As a union organizer, who took my job in Wisconsin in January before the Walker bomb dropped, and everyone was still hyped on the Packers, the last six months are hard to get my head around. I think the longer one lives in strange times the easier it becomes to step outside of yourself, become detached, and try to look at things less emotionally and more clinically. I believe this holds true for the way I am seeing the result of the election last night. Now having some time to process it, look at some numbers, discuss it with colleagues and generally reflect, if that is possible this early. There are several important take-aways from the results. Some of these take-aways are indisputable and some are my conjecture.
First, we didn't get done what we were intending. It is disappointing, no question. The recalls were started as an emotional response to punish the senators who voted to strip public employees of collective bargaining. That was before so much more heinous legislation was introduced and passed. The realization rapidly materialized that success could mean a flip of the control in the state senate. Thus was born the worthy goal of obtaining three successful results in the recalls. There was little to no discussion about the nature of these senate districts, about how Republican they were. Not that people didn't get that. They did. I just don't think they gave a shit. It was about getting a pound of flesh, whatever it took. Flipping the Senate would be a coup.
So where does it leave us now? Flipping 1/3 of the Republicans up for recall who had been elected n the Obama Democratic landslide of 2008 was a heavy lift to be sure. These were strong Republican districts. We took the low hanging fruit. However, we now have a structure in place for the next round which will be November 2012. Dems will, and should, use each other. Obama will use the Walker recall to turnout Dems for the Presidential and the Wisconsinites will use the Presidential to guarantee turnout for the recall. Will the Repubs try a phony recall? I wouldn't put it past them. Dirty tricks always seem to pay off for Republicans.
We have moved a significant number of our member to a place they were not in only one year ago. More are active and paying attention than ever. That will help us in 2012. One year from now we will certainly be campaigning for Obama and the Walker recall. We increased our political capacity, changed lives and elections this summer. Maybe not all that we wanted, but as the Stones said, "You Can't Always Get What You Want." But if you try sometimes...