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The Spectacle Blog
Wisconsin is currently counting votes in a state Supreme Court election, which has drawn an unusual amount of attention and a very high turnout (particularly for a judicial election) because, it is thought, who wins could make the difference over whether Scott Walker's "budget repair" bill, which limits the power of public employee's unions, will be overturned by the high court. As I write, conservative David Prosser is leading liberal JoAnne Kloppenburg by fewer than 2000 votes out of over 1.4 million. (The tally is here.) At this point, it seems unlikely that either candidate will concede the election tonight.
I hope this illustrates why electing justices is a terrible idea. A high court justice's job is to decide whether a law is compatible with a state constitution, not whether a law is a good idea. A referendum on the merits of a controversial policy is no way to pick the best person for that job.
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More Blog Posts by John Tabin
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/04/06/squeaker-in-wisconsin
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Spicy Joker| 4.6.11 @ 1:04AM
Well said, but the alternative isn't any better.
Withywindle| 4.6.11 @ 2:09AM
Indeed, the alternatives tend to skew farther left.
james wilson| 4.6.11 @ 2:45AM
Ditto one and two. We may as well we let the ABA pick 'em.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 4.6.11 @ 5:54AM
The ultimate humor would be if Prosser wins by 100 votes or so.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 4.6.11 @ 5:54AM
The ultimate humor would be if Prosser wins by 100 votes or so.
J Kelley| 4.6.11 @ 7:15AM
Watch for the left to find missing ballots in the truck of some car. 2000 votes is not enough for a Conservative to win. The Left and Union Thugs will steal this one as they always do. Electing Judges is a bad idea because of all of the above.
Dino| 4.6.11 @ 9:02AM
Prosser will win by about 1000 and lose the recount by about 10,000.
Michael L. Hauschild| 4.6.11 @ 10:12AM
"I hope this illustrates why electing justices is a terrible idea."
Justices should be appointed, the concept is not counter to Republic style goverment. But once they are in "office" the public should regularly be given the option of "retaining" them.
Warrior| 4.6.11 @ 10:47AM
I only wished the legistlatures would use the impeachment process for rogue judicial activists.
Mike Gabel| 4.6.11 @ 11:22AM
The fact that the race is even close, in the birthplace of progressive liberalism, is a great cause for celebration.
To be sure, I want Prosser to win this election. Regardless, I'm proud of my fellow conservatives in WI for getting out the vote!
Battling against rampant and aggressive statism is the the great challenge of our generation.
Pelligrino| 4.6.11 @ 11:23AM
Everyone should look to the "True the Vote" A. Spectator Online article today.
If this Wisconsin vote for the judge is a "squeaker," you can bet your house that masssive vote fraud either keeps it close or pushes the more liberal contender to the win.
Please see that article to learn what King Street Patriots are doing to remedy a fully corrupt voting process.
Unless we have 1,600 like-type organizations doing the same "True the Vote" work in YOUR state, all the Tea Party rallying, volunteer time, conservative blogging, appeals for fiscal responsibility, well-written articles, etc. won't matter.
Were polls left open for 1 extra hour in Madison and Milwaukee precincts? Last minute 'found' bags of absentee votes? Does Wisconsin require a color photo ID when a person presents himself or herself to vote? How late can one register to vote on election day?
I trust no vote results in this land. None. All are skewed, it just depends how much. (Voting manipulation is relatively easy.)
Abu Nudnik| 4.7.11 @ 6:56PM
Either the judges are elected directly by the people or indirectly by the person the people entrusted to appoint the judge and the representatives entrusted by those same people to vet and confirm or deny the judicial candidate. You're making a mountain out of a molehill. Being elected doesn't mean you're going to vote yea or nay on any particular issue.