I have been reading a lot of discussion about the inability of Democrats to capitalize on Bush's weakness. Why isn't the Democratic star rising? I have an idea why, but I want your thoughts.
I think that it is pretty obvious that the difference between progressives in general (and the left blogshpere in particular) and the conservatives in general is that the conservatives have an overriding vision of how they want America to look, progressives on the other hand, while recognizing that the conservative vision is inherently wrong and deeply flawed, don't have an similar vision of an American future. At least if they do, they don't articulate it very well.
Right now a lot of Americans are looking at the direction the Bush administration and the congressional Republicans are taking the country and don't like what they see. Progressives can't seem to take advantage because they don't have an idea where they want to see America headed. They just share the view that the Bush administration is going the wrong way. Unless progressives can develop an articulated vision of a future America the troubles of the Bush adminstration and the Congressional Republicans are more likely to help currently marginalized centrist Republicans more than Democrats. At least they have a direction to take people.
Progressives need to be talking more about Edwards "Two Americas" theme. At least his ideas provide a place to start. Dean had some good ideas as well. I think progressives need to use the next year figuring out where they want to see America headed-just where they stand. Out of that discussion will emerge the next powerful push to an American future.
For starters progressives need to examine just why a culture of violence remains rooted in America's inner cities which are predominantly poor and minority and what can be done to change that culture.
What do think? Take a few minutes to dream. What should America look like in 20 years?