Wisconsin Democrats Made Huge Pro-Choice Strides In Tuesday Primary Election
The defeat of State Representative Peggy Krusick was the sweetest moment on Tuesday. There is little that can be said about her legislative career that does not end in people wanting to scream. No one will miss her under the dome–other than the Republicans who were her allies.
Krusick seemed destined to rub people the wrong way. Last year she angered her fellow Democrats when proposed removing race as a factor in awarding higher education grants. She was always using that type of charm in the statehouse, and as a result was not a team player or much of a caucus member.
The only thing left to say about her defeat is why in heavens it took so long in coming. In the end Krusick was plastered under vote totals that allowed her opponent to win with about 70% of the vote. What is so remarkable about this race is that Daniel Riemer, a 25 year-0ld University of Wisconsin-Madison student, took a break from law school to campaign, and end her career in politics.
A little-noticed liberal group made a big impact in Tuesday’s Democratic legislative primaries in Milwaukee, ousting two longtime incumbents with attacks on their left and likely ensuring that no strongly anti-abortion Democrats will remain in the Legislature when it returns next year.
Wisconsin Progress easily won its targeted races with candidates it had helped recruit and train, with law student Daniel Riemer crushing Rep. Peggy Krusick, a three-decade veteran Democrat from Milwaukee, and community organizer Mandela Barnes stunning Rep. Jason Fields, who had served for eight years.
Another candidate backed by the group, Milwaukee County Supervisor Nikiya Harris, also won her Democratic primary for the state Senate. In Democratic Milwaukee these three primary victories essentially mean all three candidates will also win the general election.
The victories put in place Democrats who will stand with others in their party in opposing voucher schools in favor of public schools and supporting abortion rights, said Scott Spector, a former labor official who is now the executive director of Wisconsin Progress.
“Democrats have lost their way on that, standing up and taking a stand,” Spector said.
Krucick was not a Democrat, except in name. As such she has no basis to compromise as a Democratic member. Your question sounds wonderful. The problem is it does not apply to the matter concerning Krusick. The bottom line in compromising is when each side gives up something they truly want for the greater good. I think an example of that is Simpson Bowles.
Then why are you so upset when Scott Walker doesn’t “compromise?” When is “compromise” acceptable? When it is easy or meaningless?
At night I drink MtnDew.
Yes, I guess the Dems don’t have as much of a big tent at the Repugs, who have a sizable contingent of pro-choicers and people willing to even consider telling Grover Norquist to take a hike. NOT. They also don’t have room for anyone like Sen. Bob Bennett who dared to work for the other side to solve the problems of this country. Sadly, the blame really lies with a corrupt redistricting system (and the citizens of this state that tolerates it) that creates 40 safe dem seats, and 40 safe rep seats that are represented by really liberal and really conservative people, and then they fight for the 19 competitive seats but that is further tainted because all of the money in politics. To spend millions of dollars on a state senate or assembly seat that pays 50 grand a year is insane. If there were 20 safe seats on each side and 59 competitive seats you’d see compromise and progress. Iowa does it, why can’t we?! By the way anyone who has had to hear Peggy speak on the Assembly floor over the PA system in the capitol offices will not miss the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard. I think that’s where the speakers in the offices got the nickname “squawkbox”
Peggy Krusick was a Democrat in name only, as she could not have been elected as a Republican in her district and therefore did not have the courage to run as a Republican. And, Peggy Krusick was never compromiser.
Do not talk about compromise when talking of Krusick. She was no more a Democrat than I am Republican. Telling me that she had the right to compromise on Democratic ideals, is like me telling you I will bargain from the Repubican side of the table. What do you drink at night?
Seems that demcrats are not quite the big-tent party we’ve heard about. Imagine the gall of thinking people should succeed based on the content of their character and not the color of thier skin. Krusick should have realized that to today’s “progressive” left, the only thing which matters is identity–which “protected” group one belongs to.
She also spent too much time conpromising like those old statesmen Deke is always imagining from his past. Guess that’s fake, too. Seems like only partisan warfare matters once all the pretty rehtoric is put aside.
And then there is the issue of abortion. Krusick’s other sin was to be not 100% in favor of abortion on demand–for whatever reason, without conscience, without remorse, convenient death. Sad. Sad that the democrats in wisconsin are absolutely united now in support of death. Death lovers. Krusick didn’t love death enough for the left.