Kerry Was Right To End It

[DrFunkenstein]

Kerry had a number of top operatives, including Michael Whouley, crunching the numbers on the ground in Ohio and it just wasn't going to happen. I wish it were different, but the fact remains that a protracted battle with only a thin sliver of possibility, against the backdrop of a clear popular vote, was not going to be in the best interest of our long term goals.

A lengthy battle would make Democrats seem to be obstructionists concerned more about winning than our principles. Yes, the Party is in need of a great deal of examination.

I, for one, believe that we need to present a clear progressive agenda on several key issues, but perhaps more importantly, we have to re-examine our relationship to the media.

Yes, the media sucks ass, but there are also unwritten rules to what they cover and how. We need to master those rules and make the media work for us again - which won't be easy, because I believe that media reform should be one of those key issues we address head on.

Everyone here has the right to vent their frustrations and I'm sure I will sooner or later. But in the light of day, this was an unwinnable fight and battle for the sake of battle would only have made our case more difficult in the next few years.

Flame away.

[RummyTheDummy]

1. No flames here

Had he fought it, the media would have relished demonizing Democrats for months. They still will, but it won't be nearly as bad as it would have been. As you said, the numbers just werent there.

[JI7]

2. we need to figure out how to deal with the "moral values" crowd

[DrFunkenstein]

4. We Need To Make "Ethics" A Code Word For Anti-Bigotry

And tolerance.

When people are polled about "moral values," they know that this is a code word for the social conservative agenda and respond accordingly. The reason they know this is the result of a media bombardment with the term.

We need to create a situation where "ethics" or some other such word declares that the ass-backward folk have no more claim to morality than the "heartland" has to being the true America.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. I don't agree.

Simply because I don't think it matters if we're labeled "obstructionists" anymore. I think we're well beyond that point.

[RinaJ]

5. I think many here were prepared for everything but...

...actually losing the election heads-up to Bush. The provisional ballot numbers just aren't there, and all the ranting and raving at Kerry isn't going to change that. We lost in Florida because they beat us at turning out the vote. And again, we completely lost rural America because we haven't figured out a way, over four years, to get more of them on our side.

[Kerry in 04]

6. MAybe end it tommorrow, not today.

[prayin4rain]

7. I just don't see why they don't feel the need to investigate anything

before conceding. And for the love of god at least let all of the votes get counted, for principle if nothing else.

[DrFunkenstein]

9. There Was Investigation And The Votes Will Be Counted

Kerry had his ground team in Ohio, headed by Whouley, laying out all the numbers and all the scenarios. It wasn't like they just said, "Ah, screw it."

But the votes will be counted and, technically at least, the election is not yet over.

I am not holding my breath, but I am also waiting to see what turns up.

[Straight Shooter]

8. "concerned more about winning than our principles"

This is why bush pulled victory from the jaws of defeat. His machine has no principles. And what good are principles when the earth is dying?

I'm not in a conciliatory mood towards Kerry right now. Something doesn't feel right.

Time will tell. But that depends on how much time we have.

[DrFunkenstein]

10. You Have Every Right To Feel Bitter And Confused

I do, too. I don't feel right, either - I hate to say it, but I was pretty confident going into last night.

I think our next step is to reconfigure our relationship to the media and how we get out our message - we have the superior message, but we have to figure out how to better get it across.

If it gives you any hope, I think Obama did an excellent job of laying out our core principles.