It is not the time to start popping the champagne corks, one race in Delaware that produces a questionable Republican candidate is not a harbinger of general election victory. It is not even clear that without a lot of hard work Coons will beat O'Donnel in November. Crowing about Sharon Angle was so loud that the possibility of a dead heat in Nevada was not even considered, guess what, that's where we are now. Ron Paul is leading in Kentucky and most polls are calling Senate races in Illinois, Wisconsin, California, Washington and Connecticut toss ups.
528.com is giving odds of 2 to 1 that Democrats will lose the House at this point. What is there to celebrate? Not that I necessarily believe that Nate Silver is worth the powder to blow him up, as he completely missed many of the results that brought about today's Republican schadenfreude; however, I still don't discount the polls generally and there is concern for the Democratic Party's prospects in November.
Chris Matthews is not generally credible and spends too much time glorifying Republican memes and pushing apocalyptic narratives; however, he is right about one thing: people vote based on their personal beliefs and situations and many people are voting their anxiety and anger in this election. Politically, Democrats still have not found their message, the message that resonates with hope and confidence for Americans that things are getting better for us and will continue to improve.
The Republicans are opening doors for Democrats, but we have to seize the openings and throw the door open, not peek in and try to tip-toe into the House.
Simply stating that Republicans are wing-nuts and have led us "into the ditch" is not moving voters. The economy and joblessness are still the main issues in the polity and tax cuts aren't motivating anyone but those with enough income to benefit from them. Every "small business" person I know would trade any tax cut for greater revenue in their business. Without "aggregate demand" rising, which can only be provided by spending, either private or public, nothing in the basic political calculus will change.
Tax cuts, at this point, are just pandering to independents and nibbling around the edges in their effect on the economy. Nationalizing the strategy for this election on joblessness after "Recovery Summer" seems a dead issue in Washington; however, I believe that is the wrong lesson to take from that messaging failure.
"We hear you America and we will change America with you," is what I think the Democratic Party should start saying now. Every Democrat, from the President on down, should start putting forth the message that we are going to employ them, force a change to their benefit in the housing markets and stop business as usual in Washington. There is a "magic bullet" it is the American people, and if given the opportunity to believe that their government, if in the hands of Democrats, will address their anxieties honestly and boldly, they will support us.
We have done much, but not enough and bold economic plans must be put forth in order to staunch the bleeding and give Americans hope for the future. Stop beating the dead horse of international competiton restraining our economic power, even if true, its a losing position. Stop talking about fiscal responsibility, it is not being fiscally responsible to let government tax revenues subside into the abyss of "restraint", stop talking about successes that aren't perceived to be and start talking about successes that can be...
If anything can be drawn from the latest election results it's that passion wins elections. Bloodless statements about unfelt progress are not persuasive. To persuade, you must express concern for, and the ability to address the concerns of, the electorate. America needs jobs, American state governments need financial support, businesses need revenue and home owners need real mortgage relief. We as Democrats need to put those issues front and center, we need to provide a new direction and a credible message that resonates with the electorate about those four issues. Then we must follow with a public pledge of immediate action if we are to remain the governing Party.