Having gone through the five stages of grief in the last 48 hours since election night, I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. I now remember why I have always supported Democrats throughout my entire voting life (which was born when I voted for a little known senate candidate by the name of Barack Obama). Now more than ever, I realize that my party is the only party with ideas and the ability to improve the lives of citizens in the country we love so much. 2010 is over; up next: 2012.
The way I look at it, we left-wingers have two options: we can either spend the next few months pointing fingers and playing the blame game, or we can focus on the next election cycle. Hopefully, it will be the latter. Yes, there are many directions to point fingers. We all have to accept some of the blame for Tuesday's result. Somewhere between the historic election of Barack Obama and the mid-term election last night, we forgot who our true enemies are. We spent more time fighting one another than we did fighting the conservatives who were the real enemies of change. The White House didn't mobilize those who helped lead President Obama to victory 2 short years ago. They also spent more time reaching out to foes than they did to their allies. Congressional Democrats (with a few notable exceptions) chose to take key votes based on politics rather than principle. The senate is a whole other story, that maybe one day I will write my dissertation on. Despite all of this, I find myself energized and looking forward to 2012. This is why:
if the reelection victory of a congresswomen who instructs her supporters to slit their wrists, accuses the president of the U.S.A of creating reeducation camps, and attacks the president for his relationship with Rev. Wright and sees nothing wrong with posing with birther queen Taitz, doesn't inspire you to use all the resources available to you to make sure last night was just a fluke, nothing will.
If the effect the Citizen's United Decision had on this week's resultsdoesn't make you want to strap on a sandwich board and protest everyday on Capitol Hill from today until the next election cycle, maybe you need to be sent to a reeducation camp.
If the victory of a candidate who disagrees with the Civil Rights Act, doesn't fire you up, maybe you are in the wrong party.
If the victory of a man who lies about having higher security clearance than the president of the United States, doesn't inspire you to start knocking on doors today, it might be time to reconsider your political allegiance.
If the election loss of a classy congressmen who voted based not on politics, but on what he knows to be right, doesn't make you mad enough to ensure the tough votes he took would not be in vain, nothing will.
If the election loss of of a brave soldier who put his life on the line for this country in uniform, and fought in congress with all that he had at his disposal to allow gay and lesbian patriots to serve openly in our armed forces, doesn't fire you up, might be time to check your pulse you might be dead inside.
If losing the most progressive, principled, politicianin a lifetime doesn't make you angry enough to destroy those forces who successfully brought down this great man, then you should stop reading and visit Redstate.
All snarkiness aside, I hope that we can move forward and make sure we continue to fight for what we voted for in 2008. We have an obligation to fight for all the allies we lost in the election this past week. They fought for us, so it is time to return the favor. We owe it to them and more importantly we owe it to our country. We have to be in this for the long haul, because change is not easy. It is hard, there will always be stumbling blocks along the way, but as long as we keep on fighting we will achieve our goals. Also, victory is always sweeter when you come from behind! Let's get started!
For those who have forgotten, this was a concession speech (and we all know this story ended):
Lastly, if the remote possibility of this nutcase serving as the president of the United States of America doesn't keep you awake at night, well I have nothing to say to you!