A marathon, not a sprint. Stay calm, pace yourself, and we will win

[swag]

This presidential campaign is a marathon, not a sprint. DUers should not burn themselves out or get depressed because of the latest lies from Bunnypants, Hannity, and Co. We should not get hysterical because we saw a negative ad or heard a creep say something stupid on the radio.

Pace yourselves, people. Be happy that you are involved in a great cause, and keep that end goal in mind.

Inform yourself and your friends on the issues. Eat good food. Laugh a lot. Enjoy the good work you are doing to restore the Republic and to rid the nation of these bungling and loathsome tyrants.

And don't obsess on the DU all day every day, please. Give yourself a break once in a while. Be glad that John Kerry is taking a much deserved week off. If you're concerned about his absence, write some calm, rational letters to editors, media outlets, senators, and representatives. Then, when he gets back to work, you should take a week off.

We are going to beat Bush & his sleazy cronies. We are. Stay positive, stay focused, but take care of yourself.

Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett's partner, once said to a packed hall of investors, "There's much more to life than accumulating paper certificates that you hope will increase in value." Honestly, it's the same with politics. It is a good thing to be an engaged citizen, as everyone here is. We know what we have to do and how important it is to our country. But everyone needs rest now and then. Some fun and some sunshine and some mindless entertainment can be crucial.

I'm sorry if I sound pedantic, particularly for such a newcomer. You all have my best wishes, and I am very happy to be on your side. We are going to win this marathon. And we are going to have fun doing it.

Best to all,

swag

[lastknowngood]

1. You don't have a race unless both people are running. If Kerry

doesn't start attacking the shrub and his misadministration and it's illegal activities he will be defined by Rove and the "librul media" as a wimp on defense, and if he won't go on the attack when he is being savaged why would anyone believe he could respond appropriately to a crisis?

[tigereye]

2. I think your advice is well taken

Bush will do what Bush will do. Every time I have seen an evil Bush ad, it was followed by a Kerry rebuttal. Kerry is not just going to roll over and allow himself to be defined by the opposition.

[hippiegranny]

3. thanks for the reminder

i am taking a deep breath and getting ready for the long haul. i believe the bushies are thrashing around like flies stuck in a spiderweb. it doesn't help that the media whores keep helping to extricate them. but there is nothing that kerry can do right this moment to change that anyway. whores will be whores. he needs a strategy to get around them. maybe that is part of what the vaca is all about. we all need to chill.

[patricia92243]

4. Good post, good advise - keep it up.

[seabeyond]

5. i love you tone

yes i agree. lots to do, lots of time, and i prefer to do with a smile and laughter. and i to want to see kerry get some sun and have some fun. and i just know, the american people will embrace that way more than any tit for tat with bushco

again i say, every step of the way, every ad put out, bush has shot himself down.

and will be good to see other democrats, and dncfilling in for a while

thank you for this

[frank frankly]

6. soothing and intelligent

i will take away a lot from what you wrote. thank you...

:hi:

[K8-EEE]

7. Absolutely!! Excellent Advice Swag ---

Hey is this my friend, the music lover -- from Oregon?

-- Katie

[swag]

10. KATIE!

Hi, Katie.

Hi!

[WatchWhatISay]

8. Don't worry about Kerry

As a friend reminded me today, although we all love to hear Kerry go after Bush, the smart thing to do is what Rove & Bush have done all along. Bush's reaction, when others try to get him to criticize his foes is to always take the high road, and say something tactful and graceful, at the most criticizing policy, but not the person. The dirty work is ALWAYS left up to others. I hope this is what Dean and Kerry have been working out in the last few days. Let MoveOne.org or Dean or Ted Kennedy or some other safe Democrat do the heavy lifting, while making it appear that Kerry is above it all, even if he agrees with what was said.

When she first said that Kerry shouldn't have said other world leaders want Bush out, or that he shouldn't have said what he said about this lying, crook administration, I at first thought she was nuts. I wanted Kerry to be Dean. Well, I hope Dean and Kerry are smart enough to know that with the media we have, they will destroy Kerry if he does this (just as they did Dean).

[lancdem]

9. Excellent post

Thanks! :)