Rejoice, Bush is History

[troublemaker]

At this point there are a thousand reasons to say Bush is history and not one reason I can see to think he will win.

I am well aware of the usual caveats like “we mustn’t be overconfident,” or “there’s a lot of work to be done.” Yet I say loudly to anyone with ears to listen that Bush is finished. Why? Because that mind-set leads to MORE effort. This isn't just an election, this is a revolt against fear and almost all popular revolutions are “revolutions of rising expectations.” People can be suppressed and oppressed for literally thousands of years but give them a whiff of hope and the lid blows off the pot.

Kerry will win by more than 8 points in the popular vote. Does that make you less likely to help in the effort or more likely?

Did the French resistance grow or shrink after D-Day? Common sense would suggest that the French would have ceased dangerous resistance efforts once they knew that America and Britain were going to drive the Nazis from France. Why risk your neck for something that will get done anyway? Yet the question is almost rhetorical… of course people flocked to the resistance when they glimpsed hope. Resistance leaders were not cautioning against over-confidence, they were depending on it!

Kerry and his inner circle should avoid over-confidence, but for the rest of us there is no such thing. Being too confident is like being too energized or too dedicated or getting too many votes. Confidence is what emboldens us to say “Kerry!” in stickers on our cars even though they might be keyed, to put signs in our yards even though they will be stolen and wears buttons on our lapels even though they’ll get us the occasional finger. Confidence swells GOTV efforts and encourages letter writing and water cooler politicking because it is FUN to be part of a winning effort. And our confidence drives the Republicans into increasingly desperate and futile rhetoric.

And most importantly, our confidence sends a message to all citizens that they need not feel intimidated or fear reprisals for simply stating their preference.

Presidential politics is a momentum game. We are the winners and everyone loves a winner. Swing voters can jump on the bandwagon or be left behind.

[wickywom]

1. Yesterday...

my mail man asked if I was voting..
yes..
For Kerry?
of course...
He didn't say anything but i think tell he was pleased.

[troublemaker]

3. It's vital that closet Kerry voters know strangers have their back

That's how the Berlin wall came down... a critical mass of people knew that their neighbors felt the same way they did.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. YES!

I think the anti-Bush sentiment that has been flying below the national radar is starting to become obvious. Bush is the butt of a thousand jokes on late-night TV; the cartoonists are having a field day, and the opinions expressed in LTTEs are becoming more and more intense. It's snowballing. The more you speak out, the more others will be emboldened to do the same. We're not home free yet, but the odds are getting better. Power to the people!

[Jack_Dawson]

4. The San Diego (conservative) paper's LTTE went OFF

on monkeybrains last weekend. I couldn't believe how many letters were slamming chimpy.

[Booster]

8. That is really good news coming out of San Diego.

If people in San Diego are against Bush, and he wins California, let the revolution begin.

[leftofthedial]

5. don't misunderestimate the lack of intelligence

of many of your Murkan brethren and sistren.

[lil-petunia]

6. ah, a thousand pointy lights. Yeah!

Shiny City?
Miss Underestimator?
Hard work?
Maxed misages.

To think all of this will be erased in a month. And good riddance indeed.

Had a major blow out with me dad. Printed out the intro to the CIA report on Iraq, gave him a copy. Told him no WMD. He said i was wrong. And a goddam commie. He tried to get out of the car, things got heated.
damn.

[jayfish]

7. I'll Save My Revelry For After The Debate Tonight.

I just don't get the vibe from people that they are sick of *. Whenever you bring a good point to the discussion, the response is always "well... i don't know about that". It's quite frustrating.

Jay

[Booster]

9. The response I always get is "Well, I don't really follow

politics so let's change the subject." Up to that point they are slamming Kerry and Dems to no end, but the minute you get a good point in, this ALWAYS happens. Frustrating indeed.

[jayfish]

10. Same Situation With Talk Radio.

People love their Hannity and Rush and Savage, but ask them to try Thom Hartman, just one time and it's "oh nooooo... that guy is just too far out there." I just want to strangle people sometimes.

Jay

[clevergirl]

11. Wear Your Blue on Your Sleeve

I put up my Kerry sign in my window as soon as he won the primaries. I was afraid of the reaction I'd get from my neighbors. No one said anything.

Then I saw another sign a few house away. Then another. Then another. Then a neighbor cheered my Kerry bumper stickers. Then a Jeb Bush lookalike cheered my Kerry t-shirt. Then my neighbors across the street put Kerry bumper stickers in their windows.

I also think the wind is at our backs. God, I hope tonight goes well.