Victory in Wisconsin

Now that the smoke has cleared, the tears have ended, and the inane complaints of "Woe is me, we LOST!" have finally subsided, reality is beginning to set in. And you know what? It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day.

from the Wisconsin State Journal today:

The GOP still controls the state Senate, but that doesn’t mean a power shift isn’t taking place at the Capitol.
Democrats on Tuesday fell one win short of taking the three seats needed to seize control of the Senate. But any relief felt by Gov. Scott Walker and Republican leadership was tempered Wednesday as the mathematics of passing new legislation settled in.
If Democrats win their two recall elections next week, Republicans will have a narrow 17-to-16 Senate majority. That means the assembly line of legislation that has marked Walker’s short tenure as governor is probably over.


Read more: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_75ec6f12-c3a8-11e0-bf03-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1Uix0cA5K

How can anyone in their right mind complain about this result? Seriously, we went up against a bunch of millionaires, Tea Baggers, christian conservatives, and guess what happened! WE WON! WE've handcuffed the Walker administration for the next two years, and we still have a very strong shot at recalling that bastard.

Guess what else happened. We (I don't live there, but I've donated money, made calls, sent pizzas to protesters and more) learned a whole bunch of things. People of all stripes are waking up to the reality being imposed by Koch and company. Those bastards are truly evil. Their goal is to destroy the social contract that the New Deal and its progeny created. They hate the "General Welfare" intent of our constitution, and simply want a regulation free atmosphere to make as much money as possible, and if they step on millions of middle and lower class people on the way, too bad.

We learned that we can successfully beat the Kochs. We learned how to organize and empower the people. We tasted success, and we are NOT GOING AWAY.

Thom Hartmann, bless his soul, really blew it yesterday. He claimed that this was a defeat that was a knife in the back of our movement, "The Citizens United election experiment is over, and the oligarchs won. Long live the oligarchy."

I call bullshit on your words and analysis, Thom. You really blew it with this one. Instead of erroneously thinking of this as a loss, look at the new reality. We mobilized millions. We organized. We took away two seats from conservative assholes, and we put Walker and his cronies on notice that they cannot play their neocon and Tea Bagger games anymore. Police and firemen joined the liberals, something we haven't seen in ages. Teachers are standing up, after years of attacks (Leave no childs behind), lack of funding, and pathetic legislative support. And Joe Six Pack is realizing just how destructive and anti-people the Tea Bagger policies are.

Success, people, that is what happened in Wisconsin. Get used to it, Koch brothers. It is the start of a pattern that will only get stronger, better, and even more successful.

There are two less Republicans in the State Senate today (and hopefully after next week it stays that way). How is that not a win for Democrats?

I was saying all along that whatever the outcome, our work has to continue. Elections are important, yes, but even if you get people you want in office the jobs not over. Witness Obama - all the work done to elect them, but then where did everyone go? Where was the massive outcry in support of single payer for example? As T Hartmann says politicians never lead, they like to get out in front of movements though and pretend they are leading. (I agree he was kind of a bummer yesterday - sheesh.)

...taking two seats from R's in their own districts. All but one of the six R's fared worse yesterday than Walker did in those districts in 2010. Alberta Darling's "Waukesha factor" was the exception.


With R-Dale Schultz acting as a representative of his constituents instead of a Walker rubber stamp (he voted against Walker's budget bill) we've put a major plug in the hole.

Dems and Progressives in the State should be encouraged. This was a historic win. Now on to 2012.

Rank and file democrats will come out to stand up and fight for the rights of common working people.

There is also a not too subtle thing that has happened. The democrats of Wisconsin nearly universally call themselves Progressives.
Moderates and Third-wayers are out of place here. We've tasted political battle and it's given us an appetite. We aren't done here in Wisconsin.

The Progressive Cause is alive. We've got big items on our agenda. Walker's recall is just one of them.

if we hold tight next week. We have tied their hands at the least. After 2012, we can begin to repair the damage with a Dem Gov.

It was a victory for the activists who built an operation from the ground up. Now hopefully they can keep the operation together for future efforts.

It was not a win in that the Republicans still control the Senate. Hopefully there will be some holdouts preventing worse stuff going through.

as our movement starts to learn how to stand up and walk. Sure, 3 or 4 would have been even better, but I'll take every victory, no matter how small.

has been clearly modified, or delayed - remember in April there were some credible reports of emergency manager legislation being drafted - and the outrage that prompted. That may still be in the works, but as long as we keep shining the light on them there is some hope it can be at least held at bay, or even turned around. Vigilance!