We opened up a can of WhupAss!

We warned them.

We knew how powerful we, the netroots, had become.

We said, "Don't make us open this!"

But did they listen?  Of course not.

So we had only one choice...

...we opened up that sucker and let 'em have it!

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And you know what I just realized?  I'm not done gloating.

It's Sunday.  A day of rest.  Instead of all the meta and talk of 2008, why don't we allow ourselves a moment to go back and relive our dramatic victory of just three months ago (because we earned it)...

The anticipation

Close your eyes for a minute and think back to the day before the election.  I don't know about you, but I was worried.  Don't get me wrong, I was proud of what we had done and was confident about our chances of winning.  But dang it if after 2000, 2002, and 2004, I wasn't still nervous as heck.  I knew this was our big chance, and our last chance to reject President Bush and all he stood for.  

If we didn't take advantage of our momentum and deliver a convincing blow, we'd wake up the next morning to another day-after-the-election of Republicans spinning a post-election narrative of how they snatched victory away from us (with so-called "moral values voters" or some other such nonsense).  And I just couldn't bear to hear it.  Not again.  Not this time.

Election night

On the evening of November 7th, I sat at my computer and watched the results come in with you all here at dkos.  Early on, it was clear that things were already going well for us.  We turned House districts from red to blue across the country, sweeping gradually from East to West.

It soon became clear that we had won the House, and a joyful cry went up across dkos and across the nation!

And we kept waiting and watching.

Here in California, two incredible victories were announced:

A true netroots hero, Jerry McNerney, had defeated the despicable Richard Pombo!

And Debra Bowen had won, to become the California Secretary of State!

Late in the night, one of the most exciting moments of the whole night - Jon Tester was declared the new Senator from the great state of Montana.  That one was truly sweet, especially knowing that he will represent the progressive movement for a long time to come.

The days after

When I woke up on Wednesday, it felt like a weight had been removed from my shoulders.  My faith in America and in this beautiful experiment called democracy had been redeemed.  The voters sent a clear and forceful message to the corrupt, deceitful, and divisive Republican Party.

Bush was rejected.  Period.  The voters had finally had enough.  The reckless war, the lies, the heartless response to a national crisis.

Then, on Thursday, the most beautiful headline in the New York Times.

"DEMOCRATS TAKE SENATE: Concession in Virginia Race Tips Balance."

Now we had Senator Jim Webb, and we had the Senate!

Even the most optimistic among us had been unsure of whether we would be able to win both chambers of Congress.  Yet here we were.  We had done it!

Just to recap, here's what we accomplished in '06...

Key Points of the Democratic Party's Historic Victory in 2006

1.  Won the House by winning 30 congressional races.

2.  Won the Senate by winning 6 Senate races.

3.  Won 6 governorships across the country.

4.  Completely shut out the Republicans, who gained zero seats (Note: this is the first time such a feat has occured).

5.  Gained as big a majority in the House as the Republicans ever had at any point in the last twelve years.

 
Not to mention, we elected the first female Speaker of the House in history.  Not too shabby, eh?

That is an incredible set of accomplishments, my friends.

Another serving in 2008

So let me just say this:  Republicans, get ready.  Because we're coming back with everything and more in 2008.  We've got the Industrial Strength can ready - understand?  So don't make us open that baby up.

...Oh, who am I  kidding?  We will definitely be opening it up!

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And for now, we can celebrate.  After all, we earned it.

Here's to VICTORY, one more time!

Note:  A big thanks to everyone who helped out in the campaigns, big or small, in 2006 - you made it happen!  Be proud.