I may not be a Wisconsinite by residency, but here on the eve of a defining special election that will shape the future not only of that state but of the larger battle in November, I say this with utter sincerity: Ich Bin Ein Cheesehead. And I want to offer a few words for the people of the state who have fought and sacrificed to regain their democracy, and will go to the polls tomorrow to demand their rights back as Americans and human beings from Republican organized crime.
What I have to say concerns the difference between winners and losers, and begins in the form of four epigrams. I submit them for whatever they are worth.
1. A winner is grimly determined. A loser is determinedly grim.
2. A winner who loses has merely rescheduled victory. A loser who wins has merely delayed defeat.
3. A winner takes heart from their own commitment. A loser must be constantly persuaded they will win or lose all conviction.
4. Victory for a winner is just a step to more victory. Defeat for a loser, however, is permanent.
Scott Walker and his corporate handlers don't have nearly as much at stake as the people of Wisconsin, and yet their efforts have been persistent and determined. If the people succeed and he is thrown out of office, his disciples will not wring their hands, blame each other, or undergo self-examination - they will simply regroup and redouble their efforts. And if they stay in power, they will not stare at each other blankly and think "Now what?" They have a plan, and that plan is the same whether Scott Walker is in office or not, and whether or not Wisconsin is the focal point of GOP anti-worker salients. So, those who would confront and defeat the phenomenon wherever it takes root must be likewise determined and inexorable in their objectives.
Even for the people of Wisconsin, tomorrow is just another day. Just another set of opportunities to stand up for what is right and defend your family and freedom, the same as Americans have been doing to one extent or another every day since the Founding. The outcome of the recall election will determine the shape and context of future battles, but victory at the polls will not liberate you from the continuing struggle nor would defeat make you powerless. Whether or not you are able to remove Scott Walker from office, he cannot remove you from yours.
Whether Walker is deposed or not, there is still the day after tomorrow, and the day after that. You have already achieved remarkable things bringing matters to a head and forcing a criminal who would rather have operated in the shadows into the full, glaring light of day. Everything beyond the privilege of the fight itself is a bonus, so cast your vote and do the other things to help your fellow citizens cast theirs and know victory is yours so long as you never stop or concede the field. You fight for your very selves as human beings, the identity of your nation, and the future of your families. Now go throw the bastard back out into the private sector he worships and dance Heathenous around a bonfire of his propaganda. And if you fall short...do exactly the same thing.