Let me focus on The Happy.
It's been amazing to see the massive number of volunteers out to GOTV that are working for several organizations to mobilize voters in our recall election on June 5. The unions are mobilizing their membership, the local labor councils, too. And then there's We Are Wisconsin, a group with a diverse membership of community groups, farmers, unions, and ordinary citizens who have been coordinating activities to restore Wisconsin for over a year. The Democratic Party, Tom Barretts campaign, Move On, Progressives United (Russ Feingolds organization), Democracy for America (Howard Deans organization) and others are also all in.
Best of all is seeing people who never did GOTV before, were never politically active or involved in their lives, and even didn't vote much come out in huge numbers to help kick Walker and his Republican allies out of office. They come in a bit frightened about the prospect of talking to strangers in person or on the phone, but reassurance and helpful tips soon make them feel comfortable.
Making me more happy is internal polling showing the race virtually tied. Even better is Barretts lead among independent voters. Despite tens of millions in paid ads over a year and a half, Walker has never established majority approval. Those megabucks have only kept him floating - a sad reflection on him that only huge ad buys and friendly press have such an impact.
More happiness comes from the early voting numbers. Early voting, which started May 21, is matching Presidential election rates. Despite initial problems with unavailable ballots, it is now fully functioning across the state.
It's our turn now with some paid ad time to educate and motivate voters. It's true that we're massively outspent (25 to 1), but Walker and his monied backers don't have the airwaves to themselves anymore.
Here's the latest ad from the Republican Governors Association:
Pretty easy to promote "facts" that are made up.
And here's Barretts latest ad:
I loved the use of the actual Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper with the worst in the nation jobs loss headline. Particularly nice in light of the their foolish endorsement of Governor Job Loss in the recall election.
And this one from the Greater Wisconsin Committee on the repeal of Wisconsins Equal Pay Act:
Carefully signed in secret after our Presidential primary on the last possible day with the public announcement Good Friday afternoon, the media attention was limited because the Easter Holiday weekend. So it's necessary to get this information out to the public via paid ads.
I like to see the cup half full so I've focused on The Happy so far. Unfortunately, there is Sad, too. And even Angry.
All of my current Sad and Angry came yesterday.
I was prepared to write a diary on the RW Milwaukee Journal Sentinel continuing to publish pro Walker, anti Barrett stuff to cover their butts on their Walker re-endorsement. The focus was to be on their latest making mountains out of molehills screed where they were stenographers of a silly RW attack on the John Doe prosecutors (OMG - clutch your pearly and get your fainting couch ready - one of the prosecutors wives put an antiWalker sign in her yard! Oh, the humanity!). However, I went first to check out other posts here on DK and ran into ..... yeah.
I don't post when angry or upset. I signed off and went about my business until it was time to go to my phone bank shift. I looked around at everyone working there or coming in for canvassing and, for the first time, hoped they didn't read Daily Kos.
I have been thankful in recent months that the usual comments in Wisconsin diaries on how we in Wisconsin "deserve" what Walker is doing because we didn't vote or work hard enough in 2010 have finally disappeared. They hurt because it wasn't true and for months there were at least one or two of them out there in Wisconsin posts. A kick in the teeth to all those who worked hard in 2010 fighting mega millions in spending and Walker-friendly media. Just like now.
Schadenfreuden, when deserved, is still a bit troubling. I don't like taking pleasure at someones misery no matter how much I think they deserve it. When undeserved it burns like fire and incinerates the wrong people. On top of that, kicking people when they're down is best left to bullies. As liberals, we help people get back on their feet and that's what makes me proud to be a liberal.
I'll be off in a couple of hours for my phone banking shift. I've got hours all the way through election day and addresses for all the phone banking sites in case I come in and find the phones full with other volunteers. We're working hard to rid our state of Walker and his pals and appreciate your support.
I'll be posting the Act Blue donation links in a bit. Sorry for the tin cup being out again, but, yes, it's that important:
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.
Thanks, as always, for your support.