Yes, I know all politics are local (Tip O'Neill) but we have an historic opportunity coming up. With Bush's approval numbers tumbling and the tragedy of Iraq taking the lives of more of our courageous young men and women, we must wage the 2006 election campaign as a NATIONAL campaign, one specifically aimed at ousting the corrupt Republican congressional leadership and crushing the Bush Administration's increasingly unpopular agenda. We can make 2006 an election where we run the table the way the Republicans did in 1994. Here's some ideas:
First, as many Kossacks have urged, we must run a Democrat in EVERY SINGLE RACE in the country. No Republican should get a pass, anywhere. (And for God's sake, Ohio Democrats, get rid of Mike DeWine--he's vulnerable!) That alone will send the message of a fighting, determined, national Democratic Party. Howard Dean, I'm with you! (In fact, all Democrats need to get off Dean's back NOW and get on Bush's!)
Second, let's dare to think big. We have defeatists and "realists" telling us there's no way we win Congress next year. Bullshit. Have you seen Congress's approval ratings lately? More importantly, have you seen the percentage of Americans who blame the Republicans for the political mess in Washington? The GOP is blamed by a 4-1 margin!! What are we waiting for? It is fully possible that we could win 40 new seats in the House and 7 in the Senate. In my state, Illinois, I see a possibility of picking up three Republican U.S. House seats, (LaHood, Hyde, Weller) if we work hard enough. No incremental plans! We wage war to win and win everywhere!
Third, in order to facilitate our bold objectives, we tie every Republican house member directly to Tom DeLay. He is the anvil with which we can sink every "moderate" northern Republican. (And yes, "moderate" Republicans should be our key target. They vote with DeLay, they vote to make him majority leader.) Wrap that rotten little son a bitch around their throats. I know that's what we're going to do with Weller here in my district (IL-11).
Fourth, recruiting needs to be active everywhere NOW. It's not too early, not by a long shot. We need our best team on the field next year.
Fifth, we need NATIONAL television and radio ads next year. Keep the message simple, direct, and positive:
SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY. Vote Democratic.
GIVE REAL SUPPORT TO OUR TROOPS IN IRAQ.
Vote Democratic.
RETURN TO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. Vote
Democratic.
GET RID OF CORRUPTION IN WASHINGTON. Vote
Democratic.
LET PEOPLE RUN THEIR OWN LIVES. Vote
Democratic. (I'm thinking Schiavo here)
We need to hit these messages again and again and again. We must tie every failure, every scandal, every screw-up directly to Bush and the Congressional Republicans. No mercy, no let up.
Finally, let's have no more cringing, compromising, servile, milquetoast Democrats. We need UNITY. We need to roar out our attacks on Bush and the Congressional Republicans with ONE VOICE. No more attacking other Democrats. We aim our fire solely, relentlessly, unceasingly, at the Republicans. (Joe Biden, I'm talking to you!)
And while we're at it, let's DEMAND election reform as a top priority, so the Republicans can't steal any more of the close ones. By God, from Utah to the District of Columbia, from Idaho to Rhode Island, from Mississippi to Massachusetts, we need to see 2006 as a life and death proposition. Nationalize the 2006 election. Present it to an unhappy and dissatisfied American public as their chance to protest the direction of our country. I think if we do, we'll see a lot of smiling Democrats on the night of 7 November 2006.
