Fighting Bob Fests I-VIII have been graced with many heroes. The late Senator Paul Simon, RFK, Jr., Russ Feingold, Amy Goodman, Phil Donahue, Cindy Sheehan, Doris "Granny D" Haddock, Members of Congress: Gwen Moore, Tom Harkin, Bernie Sanders, Tammy Baldwin, John Conyers, and David Obey; Green Party presidential candidates Cynthia McKinney and David Cobb, Ralph Nader, Congressman and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich; and, what would a Wisconsin Chautauqua be without Stan Gruszynski, John Nichols, Bob McChesney, Mike McCabe and the nation’s favorite populist, Jim Hightower?

1,200 attended our first Fest; year two saw 2,500, year three over 4,000, and so on. In 2008 around 10,000 jammed the fairgrounds. People are inspired by great speakers and from the knowledge that, as they look around, they are not alone in fighting the good fight. While some say we preach to the choir, we say the choir needs inspiration as well. And we have fun!

My role? I keep the program rolling on time. So, come, enjoy, participate, raise hell, and take words into action. See you in Baraboo.

Ed Garvey
Editor and Publisher of FightingBob.com

Aug 16, 2010
Jesse Jackson and Dave Obey add even more fight to Fighting Bob Fest

Reverend Jesse Jackson has been fighting for justice and equality for 50 years and Congressman Dave Obey has been fighting with conservatives and centrists in Congress for almost as long. On Saturday, September 11, they will both bring the fight to the Sauk County Fairgrounds in Baraboo as Fighting Bob Fest keynote speakers.

Obey frequently cites Fighting Bob La Follette in his speeches and writings and says the “bedrock belief of the Wisconsin La Follette Progress tradition” that “every American who works hard should be able to fully share in the bounty of America” is the foundation for his work as an elected official.

When Obey was elected to the House of Representatives in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District in 1969, after three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, he was the youngest member of Congress. When Obey announced his retirement this year, he was the longest-serving member of Congress in Wisconsin's history and the third-longest serving current member of the House. Obey is the only Democrat in the House to have served on the Budget Committee, the Joint Economic Committee and the Committee on Appropriations.

Jackson is the founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and is one of the nation’s foremost civil rights, religious and political figures. Throughout the past 50 years Jackson has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for civil rights, peace, equality, and economic and social justice the nation has undertaken.

Jackson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000, the nation's highest civilian honor. He has been called the "Conscience of the Nation" and "the Great Unifier.” He is said to have walked more picket lines and spoken at more labor rallies than any other national leader.

Jackson’s 1984 and 1988 campaigns for President of the United States registered more than 3 million new voters and garnered almost 11 million votes.

Award-winning investigative journalist Greg Palast announced that he will be back for his third Fighting Bob Fest on September 10 and 11. Palast will speak at the September 11 Fighting Bob Fest at the Sauk County Fairgrounds in Baraboo and the September 10 Bob Fest Kick-off at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison. Palast is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Armed Madhouse and The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, and he is a Nation Institute/Puffin Foundation writing fellow for investigative reporting. Palast’s investigative reports can regularly be seen on BBC Television Newsnight.

Thom Hartmann will be appearing at his first Fighting Bob Fest on September 11, and, like Palast, will complete the doubleheader by speaking at the Kick-off event on September 10. Hartmann is a four-time Project Censored Award winner and is the author of more than 20 books. The Thom Hartmann Program, his syndicated daily broadcast show, is now carried on more than 100 radio and television stations. Talker's Magazine has rated it the top progressive radio show in America.

Fighting Bob Fest veterans Jim Hightower and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin have announced that they will speak at Fighting Bob Fest IX on September 11.

Baldwin has represented Wisconsin’s Second District since 1999. She is the first woman from Wisconsin, the first out lesbian, and the first openly-gay non-incumbent elected to Congress. Throughout her career in politics at the local, state and national level, Baldwin has demonstrated a commitment to formulating better policies health care reform, energy independence, climate change, civil rights, and executive accountability.

Hightower has spoken at every Fighting Bob Fest but one and is the New York Times best-selling author of seven books. His most recent book, Swim Against the Current, focused on Fighting Bob Fest and other successful grassroots efforts Hightower has been involved in.

Fighting Bob Fest is an annual Chautauqua featuring progressive speakers, networking opportunities, and entertainment. Fighting Bob Fest carries on the tradition of Robert “Fighting Bob” La Follette by providing a forum for progressive ideas on issues facing Wisconsin and the nation.

Freedom and justice are defended through education, and the exchange of ideas promotes solidarity among progressives. To this end, Fighting Bob Fest strives to provide citizens with a forum for democratic participation where frustrations with current policies can be constructively molded into calls to action.