Did WE - progressives, Democrats, libruls, reformers, community activists and organizers, Veterans, students, conservationists, disaffected Republicans, socially and environmentally progressive Evangelicals, LGBT, immigrants, Indigenous Peoples, Libertarians, Independents, "hard-working Americans" - think this would be easy?
Was a national election predicated on the changing our long-established systems of top-down, corporate, divisive, shock-and-awe governance EVER going to be won in the week after our nominee was evident?
Were those in power going to step aside gracefully, willingly and enthusiastically, as a new generation of people-powered, transparent, inclusive and ACTIVE leaders assumed control of our nation's political, ethical and spiritual direction?
Were the Rovians of today going to resign without a fight, without spreading lies, without trying to appeal to our fears and basest instincts in order to divide us? Was John McCain going to run up the white flag based on early polling? Was John McCain going to willingly make his a campaign based on issues, when his positions were clear to fail the majority of Americans? Were we to expect a REFORMED style of campaigning from a campaign run by lobbyists?
The GOP has knocked me off my game over the last few weeks. This is how I've managed to RECHARGE:
Even when I was down, the message lifted me up:
With some music, if you prefer:
Scared? Frustrated? Uncertain of what the future holds? Yes.
Giving up? No way, no how,....
I HOPE we can all remember how we got to this point in time, how we've given our *TIME*, hard-earned *MONEY*, called our *NEIGHBORS*, or knocked on *DOORS*.
Let's channel our "strategy"; if you think something is wrong or want to expose a McCain lie, tell your neighbors, send an undecided voter in your family an email, make an honest viral video, take the substantive discussion to Townhall, or Little Green Footballs.
Organize a community service day in your neighborhood through My.BarackObama.com and make sure everyone wears a tasteful Obama button, sticker or t-shirt.
Or donate a dollar, sign up for three hours of canvassing, or walk down to your local Obama HQ and ask how you can help make the world a better place by getting Barack Obama elected.
YES. WE. CAN.
It was never going to be easy. The cynics and power-brokers were never going to give up in August, September, October, November or beyond.
You said the time has come to move beyond the bitterness and pettiness and anger that's consumed Washington; to end the political strategy that's been all about division and instead make it about addition - to build a coalition for change that stretches through Red States and Blue States. Because that's how we'll win in November, and that's how we'll finally meet the challenges that we face as a nation.We are choosing hope over fear. We're choosing unity over division, and sending a powerful message that change is coming to America.
You said the time has come to tell the lobbyists who think their money and their influence speak louder than our voices that they don't own this government, we do; and we are here to take it back.
The time has come for a President who will be honest about the choices and the challenges we face; who will listen to you and learn from you even when we disagree; who won't just tell you what you want to hear, but what you need to know. And in New Hampshire, if you give me the same chance that Iowa did tonight, I will be that president for America.
YES. WE. CAN.