This will be a short diary, as it is late, and it has been a long and exciting day on voter registration (to be described in a diary tomorrow) and an eventful evening soiree at a fancy club in downtown Milwaukee with all the Democratic power players in attendance. My partner and I were delighted to be invited, along with a couple other Playground Legend members, to sit at the AFT table at this Democratic Party of Wisconsin Annual Founder's Day Gala.
We were close to the podium, with unrestricted view, as speaker after speaker talked with genuine excitement about the state of the Democratic Party in post FitzWalkerstan politics. The Democratic 14 were sitting at the table next to us, and many tributes were deservedly sent their way. Representative Peter Barca spoke in his wonderful Wisconsin accent, recounting his experience in the crazy days where rule of law was so flagrantly violated regarding such little things as open meetings laws and open capitol orders.
Senator Herb Kohl got a standing ovation, and Congresswoman Gwen Moore gave a wonderful speech about serving the people of the state, and how off the rails Scott Walker has been. She has known him a long time, and commands a powerful presence. She also seems a genuinely generous person, so when she gives a well considered critique, one takes heed. It was withering!
Other luminaries were given the podium while attendees ate and drank together. Mayor Tom Barrett served up a rousing speech, one that made me wish his campaign had been as dynamic. It was quite stirring.
I got all spine crawly (and have to admit a bit choked up) watching an amazing video by Matt Wisniewski delineating the epic events in Madison: the capitol rotunda and the hypnotic insistence of rhythm, the marchers in the driven snow, the faces of determination, the assembly of citizens. We were there, it was all of us, and we are indeed living an amazing chapter of United States history!
Keynote speaker Deval Patrick gave a long and forceful speech. But most importantly, he began it by addressing the actions of House Democrats in Massachusetts and their attack on Labor by way of their attack on collective bargaining regarding health care. He reassured us emphatically that he would allow no bill to pass that attacked Labor and the basic rights of workers to sit at the table with management. He gave a great speech beyond that; full of charisma, charm, reflection and passion. But his assurance of support of Labor in front of Wisconsin Democrats was breathtaking to me. You don't mess with Labor in a Wisconsin fundraiser full of Badgers!
The rest of the evening went smoothly. It was a great event, and I got to shake hands with heros, got to speak with Mayor Barrett about our voter registration work in Ward 260 (The Woodlands Condo complex), and got a hug from the marvelous Lena Taylor, one of the Fab14. I've heard her speak at numerous rallies and events, and if all our politicians had her intelligence, compassion and grace, we'd be a very different democracy today!