As I sit on my couch watching the commentators night after night, I am overwhelmed by a sense of panic that this election is quite possibly already over. There are too many questions and not enough answers: What is the point in waiting to see how the next seven months play out? How have Republicans already blown such a golden opportunity? Why has my party not come together and united for the greater cause, which at the end of the day is defeating President Obama? Why do Republicans continue to value “purification” and bloodletting over winning elections? What the hell is wrong with the Republican Party?!?

The right-wing conservatives are so entitled in their snobbery that no one is ever good enough for them, so the rest of us, especially moderates, must suffer. Apparently, we would still rather have a Democrat in office than a moderate Republican. We’ve botched this election cycle so badly, I’m scared it might be too late.

I’m also heartbroken. I am a young person who is optimistic and idealistic about politics and this election cycle should have been the one where we came together and turned our frustrations into a win. Instead, this election cycle has turned into a bad episode of reality television. I imagine most Democrats sitting back and watching it all play out—lighting up stogies and laughing at our dog and pony show. The 2012 election really should have been our time! Coming off of the failed promises of hope and change, unemployment being at an all time high, a huge populist movement from the Tea Party, this election cycle was ripe for the picking.