Democracy, sort of, in Wisconsin

[_EAllusion]

You may recall that Scott Walker has been refusing to hold special elections in two vacant seats formerly held by Republicans that Democrats have a decent chance of winning in the current environment. Recently, a Dane County circuit Judge who was appointed by Walker ruled that this was in violation of the law - because it totally is- and ordered the elections to be held.

So now the GOP in the legislature announced yesterday they will be quickly changing the special elections law so the elections cannot be held.

Beyond how awful this is, I think it's another strong data-point in the trend of the Republican party and belief in liberal democracy parting ways.

[_MeDotOrg]

Remember when Scott Walker was the GOP front runner in the early days of the 2016 race? Ah, the good old days...

Withholding special elections, voter registration laws that are designed to suppress the voter turnout of minorities and poor people...The ends justify the means, and the end is NOT democracy, but rather the GOP remaining in power.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Anyone thinking of watering the Tree of Liberty with Scott Walker's blood over there? Conservatives really like the imagery of watering the Tree of Liberty with blood for some reason. They could ensure its survival with a human sacrifice.

- Doc

[_EAllusion]

The whole reason this is happening isn't just because Democrats might win the districts. If they did, that wouldn't have that much of an impact on any legislative outcome. Republicans have an iron grip on the legislature and they've used partisan solidarity to lock Democrats almost entirely out of participation. Very little government business is going to be conducted between now and November and two new Democrats just won't change what happens much, if at all.

It's that if they did win, then they'd stand a better chance of winning in November because incumbent names get a slight bounce in elections. And given that a Democratic wave of unknown size is coming, every little bit helps.

That is what the state GOP is blowing up democratic norms over.

[_Some Schmo]

So what you're saying is that Wisconsin has a cheesy reason not to hold these elections.

[_Brackite]

Also, Governor Walker doesn't like a lot of people voting in his state during Presidential elections. Wisconsin's strict voter ID Law that went into effect for the 2016 Presidential election likely prevented about 100,000 people from voting.