Two Weeks...
A political lifetime.
What were you thinking two weeks ago?
Me? I was thinking McCain would win.
Just over two weeks ago McCain was ahead in the polls, the media were falling over themselves over "Sarah Barracuda" and the RNC, the 9/11 anniversary had just occurred, "Black Monday" hadn't occurred, McCain hadn't made the biggest verbal gaffe of the campaign ("fundamentals of the economy are strong...") and Daily Kos posters were ready to commit hari-kari en masse.... including me. Around mid-September I was grief-stricken, convinced that McCain would win.
Now, I'm not.
But neither am I relaxed.
This is a cautionary diary for those who think this thing is in the bag, for those who believe Obama is already President-Elect, for those who think we can rest on our laurels or for those who are already breaking out the champagne. Yes, we have reason to breathe easier. Yes, we can be cautiously optimistic. But we shouldn't be delusional. These slimey bastards will break out every dirty "October surprise" they can to reset the table. We know McCain. We know his penchant for stunts and gimmicks and cynical gambits. We should not underestimate him or his thirst for the power that was denied him 8 years ago. If we thought Hillary was tough in the primaries... well, we aint seen anything yet.
We got them down, yes. But the gruesome-twosome of McCain and Palin are not down for the count. There is something dark waiting beyond the horizon and we should be fully prepared for it. And when it happens, just as we should not be too gleeful now, nor should we be ready to give in if once again the tables turn.
Remember... two weeks. It's a political lifetime. And we've got four weeks left.
Don't break out the champagne until November 5th, because if we take it prematurely, then all we'll have left will be the scotch.