Last November, I ditched work for a couple of days to make calls for Anne Kuster's campaign in the NH-2. I talked to lots of people; some positive, some not. I came away from the two days of phone-fun with a belly full of coffee and doughnuts, but also the feeling that we were getting somewhere. This was a good candidate, and we seemed to be in a good spot. I honestly thought we'd win it.
Of course, she lost to the odious Charlie Bass.
From November, we've had (in no particular order) the President backing down on single-payer, doubling-up on Afghanistan, folding on the Bush tax cuts, folding on raising the debt limit, folding on insisting his appointees to his cabinet and various judge-ships get seated; generally, well, folding.
And that's just on the national level. Here in New Hampshire, we elected a veto-proof teahadist senate and house, and they proceeded to carve the state up pretty well. Starting with 'legislators can carry concealed weapons in the state house' act, obviously an important job-creating bill, and ending up with a draconian 45% cut to the higher education budget (which took care of a promotion I was up for), it's been just terrific here in the Granite State.
So I've been looking for a little ray of sunshine. Something/anything to make me feel we're not a lost cause.
The Wisconsin recalls became my focus. I used to live in Minnesota, and feel I have an understanding of the mindset in the upper midwest. Well, you guys know the time-line here. We get the recalls, we get past the fake-democratic candidates, and dammit, we're going to re-take the WI state senate and show that asshole Scott Walker that you can't mess with unions and the democratic wing of the Democratic Party. I was on the phone the last two days from here, helping do something I thought was really important.
Except we didn't win.
They still control it. Yeah, it's closer, and many of you are looking at it as a win-of-sorts, but I can't. I woke up at 4:30 Wednesday morning, and went to my computer to check on the final results (and the Red Sox score).
I was devastated.
Hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites voted against their own interests. Every Republican vote is a person getting in the car, driving to their polling place, and pulling the lever for an anti-union, anti-middle-class, anti-intellectual dick-head. It's not just the Koch Bros. money. They didn't go into homes in Racine and hand the Swedborgs a crisp hundred. The people of Wisconsin have spoken, and I can't handle what they said.
The guy in the next office is a retired professor who still coaches at our college. He's one of the most intelligent, interesting, well-traveled people I've ever met. PhD at Michigan, professional athletic experience, a terrifically successful coach of a women's sport, deep knowledge of dogs and wine and good scotch.
He comes in his office every morning and turns on Rush Limbaugh. (He often greats me by saying 'Hello you little Communist bastard!) I can understand how he can be a Republican. He was in the service, and the combination of military plus athletics often adds up to Republican.
However, he coaches a sport where many of his athletes are gay, and he has voted constantly for candidates who would not allow those athletes he professes to care deeply about to get married.
He has been a dues-paying member of our faculty union for over 25 years, but votes for candidates who would deny that right to others.
This is one of the smartest guys I know, and we can't come close to convincing him to vote for what's right.
I can't demonize Wisconsin voters as dumb-ass cheese-heads who don't know which way is up. There have to be lots and lots of smart people who just can't see the spot they are standing on. They'll never vote for their own interests. I can't figure out why.
I don't diary; I lurk, and after reading this, I'm sure you all know why. What I need from you guys is a reason to still care.
I feel we're losing our grip. I'm scared and sad and don't think I can continue to work for candidates and give money to candidates when we're just going to lose, despite being on the side of right and justice.
Can you help me out?