Don't give up - keep fighting for a Progressive America.

[redqueen]

Like a lot of people I was all weepy and down for most of yesterday. Honestly I expected to still be in that state for the rest of the week. To my pleasant surprise, I find I'm more energized for this battle than ever. I believe that Robert Reich is right... those of us with progressive ideals WILL win the war for America. We are in touch with the true soul and spirit of this country.

Maybe it was naive of us to expect to have an effect faster than we have. I think we did a good job, actually, considering the voter fraud and blackbox voting and massive 'liberal' media conspiracy we were up against.

I guess I just want to say that I hope many of us will find the will to keep fighting. I am more than concerned about the direction bush will take this country in, but I know all I can do is rededicate myself to supporting and expanding the new progressive infrastructure that's only started to form in the last few years.

Groups like these...

http://www.pdamerica.org">http://www.pdamerica.org

http://www.newdem.org

http://www.democracyforamerica.com

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/c.biJRJ8OVF/b.8473

are just getting started. This article spells out why these groups are so important.

Check them out and pick one and either donate or volunteer your time. This is how we educate the masses. Not by supporting individual politicians with our time and efforts, but by funding the network of message-forming groups so that we can counter what the right has developed over the past 40 years.

They didn't spread their message and bring so many to believe in their opinions overnight, we shouldn't expect to either.

[rockydem]

1. We have to fight in the trenches now

I think it would be good for all of us to spend less time watching fuckin' cable news and calling * names on the internet. I think we need to get involved in issues now. Join a group that is fighting for the environment, for gay rights, whatever - we must do what we can to stop the * agenda and that means fighting in the trenches of these issues.

I'm planning on getting involved in opposing tort reform and with the ACLU and possibly with some environmental groups. They have things you can do. You can go to committee meetings, etc - you can protest - you can get the word out face to face, raise money, whatever. It will all help.

Join with your fellow progressives. We must resist, and then try again in 2008. We must preserve what we can until then!

[redqueen]

4. Yes - take the fight to the streets - talk face to face with our neighbors

We can't fight them on their turf, in the media. We can fight and defeat them on ours. Americans have done it before. It won't happen quickly.

[lovedems]

2. I am with you redqueen

I refuse to let this country be run by the religious zealots. After spending most of the day yesterday in the fetal position on the couch, I woke up this morning with the type of anger that requires me to fight back. I don't have a choice in the matter. My concious won't allow it. The energy I felt November 1 is nothing compared to the energy I feel now. It's on and I am not stopping until there is victory.

[redqueen]

5. Same here

I was so depressed last night. Then this morning, the lat bits of that faded away, as I realized what needs to be done. Mourning the existence of the huge numbers of easily fooled Americans won't help -- getting out there and educating them will.

[lovedems]

9. I also felt really good this morning about being a democrat

Because in being a democrat I can associate myself with a group of people who are informed (Bush supporters really are ignorant and misinformed. There are studies that prove it). I can associate myself with a group of people who aren't bigots. I can associate myself with a group that truly is diverse in race, gender, age, sexuality, religious beliefs, economically, etc. I don't look at the defeat as needing to restructure at all. The only thing we need to do is expand and better define our message. That shouldn't be to difficult. I think I am more proud today to be a democrat then I was yesterday. We aren't a party that is mainly white men. Enough said.

[LisaLynne]

3. Woo hoo!

I, too, was suprised at how quickly I bounced back. I was depressed and in "people are stupid" mode for a little while and then I realized, I was enegized. I'm angry, but not so angry that I can't fight smartly. I'm honestly ready to do whatever I can. I'm sick of this all!

And I think you're right -- I thought we could change things quickly, but I guess that was sort of arrogant. They took years to get themselves together. Yes, our message is better and right and we're smarter (and better looking), so it's not going to take us nearly as long, but it will take time. I personally can't wait to get started!

[redqueen]

6. That's the spirit!

And it's what's convinced me to stay in my red state. I was ready to pack it in and move somewhere 'saner'. I realize now that that would do no good. What would I do there, make it 'bluer'?

My roots are here, the work is here, so here I'll stay.

[ClassWarrior]

7. Make that a "progressive America" RQ...

...and I'm with you. Have you read George Lakoff's "Don't Think of an Elephant" yet? You should.

~hugs~

NGU.

[redqueen]

10. No, I haven't

I'll check that out at the library for sure... thanks.

[redqueen]

18. Done

:)

[ClassWarrior]

19. Thanks!

I think you'll enjoy the book. It's a primer of sorts - a collection of Lakoff's articles as a kind of introduction to him and his work.

NGU.

[redqueen]

20. Wow... the reviews are amazing.

I'm going to have to pass that one around... THANKS!

[ClassWarrior]

21. Thank YOU.

We're all in this together. :)

Here's a link to Lakoff's appearance on The Majority Report last night: http://www.airamericaplace.com/archive.php?mode=show&id=7

NGU.

