I originally wrote this on October 21, 2006. But it seems especially prescient now.
I remember the painful memories of election 2004. The exit polls gave Kerry Ohio and hence the election. Sean Hannity was fuming. Various other conservative pundits -- who had earlier predicted a Republican dominated country for years to come -- were scrambling, trying to find the proper spin.
And then it happened. As I understand it, the Republican GOTV drive was in high form. And Bush won the election, giving us 4 more years of budget deficits, failed foreign policy, an economy that benefits the top 10% -- you know the rest.
The latest news is good for Democrats. More and more seats appear to be competitive. The public mood is anti-incumbant. Congressional approval ratings are at historic lows. Bush's approval rating is mired in the 30s. A majority of people think the country is on the wrong track.
More importantly, the Republicans have started into a post-election circular firing squad with each constituency blaming the other for the failure. Conservative commentators are laying the groundwork against the proposed Democratic leadership. We've had hit pieces against Reid and Hannity and company are doing everything they can to smear a proposed speaker Pelosi.
It looks like we've already won.
THE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORK
At times like this, it's easy to get complacent -- to let up on our efforts. "They've already lost", will be the refrain, let's take a break. "We've already won."
THE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORK
I don't care if Bush comes out with a mea culpa, saying he was wrong about everything.
THE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORK
I don't care if the religious right and all of their factions apologize for attempting to create a theocracy.
THE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORK
I don't care if Bush fires Rumsfeld.
THE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORK
I don't care if Paulson admits the economy only benefits the top 10% of income earners, and the tax cuts don't pay for themselves.
THE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORK
We've got a few days left. It's time to push as hard as we can with everything we've got. It's time to dig down deep to find more to do, more to contribute, more to get done. This is not the time to quit, to lay-off, to back-off or to get lazy.
The enemy is formidable. They have built a great electoral infrastructure over the last 20-30 years. We have not.
We cannot underestimate their ability.
We cannot quit.
We cannot get lazy.
We are close to victory. But our actions in the next few weeks will determine whethor we win or lose.
THE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORKTHE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORKTHE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORKTHE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORKTHE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORKTHE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORKTHE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORKTHE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORKTHE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORKTHE ELECTION IS NOT OVER. GET BACK TO WORK