The Democrats On Probation

Dana picked this up from rosefox (I hope Dana doesn't mind me stealing it.) It is, beyond anything I have read to this point, a statement of remarkable clarity.

This election is not a mandate; far from it. Your majorities are slim and your positions frankly precarious. You are on probation. You have two years to get this country in the mood to elect a Democrat to the presidency*, and to generally see Democrats--and, by extension, liberals--as upright, forthright human beings. You will treat your fellow VIPs and your constituents with respect and dignity, while not letting them walk all over you. You will stand firm when it's called for and negotiate and compromise when it's called for. You are permitted exactly zero scandals, backstabbings, and slingings of mud. We are counting on you. Do not fuck this up.

The Democrats should be allowed their moment of rejoicing. Then, they should get on with their job, with an acute awareness that the American people have turned to them for change. They expect the arrogance of the preceding Congressional majority to end; the scandals to cease and good government to re-emerge.

I would suggest that shouldn't be so difficult given the last six years, however, two years can be a long time. There will be no honeymoon. There will be only the opportunity for a lot of hard work and the occasion to demonstrate to American voters and the global community that the trust put in them is not misplaced.

The Democrats are at mid-field, in possession of the ball, first down and down by six points. It's a long haul to that goal line.