Courage Makes A Majority

Time to Crush Their Spirit

I know, it has been a long time.  I was just watching Keith Olbermann and I had a bit of an epiphany.  Keith was doing a great special comment telling John McCain to get control of his campaign.  The vitriol among the Republican base has been whipped into such a frenzy that the networks have been questioning the tactics of the GOP and whether we now have a safety issue. 

It has become clear to me as I watch this election unfold.  We are getting a glimpse at the worst our society has to offer.  The idea that people feel its appropriate to equivocate the Democratic Nominee to a Terrorist, Manchurian Candidate and a Traitor is disturbing.  Shouts of "Kill Him!" are even more frightening. 

But in all of this drudgery, something has crystallized for me.  This moment; This election provides us an opportunity beyond electing a once in a life time leader.  It is the chance for us, Democrats and Independents, to destroy the Republican party as it is currently constituted by delivering an election night ass whipping like we haven't seen since days of FDR.

Having a the Democratic Party own the White House, Sixty Senate seats and maybe 100 seat majority in the House would do just that.   If we can see election results somewhere in that neighborhood, it would send a message to the lowest common denominator of our society, those people shouting "Traitor" and "Kill Him."  It would show them they are clearly on the fringe of our society.  That the power they have enjoyed the last eight years under George Bush has been taken away.   And without that power, why even bother showing up. 

It is a chance to drive a wedge between traditional conservatives that believe in less govenment, fiscal responsiblity and dare I say civil liberties (the government should not mettle in our lives) and the social conservatives that could care less about fiscal issues and civil liberties and see the government as a tool to legislate culture and morality.

Let's break their spirt. 

• Step 1: Take the White House.  Looking good so far, based on the latest polling, 538.com predicts Obama's chance of winning at about 95.8%.  Furthermore, the chance of an Obama landslide (defined as winning over 375 electoral votes) is about 53.4%.   Now, my guess it the election will tighten a bit between now and November 4th, but I rather be in this position than McCain's.
• Step 2: Take 60 Senate Seats.  This one is a bit tougher, but still possible.  First, the Democrats start with 50 seats (including Bernie Sanders I-VT, but not Joe Leiberman I-CT who is not only dead to me, but also the Senate Democrats).  If we win the White House, both Joe Biden and Barack Obama's seats will be filled by appointments from Democratic Governors.  There are no Democratic Senate Seats at risk (Landrieu in LA is safe),  There are four seats that are definite pickups, VA, CO, NM and NH.  That's 54.  There are another 4 that are highly likely to flip: MN, OR, AK, NC.  That is 58.  Two more to get and in a landslide some questionable seats can flip and we have 3 targets (MS, GA, KY).  All three of these states are Eastern/Central Time Zone so we will have an idea early in the night.    Even if we don't flip those last two seats, we may be able to flip some sitting moderate Republican senators like Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe or John Sununu.
• Step 3: Take a 100 seat majority in the House.  The Dems currently have a 37 seat majorty that means they have to flip 32 more seats (37+32 new Dem seats+32 less GOP seats=101 seat majority).   Our good friends at Swing State Project project 5 GOP seats are likely to flip, 23 are toss-ups and another 15 are weak holds for the GOP, so there are 43 seats in play, on the other hand there is only 1 Dem seat likely to flip, 3 toss-ups and 14 more weak holds.  Again in a landslide election, there is a good chance for the Dems to hold most of their seats and flip most of the GOP seats.
• Step 4: Take those solid majorities and mandate from the public for Obama and use it wisely, govern effectively and prove that the progressive ideology is superior to the failed conservatism fo the last 8 years.

There you have it.  A four step plan to change the political landscape for the next generation.  Let's go and deliver.  And for your viewing pleasure, here is Keith's special comment from tonight's show.

Stark Choice

I have said it a number of times.  The choice between John McCain and Barack Obama is stark.   There is no way to really be undecided about this race.  Whether your #1 priority is the economy, healthcare or national security, the choice is simple to distiguish.

Just on the subject of Iraq, Barack shows that stark contrast with little effort.

The choice is clear for our future.  Change or more of the same.  I vote for change.

How old is John McCain?

Really, for a man in his early seventies, he acts like a fifth grader.  This is rich.  First, John McCain gets criticized by Barack Obama for his opposition to the 21st Centurty GI Bill.  Here is the key quote:

"I respect Sen. John McCain's service to our country. He is one of those heroes of which I speak. But I can't understand why he would line up behind the President in his opposition to this GI Bill. I can't believe why he believes it is too generous to our veterans. I could not disagree with him and the president more on this issue. There are many issues that lend themselves to partisan posturing but giving our veterans the chance to go to college should not be one of them."

It was an appropriate criticism of a man who claims to be pro-veteran because...well, he is a veteran.  So how does he respond.  He argues the merits, right?  Nope. He decides that since he is a vet, he is above criticism on this issue and starts yelling at the clouds.  This is perfect, because it makes him just like Bush, another Republican beyond criticism.

"It is typical, but no less offensive that Sen. Obama uses the Senate floor to take cheap shots at an opponent and easy advantage of an issue he has less than zero understanding of...And I take a backseat to no one in my affection, respect and devotion to veterans. And I will not accept from Sen. Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did."

It's a classic ploy, "because you did not stand in my shoes I am beyond reproach by you" attitude.  Except, it's bullshit.  Excuse me, Mr. McCain but your service to this country does not impune you from criticism of your actions.  You chose to side with a very unpopular president and oppose an extremely popular bill (it did pass with over 70 votes in the Senate, as well as a veto proof majority in the house). 

Your quote above is shameful as you try to hide behind the very service you claim to honor.  Your 5 year stay as POW in Vietnam is held in the highest regard by most Americans, including me.  But, it doesn't provide you with a shield from legitimate criticism. 

When the time came for you to stand up to provide our veterans with an avenue to gain a 4-year college degree (housing and books included) after serving six years in the military, you stood against them.  You may have had merit to your argument, but instead of standing by those merits, you decided to play the Veteran card. 

I got news for you, you don't get to determine when it's appropriate to criticize you, the American people do, regardless if they served or not.  I got a little more news for you, there are more ways than one to serve this country and most them don't include putting on a uniform and taking up a weapon.  You can continue to yell at the clouds all you want, but come November, America will have spoken and it will say, in one voice, Yes We Can Change!

Oh, and Barack, bless his heart, hit McCain right back, and called him out for what he really is...a bully.  It is nice to have a Democrat with a spine.

" It's disappointing that Sen. McCain and his campaign used this issue to launch yet another lengthy personal, political attack instead of debating an honest policy difference. He should know that this is not about John McCain or Barack Obama -- it’s about giving our veterans a real chance to afford four years of college without harming retention.  Sen. Webb’s bipartisan bill will do this, and the bill that John McCain supports would not. These endless diatribes and schoolyard taunts from the McCain campaign do nothing to advance the debate about what matters to the American people."

Well done Barack.  Don't worry, we got your back.