Isthmus certainly has been in an enviable position from the standpoint of newsgathering in these days of the marathon protest at the state Capitol. Our offices are just off the Square; maybe 100 yards from the Capitol dome on the King Street side. Most of the edit staff has spent time among the protesting crowd, their multiple reports filling TheDailyPage.com, our website, throughout the day.
Traffic to TheDailyPage has exploded - two to three times its normal, considerable level - and it's coming from nearly every region of the world. There clearly is widespread interest in the demonstrations, and though the Wisconsin protests are not dealing with quite the elemental issues as the popular uprisings in the Middle East, they have been conflated by most observers as similar - popular reactions to authoritarian rule.
So once again this week our content is heavily influenced by the actions across the street. We have excerpts of reports from our online coverage during the week. News editor Bill Lueders pens our cover story this issue, giving his opinion of Gov. Scott Walker's actions and their long-term consequences. Meanwhile, conservative columnist David Blaska succumbs to the governor's disingenuous logic in Opinion.
Where we go from here is anyone's guess. There certainly has been a rupture of trust between the state of Wisconsin and a good portion of its citizens. Has Walker alienated enough people to make the prospect of a recall a reality? Will memories remain fresh and outrage linger until the next statewide elections? Are we going to see any kind of accommodation of the protesters to at least allow for an uneasy truce and a return to some business as usual?
I'll keep an eye peeled out my window and see just what kind of history will be written in the next week. It's not over yet, I don't think.
