The first time I met Giles Goat Boy in person was on the sidewalk in front of Michelangelo's Coffee Shop on State Street in Madison. It was a meet-up with a bunch of Wisconsin Kossacks who would go on to be some of the founding members of Badger State Progressive. It was May 14, 2011.
Giles and I agreed that our state was facing a long, hard slog and that putting the brakes on Walker and the Fitzjackals was but the first step.
We were attending a rally at the State Capitol. A loose network of activists was forming around the Wisconsin AFL-CIO and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin's efforts to recall six Republican State Senators. Without really realizing it, Giles and I were part of that network. We were posting diaries to Dailykos with links to contribute and volunteer for the recall elections.
Two of those recalls were successful. With the addition of Jennifer Shilling and Jessica King, the "Fab 14" grew to 16. With the help of a Dale Schultz, a moderate Republican, some, but not all of Walker's excesses have been curtailed. Jess King represents my district and I had the honor of canvassing and phonebanking on her behalf. At a victory reception for her campaign volunteers. I talked to Jess about blogging on her behalf on DKos and her eyes lit up. She said that Kossack donations to her ActBlue page had made her Campaign Treasurer's job a lot easier.
John Lehman's recent election to the State senate has finally put Walker's ALEC agenda on lockdown. If you want to help strengthen that Senate majority, I suggest you help out Margarete Worthington in her bid to unseat Republihack Luther Olsen in the 14th Senate District. Click here to contribute to Margarete's campaign. Margarete is a friend of mine and I can personally vouch for her.
Margarete Worthington with Tammy Baldwin
Now it's time to start hammering back in the lower house of the legislature, the State Assembly. One very likely pickup opportunity is in the 53rd Assembly District The Republican incumbent decided to retire when the district went from red to blue. Our Candidate is
Ryan Flejter. (That's pronounced "FLAY-ter".) He and I both live in the same small town. He's a stand-up guy and I swear by the waggly tail of Lucky Angus MacPup that Ryan won't let us down.
Ryan Flejter with Tammy Baldwin
Click here to contribute to Ryan's campaign through ActBlue.
Jumping clear across the State, to the Minnesota border we have another great pickup opportunity in Assembly District 30. Diane Odeen is making a solid run for this seat and deserves your help and support!
Diane Odeen with Russ Feingold.
Here's a link to Diane's website!
Margarete, Ryan and Diane are all worthy of your support.
The road is long but we walk together and bear each other's burdens.
Forward!