[My apologies, but this will be a short diary -- I have to go help the cause.]
...but I am scared.
"Never underestimate our ability to screw things up."
Too true.
I want to be clear: I am not calling for us to abandon ship or anything of the sort. I just want us to take a step back and realize that we are many, many days away from election day. And there is much to be done.
Please follow....
We cannot stop phone banking. We cannot stop walking precincts. We cannot stop. We must go on. Hell, we must fight for our country.
I am all for talking about what might happen if Obama wins. I am not for talking about transition teams and who might make a good attorney general. So long as that is still couched in the terms of "what might happen". Because nothing is for certain. Nothing is guaranteed. And there is much to be done.
The Republicans have many tricks up their sleves. Calling out the FBI on ACORN for a ridiculous charge of fraud when ACORN was defrauded by its independent contractors. Robocalling, state laws be damned. Vexatious litigation over voter rolls in Ohio. Intimidation at the polls elsewhere. Reducing the number of voting machines at minority/low income polling locations to unnecessarily create long lines. Beating up reporters. Explicitly encouraging racism and bigotry. Lying about a candidate's religion, birth or policies. The list goes on and on.
There is much to be done.
So, let's not be complacent. Let's not fear our own shadows. Let's talk optimistically and hopefully. Let's dream big dreams.
But let's deliberately put one leg of our pants on at a time. Let's stay focused on the goal. We have not reached it yet. We have not crossed the finish line. This 20+ month marathon continues, at least for a few more weeks.
There is much to be done:
Phonebank.
Walk precincts.
Write letters to editors.
Volunteer.
Stay informed.
Confront the uninformed -- respectfully.
Vote.
Bring neighbors to vote.
Be the change for which we have been waiting. Yes we can. Yes we must. Let's go do it.
GOTV!
Thanks for listening.
Update: If we fail in our task, this is what we have to look forward to for the next 4 years (or less):