Negative Swing Thoughts... or.... STOP IT

[scheming daemons]

In golf, the worst thing a person can do before taking a shot is to have what is called "negative swing thoughts".

"What if the ball slices?"
"What if I don't have a long enough club to clear the hazard?"
"What if I pick my head up?"
"What if I dip my shoulders?"

Negative swing thoughts almost ALWAYS lead to a bad shot. The mind talks the body into mis-hitting the ball.


I see a whole lot of "negative swing thoughts" on DU.

"What if the GOP steals it again?"
"What if the polls are wrong?"
"What if there really IS a Bradley Effect?"
"What if the Secret Service can't stop the next group of wackos?"


STOP IT.

JUST STOP IT.


FDR said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". Too many Democrats here have forgotten that.

If you are scared and are thinking of posting an "I am scared" thread - STOP. Listen to FDR.

Fear is not a motivator, it is a paralyzer.


Winners don't think about what might go wrong. When Michael Jordan was taking a last second shot to win a game, the idea that he might miss didn't cross his mind.


Rachel Maddow means well. "Concerned" DU-ers that aren't trolls MEAN well. But they are COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE.

Winning is contagious. A winning attitude is contagious. A large part of why Obama is winning is BECAUSE he has a winner's attitude. He knows he'll win more votes with a positive message than by scaring people.

Concern trolls suck. But what sucks even worse are concern threads from people that AREN'T trolls.


Every time you post that the "polls are tightening" without actually LOOKING to see that they aren't, you are caving to the fear.

Every time you post that there is no hope because the GOP will steal the election anyway, you have given up.


America loves a winner. America loathes a whiner.


We're going to win. Obama knows this. Deep down, you all know it as well. It is neither "cool" nor "noble" to be contrarian.

It does NOT help alleviate complacency.

I'm 100% confident that Obama will win, and it does NOT make me complacent - it makes me energized.

Obama voters are extremely enthused to vote for him, and there's not a poll in the world that will cause us to be complacent enough to not vote.

We've lost a couple Presidential elections in a row - under shady circumstances - and because of it, many of you have become defeatists.

STOP IT. You're behaving the way Rove wanted. He wants you thinking there's "no hope" and that the GOP will steal it.

"Concern threads" do far more to keep people from the polls than threads saying "we're going to win".

Human nature makes people want to be part of a winning team. We're the winning team this time, and our voters will turn out in droves with a smile on their face. Quit trying to bring them down.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Quit feeding it.

.... and that goes for you too, Ms. Maddow.

[liberalmuse]

1. This is what we need to do...

Because this is what this campaign is about, not fear, but...

[BlooInBloo]

2. They can't help themselves. Everything in politics revolves around Democrats losing...

To a certain extent, you can't really blame them - hell, it's the raison d'etre of this entire website.


EDIT: Subject typo.

[flamingdem]

3. Excellent sentiment!

We all needed that..

[high density]

4. I just use the hide thread feature

The "oh my God, the shitty polls are fluctuating a few points" people are quite nauseating.

[scheming daemons]

5. Yes.... it's getting nauseating...

[Danger Mouse]

6. Ugh, the hand wringing drives me nuts sometimes.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. As much as I like Rachel Maddow in general, I've had to stop listening to her lately.

She has been such a Debbie Downer. I realize that it's not good to be complacent, but all this hand-wringing is demoralizing and counterproductive.

[progressivebydesign]

8. I'm feeling very zen this week. I've purged my worries and am focusing on the good.

That's the only way to be this week. If we're working on GOTV, and doing everything in our power to make our votes count, then all we can do is enjoy the ride.

My favorite quote is: If something is wrong and you can change it, why worry? If something is wrong and you cannot change it, why worry?