Reply #387: I don't think that's a coincidence either. [View All]

[ThomCat]

That we had to wait until we are needed again, it's time to start rallying troops to shore up unity again within the party for upcoming election season, and to start up the fund-raising engines.

I don't think the timing was conscious. But, I do think that reconciliation couldn't have happened soon because there was no broader need for us within the party sooner.

There is a general feeling spreading that it's time to start bringing people back together. Now is the time. Everyone is important within the party again. Even if it has to be us.

If the party was doing well, was still in power, and didn't really need us in order to keep power and advance policy aims, would there be any sense that people need to reconcile with us? Probably not.

Would this reconciliation being happening under those conditions? I kind of doubt it. Attention would be diverted elsewhere, where it's "more important." We know we're never one of the "most important" issues.

So, consciously or unconsciously, the fact that the part needs us right again now helps lead to the timing of reconciliation. It's a prod, helping it happen when it might not otherwise have happened.

That's okay. We know it, recognize it, accept it for what it is and take advantage of the opportunities that come our way, regardless of the reasons behind it.