I see my role on DKos in several ways. Sometimes, I like to present diaries that present a historical perspective. Sometimes I like to share my creative urges. Sometimes I take a contrarian view when I think it's necessary. Sometimes I wax philosophical. When my side suffers defeat, I like to roar out my defiance. Sometimes I'm a firebrand/organizer, trying to whip up enthusiasm. And in my darkest moments, I'm a Jeremiah, warning of disaster.
This diary is me being Jeremiah.
Jump with me and see why.
The Republican primary campaign has been one of the most degrading, vulgar, and ugly episodes I've ever seen in 48 years of following American politics (I'm almost 60). The Republican brand has been deeply tarnished, we are told. The Republicans have alienated women left and right. Obama is headed for a big win, we are told. But here is the most recent poll from The Washington Post:
Romney 49
Obama 47
Santorum 46
Obama 49
Now let those numbers sink in. Mitt Romney, a lying, two-faced, sociopath whose only conviction is the belief that he is entitled to be president, is AHEAD of President Obama, even AFTER all the brutal viciousness of the primary season. Rick Santorum, a demented, frightening, theocratic fanatic who promises to wage all-out war on gays and the rights of women, is only down by three to a man who is quite possibly the best president of my lifetime. And this is the nadir of the Republican fortunes.
Now, consider this:
It's worth remembering that Obama didn't win by that much in 2008. Despite his strengths as a candidate, a campaign that was better funded and run, an economic meltdown in the middle of the campaign, one war gone sour and another on the turn, he only got 53% of the vote. Of the 192 electoral votes separating him and John McCain, 73 were won with just 52% of the vote or less.
Then the economy tanked further and, in the 2010 midterms, Democrats suffered the biggest swing against a governing party since 1948. The formidable coalition of African-Americans, Latinos and the young that took him to power four years ago was made up of the very groups that have suffered most under his presidency. Many liberals, meanwhile, feel disappointed. All of them still overwhelmingly prefer him to the Republicans. But a lack of enthusiasm means they are unlikely to turn out in the numbers they did last time.
Nor can he now pose as the agent of change. Shortly after his inauguration, Obama said of the economy: "If I don't get this done in three years, then there's going to be a one-term proposition." Today 58% believe the country is on the wrong track.
True, the employment outlook is improving. Sadly for Obama, that's not the best economic indicator for electoral success. For that, most political economists track real disposable personal income growth per capita, or what the average person has left after tax and inflation. For the first 11 quarters of his presidency, the RDPI has stood at -0.4%. Obama, in short, is digging himself out of a very large hole. The question is whether he has a shovel-ready solution capable of digging him out fast enough.
Now consider that Benjamin Netanyahu, who has acted in concert with the radical Right in this country to seize control of our foreign policy, is doing his utmost to destroy Barack Obama--and an attack on Iran might just do the trick.
Remember that the wealthy reactionaries behind the Republican Party can contribute BILLIONS of dollars in SuperPac money.
Remember that the Catholic bishops are doing their utmost to politicize the controversy--which they stirred up--over contraception, and will be actively trying to defeat Obama.
And as for those fantasies that disappointed Republicans won't vote for Romney if he gets the nomination?
GET REAL. THE REPUBLICANS WILL FALL INTO LINE AND WILL VOTE IN OVERWHELMING NUMBERS FOR WHOEVER IS THEIR NOMINEE.
We are facing a Republican Party seething with irrational hatred for President Obama. Despite its recent setbacks, the right-wing propaganda machine is prepared to wage savage war against us. If Romney is the nominee, he will wage the most DISHONEST, LYING, VICIOUS, SMEAR-HEAVY, SLANDEROUS CAMPAIGN IN HISTORY. He has nothing positive to campaign on--nothing. He will wage a non-stop campaign of hatred and lies, and given the depth of this country's sickness, it just might win.
I don't need to tell you what a Romney victory means. But just to reemphasize it:
--It means a catastrophic tax cut for the rich that will add $480 BILLION a year to the deficit by 2015.
--It means the hard-won ACA will be destroyed, along with our goal of extending health care to tens of millions of Americans.
--It means a Wall Street even more wildly out of control than in the Bush years.
--It means the death of Medicare and elderly people someday being forced to choose between paying for their health care or destroying the estate they had hoped to leave to their children and grandchildren.
--It means a crushing assault on the poor.
--It means second-class status for gays.
--It means an all-out assault on the reproductive rights of women.
--It means an America where religious fanatics have the ultimate say in matters of public policy.
--It means right-wing control of every level of the judiciary.
--It means war with Iran, with all the hideous, unanticipated consequences that will flow from it.
So I call upon YOU, the patriots of Daily Kos, to do your utmost to stop this tragedy from engulfing us. Please understand--PLEASE UNDERSTAND--that I have many criticisms of the Obama Administration. I am not an "Obamabot". But when I look at the alternatives, I am frankly horrified and frightened. WE MUST WIN, for the sake of our children and grandchildren.
We MUST register every single woman angry about the ugly Republican assault on women's rights.
We MUST register every union member angered by the right's assault on union rights.
We MUST register every Latino U.S. citizen shocked by the hatred coming from the Tea Party.
We MUST register every African-American voter disgusted with the right's flirtation with Birtherism/Racism
We MUST donate money in record amounts. I intend to raise $10,000 for Obama, and at least $1,000 of that will be mine. It will be necessary.
We MUST volunteer our time. You know I will be doing so.
We MUST fight back against right-wing lies in the media in the strongest terms.
We MUST get out the vote in record-breaking numbers.
This year, the election will be close. GET IT OUT OF YOUR HEAD THAT WE'RE HEADED FOR AN EASY WIN, if that's what you think. The Republicans hate us. The Republicans see us as their enemies. The Republicans are determined to impose their perverted views on our beloved nation.
I'm in, 100%.
How about you?