Progressives party it up in Wisconsin, celebrating "old-fashioned" liberalism

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: Progressives party it up in Wisconsin
Andy Manis / For The Times
By P.J. Huffstutter, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 11, 2007
Off the usual campaign trail, a fair draws more people across the political spectrum to celebrate, or just to see, some old-fashioned liberalism.


Members of the Raging Grannies group entertain attendees of the Fighting Bob Fest in Baraboo, Wis. The fair is named after Robert La Follette, who helped found the state’s progressive movement.

BARABOO, Wis. — As Russell Beecher, a lifelong Republican, wandered through the political picnic at the Sauk County Fairgrounds this weekend, he was reeling from the celebration of all things liberal. Inside the fair's pole barn, hawkers sold hundreds of neon-orange "Impeach Bush!" T-shirts and "Say No to War!" buttons. Grandmothers in floppy flower-print hats gabbed about universal healthcare coverage. Aging hippies, gathering petition signatures to pull troops from Iraq, stood side by side with volunteers for presidential candidates registering voters and handing out bumper stickers....The fair, known as the Fighting Bob Fest, is an annual celebration of old-fashioned liberalism -- the really, really old-fashioned kind.

Each year in this rural community of about 10,700, farmers, city dwellers and political junkies from across the Midwest gather to honor Robert "Fighting Bob" La Follette -- a firebrand who, nearly a century ago, fought against railroad trusts, the U.S. entering World War I and the League of Nations. Once a Republican governor and senator, he grew so disdainful of the party system that he helped found the state's progressive movement. He was also an inspiration to a group of modern progressives looking to celebrate liberalism. In 2002, it organized a traditional "chautauqua," or family reunion, here in south-central Wisconsin. It was like the ones La Follette used to get his message across in the early 1900s.

That first year, nearly 1,000 people showed up to drink beer, eat organic-beef bratwursts and rail against a White House administration that was leading the country to war in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Since then, the beer and the rhetoric continue to flow, and the crowds have steadily grown for an event that's part political rally, part Midwestern jamboree....This year, the festival drew more than 7,000 curious Democrats and Republicans, eager Libertarian and Green Party voters, and some who are politically homeless.

In the immediate aftermath of this year's fest, attendees have flooded organizers with e-mails and phone calls, searching for ways to bolster the region's progressive voting bloc. "It shows that this is not a historical event, but a movement of the moment," said John Nichols, an associate editor of the Capital Times, a progressive newspaper that co-sponsors the event. "To many voters, the political calculations of both parties are offensive to the spirit of Bob La Follette." Ed Garvey, one of the event's founders, said Monday that there were discussions about expanding the festival next year and holding similar events in Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois....

***

"My apologies to the estate of John Denver in advance," Wisconsin-based singer Peter Leidy said. Standing on a tiny platform, encircled by dozens of oversized tires from a recent tractor pull, Leidy took a deep breath and launched the crowd into a few rousing rounds of "Take Me Home, Karl Rove: As Sung By President George W. Bush."

"Almost heaven, Crawford Texas/Going back there, home to where my ranch is/Life is good there, better than D.C./People pointing fingers, coming after me."...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-progressives11sep11,0,7088736,full.story

[Totally Committed]

1. Let's hear it for old-fashioned, unabashed LIBERALISM!!!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

P.S. The Raging Grannies Rock!

[xchrom]

2. hey Beltway!!! -- The People are not afraid to be Liberals!!!

[zulchzulu]

3. I was there...and it was a hoot!

Fighting Bob fest should be a national event.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Wow, zulchzulu! I'm glad the event got this press. LAT has huge circulation. nt

[tanglefoot]

5. I've been there in the past but couldn't make it this year

And you're right - it should be a national event. It gets more than 7 times the attendees than either political party gets at their state convention.

See you there next year!

[ClassWarrior]

8. Wish we coulda hooked up. Next time I'll have to wear something DU.

:hi:

NGU.

[4_TN_TITANS]

6. There are places similar in TN

believe it or not. Two rural counties that border this one is full of democrats. A roadkilled possum has more electability there than a Republican.

[Adelante]

7. This so makes me smile

:D

[dflprincess]

9. Oh I hope they expand this to Minnesota

Liberals in the much talked about "heartland" - who'd a thunk it? (besides those of us who live here and know the history of progressive politics in the midwest states).

[Vidar]

10. Bob LaFolette would be proud. Way to go, grannies!