Democratic National Convention '08

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Defeatism breeds defeat.

I think there's a distinction between defeatism and thinking he doesn't necessarily have it in the bag.

I don't agree with iSm. I think a vote is a vote. Yes, there's the whole electoral college thing, but the numbers are still there in the end. How many people voted in California is important even if we're a sure thing. And I wonder how many times people thought not to vote because their state was going to lean one way and then, surprise, it went the other way on Election Day.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

I think there's a distinction between defeatism and thinking he doesn't necessarily have it in the bag.

And I think you're misreading positivity for complacency.

And you've got to be kidding about Gore and Kerry. No two blander candidates could have been nominated. No one was excited for them to win. THEY hardly seem excited at their prospects of winning. Some were optimistic that the party was strong, but no one cared whether it was Gore, Kerry, or a plank of wood up there.

I'm not saying Obama's charisma and the excitement around him are guarantees he'll win. I'm saying those are the qualities that are keeping people motivated to see it through. Those are the qualities that have a libretarian ex Rush Limbaugh follower raising funds for him.

Of course he might not win. I just see continually saying, "But he might not win," as wasted energy. You vote for him. You tell people why you're voting for him. You contribute what effort and/or money you can to convince more people to vote for him. You talk about how the country will be better if they vote for him. Those are the things that matter for getting him elected.

At best, talking about "he might lose" does nothing but give you something to worry about. At worst it saps the motivation and momentum he needs to win.

[Gemini Cricket]

No, I'm not kidding about Gore and Kerry. There was a drive back then to help them. People were all revved up to help. But was it because it was that people were afraid of the alternative? Most likely. So, yes, in this case it may be different.

But this gut feeling I have about Obama not winning (although he should) was the same gut feeling I had about both Al and John and it was right around the same time of year 4 and 8 years ago. Heck, I want to be proved wrong.

Doesn't worry sometimes help? Fear of failure motivates people to do better. Positivity alone is just positivity.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Doesn't worry sometimes help? Fear of failure motivates people to do better. Positivity alone is just positivity.

I've always found fear of failure a terrible motivator. I'm much more interested in focusing on reaching for success than worrying about what happens if you happen to fail.

There's only one way to succeed at anything, and that's to do it. Either you do it and you succeed, or you do it and you fail. What does it matter if there's a possibility of failure? That doesn't change what needs to be done.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

And you've got to be kidding about Gore and Kerry. No two blander candidates could have been nominated. No one was excited for them to win.

Too bad about Gore. Such a poor candidate then, such a better one now. I found his speech last night more compelling than the actual candidate's.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

AAnd you've got to be kidding about Gore and Kerry. No two blander candidates could have been nominated. No one was excited for them to win.

You're wrong about this. Just because you weren't excited about them doesn't mean no one was. Some of us were excited about them and donated to them and travelled to other states to campaign for them.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Tom

You're wrong about this. Just because you weren't excited about them doesn't mean no one was. Some of us were excited about them and donated to them and travelled to other states to campaign for them.

Fair enough. It was hyperbole on my part.

I've edited my response out because it's beside the point. The point is, to me it's not about certainty he's going to win or not. To me, it's about the reality that there is one path to victory. That path is to remain motivated and positive. The ONLY guarantee is that if people DON'T remain motivated and positive, he will lose.

Maybe I'll feel differently in November if he does lose, but from where I stand now, I will be disappointed if he loses but I will not regret putting my energy into it. Whereas if I don't put my energy into it and he does lose, I will feel nothing but regret.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Maybe I'll feel differently in November if he does lose, but from where I stand now, I will be disappointed if he loses but I will not regret putting my energy into it.

I highly doubt CP would regret her spent energy either - but listening to her impassioned campaigning reminds me of my impassioned campaigning. For our country's sake, I want Obama to win. And for her sake - I do not want to watch her go through what I went through.

That said, I also agree that just because that the possibility of failure exists, it doesn't nullify the need for action. (Yet, here I sit, screenplay unfinished, active campaign for Obama not yet begun. Perhaps I'm just the weaker person.)

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

(Yet, here I sit, screenplay unfinished, active campaign for Obama not yet begun. Perhaps I'm just the weaker person.)

Well, you do have a crazy schedule, m'dear. I'm amazed how you keep up with it.


(Not saying that CP doesn't...)

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

And I wonder how many times people thought not to vote because their state was going to lean one way and then, surprise, it went the other way on Election Day.

I wonder the same thing. That's why it's important to remind people to go out and vote. When the majority that brings the Dem vote to CA stay home because someone else will vote the other party will win and people will wonder why.