This isn't so much a diary as a request for a thoughtful discussion.
We're all familiar with the ideas expressed in the book "Crashing the Gate".
... for example, the idea that the right-wingers have built a vastly-superior infrastructure and game plan that allows them to win elections in spite of the fact that the majority of people would disagree with their policies if they understood them.
I'd like to hear a discussion of the Obama campaign in this context.
If Obama prevails in Texas I think we can unequivocally say that his campaign has succeeded in building an infrastructure and game plan that far exceeds anything the democrats have achieved in recent decades.
Beyond that, while the proof is a long way out, there appears to be a genuine possibility that Obama's brave new infrastructure has the potential to go beyond electing a single charismatic figure and to help elect a whole new breed of politician in all 50 states, and to continue to build in 2010 and 2012.
On the other hand, is this the real thing? Something's definitely going on, but do we know what is? There are still quite a few, especially on mydd.com, who, while they can no longer deny that something is indeed going on, are deeply suspicious that it's not a true example of "Crashing the Gate".
Questions for Discussion:
- Is Obama's Campaign a genuine example of "Crashing the Gate"?
- How is he doing it and what can we learn from it?
- Are there reasons to be wary of Obamamania?
- Is Obama's Campaign a genuine grassroots movement?
- What are the realistic chances of an Obama landslide with historically long coattails occuring?
- What could stop it from occuring?
- What could increase the chances of it occuring?