I feel a reverse-2004 coming

[Capt. Obvious]

Looking at comments sections on articles, or random RW FB pages/photos, or even bumper stickers declaring 1-20-2013 End Of An Error (How original!) and the like...

Watching these people act so sure of themselves, and so full of glee at what they just know is going to happen come November: Obama will be a one term President.

I remember that feeling well. I remember the absolute horror and sickness I felt watching the returns come in that night in November 2004. I went out to celebrate based on the Exit Polls earlier and I felt like vomiting as VA, OH, FL were called for Dubya.

Yeah Republicans, you're going to go through that.

And I'm going to point and laugh. You deserve it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I hope so. Really, really do!

[Capt. Obvious]

4. Exactly

[Vincardog]

2. Are you saying that the Lieberal media and cheating machines will give it to the democrats in 2012?

[datasuspect]

7. the machine that appoints presidents in this country is no respecter of party or faction

it only knows that lean, mean, mean green.

[elleng]

3. If only.

They STILL steal elections.

[Capt. Obvious]

6. I feel a big fat gut punch is coming their way

It will knock the wind out of them.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. I will not feel at ease until it is official

[sofa king]

8. I know this isn't going to work, but...

I think it would be very much in our best interests if we did not gloat or otherwise rub it in. We need instead to find some way to console them and to point out the rewards of this particular defeat.

I know some of us won't be able to help it, including myself, if things continue as they have, because the Republicans really have it coming to 'em.

But there is a problem with gloating.

First, we have to remember that many of these people really cannot think a problem through, which makes them easily frightened. They are not going to understand how they lost, and they are going to be instantly afraid when they realize that they are part of a minority group.

Second, exactly because this is going to be a personally devastating experience for some of them, they will be in a position to experience empathy. They often have trouble understanding the effect of takings and loss unless it happens to them first. Many conservatives have difficulty even pretending to share the emotional pain of someone else's loss (see, e.g., every Republican Presidential or Vice Presidential candidate since 2000, with the notable exception of John McCain, who had empathy for others tortured into him). If we ridicule them, they will cling more closely together.

So an overwhelming victory is a recipe for trouble if we don't win the victory, as well. I don't know how to do that, but I know that gloating and taunting is the way to lose it.

And I also know this: if the Democrats win as big as I think we may, we'll be in a position to console our conservative friends by saying, "hey, at least by losing you're going to lower your taxes by up to three thousand bucks." Invite them to watch what happens in January as the tax cuts for the rich expire and the middle class tax cuts are extended without a single Republican vote.

Ultimately, we are voting in their best interests, too. They are just deceived into not knowing it. This would be our chance to point that out, and invite them to, you know, stop being jerks.

Maybe, if we use the truth as a comfy pillow instead of as a sword of retribution, we can get them to chill the fuck out and find some more trustworthy authorities to listen to. We may even win some of them over (though, truth be told, I don't really want them on our side).

If we don't, they'll pop off like an overyeasted batch of homebrew, leaving a tragic mess behind them.

[KharmaTrain]

9. I'll Gloat On November 7th...Until Then...

Nothing can be assumed or taken for granted. It's definitely not time to gloat or become over confident. Yes, we're dealing with an inept opposition that is totally unhinged but there will still be at least 40% of those casting ballots who will vote against President Obama for one reason or another. The hope is Rmoney is such an awful candidate it depresses turnout but that means little...especially if those people do turn out and vote for the downticket races. The big battles are for the House and Senate and this is where every able body is needed...and where the hard work lies.

I'll be happy to join the schaudenfraude brigade AFTER we win...then sit back and watch the rushpublican party implode upon itself.