(cross-posted at Deny My Freedom and Daily Kos)
Ever since I took World History in high school, I’ve been a fan of learning about the events of the past. To me, they always provide a good estimation of what will occur in the future, as history has a tendency to repeat itself (in some cases, unfortunately). The picture above depicts the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the spelling the official end to the last vestige of the original Roman Empire. While the city itself had been sacked in 1204 by the Crusaders due to the enmity stemming from the Great Schism, the center of the Byzantine Empire (called the Eastern Roman Empire in earlier times) managed to hang on for almost another 250 years. Nevertheless, after continually struggling to fend off various Islamic groups such as the Seljuk Turks, another chapter in humanity’s unfinished history was closed when the Ottomans, led by Mehmed II, laid siege to Constantinople, eventually overrunning the city’s defenses.
How does this relate to the present? Imagine the Democratic Party establishment as a Constantinople. It possesses a rich history, that of FDR, Harry Truman, JFK, and LBJ. These were leaders who largely defined our party’s legacy, adding layer after layer of progressive accomplishments to our name. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, the FDIC, and so many other pieces of legislation – these are things Democrats of any stripe can be proud of. But over the years, our party continues to look upon that glorious past, like the Byzantine Empire did, without recognizing the oncoming threat to their existence. Instead of fighting for progress, our party has become one of accommodation and of appeasement. The establishment has become too afraid of combating our enemies for fear of whatever epithets may be hurled in our direction. At times, it seems like their sole goal in politics in recent times has been to keep themselves in power instead of going on the offensive. But sooner or later, our party was bound to find itself in the same state as Byzantium was in the mid-1400s – surrounded by enemies, with nowhere to go.
History aside, Ned Lamont is poised to make history tomorrow. There is no doubt it has been a difficult race. Everyone said that it was impossible, that we were foolishly throwing ourselves at yet another hopeless cause. I bet most of us didn’t think what has occurred would even possible. Back at the beginning of the year, I would have been happy throwing a few rocks over the barriers to let the establishment know that we’d had enough of Joe Lieberman’s backstabbing antics. Over the months, we’ve tossed our share of stones – but now we’ve begun scaling the towering ivory walls that the Democratic establishment believes it should rightfully hold for time immemorial. In response, the establishment has responded by throwing everything and the kitchen sink at us. They’ve called us a bunch of far-left, wild-eyed radicals. They’ve questioned Lamont on issues, however irrelevant, about his wealth, his membership in country clubs, and his relationship with people who aren’t officially affiliated with his campaign. They’ve called in every possible favor, from ideologically inclined politicians like Bill Clinton to those who disagree with Lieberman on the burning issue of the day, such as Barbara Boxer. The media has been relentless in pushing the meme that if Lamont wins this campaign, it will signal a Democratic Party of weakness, of cowardice, of appeasement with terrorists.
Tomorrow, the long-awaited day of reckoning will come. You can be sure that Lieberman, like Constantine XI, will be leading the charge, making one last stand against us – the so-called ‘barbarians’ who dare to demand change. But we are anything but. The people who have spoken hours on end over the phones, those of us who have sweated to the point of collapse on hot summer weekends, those of us who are volunteering our free time not with our family and our friends, but for a man who is in a position most of us can only dream of being in – we are your average American, participating in what should be an average exercise in democracy. The fact that this has become a national sensation speaks volumes about how far the Republic has fallen. Even though conventional wisdom has ‘shifted’ in favor of Lamont being victorious tomorrow, take nothing for granted. On this last day, give it your all. The other side has massed their forces, even if they are paid mercenaries. Now it is time to gather ours and show the strength of progressive people-powered politics.
These are the highest of stakes, and all eyes will be watching us. In the end, this is more than you or me or Ned Lamont or Joe Lieberman. This is more than about the GOP or the Democratic Party or the mainstream media and the pundits. It’s about democracy. It’s about change. And most of all, it’s about restoration, the sense of justice, and the power of the human spirit to overcome the odds, no matter how great. The other side may have might, but we are right – and nothing can change that. That is why I have faith that when the smoke clears tomorrow night, we will no longer be standing on the outside, straining our necks for a glimpse of what lies beyond. We will be the ones standing inside, looking out at the long journey in the wilderness we have made. And we will have finally crashed the gates, once and for all, and we will be here to stay.
