If any doubt was left about the power of big money in our politics, the Wisconsin election destroyed it. Charles and David Koch goosed Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign with $10 million through their front group Americans for Prosperity, $1 million through the Republican Governors Association, and more from members of the “million-dollar donor club” of financial titans that meet regularly at Koch-hosted secret summits.

But even though the effort to remove Walker didn’t work, he’s still hobbled for at least the rest of the year by the impending Democratic Senate majority, which came about thanks to recalls pursued against several Republican state senators. Walker had been crowing about his plans to do what he did last year: call a special session, once he survived the recall, so he could ram through “right-to-work” (aka right to starve) legislation, a mining bill, and other nasty stuff. That’s not going to happen now.

Scott Walker survived his recall last night in Wisconsin, and when all is said and done, he will have defeated Tom Barrett by almost precisely the same spread as in 2010 – by around 53-47.

How desperate are Wisconsin Republican activists?

The turnout numbers in Wisconsin have been percolating all day, and this has continued as we near the close of the polls. Turnout all over the state is coming in extremely high, as voters register either their support or discontent with Scott Walker. There’s talk of turnout exceeding 100% in Dane County, home to Madison. That is possible, because of same day registration.

I’ve been saying for a while that turnout would be the X factor in the Wisconsin recall, particularly in the heavily Democratic areas of Madison and Milwaukee. The Government Accountability Board predicted near-Presidential level turnout of around 60-65% a few days ago. But even the preparations made for those numbers have been insufficient.

Wisconsin goes to the polls today in recall elections for Governor Scott Walker, Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, and four state Senators. If successful, it would be only the third gubernatorial recall in American history. More money has been spent on these races than on any election in Wisconsin ever, and as Tom Barrett said today, the large majority of that money was on Walker’s side, coming from special interests outside the state.

Fatster’s roundup of news stories including links about Syria, Egypt, China, Hanoi, BRIC, Sheldon Anderson, Cyprus, onshoring, Scott Walker, Nancy Pelosi, Mayor Bloomberg, Steven Harper, and more.

A variety of links to articles/interviews/speeches on current issues that may be of interest.

“It will only take one democratic win for democrats to take control of the State Senate”