Oh What A Difference 22 Months Make

Remember this little gem from Kos?

Break their back, crush their spirits

See, here's the deal -- we're going to win the White House, we're going to win big in the Senate, and we're going to rack up big gains in the House. Republicans know this and are preparing for the worst. Now think of 2004 -- we really thought Kerry was going to pull it off. Remember that? And remember how utterly devastated we were when Bush pulled it off? The pain was so much worse because we expected to win.

So with conservatives bracing for the worse, they won't experience the kind of pain we did. Not unless we deliver a defeat even worse than their worst nightmares. And I'll be honest with you -- I want them to hurt as much as we did. I want their spirits crushed, their backs broken.

So the way we do that is we deliver a defeat worse than they ever imagined. We do that by winning states that have no business turning Blue -- like North Carolina, Georgia, Indiana, and so on -- states that were easy Bush victories in 2004. We do that by electing a 60-seat supermajority in the Senate. We do that by defeating their leadership, like Mitch McConnell in the Senate. We do that by defeating their heroes, like wingnut go-to hero John Shadegg. We do that by making sure a record number of Americans reject conservative ideology, leaving it utterly discredited.

The day after the election, I want to see an electoral battlefield littered with defeated Republicans, their ranks demoralized, their treasury in heavy debt, and no real leadership to take the helm. I want a vacuum so complete, that a bloody leadership battle between the neocons, theocons, and corporate cons shakes the GOP to its core, and leaves it fractured and ill-equipped to stymie the progressive agenda, much less ramp up for an even bleaker (for them) 2010.

There's more but I like freezing on the idea 2010 will be "even bleaker" for the GOP than 2008.

Let's check in with NutRoots 2010 to see, shall we?

Signs that all is not well showed up in other places. Many of those in attendance openly expressed concern that President Obama is losing momentum in pushing their causes. "I've definitely never heard more cursing by speakers at a political conference than at Netroots Nation," Philip Klein of the American Spectator told me. Markos Moulitsas, the founder of the liberal website DailyKos, railed against "bullshit Democrats" at last night's kickoff event. He urged Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer to run in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in 2012, when moderate Democratic Senator Max Baucus will presumably be seeking re-election. Mr. Baucus is blamed by liberals for sinking the chances of a "public option" in this year's health care bill.

Mr. Moulitsas was preceded by Ed Schultz, the liberal host who appears daily on MSNBC. He divided his speech between appeals to liberals to "stick it" to "ruthless, callous, rotten-to-the core Republicans" and raging about his disappointment with the Obama administration. "The White House has a war room. I think they have a sissy room too," he told attendees. At times he sounded like a spurned suitor. "I busted my ass for Obama," he said. "He don't come to Ed, he goes [and gives an interview] to Bret Baier on Fox News in my time slot."

As the man says, Heh.

I think the left does protest too much. I mean they got health care, blown up baseline domestic spending (and deficits) as far as the eye can see thanks to a useless 'stimulus' plan and grabbed a boat load of power through "Wall Street Reform". They are also making inroads on Don't Ask, Don't Tell, ending our involvement in Iraq and while they didn't get Cap and Trade, they can now move on to EPA regulations which will likely be worse than what Congress would have passed. Oh and don't forget two unimpressive but reliably liberal Supreme Court Justices.

Sure they didn't get total control of the health care syste but unless the monstrosity that did pass is repealed, it will just be a matter of time until they do. They also haven't gotten immigration amnesty or across the board tax increases but the latter is likely coming down the pike soon enough.

And yes, We're still in Afghanistan but that's as much their fault as anyone's. They are the ones who spent 5 years bitching about The Good and Necessary War (Afghanistan) vs. Bad Imperialism for Oil (Iraq). Gys, don't get pissed because people took you seriously. Beside, no matter what he says, Obama is pulling the plug on that next year in order to run on some sort of "victory" in '12.

It's natural that the base always wants more, especially given the margin of their victories, but it's not too shabby.

(See the update for a fuller list of so-called Obama "accomplishments")

Even with all of that, it's obvious that the reports of the Republican party's demise were premature. The question is, what will they do when if they get all the levers back in 2012?

Right now, Republicans aren't saying much and that's ok. The Democrats are unpopular and we should ride that wave this year since even if we win both houses this year, the impact will be limited while Obama is in office. Remember how often Bush rolled the Reid/Pelosi gang for two years? Presidents matter.

Still, at some point, the Republicans are going to have to layout a more positive agenda of what they will do if given another chance.

Until then, enjoy the tears of Kos and his friends. They are tasty. And good for you.

Update: Via Allah, Obama addresses Nutroots via video. Note the "greatest hits" clip package in the middle courtesy of MSNBC.

But FNC is a propaganda arm of the GOP.

posted by DrewM. at 08:11 PM

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