Last night I couldn't sleep because I was sad. Now I can't because...

[rockymountaindem]

I'm excited.

I'm excited at the energy and the drive to overcome this setback that I've seen at this forum tonight. With all the in-fighting we had in the primaries, there's very little blame. As I pointed out earlier, there seem to be few quitters (if any).

It has become clear that we're here for the long haul. We're not going anywhere. We'll bounce back from this stronger and more determined. Despite what we've lost, look at what we gained. Many of the "Dean Dozen" candidates won, including one in Utah who won based on GOTV and connecting one-on-one. I'm proud to say that for the first time in over 30 years, Democrats now hold both houses of the Colorado State Legislature. Last night we held none. We've got a new Dem governor in red Montana. This wasn't done by chance, folks. It was done by hard work. And we're all willing to continue that hard work.

I think that now we realize that this isn't just about a sprint to the finish once every four years. It's about the school board, the county comission, the state legislature... everything. We're going to slog it out for as long as it takes the same way the Republicans did starting in 1964. Look at that young DUer who got a third of the vote against windbag JD Hayworth, even though she only had a $5000 budget! It can happen.

I know I've sounded like a cheerleader tonight. It's not that I'm not upset. My eyes well up every time I think of what might have been, and how ugly this whole campaign and election was. It hurts. Bt people lose loved ones to cancer. They don't curl up and cry forever. You bet your ass that they run in the Race for the Cure the very next chance they get. That's what we've got to do. I'm crushed.

But I'm also only 17. And I've been practicing *my* stump speech in front of the mirror tonight. Who's with me?

[Hatalles]

1. I am very pumped up after today.

I can't post a new thread for some reason -- I'm guessing there's been a change in the minimum post count requirement; however, I AM very excited after today, and here's why:

Last night was heart-wrenching, terrible -- I woke up this morning, found out Kerry had given up, and I was crushed. I wanted us to fight this -- fight it all the way.

But then I went to school today, all day (campus in the California Bay Area) and the response there was HUGE. I stepped on campus early in the morning very depressed but everyone was talking about the election and how NO ONE could stand four more years of this administration. People were talking and talking LOUD. The Bushies were non-existant (the ones I did know seemed very hush, hush -- it was as if they regonized the anger and they recognized more importantly the NUMBERS).

Never can I remember a time when topics such as SECESSION and CIVIL WAR were discussed so openly. This is huge, folks. People are ANGRY here in California, people are FED UP. Topics like secession seem like a dream, a hope, but never could I have imagined people actually talking about it openly... I am amazed at the passion here, it seems almost ready to boil.

This discussion needs to be brought up in the mainstream media... everyone needs to hear about it. Talk secession and make those in the White House hear.

[rockymountaindem]

2. While I'm glad people are pumped, secession isn't the answer.

We have to work within the system on this one. Secession or threats of it are only going to convince people that we're deranged radicals and damage the country. Like it or not, all the regions and states are in this together. None of us can leave.

[Hatalles]

3. Sorry to break it to you...

But the "system" is not working.

Bush won the popular vote, there's no denying it.

[rockymountaindem]

4. Millions of Americans did not vote.

Reach them and you've got your solution. I don't want violence. That leaves us worse off than before.

[Hatalles]

6. No one said this has to be violent.

Millions of Americans did not vote but how can you be sure those millions would have voted Kerry? There's plenty others in the red states who didn't bother getting out of their houses and to the polling places.

There has been a gradual dumbing-down of the populace here in the US and the polls proved that Bush brainwashing is working. They've capitalized on FEAR and HATE. They've utilized 9/11 and the "War on Terror" (while murdering 100,000-200,000+ civilians in Iraq in the process) to dominate the people.

These are historic times... look how close the election was. Half of this country detests the man in office. He DOES NOT represent us. This is NOT democracy!

[American Tragedy]

5. I'm with you

I don't have the social skills to run for office myself, but I have decided to study to be a campaign advisor. After witnessing the cataclysmic campaigns of the past months, and having been vindicated in most of my judgements despite not being a professional, I am convinced that I can do better.

I'm 21. My whole life is still ahead of me. And I represent the only demographic that consistently supported Kerry over Bush. The older generations seem to have already forgotten the lessons in suffering and abuse of power that they witnessed in the past century. I hope that we can do better.

[guntherconcept]

7. What to do

Lot's of comments on what Dems should do have been posted today, and it all seems a bit confusing. But here's the bottom line:

1. We didn't lose because we were too liberal, or because we weren't liberal enough

2. Winning elections is about marketing. For better or worse, we need to have campaigns that connect with people at an emotional level. Reciting percentages about jobs lost or who paid more taxes isn't going to cut it. You win support by making it clear to people at a gut level what the election outcome means to them. Republicans have been much better at this kind of thing than Dems have and this HAS to change.

3. Dems seem dreadfully inadequate in the nuts and bolts aspects of elections. I.E., making sure that on election day, people actually get out and vote. I can think of a thousand ways to improve this, but it's clear after the last 2 or 3 cycles that we're lagging behind Repubs on this aspect. And it doesn't need to be that way. If 260K nmore voters in Ohio had been convinced (i.e., driven to the polls), Kerry would be the president today. This is basic, basic stuff, and while,it seems like hard work, it's only because it is. But it's necessary, and it's important.

4. We came so close this time. Don't buy the spin that this was a rejection of Democratic ideals across the board. Howard Dean said that a Dem could win the presidency withiut winning a single southern state, and Kerry came within 250K votes of doing just that. With better framing and a better ground organization it would have happened.

5. Long term demographic trends are against Republicans, and they know it. That's why they're trying to consolidate as much power now as they can. Even if you live in what might be (now) a red state, in the long run things will go our way. Don't forget this.

Whatever happens over the next four years, never forget that things can change if enough people work to make it happen. You aren't ever going to be alone, even when it might feel that way.