Immediate disclaimer - I can't stand Bush.
Standing in a line this morning to get my dogs rabies shot. I live in a small town in a rural state. Many a redneck in these parts. The man standing behind me began discussing Bush with his friend. I noticed he had arrived in a huge pickup with yellow ribbons on it. He started grumbling about the state of the world and our countries role in world affairs. I was prepared to cover my ears (or at least hold my nose) when he said "I've been a republican my whole life but I cant stand what those sons of bitches are doing in the White House - and I voted for the bastard. Its not that I hate Bush in the way that the liberals do. Its that I love the constitution." I screwed up my courage turned to him and said "I guess I'm one of those liberals. I'll be straight with you, I didn't vote for him. But we agree because I too love the constitution."
I tend to believe that the majority of Americans not only have, but respond to, common sense. If we can begin to frame these notions as right/wrong rather than red/blue we will see the change we seek - the rule of law applying to all, adherence to the constitution etc. If the people lead the pols will follow. Perhaps we can draw up a manifesto of sorts - not unlike what the repubs did back in the goldwater days. A simple statement of principle's that we then force upon the pols - dems and repubs alike - for a simple "i agree" or not.
1 - I believe the Bush administration manipulated intelligence in the run up to the war and that the focus of our military should be the search for OBL.
2 - I believe that the Bush tax cuts should be repealed, that corporations should be taxed more fairly.
3 - I believe that all American deserve health care and that we should immediately begin work on providing universal coverage.
4 - I believe there should be a full investigatin into the wiretapping scandle and any lawbreakers, including the President, should be jailed.
Something along these lines. Something to distance Joe Lieberman from Fiengold - "are you part of the populist coalition or not?"
A notion. Input welcome.