to -- -- -- and -- state budgets.
But there's also I think -- more fundamental issue here that walker is addressing which is that.
Public sector unionization.
Is basically ten and until and empowering government to lobby itself -- too.
Lot would do one hand to directly -- the other lobby the people that then give them money to go directly back into the campaign coffers that that support.
Those unions and I think contrary what what Richard suggested about.
Walker being weakened even if -- the survives the recall election I think this not only.
Re empowers them but may stiffen the spines of governors.
In other states right to work states non right to work states.
And and give them some that assume additional -- in confronting their own public sector unions and and trying to get their own fiscal houses -- I don't know do you remember the video of what it look like at the Statehouse in Wisconsin -- governor not hesitated.
To want to come out against the union and faced that situation and now a recall.
Does that say yes it takes some political cards in this lesson hopefully this against walker surviving as it now looks he likely will that it's likely to be close.
This may give them made -- close to call the I think it -- to -- -- all of this -- to get to give the edge a little bit to walkers in the polls have been a little a little more support of him.
But -- -- governors like Chris Christie like like Scott Walker who have the political courage to say listen this going to be -- popular.
Possibly the 49 point 9% of the electorate possibly more than 50% but.
If the alternative is bankruptcy.
Than them what are you -- -- at some point you have to say if one half is.
Is truly untenable then the other path even if it's not popular as the woman needs need to forge.
And one half foot Oakmont -- -- -- I mean it -- the -- the truth of the matter is the reason why the Wisconsin state it was -- state budget was under water had nothing to do with collective bargaining and everything to do with the fact that -- walk him in.
He gave tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires and and and big corporations in the state of Wisconsin.
He's put up assignments and Wisconsin -- forbidden at the same time -- put middle class middle class families and we're and customs out of business.
And that is what he stood for it didn't the day what it boils down to -- we see in states where there where or workers have rights and there are you need to see a better standard of living we see safer communities and see less fatalities on the job all and that's just the starting point of what unions -- unions are also the backbone of the middle class in this country.
And the more more we attacked unions the more more we attacked the middle class -- will be governed middle class.
That would cause our economy to -- it's not the rich in the well of the calls -- time to go but it is the middle class is the fact the middle class of the one that spending goes -- -- been on main street they spent a small businesses and that's -- keep people employed not the rich and wealthy and that's what these governors -- -- that's the governors like Scott -- believe in funding the rich and wealthy and caught in the middle class.
I think it's a far cry from funding -- -- the -- we're talking about -- acting pro business.
Reform -- is no credible well tomorrow I may be that that writes the paychecks that that that.
Give the middle class they build needed to you know achieve that upward mobility and whether you -- to credit Walker's pro business stance for.
His tough stance against public use -- it is approach the stands look what we're fairly diverse -- it would covers you know angle of his of his agenda you -- credit for it his tax policy and how everyone -- characterize it.
Or his union stance.
He's taken it from deficit to surplus so.
One where others the president -- Her when when Scott Walker just like we're just like Rick's -- a lot of the other Tea Party governors came with blobs they promises they make all these cuts.
They would cut all these taxes they would get rid of collective bargaining they would you know serve the middle -- -- head on a platter and in the process do and that they would create all these jobs -- -- no jobs in Wisconsin.
-- -- no jobs in Florida we see you know we see no job there in the states are there and charged as and that shows that their policies just don't work austerity just does not work it's just that simple.
