I'm going to try to making this as short as possible. It is a rough overview of the debate of when to start the recall of Scott Walker. The debate, and this summary, are a bit of a mess.
The relevant dates:
November 5, 2011 - first day it is legal to collection petitions against Scott Walker
January 3,2012 - first day the petitions can be submitted to the state
Mid to late March 2012 - first possible time for the recall election
April 4th - spring elections
February 21 - Possible GOP primaries
November 6, 2012 - the only date Wisconsin Democratic leadership want to discuss for recalling Scott Walker
The debate is between local activists who want to recall Scott Walker soon and the Democratic leadership that want to wait until the presidential election to recall Walker.
Democratic Party of Wisconsin leadership's reasons:
- Waiting until November 2012 election means that people who vote for the president will vote against Scott Walker
- Leaders are worried if the recall Scott Walker attempt is in the spring the Wisconsin official might place the election on the GOP primary date. (This is plausible, but not guaranteed, if we hand in signatures in January 3rd and they are verified after a few days).
- Thousands of activists to help with the presidential election as well as the recall that wouldn't be available in any other scenario.
Local activists arguments:
- We have been telling everyone that the process will be started this year.
- Momentum is here now. Volunteers are available now. If we cease all activity for 6 months, it will be wasted
- If we wait, how much more harm will Scott Walker do?
- Democratic party can't guarantee that we can get him on the November 2012 Ballot, any more than the April 4, 2012 ballot.
- Democratic party isn't needed to start the petition collection process.
Democratic Party of Wisconsin has stated that they will support any grass roots attempt that appears on its own and is large enough if we want an earlier election.
All over Facebook many activists are unhappy with the Democratic party leadership on this subject and are actively interested in having another group to lead the effort earlier than late spring 2012, the proposed start time for collecting petitions by Mike Tate the chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
Update:
I'm reviewing dates, and confusing myself. In all reality the GOP would have to push back their primary or the GAB would have to instantly verify the petitions in order to meet the GOP primary the next month. Originally I thought April was GOP primaries in Wisconsin based on Greg Sargent's argument.