I've read far too many comments and diaries from those who think we haven't done enough here in Wisconsin. Many want us to recall more State Senators, chiding us because we didn't get the magic 3 seats a couple of weeks ago. They tell us that "it will be easy" to recall more State Senators along with Walker in January ("just carry 2 clipboards instead of just the one for Walker" is the usual refrain).
Not one of them lives in Wisconsin and, frankly, I don't think they don't have a clue. I'll give them a few below the squiggle.
Outsiders don't have a comprehension of the time and effort that went into the recalls. Or that many of us have been either protesting, gathering recall signatures, or working GOTV since February of this year.
The recalls and elections were brutal. Fighting on Republican territory to recall State Senators in districts so red they elected Republicans even in the 2008 Democratic wave election. We got recall elections in 6 out of the 8 eligible.
The GOP ran fake candidates to force primaries and make us work even harder and longer, but we won each of those by enormous margins. The monied interests threw $50 million to hold Republican seats and lost 2 of them. No, we didn't get the 3 we wanted, but the RW spent $115 per vote to protect their own on their own territory. We also protected the 3 Democrats that faced recall elections - each one not only surviving recall but winning those elections by double digits. It was a tough slog and took a lot out of us.
We've put off doctor, dentist, optical, and vet appointments. We've put our available cash into gas for rides to Madison or other events as well as getting ourselves to recall or GOTV locations. We've used the rest of our available cash to donate to candidates or groups running ads.
Our houses are disasters from lack of attention. Our lives in total disarray. We need a break.
And those who think we can do State Senate recalls along with the Walker recall in January just don't get it. For every State Senate recall you have to make sure that the signer lives in the district (a great deal harder now because the new gerrymandred districts - under court challenge - are much different from the old districts so which district do we use?). For the Walker recall, signers only have to live in the state and be eligible to vote.
There's a big difference between reading posts about what's happening here in Wisconsin and actually being out there doing the work day after day after day. Some "readers" haven't got a clue about the efforts and time of the "doers".
Those readers should have spent 6 months in the shoes of the doers and see the impact of hours of activism nearly every day. On the ground protesting in bitter cold and snow, on the phone recruiting people to go to Madison, organizing busses, collecting recall signatures at sites and door to door, working GOTV and fundraisers, recruiting volunteers, and on and on. Only then might they get a clue and stop chiding us for not doing enough. We've done plenty and should feel proud of what we've done.
We need a break. And we're getting one now so we can enjoy what little remains of a short Wisconsin summer. We'll need all of our energy to collect, at a minimum, 500,000 signatures to recall Scott Walker and work to defeat him in a recall election. We're not lazy, just tired. Used up.
We need to look at this for what it is - a war. Class warfare against those who are taking from the poor and working class and giving it to the monied interests. We're in it for the long haul and realize that putting everything into a 6 month battle might win the battle, but lose the war.
So, I don't apologize. I'm taking a break. Little by little I'm trying to get my house in order. After that, I'll work on all those missed appointments. Right now I'm enjoying being here reading most of my lenthy diary stream rather than just a few that require attention. I spend time actually reading books that have been piling up (purchased, but no time to read them). My cat, Misty, is getting lots of the attention that she has missed. I'm recharging my inner batteries for Walker Recall Winter.
We'll redeploy to the war in January and participate in a few skirmishes along the way. It's going to be a long war.
P.S. I'm not calling anyone out, just pointing out that whipping an exhausted mule doesn't make the mule pull the cart harder or faster.
Update: Seeing JanF here I remembered that I forgot to mention the work we put into the State Supreme Court race and the statewide recound afterward.