An "I told you so" post, as well as some words of wisdom

[bluestateguy]

The outcome is now clear. Schwarzenegger will be Governor and Davis is out. Still, I must remind people here that there were many people here at DU who told us earlier this spring and summer that the recall was not worth paying attention to, that it was just a bunchy of kooky people with nothing better to do gathering signatures for a movement that was going nowhere, and that the recall would never certify. What do these people have to say for themselves now? The lesson to be learned here is never ever get caught napping. Our opponents will never crawl into a hole and simply go away, no matter how much we might like them do. They didn't after 1992, they didn't after 1996, and they sure as hell didn't after 2002 when Democrats swept the state of California. Learn something from this: don't listen to the professional politicians and DLCers who argue that we should "give him a chance". Get to work immediately, and start gathering the signatures to force Schwarzenegger to stand before the voters in his own right next year. The beauty of the recall law is that a determined group of activists can go over the heads of party bosses and gather the signatures to get a recall election on the ballot. Get to work folks!

[Sapphocrat]

1. Excellent point, BSG, which applies all too well...

...to 2004. Too often lately, I've been a tad disturbed by the tendency of some to take it for granted that 2004 is a lock for the Dems.

I'm not naming names (and I couldn't remember any now if I tried), and this attitude is certainly not limited to DU. However -- as much as I am enjoying watching * & Co. begin their descent -- I am concerned about the Left becoming too complacent.

It's a long way to 2004. I'm very optimistic (more so with every new WMD & Valerie Plame story), but if a Repuke win can in any way be blamed on our "napping," we are all going to feel like throwing ourselves off the nearest bridge the morning after.

I don't want hindsight -- I want to ****ing WIN next year.