Do not let the right-wing and main stream media define the meaning of this election. Bush was a standing war president. And though it seemed obvious to us that this man is not up for the job, that he is corrupt, and that he’d rather divide the nation during this period of national emergency so as to win instead of uniting us, the (slim) majority of Americans who voted, it seems, would rather not “change horses mid-stream” during this emergency. That a charismatic president was this close to defeat, in spite of the war and acts of terror, is nothing to scoff at. We almost won. And the pro-democracy, pro-social order, pro-everyday person side has gotten stronger. The aim of the extreme right in the next few days/weeks/months/years will be to dismantle this new energy with psychological defeatism. Do not fall for it. What we did was impressive.
We have two years until the next congressional elections where all 435 house members and 1/3 of the senate come up for re-election. If there is one thing that I learned from my last five days of volunteer work, the next election will not be won by waiting until the last five days. We need to start working NOW.
I will maintain my involvement with Dean’s Democracy for
Lastly, I must reiterate, for me this election was not the end but the beginning. I’ve NEVER seen the level of involvement in the political process and I’ve never had so much fun as I have the last five days. I ask that you too join me in preparing for 2006.
In parting, this morning I was reminded of one of my favorite Christmas specials, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. What I was reminded of was the scene near the end after the Grinch had stolen all the toys, the food, and the trees of the who’s. The scene when, despite all the loss, all the who’s come out and sing because they did not lose what was really important. We must remember our success yesterday and we need to remember to sing today.
Welcome Christmas (Reprise)
Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome Christmas,
Come this way!
Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome Christmas,
Christmas Day.
Welcome, Welcome
Fah who rah-moose
Welcome, Welcome
Dah who dah-moose
Christmas day is in our grasp
So long as we have hands to clasp
Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome Christmas
Bring your cheer
Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome all Who's
Far and near
Welcome Christmas, fah who rah-moose
Welcome Christmas, dah who dah-moose
Christmas day will always be
Just so long as we have we
Fah who for-aze
Dah who dor-aze
Welcome Christmas
Bring your light
(Bridge (about 65 sec))
Welcome Christmas
Fah who rah-moose!
Welcome Christmas
Dah who dah-moose!
Welcome Christmas
While we stand
Heart to heart
And hand in hand
Fah who for-aze
Dah who dor-aze
Welcome welcome
Christmas
Christmas
Day
4 comments:
Good Colorado News!
Dems headed for first [State House] majority since 1976
Fah who for aze?
BTW, the Jewish ear heard nothing about Judaeo-Christian after the election. It's all Christian now. And Muslim? nope. None of them got included in this blessed victory.
I have through a friend a great disappointment: his friend, of many many years and an retire IBM fellow, living in Texas, has gone born again and sees a holy war between Christians and Islam.
Can't call these guys skin heads: they have way too much money, hair and years.
Bush scared the hell out of a lot of people. If you live and work in a big city, you can get pretty twitchy. And he played to Bush invited only crowds.
And they won. And a big point: almost all of the votes for Bush were for Bush. One has to know that many of the Kerry votes were against Bush.
"And a big point: almost all of the votes for Bush were for Bush. One has to know that many of the Kerry votes were against Bush."
At first blush I was going to commend you on this point and agree, and it is true to some degree and we should always remember it, but before the Rove slander ad (Swiftboats) Kerry had a 5 to 8 point lead in the polls. So people WERE looking for an alternative.
Remember that this election was NOT about Christian values, the Republican convention did not say a word about that, it was all "compassionate conservatism". They, once again, did not win on their beliefs but on slander of the other side and hiding their intentions. Bush is more charismatic than Kerry, much more, yet as a sitting president, only got 3% more votes. The United Patriots (to coin a phrase… can you think of a better one? Please! Dirk?) (Democrats and Greens and patriotic unaffiliateds) did an exceptional job this year and we need to commend ourselves and NOT GET DOWN. If the Democrats want to win next time let’s help them select a candidate with a more magnetic personality (it sucks but its true, an academic cannot win, at least not now.) But wow! Think about it. We almost elected a stiff from Massachusetts, unbelievable! That’s how much Americans know W sucks!
We know some folks that I would describe as moderate, attend church frequently, and explained to their daughter that they voted for Bush because "John Kerry doesn't believe in Jesus". Good luck persuading them!
The Democrats can't afford to waste any more time on the segment of the population that views government as a national church and with people who see their elected officials as religious and moral leaders. They may seem moderate, but they're not. Even if the Right beats these folks to the point that they're homeless, starving, and bleeding in the streets, they will still vote as their church tells them to. How can the anyone compete with Jesus? These are the people that voted "For Bush" and the Democrats don't stand a chance with them. Write them off.
It's all about smear. Yes, the Democrats need to continute to mobilize more non-voters (40% didn't vote even in this election), but I don't think we'll ever win by motivating people with actual issues and a clean campaign. The Democrats need their own Karl Rove. "Dirty tricks" are now the standard for elections, so forget having a candidate that is immune to smear and somehow brings us all together. George Bush has taught us that you don't need a good candidate to win an election.
Maybe more people voted "Against Kerry" than we realize. The Republicans do a fantastic job with the negative stuff and know just how to scare people. They did it better than we did and they won.
In fact, I think for this election the ends would have justified the means and Bush should have been smeared ten times worse than he was. Don't forget that Bush was an easy target. If the Republicans come up with a candidate that doesn't come across as a complete fool, then we're really screwed.
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