You can tell how much money they have.  Grassley has been on the air so much in the Des Moines market that my family who live there tell me everyone's talking about how sick of seeing Grassley ads they are.  Around Iowa City, this year more than I've ever seen, there are those huge, expensive barn-size signs in virtually every lot where there is an empty building or rental property for lease, property owned by some fat cat Republican.  I've seen GOP signs on lawns in front of apartment buildings – the poor renters who live there don't get to put up signs but the building owner can.  One GOP candidate has had a constant ad up on DailyKos, where one would presume very few Iowa conservatives hang out, ever since the campaign began in earnest. 

But back to canvassing.  If you've never canvassed  for GOTV,  you should give it a try.   It is a very strange feeling to walk up to a stranger's house and knock on their door prepared to talk politics.  Sometimes, it's all you can do to put one foot in front of the other.  But if you can get yourself to do it, I promise you, you'll feel much better than you do now, sitting around doing nothing, letting cynicism set in. 

The best thing about canvassing is the sense of community that you get making contact with like-minded people, progressives, fellow Democrats, and joining in an effort that is larger than ourselves alone.  During discouraging times, doing the ground work of democracy will help bolster your spirits. 

Today, when I showed up at the Johnson County Dems HQ around 11:30, the place was already buzzing with activity.  Before the canvass, Congressman Loebsack was there and made a great speech to a room full of volunteers and staff.   Senator Dvorsky was there overseeing, answering questions about voting numbers, giving guidance, making everyone feel supported and valued.  The overworked staff are unfailingly patient, polite and appreciative of the volunteers.  

So I got my turf assignment and went out and knocked on Democrats' doors.  And guess what, Democrats are angry, too.  But they're not angry at the Democratic party and President Obama, as the corporate media narrative would have us all believe.  Here's what Democrats are angry about:

 – They're angry that things have gotten so crazy that we have to consider the likes of Christine “I am not a witch” O'Donnell actually winning a senate seat. 
 – They are angry about the new wave of secret money going into campaigns right here in Iowa. 
 – One person said she is angrier this year by the GOP and tea party craziness than she has ever been, so much so that her children were concerned about her.  
 – One person I spoke with was angry about the waste of money spent on campaigns, but she is still supporting Democrats. 
 – Another person was angry about all the negative campaigning but she wasn't mad at Democrats either and is still voting Democratic.

So, the tea partiers aren't the only ones who are angry.  And as far as the anger gap is concerned, Democrats aren't just feigning anger for political opportunism like the tea-party crowd, IMHO.  This anger seems like authentic, balanced, appropriate anger that has a real quality to it, not phonied up pseudo-indignation bought and paid for by Dick Armey, the Koch Brothers and their billionaire friends and right wing cronies, propagandized ad nauseum by Limbaugh, Beck and friends for the sole purpose of gaining power.

Like President Obama keeps saying, it is just as important that we vote this year as it was in 2008 when we put him in office.  And as Congressman Loebsack says, we can't let them buy this election.  And as Roxanne Conlin says, we have enough votes to win, we just have to get Democrats to the polls.