As others have more eloquently pointed out, the assorted screw-ups of the Bush administration have reached critical mass. We have Republicans attacking them on Iraq, 9-11 widows ripping Rove for his continued politization of the attack, and the disaster formerly known as Desert Storm II seeping into everyday consciousness. It's like watching the first drops of water fall on the Wicked Witch at the end of Wizard of Oz.
But I'm noticing a markedly dispirited response from many liberals and progressives. Instead of glee, they either angrily respond with "what took them so long" or they sadly point out that "it always look like we will/should win, but we don't." Most fall in the former category. But many of those still cross into second camp as they detail the real financial sacrifices they made last year to support the Democrats.
[Note that many of these folks don't live on the blogs (unlike many of us) so they don't see tremendous infrastructure built out of last year's efforts. Instead they see a White House/Legislature/Court System/Press owned and/or controlled by GOP.]
I see two potential strategies that must work in tandem.
Longterm we continue punching hard with messages that some of our best bloggers have put out. We need to constantly repeat Markos' line about how "Republican's can't govern." We need to intensify the attacks on the 101st keyboardists and their ilk. We need to stop giving aid and comfort to barely moderate Republicans who don't get in front of Bush's worst excesses, and the DINO counterparts who help Bush move obstacles out of the way.
It's the short-term that needs a little work. The inspired unmasking of the Young Republican Cowards was perfect because it provided both great theater and opportunity for participation. We need to publicize similar, low-cost, low-energy activities that can draw in lots of folks.
We can start by capitalizing on what we are already doing. For example, how many of us have sent money for soldier's phone cards, medical care, or family visits? (Answer: lots). But no one knows about it but us.
During Vietnam, folks wore black armbands or MIA bracelets. We need to adopt a similar "in-your-face" motiff, but tie it to our real concrete acts of helping the soldiers we want to bring home. It also has to be something that will draw in the folks who are now (yes, just now) realizing "oh #%&%"
So I guess I'm calling on folks to come up with a simple design that can unite a lot of different folks. [Nor does it have to be solely tied to the war -- thanks to Bush, we have plenty of choices. I just think it's the most important right now.]