The Wisconsin Idea is dead, dead, dead.

[Sabriel]

I can't believe I was born here.

[HereSince1628]

1. NOOOOOOOOO! We lost a battle. A VERY BIG battle. The Idea LIVES.

I'm unhappy with losing. Really I'm VERY unhappy, but we will continue to stand up for what is right.

We just need another opportunity. The damage of two more years of Walker, is definitely going to change some minds.
The outcome of 2014 elections isn't cast in stone. We haven't even decided on a candidate.

Next time, I suggest considerably less moderation, noticeably more fighting BOB LAFOLLETE

[Sabriel]

2. I doubt it'll last long once Walker goes after higher ed.

Who needs the UW System, when private ed will do?

K-12 education is already under fire.

[HereSince1628]

4. I don't understand what 'it' won't last long?

[lutefisk]

6. "it" is The Wisconsin Idea

A huge part of what has made our state great has been the the way higher education has had a Democratic and progressive influence on Wisconsin. Walker, Nass, ALEC, and the rest are killing that...

In part, the Wisconsin idea:

Progressive-era policy to apply the expertise of the state's university to social legislation that benefited all the state's citizens; it led to classic programs such as regulation of utilities, workers' compensation, tax reform, and university extension services; sometimes expressed in the maxim that "the boundaries of the university are the boundaries of the state."

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=580&search_term=Wisconsin+Idea

[HereSince1628]

8. No you are wrong on that. LaFollet's idea, the ideasof those who brought the US a 40 hr week

That idea is alive. Today the supporters of that idea failed a the polls, that's all.

We rest, we heal, we learn from our mistakes and we create a very different looking Democratic party with a very different candidate who goes for the governorship in 2014.

Moderation has failed, we'll do this differently next time.

[lutefisk]

10. Point taken

But over many years, that idea manifested in ways that have shaped us ALL in Wisconsin, and those wonderful, progressive manifestations have been mortally wounded, I fear.

[ginnyinWI]

12. yes and who needs an educated electorate?

"Ignorant" seems to work out just fine for them. Lots of loyal voters.

[undeterred]

7. Our opportunity is this fall, to keep this state blue.

I just watched the concession speech of Lori Compas- who took on Fitgerald- and she is amazing. She gives me inspiration to keep fighting.

[annm4peace]

3. WI workers fought harder than any other state

You went up against Goliath and all is Treasure. .

I'm not saying it is over as the votes are still coming in.

[Dreamsoldier76]

5. Extremely depressed

The people of Wisconsin have fucked up royally and they're going to pay for it. Everyone that is in a union or was in one should protest and not go to work at all tomorrow. That rat faced motherfucker Scott Walker belongs in prison not in office. I am severely depressed by tonights results.

[HereSince1628]

9. I REJECT THAT CATEGORICALLY "The people of Wisconsin have fucked up royally"

I can't imagine you being more disappointed about this than I am, but hey, I'm ego centric and I can accept possibilities that I don't fully grasp

The people of Wisconsin did CONTEMPORARY DEMOCRACY today. In extraordinary numbers.

Barrett lost, we didn't win a senate seat. BUT WE DID AMAZINGLY AT CONTEMPORARY DEMOCRACY!

Is it only the low ranking soldiers who failed when a battle is lost? This loss has plenty of things to examine and reconsider, mostly in strategy and tactical choices that occurred in rooms far far away from "the people of Wisconsin"

This scale of this disappointment is going to force huge changes in Wisconsin...I suspect moderation is done, but I have no crystal ball.

[TheMightyFavog]

11. New shit has come to light:

Waangaard lost! by a little over 700 votes We have the Senate!