Crucial: Turnout in the general will be ENORMOUS. We should be prepared.

[Bongo Prophet]

Okay, this is some grownup stuff for any candidate.

To beat the Reps, we are going to need to pull together, we know this.
Getting there may be a challenge, but we can do this - and if we do it right, the turnout is going to be record breaking and historic.
Getting past the dirty tricks and voting irregularities, caging, etc will cause havoc, even in a low turnout election. This will NOT be a low turnout.

Be thinking of ways to prepare for this - there are many smart people here, and some with connections. You kow what you need to do. Please share some good ideas with others.
This is our time, if we make it happen.

[bigscott]

1. if we do it right

as you said Bongo - but before that happens the two sides of the same party need to come together. I pray it happens. We have too much to lose. More Supreme Court seats, more House seats, more Senate seats. We have so much to gain and so much to lose

People need to come together over the eventual nominee. Or the only turnout that will be historic is the turnout for McCain.

peace:dem:

[Bongo Prophet]

4. I agree that less intra-party rancor equals more votes for us. That's the 1st challenge.

I an glad that the candidates pulled back a bit, and Obama getting broader support is in itself good for the party.
The new voters he brings in could be the key to a large shift in dominance and even bring the end of the Southern Strategy, ushering a new balance of power that could be long term.

You are right on this.

[Radical Activist]

2. Obama worked for an organization that specializes in protecting voting rights.

He's also the one bringing in the most new voters. I'd have a lot more confidence about this issue if he were the nominee.

[Bongo Prophet]

5. I can respect that, Radical Activist. good point.

Obama's history as constitutional professor and voting rights advocate is very appealing. Who could not love that? Those are two of the major issues of our time, brought into stark contrast by the emboldened neocons. I hear you.

I also understand your confidence; if the nom goes to Hillary it will be a different challenge.
Either way, we will need to pull the coalition together. Dems have to do this EVERY election. It is in our "personality" if you will.

This is one of the reasons we ned to respectfully argue our points of view, and set aside the silly stuff. It is an important time for us, and progressives may not get a good chance again for a long while if the pugs can maintain power.

[Medusa]

3. Obama has been responsible for the majority of that huge turnout

if he's not the nominee, then we're in trouble.

[Bongo Prophet]

6. Obama deserves HUGE props for bringing more people in, as did Dean.

We need to make sure we keep them, and that they are treated with the respect they deserve - just as the new dems respect the old guard. I am in between, I guess- and want a major, structural change. So we probably agree on many things.

Even if we do end up "in trouble", we need to do our best to pull through. The work will continue, and much can be done with either candidate, compared to a maintenance of power by the neocons.

[pdxmom]

7. I, too, have been very concerned about the GE. I've thought about this

all morning, after looking over the huge number of Dem voters that have participated in the primary. I'm really concerned about whether this will hold into the GE. The worry is that new voters, who appear to be enormously energized, will just not turn out if their candidate isn't the nominee. I see this as a real possibility.

Yes, I know I'm being a negative Nelly, but I think I'm being realistic. The GE turnout is vital and I'm not sure the huge numbers we're seeing now will hold.

[Bongo Prophet]

8. Absolutely, it is a two-horned problem.

If we can keep the record numbers - and most of us hope we do, regardless of nominee - we will have such high numbers that the voting system will surely breakdown at precincts all over the country. As you know, they are poorly funded, the distribution is uneven as to rich-poor and rep-dem, long lines will extend late into the night, and there will be active "challengers" trying to slow down the process in order to encourage people to leave.

Besides legal teams to insure challenged voters can have someone to help them, we may need some of our younger voters to help out with blankets or panchos for inclement weather, snacks and water, and other help for diabetics and people who need a seat.

We need to be prepared and creative.
That old person someone mocked needs to vote, that young punk who bigged you might give you an apple - this is why we need to get along even if we are on different sides right now.