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Our recent historical glee, was discovering a charismatic figure, who we thought would overshadow all neocon contenders. His eloquence, life history and education led us to believe he alone could transform the national debate. He could cover for our rather uncharismatic front line. His community organizer past could change neighborhoods and regions, even as they were owned and regimented by the richly entrenched. He could speak truth to power.
Those unpolitical, even the clinically cynical, bought in. Then poured in the molasses. Not only did he encounter the usual inertia, but the result of thirty years of two santa sabotage come home to roost. We didn't offer the grace of acknowledgment of this, and a scant time later, we branded him ineffective. In addition, we determined that our whole ball of wax lacked charisma. We clung to wreckage of past charisma in First lionizing Murtha, and then a line of men and women, culminating in a particularly lovable loudmouth, Grayson.
The other side busied itself slamming huge swaths of Americans, without the slightest compunction. They had not one charismatic force to work with. Save the clownish Palin and others just as lacking in gravitas and integrity. What they did have, is a planted and pollyanna belief in their being, what the people want. Further, they thought themselves able to force en masse, the national debate. Our horror was in realizing they were correct. We then busied ourselves impugning the media and establishment for giving them such a megaphone and sinking deeply into nihilism. Far from realizing that we too could do likewise, we assumed that the fix was in, and always would be. There were certainly evidences of that. Citizens United and similar insults to our democracy led us to not only attack our leaders, but to flee for the doors, as if a fire engulfed our party.
The lesson dear gentle compatriot, is this. There is nothing special in the insane claims, the lockstep cynicism and seeming unstoppability of the far right. The gilded cage we inhabit was constructed and maintained by our enemies. Newt told us that Liberals are soft, they are weak. They don't engage in strife, or noisy antagonism. Sure the ground was laid by snuffing the most innocent in Kent state and other venues. They shot down our greatest voices. They convinced us that resistance is futile. But, WE BOUGHT IT.
Our demographics, the general thrust of progress, and the alienation of much of our population should make us a slam dunk. So much so, that our opposition involves itself in vote tampering, and all forms of BREAKAGE, gerrymandering and caging, to protect themselves. They know damn well that without these, game over.
We however, see only our gilded cage, and the influence and money allied against us. Instead of acting in our interests, we seek to end the pain of even trying.
My only hope is that we realize, as our clay footed champion once muttered, that WE are the ones we have been waiting for. And again, as we have historically, acted as is the reality. It is down to us.
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