If the GOP acted like we are acting, it would be history by now.
1992 - GOP failed to re-elect Bush Sr.
1996 - GOP failed to unseat Clinton
1998 - GOP failed to remove Clinton
We are doing exactly what Neocons want: internalizing and accepting the death of the DNC" this is a FALSE history the Repugs are trying to write about us. They are telling everyone we suffered a "massive" defeat and we are enabling them.
What kind of "massive defeat" is this, if Kerry only got 2% less votes than Bush ? This was not a Mondale race!!
We all walk around dazed and confused fighting against each other, trying to shoot the ones "who made Dems lose" and rethinking our whole reason to be DNC, like we were beaten senseless!
Look at us: We welcome all the nay sayers, we believe all the half-a$$ed analysis that it was "values" , gays, Kerry's face, Edwards tie etc... And we keep on believing it after each theory is thoroughly debunked. We listen to any 1-800-GOP-Psychic Network wacko who tells us how we came to our misery. What freaking misery ?!?!
Wake up people!!!! You are letting the GOP do to us and US something even worse that 4 years of Bush could do
Never give a receipt for failure
After 6 consecutive years of failure, did they announce the death of the conservative movement ? Did they expel Henry Hyde in disgrace ?
Did the GOPpies covered their head with ashes and WELCOMED a bunch of criers to mourn it's death? Did the GOP decide to pack out and leave or to start being democrat ?
NOPE, they came back fighting harder than ever! They went even MORE radical on their positions.
Our defeat was NOT shameful
It feels like it, because we wanted so much to win. But it was not a "Mondale" race. Kerry got 49% of the vote dammit!!!
Incumbents always have the advantage
Add their virtual lockdown on the media, rah-rah patriotism and fear mongering and you see we were severely handicapped.
And we still got 49% of the votes. And Barbara Boxer, Obama kicked butt!
Catastrophic Success
Of course Bushies will yell "victory". Bushies call any f*ckup a victory! How long have they been saying "Mission Accomplished", "catastrophic success" and the like about their quagmire in Iraq ? Have they ever come close to admitting defeat anywhere ?
We are not losers. We lost but ONE battle
Wake up! We had the White House, fair and square, twice in the last 12 years. They tried to impeach Clinton and LOST. We got majority JUST 4 YEARS AGO
And don't forget: All this mourning and soul searching can be EXTREMELY FUTILE and in vain, if we lost not on the voters hearts, but on the dark alleys of vote fraud...
Poisoning the voter's image of Dems
All this "massive defeat" talk is poisoning our own self image of the DNC AND poisoning the voters perception of our party. We are meekly accepting the "massive loser" tag and the "victory of Religion over 20th century culture" and whatever else the neopundits throw our way, like it was true!!
Pretty soon it WILL be true, because as we have just learned, to undo a perception in the mind of voters is hard work. It CAN NOT be accomplished if we ourselves believe "the enemy"!
Update [2004-12-12 1:4:7 by lawnorder]: Peaceful Resistance:
Believing that *the* paper clip was invented in Norway, the Norwegian people wore paper clips in their lapels during WW II to denote solidarity and unity ("we are bound together") in opposing fascism .. "paper clip" is literally translated from the Norwegian as "binder", and we should now all be bound together by the common goal of restoring our nation to sanity.
There is now a growing underground movement to show our own patriotism and solidarity in the desire to take this country back from the fringe right wing
By wearing a paper clip on your lapel, collar, several clips linked as a bracelet, or in any other creative way you can think of you are letting other people know that we are all "linked" in this common cause.
http://www.timbuk3.com/clip.htm
Also from Tim: How to fight back
1) Be PROUD: First, hold your head high.
2) Be LOUD!: Write your congressman
3) Let your money talk: Stop spending and supporting an economy that is turning into a war machine and not much else. This is only prudent, as you may need it soon
4) Get off the defensive: "Liberal" is NOT a dirty word.. stop apologizing. Let THEM explain which democrats have "belittled their values" or "looked down their nose" at them. THEY are the ones in power, now, and THEY are belittling US.