The results of Delaware Dem's diary called
What do we agree on? were fascinating. It appears we agree on many, many things. Too many, in fact. There were more than 450 comments, with people weighing in to agree on a host of issues that represent our common ground. Quite literally dozenss of topics received 4 ratings from scores of commenters. (I hope we'll see a more disciplined analysis than I'm prepared to conduct.)
I don't think we on the Blue side have much difficulty finding where we agree. I think our big challenge is presenting our worldview in a way that engenders confidence, that passes the bullshit test.
One approach which works for me is this:
I say we stand for competence, integrity, and common good.
Competence. We embrace it. Even from Republicans - though I don't see much out there. They're great at making money, but they suck at public sector management, probably because they hate the work.
Integrity is not just about laws, it is also about transparency, completeness and honesty. Having people like Tom Delay in office is wrong. They are profiteers. Honest people know that.
Common good is where the great debate erupts. Who knows what the common good is? Honest disagreements can occur.
This framework helps me think about any issue. In an earlier diary, I note that abortion has historically been a loaded debate about common good. But the emergence of the integrity issue changes the game. If abortion is murder, then mothers should be executed for killing unborn children. Murder is murder. You cannot justify a double standard. Right to lifers who don't support death or life imprisonment for murdering mothers have nothing more to say.
Katrina? A competence issue. Everyone knows that. Bush's War? No integrity, no competence and no regard for the common good . . . not our own national good, not the rest of the world's. Most people knows Bush manipulated the truth to get his way. Lack of integrity trumps anything productive that might come from his actions.
Fiscal management? This is the "billions from China" question. It is an issue of competence.
We can fight the common ground battles when we have to, but competence and integrity are powerful promises that people really do want. And Blue has them to offer.