The key to long term success is not thinking that Wisconsin was a failure

[CreekDog]

What a lot of us would like to do is build a Democratic Party based on an unashamed devotion to principles and dogged determination to see them realized.

Winning 3 out of 6 seats last night would've been nice.

But winning 2 last night and winning more statewide next year because Wisconsin voters now know what a lot of Democrats are willing to stand for, to be strong for, to be unapologetic for, is the real measure of success.

But that takes longer, it takes more courage and it takes devotion to principles and not just electoral success. The irony is that standing for something may lose you an election now, but it will win you a decades' worth down the road --and the mandate to do great things with the results.

Congratulations Wisconsin Democrats.

[elocs]

1. Thank you. This was actually a victory for us in this battle, just not the war.

This is going to be a marathon, not a sprint, and it will be a battle until the end.

It is foolish to be dismissive of our efforts (as some have been) here just because we did not win the 3 Republican seats from the incumbents that we needed to take control of the Senate.

[SharonAnn]

2. Winning 2 seats in Republican districts is awesome! And throwing out incumbents? Priceless

Wouldn't this be considered batting over 300?

Just because we would've like more and thought we could get them, doesn't diminish the tremendous victory of getting two of them.

Think of it. In any other year, to beat two Republicans in Republican districts would be considered a great success!

[Roy Ellefson]

3. baffled

Being from Wisconsin, I'm baffled by anyone who thinks the recall elections were a failure. I'm amazed at how few people really understand what was going on Tuesday. As your post points out these were not statewide elections==these were contests where the Republican incumbents elected during a big Democratic year (2008) were forced to defend their seats--TWO REPUBLICANS LOST THEIR SEATS. The recall elections were always an uphill battle--organizing to get enough signatures from each district, getting the volunteers to gather the signatures, finding good candidates and having to face massive amounts of Citizens United money. The Republicans just lost 2 seats in the Senate...they no longer have a consistently working majority this is not a pyrrhic victory this is a real victory. THE REPUBLICANS JUST LOST 2 SEATS IN THE SENATE AND NO LONGER HOLD A SOLID MAJORITY...that's a freaking victory.

[Roy Ellefson]

4. baffled

dupe

[Roy Ellefson]

5. baffled

Being from Wisconsin, I'm baffled by anyone who thinks the recall elections were a failure. I'm amazed at how few people really understand what was going on Tuesday. As your post points out these were not statewide elections==these were contests where the Republican incumbents elected during a big Democratic year (2008) were forced to defend their seats--TWO REPUBLICANS LOST THEIR SEATS. The recall elections were always an uphill battle--organizing to get enough signatures from each district, getting the volunteers to gather the signatures, finding good candidates and having to face massive amounts of Citizens United money. The Republicans just lost 2 seats in the Senate...they no longer have a consistently working majority this is not a pyrrhic victory this is a real victory. THE REPUBLICANS JUST LOST 2 SEATS IN THE SENATE AND NO LONGER HOLD A SOLID MAJORITY...that's a freaking victory.