The progressive press is filled with gloomy news:
The persistently depressed economy.
The apparent success by republicans in defining the problem as “overspending.”
The democrats – and the president’s – inability or unwillingness to do anything about it.
With federal action to stimulate the economy politically impossible, republicans have a reasonable chance to win it all in 2012.
Our side could once again be facing the nightmare scenario:
A republican president and majorities in both houses of congress.
If you think the last two and a half years were painful…
I have no doubt that moderate, liberal and progressive democrats will pull together to try to prevent republican rule.
This will energize us.
But as we rally around Barack Obama and democratic senate candidates, we’ll feel used and maybe even bitter.
There will be arguments on the left about whether to withdraw from the endless lesser of evils cycle. But in the end, the prospect of right-wing governance will scare us into action.
As always, they’ll be plenty of twists and turns ahead.
We’ll be hoping to come out alive on the debt-ceiling battle.
For a brutal republican primary fight and a weak nominee.
And for any break in the economic numbers we can get.
Finally, we’ll be rooting for Barack Obama to be at his most charming, persuasive and – above all – presidential.
So my fellow democrats:
Enjoy the summer, stay positive and good luck keeping your job.