I can't be the only one worried about overconfidence...

[vi5]

....between this board and others I follow I'm starting to get really worried about our overconfidence. I'm happy that it hasn't ventured totally into cockiness yet, but I'm with Will Pitt in that I'd rather go into this with low expectations and the hunger still gnawing inside, rather than high expectations and a swagger that might mean we get tripped up.

This is still an uphill battle against many forces and many issues and I just don't want us to lose sight of it. I'm glad there's not as much negativity and pessimism as there has been on these pages recently, but i also worry about the opposite attitude and it's impact.

Eyes on the prize, people. The victory dances can wait until later.

[ClassWarrior]

1. I'm using confidence as a motivator.

I have pledged the next five days to the K/E campaign. Hope is driving me to work even harder - and I'd suggest ALL DUers to get out there and make the victory DECISIVE for K/E.

24.

[helpisontheway]

6. Me too

When things really look bad for Kerry I find that I have a hard time making myself phone bank or anything because I feel so down. However, when things start looking up I get pumped and ready for the fight. That is just me though...

[DemCam]

14. In NM....its enthusiasm and hope....not overconfidence.

Volunteers are coming through the door by the hundreds for this last push. Not one person is complaiscent...just energetic and determined.

Onward to victory....

[aden_nak]

2. There is nothing wrong with our attitude, as long as we don't get sloppy.

As long as we still go vote, still go get others to vote. As long as we keep doing what we're doing (and more) between now and Tuesday, the attitude I see on these boards is exactly right. It's called Confidence. It's called Victory. And other people can sense that. We're more likely to get support if people BELIEVE our side is going to win. And they're more likely to believe it if WE do.

So as long as we keep the pressure on, keep the activism up, confidence is an ALLY.

[librechik]

3. check out Will Pitt's "we are losing by 10" post and the several

others on the same thing. You have company in your feelings, don't worry. I'm in the Greg Pallast "Kerry will win in a landslide but we won't know it" camp, so I'm even more pessimistic, I think.

[rocktivity]

4. VISUALIZE WINNING--And that's an order!

A lot CAN happen between now and Tuesday--I just read about a possible attack on Fallujah, for instance. And of course, there's no telling what the Bush "cheat machine" has up its sleeve. But there's a difference between thinking positive and being overconfident.

http://thinkfreely.home.comcast.net/

:headbang:
rocknation

[Jimmy D]

5. We are going to win if we get out and work

Roe and company work their tails off the last 72 hours if we set on our tails we will lose.

Best regards
Jimmy D

[ClassWarrior]

10. I'm not saying sit on your tail.

I'm saying victory is within our grasp. And we have to remember that even if we win by the slightest margin, we need to shout "KERRY LANDSLIDE" from the highest mountaintops on Nov. 3 in order to win the PR war.

24.

[theboss]

7. I'm still not even confident

I'm more hopeful than I was two weeks ago and I think things are breaking towards Kerry. But I keep going over the electoral map and the absolute most I can come up with is 274 if everything goes perfectly. If I was a gambling man (and I am), I would see this as a pick 'em game.

[Triana]

8. GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV

GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV
GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV
GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV
GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV...GOTV

Be a poll-watcher, give people rides, hand out literature with the phone numbers to call if they have problems voting (print up sheets on your printer with local BOE numbers and the 1-800-myvote (or whatever it is) number on it, xerox it at Kinkos and hand them out to people at the polls), talk to everyone you know, even if just to ask them if they're gonna vote (nevermind who they're voting for). DO something.

The ONLY way we're going to counteract all the voter supression and vote fraud by the RNC at this point is to GOTV!!! We need total election reform in this country, but FIRST we need a PRESIDENT.

[DuaneBidoux]

9. I Agree - Stay Hyped but watch arrogance. It is our enemy..

[ClassWarrior]

11. Agreed. Excellent point. Hope, not arrogance.

24.

[Tansy_Gold]

12. I don't see it as over-confidence

I see it as hope.

If I kept focused on "we're ten points behind" I'd be too depressed to bear. While I don't believe it's going to be a landslide, I have to have enough faith that there's a possibility of a reasonable outcome.

If the polls were showing Kerry/Edwards 10 points behind, I think we'd all be in a very different mood. But we have plausible, even if anecdotal, evidence of big turn-out as the key to a win and that the polls are based on flawed methodology.

We're also seeing some of our four-years-and-counting truths finally being exposed about the booshies, about the lies and the flip-flopping and the utter and total incompetence. The voter fraud is being given some air time, and this time as a party we're more prepared. Also, we're more determined. Kerry won't concede the way Gore did.

Hope isn't just on the way, it's here, with plenty to go around for all. (Well, except not for the freepers, sorry.)

[vi5]

15. I guess I'm mostly talking about the "Kerry Landslide!!" posts...

Those are the ones that make the superstitious dude in me cringe.

[ClassWarrior]

17. They serve two purposes...

1) Making people hopeful, and

2) reminding people of our twin battle-cries for Nov. 3 - "KERRY LANDSLIDE" and "KERRY MANDATE!!"

24.

[sonicx]

18. well, people are being superstitious with the Bosox/Kerry thing too

if it helps keep the spirits high, i don't see a problem.

[tomfodw]

13. I'm not overconfident

I'm not confident at all!

:)

I know doom and gloom have been banished from DU for the duration, so I won't say anything else.

[sonicx]

16. Motivation not Overconfidence

[MsTryska]

19. There's overconfidence....

and there's Calm Resolve.



I'm in the calm resolve category. Kerry in a Landslide. Y'all just don't have faith that The Revolution is NOW and it's not being televised.



*puts hood back up*

[ClassWarrior]

20. Wearing my hoodie to campaign today.

See y'all tonight...

24.

[sangh0]

21. True, Democrats have always had a problem with overconfidence

:crazy:

[fishwax]

22. If you're worried about overconfidence, then don't be overconfident

others will do as they feel they must. Doesn't mean they'll work any less hard.

[KansDem]

23. I'm taking both Tuesday and Wednesday off...

I'll be volunteering on Tuesday for the Kerry Campaign and working like it's a dead heat...

I'm saving my "victory dance" for Wednesday when Kerry wins in "a slide of a large mass of dirt and rock down a mountain or cliff."*

________
*Don't want to use that other word which might lure us into overconfidence.

[ibegurpard]

24. Overconfidence?

In a pre-2000 world or politcs-as-usual world then I might agree that it's a danger. I don't think ANYONE, regardless of how positive a public face they might put on, is making that mistake.