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Ted Ankrum is a good man and a fantastically good Democratic candidate for Congress.
The Democratic Party's neglect of his principled candidacy is not acceptable, but it is not surprising.
But I am not going to use this occasion to go on another tirade at the boneheaded consultants and "leaders" about it.
No, this time I blame us. All of us.
How many times have we said to friends, "What are the polls saying in that race?" How many times have we said, "What are the chances of winning that district?" Or, "Can he win that race?"
STOP SAYING these things. STOP indulging pollsters and handicappers. STOP handicapping or oddsmaking. Every time you do it, you reinforce the mentality that results in a great candidate like Ted Ankrum, Maria Louisa Alvarado, or John Courage getting disregarded by the Party establishment.
DON'T be an oddsmaker, a handicapper, or a spectator.
If all the mental energy that went into wondering about whether or not we can win were converted into fighting TO WIN, we would win everything.
I ain't puffing. It's true. The winning attitude will change everything.
Have you heard our courageous candidate for governor, Chris Bell, say lately that Democrats need to learn how to win again? This is what he's talking about. Have you heard me say at some time over the last 3 years that the greatest obstacle to Democrats winning Texas back is defeatism among Democrats? This is what I'm talking about.
It falls to EACH and EVERY ONE of us. FIGHT to win. PLAN to win. EXPECT victory.
"Fight 'em till hell freezes over, and then fight 'em on the ice." It's not just words. It's an attitude, a winner's attitude. DON'T talk about odds, prospects, or polls. DO talk about fighting for, planning for, and expecting victory.
My friends at DU, you ARE GOING to have a NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL in January 2007. I AM GOING to win. Within the month of January, investigative subpoenas WILL be served on the CEOs of the biggest oil companies. By the end of calendar year 2007 those companies WILL be seeking negotiations.
That is MY attitude. Make it YOUR attitude about ALL of our battles. Plan to win and expect to win. DON'T wonder about or talk about WHETHER your candidates can win. FIGHT for them TO win, PLAN on them winning, EXPECT them to win, and DON'T, DON'T, DON'T play oddsmaker in relation to yourself.
DON'T speculate about what next week, next month, or next year may bring. Take one step at a time, live one moment at a time, fill one day at a time - always with your focus on making EACH moment another moment of WINNING.
Am I getting through?
DVO
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