Congratulations to JoAnne Kloppenburg on her victory, to the many Wisconsinites who played a role in it and kept us informed about it, and to those people who cheered and pitched in as they could. This was an epic battle, a critical win, absolutely momentous -- and, naturally, it's not getting much coverage.
nytimes.com: not a bad story by Monica Davey, nice and factual (and as of a half hour after the announcement, not updated with news of the victory declaration), but not stirring, and in any event not prominently placed.
cnn.com: not on the front page.
cbsnews.com: no victory, not well featured, and the story itself gives Ed Morrisey lots of space to bloviate about how amazing it is, if what Walker has done is so awful, that Prosser came close at all.
msnbc.msn.com: Wisconsin's troubles are mentioned in a think piece on what they portend for Republicans in budgeting. The race isn't on the front page.
abcnews.com: not on the front page.
foxnews.com: video report is story #4 in the politics section, second tier of sections, both of which are below "Features and Faces," which is below "Latest News", which is below a lot of other stuff, including a smoldering hot photo of Paul Ryan. No, I did not watch it.
wapo.com: a link to nice column by Greg Sargent! Wow! No coverage of the results, though.
Hmmm. Looks like we have some work to do. I have an assignment for you! Meet me underneath the drawing of a storm cloud now gathering above Scott Walker's head.
Write a letter to the Editor. Now. Send it off by tonight.
That's right. We forget, up here in the perfection that is the netroots, that most people in the country don't really much care about politics, about unions, or even about what's happening on the next block, let alone over in some state where they raise cows and where their football team beat our football team.
People don't get how significant this is. AND THIS IS SIGNIFICANT!
So: I am announcing a writing contest.
I'll offer a cash prize of $5 ($5! Five smackeroos!!) to the winner -- or you can direct it to a candidate of your choice (within reason.) [Or, even better, as Miss Blue suggests, to JoKlo's Recount Legal Fund!] Deadline is midnight Pacific Time tonight (when I get home from work.)
Write a letter to your local paper or website explaining, very simply, what has been going on in Wisconsin, what just happened in this election, why it matters so much, and what it means for your hometown (or so.) (If you don't like those instructions, make up your own -- but it should be for a letter to send out now, while the iron is hot.)
Maximum length, 350 words. (That seems to be what newspapers want -- and shorter is better.)
Then post it in a comment. Let's see what gems we can generate. You can steal other people's best ideas, of course. And you don't have to enter your letter -- but I hope that you'll write it. Tell us where you'll send it (and what candidate you want me to donate to, if you wish.)
When we've developed a bunch of good letters to the editor, then let's have everyone crib from them to create (and send!) their own. Let's spread the word, write the history of this glorious victory, sing the praises of our heroes.
(Note: if you prefer to make it a rap, put it on YouTube and send a link to the video.)