Where Left Is Right / The Old Site

So says Ampersand at Alas, A Blog:

Let's face it: It’s not possible for Democrats in the Senate - not even if they’re 100% united, which they aren’t - to block a right-wing, anti-Roe Bush nomination to the Supreme Court.

My email and blog-reading lately has been stuffed full of calls to action - Call your senator! Donate! It’s time to get mobilized!

[...]

Let’s not fool ourselves - O’Connor’s replacement will be a loyal conservative, anti-Roe and predictably right-wing in all of her or his opinions. There is no way we can prevent this outcome. Knowing this, it’s hard for me to be enthusiastic about letter-writing or fund-raising based on trying to influence who replaces O’Connor. Wouldn’t it be better to reserve our energy for campaigns that aren’t completely, utterly hopeless?

Jeez. Let the air out of the balloon, why dontcha?

While I agree with Amp on matters of fact in this case (and am equally overhwhelmed with calls to action, and wish somebody were coordinating the whole guard-the-Court movement), he seems to me to have overlooked that we're dealing as well with matters of spirit.

1. This is July 4th, for Christ's sake. Sure, there are a lot more differences than similiarites between Philadelphia in 1776 and Washington DC in 2005. But while I don't know enough of the historical details to name names, there's no doubt there were people back then -- people with eloquent, influential voices -- arguing, in essence, "Let's not fool ourselves how this is going to turn out."
2. Win or lose, dropping the activism ball at this stage of the game (which is about the maximum sports metaphor I'm capable of) would have huge symbolic consequences, both in the general public's eye and in the hearts and minds of activists who are politically and philosophically anywhere left of center. Not to be ignored is the likely effect on right-wing commentators and supporters of our bailing out now.
3. If you want to go the cynical route, you may (as I do) have a hard time imagining any "campaign that is not completely, utterly hopeless" at a time when both the executive and legislative branches are locked into right-wing ideology. The saying "pick your battles" applies equally well whether you're talking about battles you want to win or battle you don't want to lose.
   

Buck up, Amp. The bastards haven't won yet; and even if they do win, there's no point giving them the satisfaction of an easy victory. I think that's called dying with indignity.