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electability is so largely a given that any decent Dem could win. So large that comparative margins are unimportant. People would tend to argue with the general proposition but would like to get to the logic of marginal differences like coattail or drag, reviving the GOP base or discouraging it or offering something "new' they can live with, the possibility of defeat by not countering the status quo in any critical field or some or offering to revolutionize away all the garbage and not ignore fraud and lies. There are marked differences, not just in ephemeral polls in how the candidates would rank in any of these "insignificant" things- and how they are received. Some of the negatives accruing are not going away, not even as they had with Kerry until the GOP machine kicked in after the Convention. Insofar as these things surrender anything of what on paper looks to be a sure thing in 2008, it is not something we should be enthused with- much less tolerate. In any event, there are no delegates to be awarded here on DU. Our judgement will not sway elections for this contest at least.
If in anyone's judgment, notably by fans of candidates markedly at odds or bitter toward the winner, this logical faith is not something they agree with, the reticence will carry over into the election and unfortunately to any blame beyond or lack of support for the dem president. That is important to look at as part of the picture.
I was trying to stress a more important sort of logic- presuming as this post does- that the Dems united will win in 2008. One overriding thing for nearly ALL of us here is to advance a progressive agenda and real answers to our present crises. Whether we have a candidate that plans on burying us or is completely sympathetic means NOTHING unless we show our clout and let it be felt. Whatever any other groups or volunteers do, the progressives would do best at something they have NOT done to date. Unite enthusiastically to campaign for Dems attaching the strings that are physical. Our presence, our purpose, our dough, our lobbying for the future at the polls. Despite the fine quality and sanity(relative to the religious right) if we cannot unite and cannot demonstrate 100% our commitment in the election, we will have sent ANY candidate a message that we do not matter, will only help if the litmus paper is unspotted pure, and are by all real measure irrelevant to politics. Who is going to reform things to make it easier for us? No one unless we raise our own banner. All the separate heroes and advocacy groups that have done fine work will have diminished and ever threatened results if we can't do one simple selfish thing. Stop our bickering, yes face reality, but campaign like monsters for Democrats.
So that everyone knows we are there. Knows why we act as one. Knows what vision binds us to the party. We can't help much except to divide OURSELVES. We are not going to defeat big media and win huge chunks of the electorate. In the primaries the people can make whatever choice they can and then we must work with that. As a microcosm we understand better than most the frailties of leaders, of the people, of the system- but have a huge blind spot in regard to ourselves. We must dive into the possible at last, and in doing so, lead, be there, and not RUIN it all then with divisions and bickering that serve no one but the GOP.
When you go into the phone banks or whatever, you resist the urge to weigh in on Nominee X, gushing or lamenting, and say to one and all: I am here for the Democratic wing of the Democratic party. i am here for a grass roots agenda. Then spell it out to all the other volunteers. People will be drawn to common purpose and not just as leader groupies bound for a single contest.
What this poster along with others like Will Pitt are trying to do is get us together on this, to keep us from degenerating to grouchy bystanders of defeat or victory. I am trying to get people to wake people up to WHY we have DU in the first place and cling precariously to the work in progress(or regress at times) that is this party. The hope and the ideas and the specific humanity far transcends anything or anyone and we should act like it where it counts. For the the truth. For the future. For an end to the BS. When we can show we can set aside the snark and the lark, we can stop throwing stones in our shiny glass house and make a difference, not just for Nominee X, but for everything. And MAKE them know it. And get the foot in where it cannot be removed, at ground level in the war, not election, of our generation. it is far bigger than Hillary, Edwards, DK, Biden, Obama etc. etc. etc. After the primaries- where the people, without much of our united influence to date to effect anything except on a divided individual basis, will choose- is our last chance to do what we must do for our country. Get together for an agenda and for leaders that can start bringing it about because they know they can rely on our support.
THAT unfortunately is not inevitable. A Democratic party that wins without united, undiminished progressive clout ill have gone on onto a RW spun trail without its soul.
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