One big thing in politics and sports is momentum. It's also a pretty big thing in physics. Right now, all the momentum is with the Democrats. Sure, the power is with the Republicans, and on paper it should have been an easy win, but anyone who has ever watched a 14 point underdog win a big football game against the defending champions in the second half, you know that things don't always work out the way you expect them to.
When momentum shifts, it throws off your whole gameplan. Suddenly it starts affecting the team in ways you never imagined, and didn't notice until it is too late to manage with simple tweaks to your strategy. Now your defense is getting tired, and the opposition is seeing all your plays and schemes, and is now familiar with them. Now your opponent knows how to counter them. Your offense has to throw out some of the more successful, low risk plays for more dangerous ones that could cover more ground, but wind up hurting you because of their recklessness.
That is the position the GOP is in now. They are reeling, giving up too much ground and being forced to take much more riskier moves. Not just in the Kavanaugh debacle. Everywhere.
In their attempt to control the narrative and plug the leaks and cover up the lies, they have opened their flanks to attack, and the attackers are relentless. They have exposed their weaknesses and shortcomings, and those weaknesses will be exploited. They are spread too thin.
They have managed to paint themselves as misogynists, hysterical whiners, bullies, and complicit in the obstruction of justice. Worst of all in Washington, they once again prove themselves incompetent.
They knew once Trump became president and didn't temper his arrogance and bizarre rants and hatred, that there would be a countdown timer until it all exploded like a cheap roadside fireworks stand. They probably never even expected to make it to the midterms, but they became emboldened by Trump's base, and their stubborn refusal to accept reality.
But now, even those rubes can't help them, so they are overreaching and trying everything they can, while they still have some control of the game. Meanwhile, behind closed doors, they are like crooked accountants, shredding paper while the FBI knocks on their door. They just want to get themselves as clean and protected as they can before they get out of Dodge.
It will be hard to turn that momentum. If the Democrats are smart, they will be inclusive, to the progressives and the socialists and the young people who want to stay on the offensive and move the ball forward. Moderates and progressives can coexist. There is a lot of common ground, but a lot of that gets lost in today's combative atmosphere.
There is another sports analogy, and that is you don't let the other team up when you have them down, you go for the kill. We are at a point in history where the racist, misogynist, crooked old white man club can finally be crippled, perhaps permanently. We need all parts of the left to do that. It is a golden opportunity, and we can't squander it with infighting and division in the ranks. You can't fight a world war and a civil war at the same time. You need full strength from all parts of the team, working towards a single goal.
That goal should be using our momentum to crush the opposition while they are down. It might sound cruel, but it is much more humane in the long run, for everyone.
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