Now I’m going out on a limb here – but I think it’s a pretty study limb – to predict that the movement to recall Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is going to fail at the polls.

Here’s why. 

The union coprolites had to gather about 540,000 signatures on their recall petition.  Compare this recall petition to petitions unions circulate around workplaces demanding a union election.  Sure … some people sign those petitions eagerly.  They earnestly want a union and signing the petition is a step toward their goal.  Others will sign the petition, though, because it is easier for them to go along to get along, as they say, than it is to say no.

Let’s set up an example here:  You live on Elm street in Madison, Wisconsin.  You work in the private sector, but your best fishing buddy two houses down is a government employee union member.  He is way beyond ticked off because he is now going to have to pay a few bucks a month more for his health insurance, and it’s all Scott Walker’s fault.  He comes to your home and asks you to sigh the petition to recall the governor. 

Now you know full well that these unions have been busting the state budget; and you also know that even with Governor Walker’s reforms your fishing pal is still only paying a fraction of what you’re paying for health insurance.   There’s more:  You’re not happy with the way the unions acted during the legislative battle last year, and the Democrat senators didn’t impress you running off to Illinois to avoid taking a vote.  Plus, and perhaps most important, you don’t want to see your taxes go up to take care of inflated union wages and benefits. 

So … are you going to tell your pal that you just can’t see your way clear to sign his recall petition?  No … you like the guy; you like the fishing trips; and you don’t want to cause any discontent in the neighborhood.  You’ll go ahead and sign the petition because you know that when the recall election comes along you can vote the way you really feel in the privacy of a voting booth. 

This scenario, I believe, has taken place across the state of Wisconsin.  I’ll venture that a huge percentage of the people who signed this petition did so just to avoid a confrontation, knowing full well that they would have their final say when the election rolls around.

This is the same scenario that occurs in union organization drives in private businesses.  Union organizers circulate a petition demanding a union election.  Employees sign the petition just to avoid a confrontation – and possible retaliation – knowing that when the union election occurs they can simply take their private ballot and vote “no.”  Why do you think Democrats want to get rid of the private ballot in union elections?  That’s what card check is all about.