Time to get back on that horse

    Sadly, This is what democracy looks like. 

   First, I want to congratulate and thank all of you who worked so hard to make our voice heard on Tuesday.  Your efforts have not gone un-noticed.  Both by us and by the executive branch.  Scott Walker is a smart man, he heard our voice, hopefully he will take that into account the next time he considers signing legislation that stomps on workers rights.

   Secondly, There is work to be done.  Let's get over this, lick our wounds, and let them turn into a scar that will be there forever to remind us NEVER become complacent again.  This is a new battle.  There are new rules of engagement.  One side has unlimited funds, the other side has unlimited heart.  Whose side are you on?

   I want to encourage everyone to remain politically active.  Yesterdays events were phenomenal!  Huge voter turn out, spirited campaigning, and a drive with purpose.  The only thing missing was a victory.  Let's regroup and learn.  What did we do that worked? What did not work? What worked for them that we can use to our advantage?  Let's look at these and make our campaigns better.

What did we do that worked:

   Our ground game was great!  GOTV is an awesome tool for us to water our grass-roots movement. 
   Passion was a major factor.  We used this to motivate our ground troops.  Let's not loose it!
  
What didn't work?

   Just one message.  We came off as a one trick pony and a negative one at that.  Recall Walker, while our goal, should not have been our chant.  Walker has done so many asinine things that were detrimental to our state and we should have pointed that out, more so, we should have pointed to Tom Barrett and shown the good things that he has done in Milwaukee.  It seems as though we were always on our heels regarding that.

What worked for them that we can use to our advantage?

   Divide and conquer obviously works.  Too many Democrats, union employees, people who make less than 100,000 dollars, voted for Walker.  The Republicans successfully divided us.  We need to do two things and do them fast.

   1. Re-unite!  Get our base in order and get our friends back into the fold.  Yes, they are deceived, angry, wrong, hurt, mis-guided, etc...  DO NOT I repeat, DO NOT blame them, discard them, nor sever any relationship that you might have with them over this election.  We need them. 

   They will wake up just as we have done.  Before Walker many of us were asleep.  Please give them a chance to wake up.  Don't make any enemies that we don't have to.  I am not saying to roll over and take what they have to dish out, but be respectful of them as a person.  I saw many people engaged in meaning full discussions with opposition protesters, and they were respectful and fantastic!

   2.  Let's throw them a little of their own medicine and see how we can divide them. A unified base is a powerful base.  The Tea Party did this very well.  They unified most Republicans and pressured those who don't agree with them to acquiesce. 

   What were to happen if we were to throw a major wedge into their party?  Let's say, separate them from the church base they have established.  The church as I see it can really benefit from the platform of the Democratic Party.  (More on this later)

   All that being said, let's get back on that horse.  We did win the State Senate!  At least Scott Fitzgerald is no longer the leader of the senate.  Though Lori Compas ran a great campaign, it is a VERY red district.  Thank you Lori!

   Let's learn from this and move on.  Thank you to all who spent so much time and energy on this campaign.