Most anyone who has been politically active has been involved in at least one losing campaign.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

And for those who haven't, I think we all remember how we all felt on December 13, 2000. Or on November 3, 2004.

It really stinks. You've spent months emotionally involved and behind your candidate, and then you are left with the sinking realization that for the campaign, there is no more tommorow. It is one of the most empty, disheartening feelings you can imagine. Politics is real, it is personal. It is how you want your society to be lead, whether it be on the local, state or national level. When your candidate loses the race, you do feel left out and ostracized. You second guess. You despair.

That is why this is not the time for grave dancing. It is not the time to gloat. Especially when we, as Democrats, have a White House to win in November. If you think locking the other side out because of past grievances (whether real or imagined) is the wise course to take, you are only setting yourself up for a failure for yourself. And then you too will feel that empty feeling of defeat.

I think for many on this discussion board, this primary has been like a bad, drunken night. We have all said things about the other candidate or other posters which we know are not the truth, but in the heat of emotion and passion, we let those demons out. And so we wake up with the hangover, and that creeping feeling of guilt and regret about all those foolish things we said and did in our night of debauchery.

It isn't too late to move away from this. It isn't too late to understand that we are all human, and we do and say stupid things at times when we act zealously for our interests.

But we must be adults about this. And we must move on from this.

Together.

[gateley]

1. "...And we must move on from this."

For us, for our country, for our children. :patriot: :grouphug:

[Lisa0825]

2. Hell, I'm in Texas!

I'm not used to winning! :rofl:

[NatBurner]

5. for real

[helderheid]

6. Utah here!

:hi:

[abburdlen]

9. ouch!

you have my sympathies from North Carolina!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

18. Yep. When I read the title I was like...One? Try the majority of candidates I've supported

Have you seen this yet?


http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Senate/Maps/Jun04-s.html

Noriega is within 4 of Cornyn and they're listing Texas as "barely GOP" in our Senate race! :bounce:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. Bump again, because it is important. nt

[Tippy]

4. It's not fun losing...I know from personal experience

But really you don't lose in this one because we have a canidate who you will be proud of one day....
K&R

[Occam Bandage]

7. Agreed. K, R, et cetera.

[purji]

8. K&R

[crispini]

10. When you lose, you cry in your beer for awhile,

maybe a few weeks or months. Then you suck it up and go on. It's hard though. When Kerry lost? Terminal depression for, like, WEEKS. Then there have been some local stuff too. Don't laugh, I had a tax collector candidate lose and it broke my heart.

But, you do go on.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

15. When Kerry lost....

....it was one of those beautiful fall days down here in Florida. Sunny, blue skies, mid-1970s. And I remember thinking to myself how beautiful it was, yet how horrible I felt inside and why did I have to waste such a beautiful day feeling so crummy?

The good news here (as opposed to that November 2004 day) is that we are all Democrats. Nobody lost. Obama simply won. And there's a much bigger prize to be got in November. Because if we don't fight to win in November, all of those who are celebrating today, it really won't mean much in the end.

We must not take our eyes off the ball. And we must realize that no matter whose feelings got hurt so long down the road, if we don't stick together, none of this will mean anything. And that means reaching out our hands and picking our fellow Democrat up for the fight ahead.

[Blue_Roses]

11. well said

I know how I felt in both of those elections. I had Bush as a governor in 2000 and I thought after 4 years of his stupidity, America will wake up and see that he's a mistake. Then came 2004. I WAS hungover and depressed after that one. It took a while to get over it. So I can definitely relate to what you are saying and I too, feel much respect is needed for Hillary supporters.

I hope that after a while we can all work together for what is looking to be an awesome year:D

[Burma Jones]

12. Before I could even vote, I worked hard for Mo Udall

you have to have a thick hide to put more than the bare minimum into Politics.......

[Jersey Devil]

13. Yeah, I've lost a few but never acted like Hillary

I've won a few and lost a few in local campaigns and know what you're talking about. But when I lost I always gave a little speech thanking everyone who helped me and then, by tradition, we'd go to the opponents' headquarters and convey our congratulations. I would never dream of going to my opponent to deliver a classless "fuck you" message like Hillary did last night.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

17. Why does it even matter any more?

Seriously?

What good is picking old wounds going to do?

It's over, your guy won the nomination. You can be happy for your candidate now, but we've got an election to win. That is the bigger picture.

[RandomKoolzip]

14. The problem is in the first line of the second paragraph. "Emotionally involved."

If we'd all just approach this shit with a more rational and cynical eye, there wouldn't be so much heartbreak. These politicians are not your family or friends, nor are they deities. They're flawed and bought public servants and any good they do is almost always by accident.

[Blue_Roses]

16. exactly.

but it's hard to not get emotional about someone you feel you connect with. Hell, look at all the stars that people swoon over. My kids are nuts for Hannah Montana aka: Miley Cyrus:eyes: It drives me nuts.

But then I have been known to sigh when I see George Clooney on the big screen:D Horrible, I know. Why do we do this to ourselves:banghead:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

19. I'm going to bump again.

Maybe shameless, but it is important.

[AZBlue]

20. Excellent post.

I'm hoping that attitudes will change within the week or so. It takes a little time.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

21. I think every day I'll bump a few times just to keep trying to import the idea.

[EFerrari]

22. Part of the problem here is that it's difficult to move toward closure

when one party is insisting that the campaign isn't over. It's like trying to treat PTSD when there's no "post" yet.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

23. bumping again. nt

[Why Syzygy]

24. This is the ONLY time I've ever wanted a presidential nominee this much.

I liked Carter the best, but he didn't FIRE ME UP! I am so excited he is where he is. I've lost plenty.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

25. Bumping again in the interest of sanity and unity. nt