As predicted on this blog before Tuesday's State Supreme Court campaign votes were counted, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Shirley Abrahamson has confirmed that she is definitely running for re-election in 2009.
Given the well-heeled Right's interest in retaining wealth and control of the state's social agendas, and Abrahamson's pivotal role in the state judiciary's management and direction, the struggle for her seat on the bench will make the two most recent Supreme Court races look like kindergarten playground patty cake.
Look to the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and its affiliates to raise and spend up to $10 million to oust Abrahamson if need be.
That's because the Chief Justice, as an elected and battle-tested candidate, is in a relatively strong position to win, and to benefit from a broad, and bi-partisan coalition of groups and citizens that will make her success their top 2009 political priority.
So also expect the Right to find a front candidate more substantial than an empty suit who wins with 51% of the vote.
We'll win by a bigger margin?
ReplyDeleteOne point of interest in your comments is the absence of the word, "law." We see "wealth" and "social agendas" and interest groups that support her election. We see the left's current bogeyman WMC on the other side. But absent in your comments was any mention of the law.
Now I realize this tends to reflect the Left's view of the judiciary - a dispenser of spoils and a protector (if not an enabler) of an agenda contrary to the legislature's. But it will be interesting in the next year how much the debate will actually be about the law, and how much it will be about goodies to be dispensed.
As I have said often, Jim, it's all relative.
ReplyDeleteThe Right is opposed to "activist" judges, but wants action out of justices like Gableman, or Scalia.
The Left wants action, too, so both sides want the law interpreted to further their beliefs and agendas.
I am sure there are plenty of voters who support conservative judicial candidates because they believe they will get tougher law-and-order rulings.
I think the WMC and Club for Growth are coming at these elections - - with their millions - - from a much more class-based perspective.
They want fewer regulations and the public be damned.
Look at the WMC's effort to role back air quality levels in SE Wisconsin, or the work to derail the Great Lakes Compact.
Now they have conservative judicial activists on the Court to do their bidding with favorable legal interpretations.
So who wants spoils and goodies dispensed?