There has been a lot of hand-wringing and "the sky is falling" coming from many progressives. Each poll where McCain seems to be ahead. Sarah Palin ad naseum. Karl Rove is an evil genius who cannot lose and cannot be stopped.
But before we run for cover from the falling sky, we should review the story of Chicken Little. The real story, not the Disney type makeovers and retreads written in order to protect children from the very tragic ending.
I'm not going to retell the tale. We've all heard it or read it. An acorn falls on Chicken Little's head and he thinks the sky is falling. He wants to go and tell the king. Why is not so clear. Maybe he thinks the king can do something about it. In any event, he rounds up several barnyard critters and with his urgency, and their gulliblity,is able to convince them the sky is, indeed, falling.
Enter Foxy Loxy. Yes, the fox, the enemy of all barnyard animals. He sees the confusion and plays on it. He knows the sky isn't falling, but he is able to play the unsuspecting, and due to their freak-out, unthinking chicken, duck, goose, etc. He lures them by promising to lead them to the castle. Yeah, right. He leads them to his own cave, where the inevitable occurs.
We have our own version of this story playing out with this election. Maybe it's the stress from stolen elections past. But we have to get beyond it.
Cut through the noise. An acorn on the noggin isn't a sign the world is coming to an end! A poll, a Palin. Too tough, not tough enough.
I really believe this election will be won on the ground, with the same enthusiasm and hard work that won Obama the nomination of the Democratic party to begin with. Don't waste energy in laments, chest beating, hair pulling (your own or anybody else's). Use your energy for phone calls, canvassing, voter registration, letters to the editor.
Foxy Loxy doesn't just have a cave these days; he's got himself tv and radio stations, and a whole bunch of other distractions and tactics. But we don't have to walk unwittingly behind him.
The sky is still there and brightening.