As I watch the continual downward spiral of morale on the Kos and beyond, it startles me just how many people here think that Obama is some kind of omnipotent figure capable of waving a magic wand and fixing the country in one fell swoop. As the plot unfolds, I'm beginning to understand the right's mockery of us revering this man as the messiah, and that perspective makes enormous sense when you see how some of us are reacting lately.
Some of us are practically demanding that Obama single handedly take on special interests and entrenched corporate greed without our help. If it were a game of euchre, we're nearly expecting the president to pull a "loaner" and win every single hand with zero assistance. Meanwhile, the conservatives kick and scream about it, albeit childishly, but nevertheless effectively. And because of our complacency we find ourselves at a very early crossroads.
Today, I took the time to watch Obama's speech from the Democratic National Convention again, and it suddenly came back to me. The reason we overwhelmed them wasn't because they put up a shitty candidate. It wasn't because Obama looked so damn good on camera. It wasn't because of his soaring speeches. It was because we worked together to get what we wanted at one of the most critical moments in our nations history.
Folks, I'm mad as hell too, but not for the same reasons as a growing number of you. I'm still mad as hell at the do-nothing policies of the last administration, and the wounds we bear today as a result. And what I see is the alarmingly short attention span of those I never would've suspected. Rather than get our hands dirty, many of us are seemingly wondering why stepping into the booth last November wasn't enough. Some of us have adopted a wait-and-see attitude towards this administration rather than play an active role in the revolution. I emphasize that word because I don't think many folks realize that that is what's happening in this country right now. And sitting on your ass being pissed off and blogging about it isn't how a revolution works. It takes a sustained effort that we have yet to levy against the opposition. Is it then any wonder how our voices could possibly be drowned out by the corporate billions that we are up against?
Rather than continue that tradition that got us victory in November, we've resorted to petty attacks on ourselves, and to the politicians masquerading as liberals. Instead, we need to let these very politicians know where we're coming from so that they vote the right way at the right moment. If they're willing to play charades to get into political office, then they've got to have a persistent and willing teammate in order to keep playing. Not someone who gives them the finger every time they make a poor choice. If you keep throwing beanballs, then they may vote against you out of resent. Constituency be damned if you can collect millions of dollars on your way out the door. While I agree that the president may have sent the wrong man for the job to convey this message to us all, I don't agree that he did it for the wrong reasons.
Cry "straw man" all you want, and you know who you are. It's no secret that when a person feels that they're under attack, they immediately go on the defensive. The comments section will very quickly draw those of you out. If you feel like I'm aiming this diary at you, then that's your problem. For clarity's sake, I'm talking directly to those who feel as if we simply voted for Obama to go into office to do our dirty work. As if every problem facing this country would get fixed in six months, one year, or some other arbitrary timeframe. Or as if we needed a place for the buck to stop and nothing more. This isn't typical political discourse we find ourselves in the middle of, it's perhaps a pinnacle moment for what a vast majority of us have been fighting for for decades or longer. And I see an alarming amount of complacency and resent instead of genuine passion that fuels a true revolution.
The answer isn't fighting with those that are already or even potentially on your team. I, for one, believe that is what the administration is currently trying to say. The answer is in showing up at town halls and taking on these shouting conservative fools directly. A great kudos in order to those who keep suggesting this in their diaries and to those who keep rec'ing them up. We should be shouting these "deather" bastards down the second they arrive at the microphone. At EVERY turn. Right there for the cameras to see. No violence necessary, just really loud rebuttals, and in some kind of collective fashion. The occasional grunt or boo will suffice, but I don't even see that. The media has a lot to do with it, but that's what YouTube and Dkos TV is for. If it's already happening that way, then let's make it be known.
Sometimes, I truly feel like we are incapable of taking a page out of the right's book and showing force where it counts. Sometimes, it's because we would rather waste our time yelling at those of us that share common goals for this country. And no doubt, some of you won't hesitate to do that to me in the comments. Regardless of what you know about my personal situation. Regardless of whether you know how much I've already done for the cause. I'm not going to spell out my life for you. But rest assured, you have no right to direct any of your anger or personal experiences at me thinking I somehow am ignorant to getting the shit end of the stick in this country.
Lest we forget, some of the most ferocious political battles we have ever fought lie ahead. Let us not forget the power of the collective voice. Let's not choose to make excuses for failure in lieu of taking on the fight to the bitter end.
And for those that feel the infantile need, flame away at me in the comments section. Hide rate the crap out of me if you want. And if you do, it's proof to me that you'd rather be mad than do something about it. Call your congressman. You know the threads. Find them and do it. I already have, and will continue to do so for you, me, and everything we believe in because that's how you get things done.