In these emotional times, many people seem to be wigging out and deciding that they can't be here anymore. Instead of just leaving quietly, they toss out a nice dose of vitriol toward a candidate, or other bloggers or even toward this site.
I think these are cries for help. Cries for attention. Cries of overwhelming despair. In today's political climate, it's not hard to feel as though nothing we do or say will do any good or cause any change.
When we had the big victory in 06, it was a time of euphoria. We actually believed that dramatic change would follow. We believed we'd be able to stop the killing and the dying in Iraq. We thought we'd have some impact on the destruction of our environment. We thought many more things that just didn't come true.
So, what's the logical conclusion? That we should give up. That we should tune out? For some, that's a viable option.
But, I'm praying they don't give up or tune out. There's a lot of work to be done.
Do we feel your pain? Yes, because it's our pain. Do we feel your loss? Yes, because it's our loss. Do we feel your disappointment? Yes, because it's our disappointment.
But how can we expect spine from our leadership if we show none ourselves? Every step we take forward, like the one we took in 06, is a learning experience.
We learned that we need a larger majority. We learned that we need to replace some of our own leaders. We learned that the corporate influence on the political landscape is even more insidious and pervasive than we ever thought. And most recently, we learned that we are a house divided on who we think should lead us.
So, what is the answer? Should we give up? Should we denounce political activism? Should we turn away? I think all of those actions would be a mistake.
I think if you're feeling despair, if you're feeling as though all your actions are useless, that your efforts are in vain, then perhaps what you really need is a short break. A mini-vacation from politics.
But the bottom line is, whatever your degree of liberalism, whatever your choice of candidate, whatever your ideas about how our politicians should be acting - the bottom line is we need you. All of you. Disgruntled, disappointed, discouraged you.
So, take a break. Get away. Do what you need to do.
But don't close the door. Don't tell us we're dead. Don't leave the progressive movement. Because it's probably only going to get worse before it gets better.
And we really do need you.
There's an awful lot to be done. And we really can do it, together.
No one said it would be easy.
But you're in good company. So take your break and come back.
We'll still be here.
With open arms.
Daily Kos is not dead.
And likely won't be for a very, very long time.
I thank the spiritual-powers-that-be for a place like this for people like us.
And thanks to Kos.