I just had to say it.

I'm not blogging much (most of you know why), but there is something that I have to say.

75 years ago today, some person - I assume he's one of those people forgotten by history - said the following:

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."

In a year where we have seen Obama do what some (doubters, haters, skeptics) have called impossible, why can't some people just say "Yes we can?"

If Gov. Sebelius can be pro-choice and anti-death penalty in Kansas, why can't our Gubernatorial candidates can be against the death penalty in North Carolina?

If an openly gay candidate can replace a disliked Republican in New Hanover County (where there are 1-2% more Democrats than Republicans), why can't an openly gay candidate can replace a disliked Republican in a state where there are a third more Democrats than Republicans)?

If Larry Kissell can come out of nowhere to within tenths of a percentage point of beating an entrenched Republican Congressman, why can't someone do the same in a harder district, in this of all years?

If this isn't the year to change America, who expects that year to ever come?

I'm tired of a lack of courage. I'm tired of the soft bigotry of people who say "I'm not holding us back, but too many people I know are. I'm not a racist, but my hometown is full of them. I'm not homophobic, but my family is." If this isn't the year to convert retreat into advance, when is the year? When is the time? Do I have to wait for a time when my children will grow up and ask the same questions I'm posing tonight? I'm waiting for my fellow Democrats to listen to the words of the founder of the modern Democratic Party. It's not even courageous; it's basic.

Now, I'm a skeptic. I'm pragmatic. I know that some things are not within the realm of possibility. To paraphrase the late Sen. Moynihan, "To work in politics is to know that in the end the world will break your heart." I've lost some close ones after fighting the good fight. I've lost by 159 votes in a 100,000 voter district and our candidate lost by 329 votes in a 350,000 voter district. I've been on campaigns that won 70% to 30% and lost 38% to 1%. Sometimes for us mortals the impossible is impossible. But even I am ready to say that there has never been anything false about hope. Or courage, or truth, I might add.

This isn't the first time I've talked about courage - I endorsed my so-called "courage candidates" before - but I've never admonished those who abide cowardice. And though that may seem like the right thing to do, and though I would love to continue doing so, we should instead foment hope before approaching fear with anger.

When good candidates have good campaigns in winnable districts, that most impossible of the impossible in politics - the truth - can win. This is a year to advance, not retreat, and the nameless backwards people cited by the pundits are the shadows of their own terror. This is the year the feckless and callow spirits that haunt our democracy will begin to repose. This is the year we will do after others have failed to try.

Go out into the world. Do not suffer those who oppress you with the tyranny of incredulity. Do not abide the fascism of the "possible." Be messengers of hope and change and stand for nothing but the same from those who ask to lead you.

My friend Jim Neal likes to say that, in most years, we have to vote for what we think we can get - but this is the year we can vote for what we want. This doesn't mean candidates need to go out and start calling themselves liberal or progressive; rather, it means they should go out and be liberal or progressive.

In closing, I'll expand on that - most years, we have to work for what we can get. This year, let's work - and win - what we want.

Courage Candidates
Jim Neal for Senate
Daily Kos Crosspost