On the eve of this election, there's something I need your help to understand

[maxrandb]

34. Seriously, here's the deal

The Republicans have learned that mid-terms and local elections matter, and they make them "national".

That's why they will hold their nose and vote for a "so-called" "moderate" like Scott Brown in NH, because all that matters to them is that they ensure we have Mitch McConnel as Senate Majority Leader, and every crazy "the world is 6,000 years old because the Bible says so" wingnut appointed to the Science and Technology Committee, giving away grants to erect "science" museums depicting humans riding on the backs of dinosaurs.

Folks are going to vote for their politicians based on what's important to them. While we on DU may agree that Climate Change is a huge problem, that coal-miner in Kentucky couldn't give a rats-ass about that, because what he cares about is his livliehood.

What plays in Peoria, IL, is not going to be the same as what plays in Seattle....but...and it's a very important BUT, with control of the House and Senate, progressives can make the kind of changes that move us in the right direction.

We are an "instant gratification" nation, but politics, and especially the kind of politics that are a long-hard-slog to bend the course of history, is a long game.

Let me ask you a serious question.

Despite the fact that President Obama has not gotten 100% of what he wanted...is there any doubt in your mind that he has been 1,000 times better than McCain or Romney would have been? Because, no matter how you want to "spin" it...that is/was your choice!

For me, there is no doubt that this country is better off after 6 years of President Obama...and I lament the fact of how much better it could have been had we given him more support, by electing more Democrats in 2010.

But what did we do? We allowed some truly insane people to grasp the reigns of power, and now (although I don't believe all the doom and gloomers) it appears we are ready to give even more insane people, even more power.

And please don't give me any of that "the lesser of two evils" crap. If you've been paying attention, you should be able to see that there is truly only one evil in politics right now. We don't win anything by standing on the sidelines and allowing them to run roughshod over this country...unless you're one of the "let's let it get as bad as it can...and then we can win" folks.

I'm not willing to put this country through that.

You wrote:

Among the attributes most clearly cherished were a demand for fair and open elections, a love of the Constitution and the rule of law, a desire to stop unjust or unwise wars, and a desire to protect and defend the environment, a desire to bring the criminals in government and Wall Street to justice.

Let me address those one by one:

- Fair and open elections. what legislature or governorship controlled by Democrats supported and passed restrictive Voter Disenfrachisement Laws? Which Supreme Court Justices nominated by a Democrat gutted the Voting Rights Act? I can tell you...the answer is NONE. That is the kind of legislation you get with Republican control.

- Love of the Constitution and the Rule of Law. What Party nominated and confirmed Supreme Court Justices Sotomayer and Kagan? What Party nominated and confirmed Eric Holder as Attorney General? What Party began to address the unfair sentencing practices that turned drug users into livelong prisoners? When you elect Democrats, you get Kagan and Sotomayer. When you elect Republicans...YOU GET THOMAS, ALITO AND SCALIA

- A desire to stop unjust or unwise wars. Out of Afghanistan. Out of Iraq... Standing up to Bibi Netanyaho, vice doing his bidding. Bin Laden dead in a raid that cost ZERO American lives. Do you doubt that with McCain, or Romney we would be in World War III by now??

- A desire to protect and defend the environment. The largest ever investment in Green Energy. Stricter EPA Power Plant Regulations, unprecedented protections of millions of acres of public lands, etc, etc, etc. That is what you get when you elect Democrats. Poisoned water and earthquakes in Ohio and the Dakotas is what you get when you elect Republicans.

- A desire to bring the criminals in government and Wall Street to justice. I may give you a little bit on this, but let's not forget that it was this President, and a Democratic controlled Legislative Branch that passed and signed one of the most comprehensive Wall Street reform laws in this nation's history. One other thing...it's great that we "demand" bringing people to justice, but one problem with your argument can be found in my answer to your Love of the Constitution and Rule of Law point. Unfortunately, what the bastards on Wall Street did to this country was perfectly legal. I'm sorry, but if you truly believe in the "rule of law", you can't insist we arrest and prosecute people, just because it makes us feel good. Find a law that was broken, and I'm sure Holder would prosecute. - BTW, do you really think putting Republicans in charge is going to somehow hold Wall Street accountable?

so there's my answer. In fact, as I wrote this...I was kind of shocked that the Democrats and President Obama were able to get so much accomplished. Especially when you consider the withering, relentless attacks from both the right AND THE LEFT!!!!!

Sometimes, you need a Senator Landreiu so that you can get a Justice Ginsberg. That's a deal I'd make 1000 times over!