Bill Clinton came to Milwaukee. The first report is in and I'll bring you more information as it becomes available.
After an endless parade of national RW figures, it's nice to see some support from our own national Democrats. And the Big Dog always brings it.
When Clinton took the microphone, he told cheering Barrett supporters that Walker's strategy of "divide and conquer" works.
But he told supporters that the best way to address that was to "tell them no" on Election Day on Tuesday.
But he told supporters in an 18-minute speech that the best way to address that was to "tell them no" on election day on Tuesday.
The former president said that for 100 years, people in America had looked to Wisconsin as a place where people had vigorous debates on the issues, but worked out solutions.
"Now they look at Wisconsin and they see America's battleground," Clinton said. "Between people who want to work together to solve problems and people who want to divide and conquer. People who know that creative cooperation is working in America and people who want constant conflict."
Speaking under a gazebo on the banks of the Milwaukee River, Clinton said a startegy of "creative cooperation" was the best way to reach consensus on issues such as economic development and balancing budgets.
"Everywhere I go in America, everywhere I go in the world, the only thing that is working is when you get everybody who has a stake in the game in there, treat them with respect, and people go forward," Clinton said.
"This divide and conquer, no compromise crowd, if they had been in control, there never would have been a U.S. Constitution," Clinton said.
He was met by a massive crowd for his 18 minute speech despite the fact that we only had hours of notice of the 10 AM Central Time event. Of course, a lone Walker supporter with a sign to disrupt the event:
While there were hundreds of Barrett signs throughout the park, one Walker supporters stood nearby holding a sign that said, "Support Scott Walker, Not Union Thugs."
After Clinton spoke, the man moved forward to a rope line where Clinton was shaking hands and posing for pictures. Asked by police officers to back away, the man apparently refused.
He was later taken away by officers and was arrested. An officer said the man would be charged with disorderly conduct.
While Walker events are always secret with information only disseminated to his most fervent supporters, Barrett events are openly scheduled.
I'll post more as information becomes available.
More:
So-so local coverage here (even the video is mediocre in terms of content).
Video of the speech here - sadly, the last few minutes are missing. Sorry, not embeddable.
The very last part of the speech can be viewed here.
Here's a bit of embeddable video:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
I'm still looking for the whole thing on embeddable video.
Full video of the speech here. It's not up on You Tube yet so not embeddable.
Today is the last day for early voting. There has been an enormous number of people who have voted already - good for our side. After close of business today, the only opportunity to vote will be on election day, Tuesday, June 5. People will NOT be required to show a photo ID and will be able to register at the polls on election day as they have for years.
GOTV has been in high gear for 2 weeks and the final massive push will be this weekend through election day. DFA, Move On, the Wisconsin Democratic Party, local labor councils, the state AFL-CIO, We Are Wisconsin, and many other groups have been all in to phone bank and canvass with one goal - to get voters to the polls.
This election will come down to turnout and every single vote counts. No one should sit on the sidelines since our entire state, future, and democracy are at stake. No hyperbole; just facts. The Power of People vs. the Power of Money. Can money buy a governorship for a lying, corrupt politician and save his cronies?
Wisconsin in the test case on whether or not it's possible to buy elections outright. Republicans and RWrs understand this. Americans for (the Kochs) Prosperity are bussing people in, the Koch Brothers sent 70 paid staffers to Wisconsin, and tens of millions are being spent on lying attack ads.
The only thing standing in their way are people which is why they have gone to such lengths to supress voting rights here and elsewhere across the country.
I'll still be in and out (mostly out) for the next several days trying to reclaim our state, but outside of OLB tonight, I'm not doing a phone bank today (saving myself for canvassing tomorrow).
Thanks for your support.
If you want to help:
You can phone bank union households from home. by using the script and link I posted a few days ago.
Obligatory Tin Cup (thanks for so many of you being so generous already)
For Tom Barrett, Democratic candidate for Governor
For Mahlon Mitchell, Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor.
For Lori Compas Democratic candidate for State Senate to replace Scott Fitzgerald (former Republican Majority Leader).
For John Lehman Democratic candidate for State Senate to replace Van Waangard
For Kristen Dexter Democratic candidate for State Senate to replace Terry Moulton
For Donna Seidel Democratic candidate for State Senate for the seat vacated by Pam Galloway.
If you can't decide, you can always contribute to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin or We Are Wisconsin.
Thanks for your support.
1:20 PM PT: Yuck. Woke up coughing and aching and now I have a fever. ? did I use a phone in one of the phone banks from someone who had the flu? This has been getting worse so I'm going to pop in bed, rest and hope that this is gone so I can do my scheduled canvassing tomorrow. This is definitely not a good time for this to happen.
Sat Jun 02, 2012 at 6:37 AM PT: I slept until 7:30 this morning and feel somewhat better. Cough is still there, but weakness and fever have improved. I'm going to keep pushing fluids so I can get to my canvassing this afternoon.