Has this topic been floated in the last two or three weeks? Sorry if I'm being repetitive. Really want to get this off my chest.
Gazing through comments, WishingWell said it's
time:
"To get those Reagan Democrats voting for Democrats again; To get those Democrats back who fled during the Clinton impeachment;To get back those Democrats who voted for Bush."
To which Gooch replied,
"What about those democracts who steadfastly remained with the party, voted against Bush (twice), but have become so sickened by the Democratic Party's inability to mount anything like an offensive, strike that, anything like an organized rearguard action that they've de-listed party affiliation and are unlikely to vote at all?"
Both guys are right.
It's past time that a response to Gringrich's takeover was formulated. And Bush is no Gringrich; he was re-elected (maybe) last November sure, but many of those undecideds held there noses. This administration lacks the ability to do anything effective except play to their own self-interests. (Example: Check the WaPost today -- even after the Brown debacle at FEMA they're nominating another know-nothing inexperienced hack to head Immigration. Unbelievable.)
Reid, Pelosi, Kerry, Dean and maybe Biden and Kennedy need to take a week, sit down, and hash out a definitive manifesto that illustrates
a) the past of the democratic party, b) the failures of the democratic party and c) the future of the democratic party.
A) is important because so many casual voters are -um, how can I say this delicately?- dumber than tree stumps. Given the fact that there were so many damn undecideds leads one to the conclusion that enough people don't really know how to make critical assessments or understand the political process or recognize unbelievable corruption that dresses itself in a flag. Dems need to talk about the history of the civil rights movement, (which benefits the Condi Rices and Clarence Thomases) the support for feminism (which benifits the Mann Coulters, Phyllis Schaflys and Laura Bushes), the support for living wages and props to the working poor, the belief in friendly international relations, the numbers of Democrats who served in the military as opposed to many prominent Repubs in office, and last but not least, the fiscal accomplishments of the Clinton years. Which leads us to B)...
The failures. The failures of the party are, as Gooch said, the way everyone has had their heads in the sand since January 1998. If the current misadventures in Iraq haven't exposed the concept that a competent president who gets blowjobs is far superior to a retard who doesn't, New Orleans surely must. (Ok, maybe they shouldn't phrase it that way!)
The point that needs to made, is that they need to acknowledge that they let Monica Lewinsky determine their reactions. their voices be silenced when the country needed an opposition party more than ever, and need to pledge themselves to making a difference.
And then C) the Big One. Lay down what you will improve starting with the 2006 mid-terms. Do what Kerry didn't and lay out a easy-to-understand plan for Iraq, the economy, the fuel problems, FEMA, DHS, and lessening the media exposure of Paris Hilton. It needs to be digestible. They can put out a 2,874 page detailed version for the wonks if they want, but the mass public needs easy-to-swallow pills.
Will the freepers go ballistic? Of course they will. Will they argue that the Dems are making their case on the backs of the dead and displaced of the Gulf Coast? Of course they will>
But we need to understand that people want to vote Democratic. They wanted to do so in 2000, and 2004, but the cases were not made. Lets put together an organized coalition and a steadfast contract now. Its a year til November 2006, but its a short year. Times a wastin.
Thank you.