Shadow Cabinet
I can't begin to say how important a shadow cabinet is. We absolutely need a full-out campaign, attacking every single corrupt and extreme facet of the Bush/Cheney admin.
Kerry/Edwards Edwards/Kerry
State - Holbrooke
AG - Spitzer
NSA - Clark
Def - Cleland
UN - Mosely-Braun
Supreme Court - Gore :-)
Special Amb to Mdl East -- Bill Clinton
SEC - Enron-prosecutor
Agriculture - ??
EPA - RFK, Jr.
CIA - Joe Wilson
Veterans Affairs - John McCain
Energy - Richard Truly
Treasury - Krugman :-)
Homeland Security - Gary Hart
Labor - Gephardt
Really, the most important thing, I think, is finding some way to harness the Dean phenom. Head of DNC would be the best for the party and country, but I don't see it happening.
Uncap FICA
We all know that the soundness, or even honesty, of a policy is irrelevant in elections. But here is a plan that is a winner both politically and for the country:
The Dem candidate should announce as his plan, in addition to rolling back all of Bush's (simple, straightforward, tough-talking), and uncapping of payroll taxes, elimination of FICA under $50k, a lower rate from $50-100k, and full rate from 100K up. Frame it as a simple issue of fairness -- Why should you pay double taxation -- income and payroll -- on every dime you earn, while CEOs don't get taxed, etc.? (Also, Why should your child have to be double taxed on every dime they will earn, while Ken Lay's kids can get billions tax free?)
Forget the subtleties -- leave it to the Repugs to splutter about payouts, etc
Appearances
Right now, I think our best (but not only) chance is Kerry / Edwards (or vice versa), with Kerry being strong and smart, Edwards attacking Cheney relentlessly (and a full shadow cabinet working hard around the country).
The country already agrees on the issues. But we keep getting trounced. Perceptions.
We need our candidates staring at the camera, saying, "Do you really think George W. Bush and Dick Cheney are concerned with you more than with their campaign contributors? Do you really think Cheney and Bush care more about your children's future than giving tax cuts to the rich?"
CBS Poll
Only 41% think Bush shares their priorities - and that measure has declined quite a bit since early 2002. And fewer than four in ten have confidence in his economic decisions, down from 47% a year ago.
Only 30% say he is more interested in protecting the interests of ordinary Americans than in protecting the interests of large corporations. Just 39% -- fewer than before -- have confidence in his ability to make the right economic decisions.