Source: ABC News
(Madison, WI) Heeding the clear message sent by the voters in Wisconsin, Governor Walker today warned Republicans in the State House and Senate today not to “jam” through a budget repair bill now that they have lost their commanding majority on the state Supreme Court. The Governor also said that the anger and frustration that led to his victory just 5 months ago carried Kloppenburg into office last night.
"Here's my assessment of not just the vote in Madison, but the mood around the state: the same thing that swept JoAnne Kloppenberg into office swept me into office," the Governor said in an exclusive interview with George Stephanopoulos. "People are angry and they are frustrated. Unemployment is still sky high, and people see the safety net being torn apart. It’s not about what has happened in just the last four months, but, but what's happened over the last ten years."
A conciliatory Walker also admitted that he has been too focused on crafting right-wing policy, and that he had lost touch with the people of Wisconsin.
Pundits agreed that the voters sent a strong message both in the Kloppenburg election, as well as the Milwaukee County executive race, in which Democrat Chris Able crushed his Republican opponent in the race for Walker’s former seat. “This is a clear bellwether, with serious implications for 2012”, said Charlie Cook, publisher of the Cook political report. “The razor-thin edge held by the Republicans in the house is in jeopardy, and what should be a favorable Senate cycle now seems imperiled”. NPR senior news analyst Cokie Roberts agreed. “This is clearly the end of the Walker administration. He will serve out his time, but I have trouble seeing how he can continue to pursue his legislative agenda”. Analysts expect governors in Florida, Ohio, New Jersey and elsewhere to also be chastened by the Wisconsin message.
h/t Wilbur
Update #1: Poll for the snark-challenged:
Update#2: Meanwhile, back in the unicorn-free world, the real Scott Walker had this to say:
Gov. Scott Walker said this afternoon that the spring election results show there are "two very different worlds in this state."
"You've got a world driven by Madison, and a world driven by everybody else out across the majority of the rest of the state of Wisconsin," Walker said at a press conference in the Capitol.
In other words, those DFHs in Madision aren't part of the "majority of the rest of the state of Wisconsin".