VOTING IN WISCONSIN – BRACE YOURSELF - AT 7:51 P.M. ET:  Unknownst to the outside world,  Wisconsin votes today in special recall elections directed against Republicans in the state legislature who voted in favor of Governor Scott Walker's legislation to restrict collective bargaining.

It could be a bad night for Republicans because the recall forces are so energized, and recall elections usually bring out only the true believers.  From the Washington Examiner:

...Wisconsin voters can go to the polls in six state senate districts where the incumbent Republican is up for recall, targeted by public employee unions after supporting Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s collective bargaining legislation.

Republicans currently hold a 19-14 majority in the Wisconsin Senate, so Democrats only need to win three of the six races to take a majority. Democrats appear particularly competitive in at least four races.

And...

As one Republican strategist summarized, “The trends are all going our way, but the energy is all on their side.” If Republicans can keep the majority, they'll have to call it good day.

COMMENT:  If the Dems can flip the Senate, the national party will claim a great national victory, on a par with V-J Day in 1945.  Actually, it will mean nothing.  Wisconsin is a special case, a state with both a strong conservative and strong "progressive" tradition living side by side.  The "progressives" are the angry ones right now, and they're dragging their allies to the polls. 

I'd hate to see Scott Walker's program frustrated by losing the state senate, but it may happen.

August 9, 2011