I understand that some of you are angry at Sarah Palin.
I understand that some of you are worried about William Ayers.
I understand that some of you think it is time for us to follow McCain, Palin, and their surrogates down into the mud, and do battle there.
I understand. I do. But you're wrong.
Let me explain. I know you think you're right. I know you think you know better than Obama, Axelrod and Plouffe. I'm just here to tell you that you don't.
It's nothing personal. I'm sure you're a very smart person. I'm sure you are told this quite frequently. Maybe friends sometimes tell you that you should get into politics as a career. And maybe someday you should.
But not now.
|| To the commenter who suggested taking a videocamera to a Palin rally and baiting her supporters by calling Obama a "nigger": don't. Please stay home and bake cookies, or play Wii. You could even do both. I support your Wii playing, cookie-baking ass with no reservations, but what I do not support is adding to the hatred that's out there in the air. That's what Republicans do.
|| To the diarist who used Counterpunch.org (of Swiftboat Veterans' fame) to insinuate that McCain's cancer is metastasizing: shhhh. And next time you read something on Rense, and decide that the Daily Kos community needs to know about how the Time Monks have predicted an October Surprise in the form of a false flag attack? Yeah, you might want to reconsider passing that one along, too.
|| To the Kossack who suggested that people retaliate against filthy attacks by stealing and defacing McCain-Palin yard signs: get a grip.
How do you think we manage to find ourselves 10 points up in the national polls? How do you think we find ourselves kicking ass in Virginia? Why do you think Iowa and New Hampshire voters have stampeded out of the McCain camp and into Obama's? Why do you think a 100-year capital markets crisis overwhelmingly favors Barack Obama?
I will give you a hint: it's not because he listened to your hysterical rantings to go negative in the wake of the RNC.
We have the wind at our backs for three reasons:
(1) Barack Obama had the unwavering discipline to build precisely the brand he said he was going to build all along -- that of a politician who can win and win big without resorting to smear tactics and dirty tricks;
(2) When the blogs and even Democratic party leaders were casting doubt on his strategy, he kept his cool, stuck to the gameplan, and forced John McCain to play his game; and
(3) His key lieutenants know well enough to trust him, and to emulate him.
Please read #3 again.
You will never, ever, ever see David Axelrod break ranks with Obama and set his hair on fire.
You will never, ever, ever see an Obama spokesperson rant on television a la Tucker Bounds, or Steve Schmidt, or (sorry) James Carville.
Why? Because to do so would be to undermine the confidence that their candidate has worked so hard to create. Great leaders assemble great teams who can project grace under pressure.
Do you want to be (a) a part of that team, or (b) a maverick?
If you answered (a), there are five things you need to do. Just five. And none of them require you to turn vigilante, or learn photoshop, or go to bed at night with the sticky stench of Republican all over your body.
- Phonebank. You can do it straight from the website.
- Canvas. If you live in a "safe" area, then write letters to the editors of swing state newspapers.
- Donate. Whatever your family can afford. Every tiny bit helps.
- Vote. Early
and often.
- Be like Barack. Brush the bullshit off your shoulder, and soldier on. Be cool. Look like you know something nobody else knows. Don't break your stride. And don't do hysterical stupid shit. That's their job.
And I promise you, if you paint by these numbers, Obama's gonna take care of the rest.