Here’s something you never hear from conservatives: doubt. And it comes along with a realization that the awakened mass movement that started in Wisconsin is more organized, more energized and more ready to win.

“It’s clear that Democrats and liberal organizations are engaging in an attempt to make recall more than a mere hypothetical possibility for some Wisconsin Republicans,” said Liz Mair, Vice President of Hynes Communications and former RNC Online Communications Director, who has worked closely with officials on the ground in Wisconsin. “Even though Governor Walker acted to end the impasse, Republicans and conservatives should not be acting like this is done and dusted.”

A conservative activist working inside the state on recall efforts was even more explicitly distraught. The Wisconsin Republican Party, the operative said, was not lending resources to the recall campaign groups had launched against Democratic Senators, in turn causing those groups to narrow their target list down from eight lawmakers to just three.

“It would be nice if the Republican Party, operatives, etc, would step in with a little money,” said the activist, who asked to remain nameless lest he draw the GOP even further away from the recall effort. “But they are talking about doing radio and I’m not sure that gets you signatures.”

“Sure, the first battle was won with the passing of the bill,” the activist added, “but the war is not won. If they come in and recall some of those state senators and none of the Democrats get knocked out, that’s not good for the republicans at all…it is a bit of a mystery to me. You would think they would want to make sure all these [recall] efforts are successful.”

Indeed, that first battle isn’t even secured. The Dane County DA has filed a complaint in circuit court alleging that the conference committee used to pass the anti-union bill violated open meetings laws. While that suit “does not address the merits or the wisdom of the legislation,” according to the DA, there are other lawsuits working through the system that do, and an injunction could well appear before the March 25 publication date.

In other words, the mass movement is working on a number of fronts – in the courts, in the streets, and with the ballot petitions. This is a state-based progressive movement that has had no need for national Democrats or their poll-watching, continuously compromised manner. They are using principle rather than an individual politician as a rallying cry, and they believe they can build the movement into a political force. And they have buy-in from the state Democratic Party, with a unanimity between the politicians and the grassroots.

Meanwhile, the conservative recall effort comes out of Utah, isn’t familiar with the ground, doesn’t have institutional support, and has scaled back their aims down to three Senators from eight. The conservative from Utah claimed 50% support toward his goals in “the districts we’re targeting,” which again are fewer than on the Democratic side, but there’s no reason to actually believe that, given the disarray.

So there’s a discrepancy here. And the movement has spread. Last night in Washington, progressives occupied the lobby of the building where Wisconsin Republicans were benefiting from a corporate-backed fundraiser. Other rallies have taken place across the country, from Michigan to Florida, from California to Ohio, from Tennessee to Indiana, and beyond.

My favorite detail related to this? After Wisconsin Republicans finished their vote last week, they commandeered a bus – a public bus – to get out of the area. Four individuals filed a resolution “Requesting the Metro Manager seek full reimbursement for the cost of providing special service to the State of Wisconsin and that the Metro Manager no longer provide services shuttling State of Wisconsin employees and officials other than members of the Capitol or University Police Department.” Brilliant. You cannot stop the creativity and organization of this new movement.