I watched the angry protests on my Capitol Square last year from Colorado. I watched the Recall Results last week from Pennsylvania.
I am Wisconsin...but my gig takes me away from my home more than I'd like. That doesn't mean I don't care. And, it doesn't mean that I don't bleed when she does.
My friend and fellow blogger Reyn Bowman has told me that he marvels at my ability to keep my blog posts short. This will not be one of those times. No...something seriously powerful has unfolded here. And, I am compelled to share my perspective in the sea of analysis from both local and national pundits.
I am acutely aware that the majority of the readers of this blog (and, thank you all) don't reside in Wisconsin. And many of you don't live in the United States. Still, I hope that you'll endulge me this screed. Especially because, whenever we talk, you all say "Wisconsin...WTF?"
I am fiercely independent. While I've been accused by both sides of the arbitrary aisle in this town of shilling for the other side, I believe that political parties (and not Iran, Iraq and North Korea) are the true axis of evil.
Political parties are the polar opposite of the American ideal, which is the right and the opportunity of every citizen to live as free individuals. Political parties have built upon the natural instinct of humans to join tribes for protection and social interaction. And, then...have perverted this natural instinct for the tribal leaders' own gain.
And, thus...we find ourselves staring out from the wreckage of Wisconsin. A land in which combatants on the field of good government once clashed mightily...and then, after the vote, could go have a beer together. Today, long time friends that may have once differed in their political views (but shared those beers) no longer speak to one another.
Where did we lose our center? And don't say Scott Walker. The seeds were sown far earlier.
Is it the Spin? The Republicans are saying that voters want someone that is prepared to make tough choices. Whatever. People want their budgets balanced on something besides their property taxes.
Democrats say they were outspent. Nice try...but, with less than 10% of voters unsure of their choice (and I bet it was far fewer) going into the last week, the obscene amount of money spent here was not the deciding factor.
Was it the Debates? It's doubtful that more than the faithful watched the debates. If they did, they saw a confident incumbant showboat his success and a whiney challenger pick at unproven wrongs. Yes, Tom Barrett scored the coolest line of the campaign...but, in the end, there was no meat.
Barrett never successfully communicated a strategy that was viable. He just said..."not Walker." It's a challenge that Mitt Romney will have in the months ahead as he has failed to articulate a reason...other than "not Obama."
The Wrong Candidate. Or...should I say, "the lack of a candidate." The Recall Campaign was masterful. Holy shit, a million signatures? But, that's just the beginning. Once the dog catches the school bus, then what? And, because the movement lacked organization, there was no real focus on "what next?"
I know...I was involved in a recall effort a decade ago. The scent of blood in the water is a marvelous aphrodisiac. But, you're so busy collecting signatures that you forget...ummm, then what? That's what happened here. "Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more and get a million signatures."
"But then, lend an eye, a terrible aspect...who the hell is going to run against this Republican juggernaut?" (I know I switched plays...but it's still Shakespeare, eh?). Those who would be the clear winners balked. Feingold and Kohl would have blown the doors off Walker's chances. That they had no desire to run says a lot about the fact that, while Walker's style may have sucked, the deck is stacked. Nobody can fix this mess without pissing off a lot of people.
Instead, Kathleen Falk enters the race with a clear message. She'll restore workers' rights. The Unions pour millions into her campaign...way too early. Indeed, the most fascinating result is a columnist in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel asking "who is this person trying to buy the Democratic nod?" Ummm, only the long-time County Executive of the second largest county in the State? But, the "child journalist" hadn't been around long enough to know that...or care.
Her TV ads didn't help. She looked strident, tired as she trudged up the steps to the Capitol...a far cry from the Glamour Shots used in her first campaign for County Executive. I get that she's older...but it was the opening Barrett needed.
He's a smiley, good looking guy (yes, Kathleen is a smiley, good-looking girl)...but he showed spunk, spirit and a willingness to mix it up with that bad, bad Walker guy. Mano a Mano.
Except, it was all bluster. No substance. He looked as if he figured he could just step in and ride the anti-Walker wave to victory. Hell, a million signatures? I got this in the bag.
Except he didn't. The electorate wanted a plan...and he didn't have one. Yes...we hated HOW Scott Walker did it. But we liked that he did. Show us how you'll do it without being a dick.
But Barrett couldn't. Or wouldn't...and didn't.
54-46.
Closing Thoughts. As much as I think that Kathleen Falk (with a better image campaign) could have pulled this off, there is something to be said for the last minute entrance of Tom Barrett. Stepping in at the last possible moment means you have to raise less cash, endure less attack ads and bask in the media's excitement of a fresh and new story.
Had he had a compelling message...it would have been lights out for Walker. That he didn't meant disaster for the Party that supported him.
Speaking of Party, there was a provacative analysis in Isthmus that suggested that the movement was grass roots...but, that when the traditional party machine stepped in, it all went to hell. Fascinating point...and one that every marketer needs to embrace. Old-School marketing is over.
Dare I say...Parties are over?
I can only hope.
Great analysis, Bill. I agree on EVERY point.
Posted by: Tim Morrissey | June 11, 2012 at 09:15
Dare I say...Parties are over? << One of them is!
Posted by: Tom McMahon | June 11, 2012 at 18:21
Yes...and no, my friend. Yes if it's business as usual. However, if the party begins to embrace the values of the common person (and not the elite and union person), the Republican grasp on Joe and Jill Public will fray.
The Republicans have won Joe and Jill by default. Will the Democrats realize this...and as Dave Cieslewicz said, "stop whining about it and complaining about how stupid our customers are? (http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=36994)"
If they reconnect with Joe and Jill, the Party might survive.
Not that I want either to actually do that.
Posted by: Bill Geist | June 11, 2012 at 20:10
God, I miss interacting with you...it's one of the downsides of retirement.
In France and Italy for 6 weeks last fall, with this beautiful Frence lady (Nice), it was informative to absorb the differences and similarities of folks who look westward at us. Twenty somethings who protested when Sarkozy raised the retirement age FROM 60 to 62!!!, but who are unemployed in an economy that really is not very efficient. When Hollande was elected, Michelle and all her Medeterranien (sp) friends cried, but Msr. Hollande will put the retirement age back "where it fairly should be"
A Chicago grandfather I never met was the leader of the Intnl. carpenters Union for some years...had he lived till I could talk to him, we would have some interesting conversation, for my take on unions would give him great pause.
The madness of unions controlling the policies of cities and states equals that of the tea partiers and their absolute "no tax increases of any kind at any time". George W starting a useless war and then telling us to go shopping made me think of my family victory garden and rationing stamps in the era of the last war that made any sort of sense.
I've lived long enough to watch our nation run insanity on credit cards, and now we have no will to ease that debt, no will to stop it or pay it down in this Hatfield and McCoy's atmosphere. And so, I'm NPA and as independent as that lets me be.
We'll be in Chicago in the fall. I think the Milwaukee Road still connects the two cities. People ask me if I miss the business; no, but I miss the people.
Posted by: Larry White | June 13, 2012 at 12:39
Miss you too, my friend. We may be your way this fall, as well. Let's be sure to reconnect and solve all these problems. :) Shouldn't take more than a few drinks. Oh wait...then we won't care LOL.
Posted by: Bill Geist | June 13, 2012 at 14:23