Liberals have been rightly criticized for being unable to unify behind a single cause compared to conservatives, who at least until a few years ago, created a powerful coalition of often conflicting groups to create a political juggernaut.
Now, liberals have an opportunity to do something meaningful, and define Bush's legacy for generations. All it requires that we all show up, as many are planning to on January 20th 2009, but with one single message. I humbly suggest that we all show up, in our best duds (no acting out for once), and carry signs with a single message.
That message? Worst President Ever
I want to be clear, this isn't just a matter of revenge, it's a matter of making sure the conservatives don't get away with viewing their control of government through rose-tinted glasses of history as always happens after about 10 years. Defining a legacy starts immediately after a president leaves office, and often shapes the view of a presidency for decades. Could you imagine the power of a protest that defines this presidency as the worst one ever with 500k people on the national mall all united to get this single message across?
Instead of the usual liberal protest consisting of kids dressed as hippies, anarchists wearing black and combat boots, the Bush=Hitler people, free Mumia protesters, and the usual group of ANSWER people who have marginalized every single protest against the war and against this administration for the last 6 years, could you imagine we have a protest like the freedom marchers had? Instead of people dressing in a way that offends pretty much everyone they're trying to convice to change their minds, wouldn't it be wonderful if protesters instead presented themselves in a way that maximized their appeal and humanity and their commonality with other Americans? And further, instead of being all over the place with our message, we decided to make this about one single message?
I realize this is unrealistic. It's a crazy dream. Liberals never get behind a single cause for protests in those kinds of numbers. But I can just imagine the unbelievably powerful image of 500 thousand people in their best clothes carrying a signs that said the one thing we've all got our minds, instead of obsessing over the issues that may be our pet issues, but are beside the point of demonstration at hand. It would be a glorious sight. It's my dream. It may never happen, but if it did, it would be one of the most powerful moments in American history, and one that would define this president as he deserves to be judged, as the Worst President Ever