I know folks are going to be slamming me for my diary headline. There will those that will choose to look at the positives.
Pros
The margin of defeat was much smaller.
Republicans spent a huge amount to eke out a victory in a Republican district
This seate will be contested again in November.
This is a moral victory
My response to these arguments is that big fucking deal.
Why ? Well because the above pros are all spin.
A big margin or small margin of victory has not made much of a difference on how Republicans run the country. They are used to winning with small margins and that means they are more beholden to their base, the uber right wing. So winning the seat outright is the only thing that matters.
Republicans spent a huge amount to win. This winning at all costs is built into their party machine mindset. Its just not a mindset built into the Democrats party machine. Don't believe me then read Markos's book or remember how much grief Howard Dean has taken over his 50 state strategy.
Election in November Busby will be fighting an incumbent. HUGE advantage
Every side thinks they are more moral than the other side. Moral Victory is just spin for DEFEAT!!!
California is a glimpse into the future, November 2006 elections:
Here is what I see.
Democrats can't fully capitalize on all the Republican scandals
There is still too much infighting in the party
The DLC has made the party positions look like watered down Republican positions.
We may be inspiring the activist but we are not inspiring the voters.
Too many uninspiring leaders.
Waiting for the Republicans to defeat themselves is an idiotic approach
Defeatist mentality( I know this one is ironic )
The results of yesterdays primarys are yet another indication that we have not yet pulled things together. That means even with all the advantages we currently have we may end up looking at a few pickups in the Congress but with the Republicans in control. This will be a huge advantage later on when the other advantages we currently enjoy go away. So rather on focusing on the positive lets focus on all the stuff that is broken