With the Wisconsin recall process currently slogged down while the G.A.B. pores over nearly two million signatures, the most prevalent discussion I keep seeing online and hearing from friends is to determine which candidate would stand the best chance of defeating Scott Walker. Two common themes I keep seeing (and I feel have been given far too much weight) is that our choice "Can't be a Dane County Dem" and "Can't be TOO progressive." Now, I'm probably a little biased on this subject because I'm a Madison Progressive to the core, but I have to ask..why the hell not?? We've had those qualities in statewide officeholders in the past. I have enough faith in the Wisconsin electorate (albeit, potentially misplaced) that it will rally behind an inspiring and fiery candidate...as long as he or she has been standing up for our rights, consistently open and available to their constituency and sincere in their convictions while calling Walker out on his lies, attacks and shenanigans. If we can find a candidate willing to pull that off, the masses will be motivated to head to the polls and send Scooter out of the Capitol in disgrace, regardless of where he or she is from or how liberal that candidate is. We just cannot have a candidate who is uninspiring, bland and appears to be in it for the wrong reasons (blatant opportunism, stepping-stone career advancement, etc.)...basically we just cannot settle for a shitty candidate!!
A large majority seems to feel that Russ Feingold would be our best candidate, even though he is almost assuredly out of the race. Well, where the hell do you think HE's from?? Is the name of his organization "Moderates United??" We just need to find the candidate that most closely embodies the fighting Badger tradition and spirit that Russ stands for and Bob La Follette stood for and most importantly, WE have been and still are fighting for. This battle has been going strong for nearly a year now and many activists have devoted their entire lives to the movement and winning back our state from the throes of oligarchy, corruption, cronyism and right-wing social extremism so omnipresent in Fitzwalkerstan. As a result, our choice must also show the intestinal fortitude to fight as if their life depended on it...because for thousands upon thousands of working-class, sick, elderly and poor Wisconsinites, their lives very well may depend on it. If that candidate isn't a fighter, we're all fucked...