It's over. Now let's make it work for us.

[NicoleM]

First of all, Californians, you have my heartfelt condolences.

We lost this battle. The only thing we can do now is do what we can to make it work to our advantage.

Next year, we will have a presidential election on which the future of our nation rests. I firmly believe that if Bush wins again, America as we know it is OVER. And we all know that they will do anything, and I mean ANYTHING, to win.

The idea that this recall is a "right-wing power grab" is already out there. We need to push this, hard. We need to say over and over again that the Republicans will do anything to win, that they don't care about what the people really want, that all that matters to them is staying in power.

We need to plant that idea solidly in the American consciousness NOW, so that if * manages to steal the next election, enough people will recognize it for what it is that MAYBE we can stop them from getting away with it. If we wait too long, it will be seen as "just politics."

So there's no time like the present. Start talking about this TODAY. If anybody brings up the recall, grumble about how the Republicans stole another election--not from Democrats but from the voters. Write a letter to the editor. Say something to a total stranger while you're waiting in the checkout line. Call in to a radio talk show.

Spread the word.

[CBHagman]

1. You're 100 percent right.

I couldn't agree with you more that the GOP is completely ruthless and will do literally anything to win, including ignoring laws on the books, strong-arming the judiciary, and buying a recall, as Darrell Issa (R-CA) did.

One tool we can use in this is the leak scandal. It pretty much reveals the Bush White House for the vindictive, paranoid, Machiavellian, and secretive joint it is.

Another tool is showing people where the money is going...and the jobs. Bush has consistently pushed policies that openly and directly enrich him, his family, and his business associates, no question about it. Point to Halliburton contracts. Point to the attempt to permanently eliminate the estate tax and most taxes on the rich. If you possibly can, get everyone you know to read a chapter or two in the Joe Conason book (especially the part about how the Rush Limbaughs of this world are totally cut off from how Joe Sixpack lives) or perhaps the new Michael Moore volume.

We've got to use what tools we have at our disposal. The tide will eventually turn; I am certain of that.

[NicoleM]

2. Whatever we do

we need to start NOW. If we wait until next summer, it will all be seen as "politics." And as we saw yesterday, if people decide it's "just politics," it won't matter even if it's true.

[no name no slogan]

5. Right on sister

First things first, is we ABSOLUTELY NEED to start defining ourselves as DEMOCRATS, not just "the anti-Republicans". IMHO, Davis brought this shitrain down on himself. He's basically a Republican apologist, a DINO who managed to piss off California's entire Democratic constituency in the space of only five years.

I am not overly sad to see him go, if it means California gets a chance to elect a REAL DEMOCRAT in a few years' time.

And, speaking as a fellow Minnesotan, at least OUR cartoon governor held a political office before he went to the governor's mansion! :toast:

[LoneStarLiberal]

3. All Good Ideas

All of these are good ideas and great ways to get in peoples' faces to get them to start thinking about these things.

Without a sympathetic voice in the media it's going to be tough...and it's going to place more of an emphasis on grassroots action.

[joefree1]

4. And get Mad

[msmcghee]

6. Don't you see?

Many Americans love a leader who will do anything to win. If he has to squash a few ninny democrats on the way to getting Osama and Saddam - what's the problem?

On edit: We dems are so worried about fair play and honesty in candidates, in our parties and in our leadership.

We forget that most Americans - now that the pukes have so deftly brought us into the age of total war - believe that in war you do whatever you need to to win. There are no rules. The more the pukes demonstrate their disdain for rules and fair play - the more they will be elected.

The more we dems wring our hands over fairness issues, and respecting our opponents, the weaker we seem to the "morans".

Carl Rove knows this very well.

[NicoleM]

7. Yesterday

was not the day to post this. So I'm giving it a kick today to see if I can generate a little more interest.

I really think that we need a contingency plan for if * is able to steal the next election, and I think this is a good place to start.