Please let's not stop, please.

[eyeontheprize]

An African American friend of mine, who is a leader in the community here, said that we can have a week off to do laundry and clean the house, after that it is time to get back to work.

He believes, and I agree that, the only way to effectively court the disenfranchised is to do it all of the time. Phone bank them for their opinions on off years. Have rallies nowhere near an election. Don't wait until an election year again to start work because that just fuels cynicism. It is impossible to win votes during a campaign anymore, we must win hearts with efforts all the time.

He said that they expect us to cower now that they have stolen another one, and for that reason alone we must defy their authority. The time is short and the only hope is to work hard.

[Abelman]

1. I agree

We can't let up now. If we start laying the groundwork, we can start effectively campaigning for 2006. I see no reason why we can't put up some effective senators and representatives. We need strong people to run locally and at the state levels. I suspect there are people here on DU willing to do just that.

We need to keep rallying and donating and voting, but that's not good enough. We've got to start running, effectively and strongly. The 21st Century Democrats run training courses. We've got to take them.

It's time to show the United States that 'good enough' isn't good enough.

[fairfaxvadem]

2. He's right.

Now is not the time to collapse on the couch! At least, not after a week or two to veg out. We do need to recharge our batteries, but don't wait too long to get back in the saddle again.

Time to fight back is now. Today, tomorrow, next week, next month. All the time.

In my area, I think the group of us Dems who worked so hard this past year are going to start reviewing our communities and get some goals together for what we can do in the "off-season".

[H2O Man]

3. if people watched the press conference today

they must realize that we do not have the luxury of sitting back for long. Bush et al expect the emocratic left to be tired and discouraged. He is attempting to say he has a mandate, because no other American president has ever had as many votes as he had. Well, by that logic, we too have a mandate, because no other president has ever had that many votes against him.

Bush is planning a 50-day attack within the halls of congress. We must immediately kick back into action in as high of gear as possible. We are the "opposition party," and it is high-time we learn exactly how POWERFUL the opposition party can be. And even more, it's time the republicans learn how powerful we have become.

And we shall overcome. Believe it. Invest in it.

[TomClash]

5. I think it's time to read Saul Alinsky

[H2O Man]

7. Well, considering that Rove reads

Machiavelli, then it would seem that Alinsky's second book in particular would be appropriate. If I recall correctly, one of the "rules" is to try to force the opponent to "live up to their own rules." This is usually impossible, as we note with our conservative Christian brothern and Wild Bill O'Reilly.

I haven't been in Chicago for many years now.

[Changenow]

6. Work for change, prepare for the worst.

I plan to do both.

[TomClash]

4. How about helping them like Hezbollah and Hamas in Lebanon and Palestine

or the old inner city Dem wards?