Why Democrats lost

[HereSince1628]

19. One thing that can't be overlooked in politics it's always blame the other guys

The sentiment is in WI just like everywhere else.

What's different is that the R/teahadists channel it. The simple meme is that the problem is 'I'm overtaxed and you give my money to lazy people'. The only open seat in WI went solidly for a campaign based on that meme.

Here, the dems are still trying to sidle up to their natural enemy people who want to promote "me" over "us". Pretty obviously the oligarchs and their corporations, but also the racists who blame lazy minorities.

And Mary Burke was seen as a 3rd way corporatist type who wouldn't be attacking oligarchic over-reach or corporate manipulation of government. She never really overcame being seen as another someone who wasn't "as bad as". One of her last acts as school board member prior to the election was voting to support a raise in teacher pay, but against the budget that would raise taxes to make that raise possible. She represented a party distinction without a difference.

The "not as bad as" approach had failed here at least twice in 4 years and now a 6th time. And it is damn well plain that twice WI dems REALLY knew how bad Walker is.

In politics, winning campaigns paint the opponent as someone unworthy of voter support, a person linked to ideas deserving the blame, you can coopt an idea or two, but you really can't mount campaign after campaign where candidates try to emulate the thing that they should be blaming.