[steveegg]

Hmm, Belling is actually making a decent point right now. Back when we had FU Ament on the ropes, only 3 politicos put a potential recall race on their radar screens. All 3 are Republicans (Walker, Jeff Stone and Alberta Darling). Absolutely, positively nobody else stepped up. Even when Ament left, the Empire deemed itself so weak that all but one of their number (an unknown, at that) decided not to even try running. Even though this obviously does not extend to the city of Milwaukee itself or the redrawn 4th Congressional District (sorry, South Milwaukee, Cudahy, St. Francis, West Milwaukee and the eastern part of West Allis), it is encouraging for everyone that there is a decent shot of getting one layer of government off our backs for a while.

[Faraday]

Belling didn't believe the recall effort would be successful. Then he didn't believe Ament would resign. Many of the Dem politicos probably thought the same. With Norquist in a weakened position--unable to play kingmaker--the Demonic sheep had difficulty getting behind a single candidate in the time available. Therefore, only weak candidates emerged--Dumas, Ryan, Nardelli was potentially strong, but was too conservative for most Dems.