The original Star Wars turned 35 last Friday (I'll be 36 next month) so it is safe to say that I have grown up with the story of an ill-funded, ragtag group of "losers" and underdogs who are trying to reclaim the galaxy from a power-hungry emperor who believes in ruling with an iron fist and quelling the voices of the average person in favor of the wealthy and powerful - Sound familiar?
My six year old son watched the entire original saga with me and was inspired enough to want to wear his light saber on a bike ride through Greendale and a trip to Ferch's (that is how we do "conceal-carry" in the Patzfahl family). He even forced me to have light saber fight on the jungle gym at the nearby playground (yeah, I brought my own light saber too).
While my son was inspired by the space ships, the non-stop action, the cool-looking aliens and of course the light saber fights - I was inspired by the "never say die" attitude of the rebels.
According to the polls, things may look bleak right now for Tom Barrett and the Democrats in Wisconsin, but things surely seemed hopeless for Luke Skywalker and his friends when he lost the use of his hand (sound familiar?) and his compadre, Han Solo (Russ Feingold) was frozen in carbonite by Darth Vader (Ron Johnson).
But Skywalker did not quit - he finished his training and was inspired by an old master, Yoda (Bill Clinton). Skywalker became the leader of a the rebel forces despite the unlikely odds of a victory because he knew, as Tom Barrett knows, that diminishing the rights of minorities, women, the elderly and the poor is pure evil...and evil will NEVER prevail.
The Darth Vader-like Scott Walker who is roaming Wisconsin (and dozens of other states to hold fundraisers) is funded by wealthy right-wing extremists who reside in a galaxy of the 1% - a galaxy in which you or I will never be allowed to exist in, but have the possibility teasingly dangled in front of our eyes just to entice us.
Scott Walker is merely doing the wishes of his rich and powerful string-pullers like the Koch Bros. and Wisconsin billionaire Diane Hendricks, much like Darth Vader did the bidding of his master, the emperor.
This ultra-conservative group of right wing extremists uses strong-arm tactics in a moderate state to rule us by intimidation and fear. What was it that Star Wars taught us about fear? Oh yeah: "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." ~ Master Yoda
And now because the fear of the GOP has led to hatred, their hatred has led to the suffering of:
- Public education
- The protection of natural resources
- The protection of the rights of women
- The right to vote
I don't want to live in fear, surrounded by misguided and brain-washed neighbors who think that the rise of women, the voice of minorities or the rights of homosexuals somehow threatens their livelihood. I want to live in a galaxy where all people are treated with respect and whose voices are listened to, even if they are young or poor or gay or non-Christian - or worse, educated.
It is time to elect a leader who will NOT pit neighbor against neighbor, family member against family member, employer against employee and co-worker against co-worker.
It is time to elect a leader who does not believe in a "divide and conquer" strategy to destroying the state.
It is time to elect a leader who puts public education and the needs of children over the needs of his wealthiest donors.
It is time to elect a leader who does not keep a baseball bat for union-bashing on his office door.
It is time to elect a leader who is not a puppet for the 1%.
It is time to elect a leader who is not under investigation by the FBI (we all know he is!)
It is time to elect a leader who believes that everyone has a voice that should be heard.
Tom Barrett and the Democrats may be out-spent 20-1 by the rich and powerful GOP machine, but they should keep one thing in mind going into next Tuesday's gubernatorial recall election:
"There is no try - only do and do not." ~ Master Yoda
And if mothers care about their children's education - and grandmothers and grandfathers care about their grand children's education - and husbands care about the rights of their wives - and neighbors care about the rights of their fellow neighbors - Then, and only then will the Democrats will be able to snatch victory from the hands of the wealthy and powerful.
But only if we care about each other...
So, in your dimly lit world, Liberal = good / Conservative = bad?
Um, sure sounds like Obama to me.
*********************** Really? How does that work, Lyle? Do they pass legislation putting themselves in office for life? We have a regularly scheduled election coming up in 2014 that not only makes your concerns unrealistic, but this whole recall we're going through now completely unnecessary.
You can pretty much bet that if the big corporate money is backing a candidate, they're not in it for us.
I guess that means you'll have to find someone else other than Obama or Romney to vote for in the presidential election, Randy. By your standard, neither of them are in it for us.
Most of the problems we have now are because the GOP and the baggers in particular do not want to see the country under Obama succeed, so they have shot down every program that would work to stimulate the economy. Gotta love you guys. You're like the arsonists who attack the fire department for putting out the fire you set. Don't worry. We will remind voters about this -- a lot.
Isn't it closer to the truth that there is substantial room for legimate disagreement in policies, a large gray area where neither party owns moral superiority? Maybe instead of repeating the same WWII-esque propaganda myths on every forum 24/7 in endless circular argument, you could admit both sides have their advantages and their faults and respect an individual's decision to vote his or her preference.
They have been all around Greendale since last Friday. They are from Florida and Ohio (I asked) - And Jeff Wagner on 620 WTMJ told me that the only out-of-state thugs were union people from the east coast...guess he was wrong. Don't these people have a klan rally or an anti-gay rights protest to attend instead of spreading their out-of-state propaganda in my suburb? If Walker wins it will be because out-of-state $ from rich donors has taken over the airwaves and bigots like these who shove their regressive social agenda down our throats.
Any comment about how the DOJ is sending in poll watchers to make sure Milwaukee and Madison don't try and cheat/steal this election? 7 teams in Milwaukee, 2 teams in Madison, and 1 team in the other liberal hotbeds throughout the state. The only conservative hotbed that was assigned a team was Waukesha. Sure doesn't speak very well as to the reputation of the integrity of the vote in the liberal hotbeds throughout the state, does it? Be honest!!! I'm sorry that you guys aren't getting the support from the Democratic billionaires, Hollywood millionaires, Soros, and DNC that you were counting on, but just because you guys picked a crap candidate to run against Walker that no one wants to waste their money on doesn't make it his fault, does it? Honestly, blaming Walker for the Dems picking Barrett - just when does it end with you guys? You liberals really aren't responsible for anything that you do, are you?
Walker - 50% Barrett - 47%
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TjTb5bPZc0
I just wanted to recognize that and to wish Mr. Patzfahl the very best tomorrow - may the best side win!
Which is the best side? Dumb versus dumber? Corrupt versus more corrupt? More versus a lesser version of socialism? Wake up. You have no clue.
If you hate this topic so much, why do you even bother commenting? Instead of just ripping on others for actually believing in something and having the courage to voice their support, stand, and actually vote for something, why don't you try actually advocating for something yourself? Ooops - I forgot, because then you would actually have to think! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ask you to do that. I mean, what was I thinking??? There's that word again - thinking. If you believe in the crap that you've been spewing around here, then why aren't you pushing for Trivedi in this election? I think that Saul had you pegged pretty well from the get go my friend!
- No, my wife just burnt some toast...
Once again, I believe that you are a bit off with your version of things. I believe that the correct Yoda quote is "Do. Or do not. There is no try" rather than "There is no try - only do and do not.".