[treehuggnlibrul]

8. Can I add one more? MOB sent me this:

Mothers Opposing Bush sent the following email out -- they are mobilizing...

"Hope is a state of mind, not of the world. Hope, in this deep and
powerful sense, is not the same as joy that things are going well, or
willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously heading for
success -- but rather an ability to work for something because it is good."
                   -Vaclav Havel, President, Czech Republic 1989-92

Our hearts are with all of you. To quote a passage from a recent article by Hearst White House reporter Helen Thomas: "Bush undoubtedly will see his reelection as a mandate to push the country further to the right. And if he is elected, he will be answerable to no one."

Well, this president may think he can run his own show, but we know he must answer to our sprawling organization of women who care deeply about issues that hit close to the hearts of our families. We all feel sad, and shocked, at the outcome of this historic presidential race. Yet, we must face this loss with courage and with strength. And we must double our resolve to speak out on inequities and injustices. The MOBsters are undeterred in our mission to push for legislation and policies that protect our children and their futures.

Please take comfort in the fact that our large and loving MOB is not dissipating. We are pow-wowing in Annapolis this week and will be back to you shortly with some ideas on how MOBsters might re-group and resurrect our mission. Our work has just begun. Hold your heads high and know your power!
With love and gratitude from MOB Central

MOBorg, Inc. PO Box 2111, Annapolis, MD 21404 - 2111, www.MOB.org

[redqueen]

11. Sure, no problem

Personally I'm more supportive of groups advocating liberal ideals than those dedicated to opposing rightwing ones, but it takes all kinds!

:hi:

[Dez]

12. I'll continue to fight, but..

I still wish I could leave America. I don't see how this country will ever become as free as Canada.. too many corporations running the show

[redqueen]

14. Take care of yourself

If you need to go, and you can go, then go. Don't let anyone berate you for doing what you think is right for you. This is still America, after all. We're supposedly defending freedom. :)

[NoBorders]

13. I'm with you - I'm looking forward to it!

We have an opportunity to completely recast the progressive/Democratic movement and party. This defeat will permit a new, open discussion among progressives about who we are, what we stand for, and our electoral strategies. Think tanks, organizational networks, grassroots movements - the infrastructure has been jump-started by this election. We now have the opportunity to capitalize on it, build it out, and use it to retake the country.

It's not going to happen overnight. The Conservative movement that we see today took decades to build. But we can do it in less time because we have the roadmap.

Still, this will not be about how to tweak the ground game for the next election. That would be superficial and ineffective, and any victories from that would be temporary and tenuous. We need to completely regenerate progressive politics.

Chief among that is that we cannot give-up on rural, sourthern, and heartland voters. The Democratic was their party for decades. We need to relearn how to connect with them, and show them how the Democrats are really their best choice. And we must do this agressively.

The bush regime is going to take some seriously hard knocks over the next four year over Iraq, SS, and the economy. There may well be a draft. Our debt financing is hitting pretty dire levels. But they will deal with these problems the way they always have - with hubris and denial. But they can't hid from their failure forever, as these problems increasingly creep into the daily lives of average Americans. In other words, I'm hopeful that they will hang themselves.

But we need to be there for all those disillusioned Conservatives, with a party, an agenda, a vision they can connect with. Maybe not one they love and embrace, but one that they can see is better than the proto-fascist theocracy contemplated by the bush regime.

[redqueen]

15. Every patriot loves this country.

You cannot support conservatives that are outsourcing jobs and call yourself a patriot. Republicans are in denial about this right now. In four years millions won't be able to keep ignoring that reality.

You cannot support conservatives that put corporate profits over our quality of live and call yourself a patriot.

There are SO many examples of this. We just have to let our neighbors (not just conservatives, but Americans of all stripes) know what we stand for.

Years of sliding toward the right -- making ourselves nearly indistinguishable from republicans on many key issues -- have weakened our message. We have to stand up for what we believe in again.

[NoBorders]

16. i'm not sure if you're agreeing/disagreeing with my post

On review, I think you're agreeing with my POV. People, those conservatives who think of themselves as patriots, will start to see that the GOP is not actually patriotic, but oligarchical.

or neither. But in no way am I advocating support a conservative agenda or someone who subscribes to it. I'm saying that we need to find news ways to reach out to people who migh think of themselves as conservatives, and show them how the Repub agenda works against their interests.

I think one of our biggest mistakes as Democrats has been to try to be republican-lite.

[redqueen]

17. Agreeing!

There are core issues that we can all agree on. Unfortunately many don't pay attention to the campaign method. The door to door * think tank method is far more effective.

And I agree with you on trying to out-republican republicans. Can't be done.

[kick-ass-bob]

22. THANKS!

I was going to go out and look for this kind of stuff later, but you've done my work for me already!

I knew I liked you! :P

:hi:

[redqueen]

23. You're welcome!

I'm sure there are more... I just rattled off the few I remembered.

And you know me... I live to serve. :D

[redqueen]

24. kick

Just one, I promise. :)

:kick: