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I am sending this off late tonite...but here is what I have. 1) This ain't Madison. This is the supposedly "conservative" part of Northern Wisconsin...and this part of the state says, "Bring Them Home Now." 2) Local activists (like Jerremy Hill, Jeff Ames, Carol Hannah and others) took on what people said could not be done ... with the minor help of progressive elected officials (like me, Kathy McCoy (re-elected tonite!) and a few others), and did the unthinkable. They got it on some ballots, and they won. We won...all of us for their work. I think my old friend Paul Wellstone would have been proud of them, of all of us. Wow!
A Quick Count...more analysis in the next few days!
Six rural-based towns and Villages in Sawyer County Wisconsin, + the City of Hayward, WI held a ballot referendum today on the question of whether to have an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
Total vote of all:
304 - Immediate Withdrawal
247 - Not Immediate Withdrawal
A strong majority of the voters in the six rural towns and villages supported the referendum (Total: 190 Yes, 120 No), and it lost by a slim majority in the City of Hayward (114 Yes, 127 No) (In City of Hayward, 1 Ward yes, 3 wards no).
I will be based out of my coffee shop (Sleeping Bear Coffee, Stone Lake, WI 715-865-4310 tomorrow between 9/9:30 and Noon). If it goes to voice mail, leave a message and I will return the call promptly. The best way to reach me tho, is this email address!!!!
I think this demonstrates that 1) People want to have an avenue to express themselves on specific issues; and 2) this is not a Democrat or Republican issue. This County has voted for Republicans for many years. This is about this war, now. And, what people see wrong with it.
What we are seeing here is an emerging public will ... now the question is whether there can be a political will to match it? The message is there. Now, can those promoting the war read it? Hear it? Listen to it?
Maybe more people need to have an opportunity to express themselves on this exact question....or will they use the upcoming fall elections to vote on it anyways?
I hope so.
Take care!
Bruce Miller
(PS - BTW - I was re-elected to my third term tonight representing District 9, on the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors. I am so happy to know all of you...and to work with people like Jeremy, Jeff, Carol, and each of you, on important issues like this. --- Bruce) |
