Just a suggestion for the Democratic candidates and those in office now.

[kacekwl]

If there are big wins in November and 2020 the 1st items on the to do list need to be getting money out of politics and elections. Legislation banning weapons of war,strong background checks and penalties for not reporting people to the data base. A comprehensive immigration policy once and for all. A re-do of voting to make sure every vote counts. I'm sure more can be listed but this is a party I and hopefully many other could get enthused about. What do you think?

[democratisphere]

1. IF Democrats win, the first things they need to do is reverse ALL of the

destruction created by drumpf and the redumbliCONs. It is important to put back all of Obama's progress that was done for the greater good of most, specially those that desperately need it.

[vi5]

2. I really hope we have better sense this time than in previous times we've taken power back...

...No, we don't need to "heal". No we don't need to "reach across the aisle". The majority of Americans dislike and disapprove of Trump and his policies.

In the past as I say time and time again it goes "Regress 10 steps backward under a Republican administration, and then go 5 steps forward under a Democratic one." Whatever the reasoning is, it usually varies among the ones I listed above, about wanting to be bipartisan or listening too much to the DC Beltway media editorial boards or worrying about the cocktail party circuit.

And when we finally take back the presidency I don't want to hear any more excuses about how the president is powerless unless he has a supermajority in the Senate because as the past year has told us that is bullshit of the highest order. Executive orders, nuclear options, etc. It all needs to be used and used heavily.

[KPN]

7. Exactly! Well said.

[Wwcd]

3. Just a suggestion to those who lappedd up the anti Dem flood of one liners last time around

Every single thing you just demanded of the Dems was right there in Hillary Clinton's 2016 Platform.

Wtf.

But but but...oligarchs wallstreet & benghazi & warhawk...& voice, pantsuit, hairdo, age, ...

Yet here we are demanding the same thing today, she would have done.

Wtf.

[KPN]

8. Platform vs Results.

When have they equated?

[Wwcd]

11. Well we'll never know will we. Although the "how" was also written out in that policy platform.

Pity she wasn't given the opportunity.

[KPN]

13. Yes, it is too bad. Don't think anyone disagrees with that.

[Wwcd]

15. Awww c'mon, we both know there are some who are smugly satisfied,

regardless of the Trump sh**hole the US is being submerged in at the moment.

There are those who believe the end justified the means.

We both see them even here occassionally.

[KPN]

16. Here? Smugly satisfied? Ends justified the means?

Speak for yourself. Seems a bit of a stretch to me.

[Wwcd]

17. Its a stretch to believe it doesn't exist. It does.

We've all witnessed posts here from "another site" that well represent exactly who I just defined.

They're easy to spot but thankfully don't last long here.

And I speak for everyone here who has experienced those 'smugly satisfied' posts.

[KPN]

18. So it's not here ...

as in long-time DU members, actual Democrats.

[Odoreida]

4. It is in principle not possible to get money out of politics.

Any politicians who say they will are lying.

[Wwcd]

6. It would take a Constitutional Ammendment to end Citizen's United.

However there are steps that can be taken to make it more transparent & certain areas illegal.

However, with the damage done by Trump & the Repubs, it will take a massive effort to untangle money from politics as we have today. It will take a full majority to do so.

A lot needs to change as to stopping investors from buying our govt. They will always want a return on their money.
Elections are akin to playing the stock market anymore.

You are correct that it is inpossible to get $$ out of politics, but there can be changes to laws that curb it somewhat.

[Odoreida]

14. It's not just Citizen's United.

No constitutional amendment or any other reform can take money out of politics.

It is in the nature of politics that it attracts money, and money will find a way.

Count on it.

[GulfCoast66]

5. If those are our focal points we will loose the majority in 2022

By all means those things need to happen. But the focus needs to be on making Americans see we are improving their daily life...work for higher wages, stronger Union protections, expand and strengthen the ACA, increase SS benefits. Increasing the taxes on the upper 5-10%. Re-up all of the original civil rights act with renewed voter protection.

If we do those things the we will stay in power long enough to affect the change you want.

[KPN]

9. Yup.

[kacekwl]

10. If we don't get money out of politics the things

you state will be derailed by lobbyists and payoffs from corporations . Just like before. I agree with your list but it's time to address guns and immigration properly once and for all.

[GulfCoast66]

12. You are overestimating what Democrats will do on guns

If, and that is a big if, we win the white house and both houses in 2020, we will not have over 60 votes in the Senate. So an assault weapons ban is off the table. If fact, even if we do have 60 votes, I doubt we will have more than 53 votes for an AWB. Red state Democratic Senators will not support it. We will be able to get universal background checks and perhaps magazine size limits. And we will not ban any existing magazines, only prevent new ones from being sold. But even that would be better than what we have now.

If we win the house in 18 I think DACA will happen before 2020. The senate will go along and I think Trump would sign it to get a win.

And we have to decide what our goals on immigration have become. I fear we have let Trump set our agenda for us. Because if we come out for a path for legalization for all undocumented immigrants in the country, we will be out of the majority in 22. A huge majority of the country supports strong boarders and will not vote for politicians who want to give 5+ million undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship. My saying this does not mean I agree, but we should not delude ourselves. We should shoot for a guest worker program that allows people in the country illegally to signup while still living here and working. And even that would be a huge win.

And short of a constitutional amemdment, money is in politics to stay. We can work to make it more transparet, but companies now have a right to spend as much as they want for the issues they support or oppose.

All these things are important, but laws happen slowly and if we gain control priorties need to be set. If our priorities are seen as gun control and immigation reform at the expense of issues that affect the daily lives of Americans like higher wager, cops not killing minority kids, better and more affordable health care and secure retirements we will lose.