Urgency & Anger at Fighting Bob Fest

Lee Rayburn | 9/13/2005 11:16 am | ...

On the fourth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, the Pentagon held the "America Supports You Freedom" commemoration with Clint Black singing "Iraq and Roll" and a fenced in procession of only pre-registered guests.  No signs were allowed and neither were dissenters.  The day before, 5,000 people showed up at the Sauk County Fairgrounds in Baraboo.  Nobody was denied access-even Uncle Jimbo was on hand.  Political signs were everywhere, and so was an overwhelming sense of urgency and anger toward the political power structure.

The fourth annual Fighting Bob Fest was the biggest so far, with people from as far away as Oregon and Southern California on hand to be a part of the growing progressive movement in Wisconsin.  The speakers were a veritable who's who of national progressive leaders:  Representatives Gwen Moore, Tammy Baldwin, Bernie Sanders and John Conyers, Senator Feingold and Jim Hightower.  The central theme was simple:  this neo-conservative administration and its henchmen have failed the American people while benefiting big business, defense contractors, and CEOs. 

Senator Feingold told the crowd that homeland security needs to become a top priority for progressives and that includes bringing our National Guard home and setting a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.  Hightower listed the litany of high crimes and negligence of the current Bush administration and called for a change in leadership, working from the bottom-up. John Conyers said that he would like to lead the Judiciary Committee in beginning impeachment proceedings, but that can only happen if Democrats win back the House next year.  Bernie Sanders told the crowd that the last five years have been great for only a small fringe of America's wealthiest, and for that to change we are obligated to explain to GOP supporters why they vote against their best interests.

At a meeting of the People's Legislature, attendees began talking about taking direct non-violent action at our own state capitol, demanding open government and stricter and more enforceable campaign financing laws.  Bob LaFollette believed in the power of the people, while remaining downright skeptical of the power of the politicians.  This year's Fighting Bob Fest was the epitome of "We, the people, in order to form a more perfect union."

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