Raging grannies and single-payer options: A Fighting Bob Fest preview

When it comes to politics, those who spend all of their time on the far poles of the continuum—be it right or left—can, let's face it, be a little hard to take. Measured, rational thought is never a bad thing, so that’s why this Saturday’s Fighting Bob Fest in Baraboo has the potential to prompt thoughts of, “Wow, overdo it much?” But if you’re one of those folks who think nothing could be more progressive than a group of progressives getting together to discuss progressivism, or are simply curious, here are some of the fest’s highlights.

Pols
There should be no shortage of fun for those who like to get up close and personal with those representatives who keep the wheels of democracy, um, spinning. Local names include Rep. Tammy Baldwin, State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, Rep. Gwen Moore, Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, and Fighting Bob Fest founder Ed Garvey. Garvey’s appearance a day before the NFL gets fired up for another season is fitting, as he’s the former executive director of the National Football League Players Association. From the national scene, senators Tom Harkin and self-described socialist Bernie Sanders will also be on hand to raise hell.

Journalists
For as much as Rush Limbaugh and his flock like to bitch about a left-wing media conspiracy, progressives consistently tell tales of how their views aren’t represented enough. Either way, one of the most persistently provocative media critics working today is Robert McChesney, and he’ll be joined on the schedule by Blackwater expert Jeremy Scahill and longtime Capital Times provocateur (and one of the many important folks who make the downtown Ancora Coffee their office) John Nichols. Also noteworthy are speaking gigs by national radio commentator Jim Hightower, and filmmaker Greg Palast (Big Easy To Big Empty: The Untold Story Of The Drowning Of New Orleans).

Breakout sessions
In the world of progressivism, listening and nodding enthusiastically only goes so far. There’s no way a gathering like this would be complete without the opportunity for attendees to interact and voice their own views in a series of “breakout sessions.” The talkback topics range from the expected, like “Healthcare Debate Comes To Fighting Bob Fest” and “We Need Journalism To Have Democracy,” to the, well, expected: “Making People Matter More Than Money In Politics” and “Dancing, Painting, And Eating Our Way To Progressive Change.”

Music
It’s somewhat incomprehensible that any political group (even the right) would want to claim Lee Greenwood and his ilk, but you have to be a special kind of committed to sit through a set from The Raging Grannies. Their musical stylings consist of repurposing songs like “Beer Barrel Polka” with progressive lyrics. A sample: “Follow the money to see why this war was long-planned / follow the money and then we will all understand / follow the money it leads to The White House front door! / They're bombing the Iraqis and Afghans / so Halliburton can get more.”