As my partner calls herself "invisble woman", and as this is my first diary, you, gentle reader, may call me, "Mr. Fantastic".
And ironically enough, as a metaphorical one-half of the Fantastic Four...today, we not only got to do the super-powered work of seeking out signatures in an effort to defeat the powers of the dastardly "Syndicate of Evil"..we also received the pleasure of meeting and greeting one of the FANTASTIC FOURTEEN...one John Erpenbach!
More after the jump.
Nothing says spring in Wisconsin like the smell of protest turning into action. For the past couple of days, Invisible woman and I had to decide which of Walker's synchophants we would target for this weekend's mounting campaign to acquire the needed signatures required to get them on the impending recall ballots.
So many choices, each with rich karmic and physical rewards. Last weekend,after the 180K person rally in Madison, we went to LaCrosse, setting our sights on Senator Dan Kapanke (R). So the initial temptation was to travel to the East to gather signatures against Roberta Darling (a comic book name if ever there was one), or head north to Portage or Baraboo, seeking out like-minded middle class would-be victims of Walker's legislative horrors in Luther Olson's district. Consideration was also, given to the morally and ethically challenged Senator Hopper. However, we heard that Senator John Erpenbach would be appearing in person in La Crosse, so we decided to pack up the Fusion and drive from Madison for the second weekend in a row.
In the prior week, acquiring signatures required very little effort, and in fact, when folks did not give us signatures, they would let us know that they had in fact, already signed the petition! This week, we were given turf in the slightly more economically diverse suburb of Onalaska, and while the signatures were not quite as easily attained, the support we received from the denizens of this fair town was compelling. Also, I experienced a number of folks who were from neighboring Minnesota, who said that while they couldn't sign...by God, they WISHED they could do so.
All in all the 2-week experience was very reassuring. In talking to the locals, it was quite obvious that Kapanke's days were numbered. He had had Walker appear in a brewery the day before, but they met with 250 protesters outside, much more than were inside. In Onalaska, there were many who signed who let us know that they identified with being republican, but felt that Walker had gone too far. One signer identified with being Kapanke's cousin before hungrily grabbing the pen and gleefully using it.
We returned to HQ a little after five to see Jon Erpenbach and assembly member Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). The room was packed...absolutely packed; filled to capacity. After a brief introduction by a local civil servant, Representative Shilling took the stage, who gave a heart-felt thank you to those in attendance and to those several hundred thousand who attended in spirit for helping her and her collegues during the prior month when disbelief in the conduct of her Lesgislative partners across the aisle was in direct inverse proportion to her admiration for the protestors. She gave a chilling account that was newsworthy.
She testified that immediately after the final "vote" of the newly-hatched stand-alone (the formerly fiscal, but then suddenly non-fiscal) bill that would strip public employees of collective bargaining rights, she left the Assembly chamber. Unseen from the public packed in a stair case nearby, were three dozen or so police officers and/or troopers in full riot gear; shields and clubs out, waiting to intervene if anyone tried to go up the stairs. Representative Shilling said that at that moment, everything chrystalized for her. She realized that the Governor and his allies were capable of anything, and that collectively we had to:
1) Recall those Senators who would support a Governor who would not only jam such destructive legislation down the throats of middle-class Wisconsinites, but also would sit idly by while (effectively) storm troopers were deployed and made at the ready.
2) Recall the man who would play the role of "King", using power, rather than process and discussion to craft legislation.
But the star of the show was Senator Erpenbach. While there were many, many highlights (maybe someone will have a youtube copy of the speech) , I will just name a few.
Senator Erpenbach took the stage to the chant of "Thank You!", but insisted that we, and the thousands of us around the state, were the ones that needed thanking. The Senator made it abundantly clear that without our protests, without our Emails, videos and encouragement, he and the other 13 heroes may well have had to come back well before any review of the poison legislation could be completed. That there were nights when they were collectively on the lam, where they just didn't know what to do...and at those moments they would read Emails and/or watch video of what was occuring in Madison to steel their resolve.
It was very gratifying to know that WE were as important to them as they were to US. His talk was marked by articulation, humor, passion, and belief that together we could get the job done. That the work to be done was to follow a simple formula that our passion would fuel. Highlights:
1) The movement (yes, he called it a MOVEMENT) must continue in the field rather than in Madison. He was blown away, absolutely amazed and humbled by the crowd last weekend, but it was clear that he expected, or at least hoped that our numbers would show up around the state to...
2) Get Joanne Kloppenberg elected on April 5th in her Supreme court race versus the corporate incumbent, Judge Prosser. Prosser has stated on record that he will seek to aid the Executive branch from the bench. He has adjudicated in favor of Walker's position 95% of the time in matters that have come before him in which Walker has opinied over the years. (Invisiblewoman's dad leafletted for Kloppenberg in Madison and was told there was no money for her campaign at all. They had to make their own leaflets to distribute - something that was only legal if they paid under 25 dollars for the materials. We NEED to do all we can to get her elected. She is running against a very well-funded candidate.) Her presence on the Supreme court may decide the constitutionality of Walker's bill.
3) Get all the signatures we need in La Crosse and elsewhere. We are close...so very close in many districts. Letting up wasn't an option. He stated that if our passion and consistency over the past month were any indication, we had the stuff to deliver the signatures and set up the recalls, including that of Scott Walker.
4) The most powerful and passionate statements from Senator Erpenbach though came near the end. He reminded us that what he had witnessed over the last six weeks from men and women he respected across the aisle from him has astounded him. That the Wisconsin way has always been marked by mutual respect, maintaining the goal of protecting the common good. He no longer recognizes his republican peers. He maintained that they have acted in a manner disrespectful of every written (open meetings, process, etc.) and unwritten (ethical behavior) code that makes government honorable. He seemed genuinely saddened, mystified and, frankly, pissed off by what he viewed as a betrayal of not only the people of the State of Wisconsin, but also the very spirit of its time-honored traditions and institutions.
In the end, invisblewoman and Mr. Fantastic left the City of La Crosse ready get Joanne Kloppenberg elected; ready to work every weekend and every (possible) week day to get these recalls on the soonest ballot possible, and finally... left with two other fanciful words...
Governor Erpenbach?Updated by invisiblewoman at Sun Mar 20, 2011 at 11:40 AM PDT
Updated. And a Poll!