On the Rachel Maddow Show, Jonathan Alter made this point last night, 8/31/2010, "Democrats need to decide how much they care about turning over a branch of our government to extremists, to radicals." He said this as they discussed radical right wing radio host Bill Cunningham's boast that he would be broadcasting soon form the Speaker (Boehner's) portico. Video below the fold.
This point has been going through my mind for days as I try to motivate phone bank volunteers for the 2010 elections. How can Democrats not be motivated ?
ALTER: "Yes, so the message is not really for other Reupublicans. The message is for Democrats and how much do Democrats care about turning over a branch of our government to extremists, to radicals. And so if this can't close the so-called enthusiasm gap, you know, what can?"
MADDOW: "The enthusiasm gap, yes"
ALTER: "I do think its a challenge for progressives, who are saying:
'Oh I'm not...I'm disappointed in Obama, I'm not that excited you know. I'm not going to work the way I did last time. '
Well, they need to learn a little about what the stakes are. So an incident like this reminds us that we're talking about a different crowd with a radical agenda that they want to impose on our country."
I can only speak for myself but I am not prepared to simply turn over a branch of the government to such radical, extremists without a fight. Do Democrats not understand the stakes ? Every Democrat should be phone banking. No excuses. Did we work in 2008 just to throw it away in 2010?
How can the millions who campaigned in 2008, watch Glenn Beck take the stage and spread his own selfish, ego-centric, money-making religion and not be motivated? I do not understand the lack of motivation. Are we going to let the party of Limbaugh and Beck and Palin and Cunngham take over without even trying ?
I, personally, am more motivated than in 2008, but this time I'm motivated by fear and outrage, not by hope. Every Democrat needs to snap out of this gloom and doom funk and remember we still hold the cards. We still have the majority in congressin the senate. We have a Democratic President in office and on our side. Every Democrat that cares needs to phone bank, donate, get involved, get a yard sign, and vote. Or we will only have ourselves to blame.