An open letter to the DNC
As DNC Chair, Governor Howard Dean had his very successful 50 State Strategy. It is too late for that now. There is not enough time to vet and recruit enough potential candidates. Besides, the filing deadlines are past. So be it; you failed.
There is a scenario that can end in victory for Democrats this fall. Fifty States - Fifty Seats.
By keeping the Senate - by any means necessary, Democrats maintain the control over advice and consent of treaties, judicial nominees, and likely impeachment of President Obama, among many things. This is critical and obvious on its own face. Don't mess up. By following this strategy you could actually pick up a Senate seat. Who knows. It won't happen if you don't try it. Besides, don't you think the Republicans have another Akin or Mourdock out there. It’s in their DNA.
The second step is to find, in the fifty States, the fifty most vulnerable Republican seats in the House of Representatives. Make the Republicans commit resources enough to make it a pyrrhic victory if they win or hold the seat. Run on the flip-flops and hypocrisy of Republican candidates. Make the Republicans own what they have done and give the people a real option. You will win.
Run on Democratic issues. Run like FDR in the early 1930s. Don't be afraid, as you have been, of being a Democrat. Run like Harry Truman against the "Do Nothing Congress." Run on the horrors that the State legislatures are forcing on the people. You will win. You have the issues.
Run on the ACA. After a very bad start, it came back and is now a winner. Call it ACA, call ObamaCare, call it what you will. Make the Republicans own their failure. Polls reveal 68% in favor of keeping and improving the ACA versus 31% repealing and replacing. If they were so wrong about this, what else are they wrong about. That’s a tag line if I’ve ever heard one.
Run on the ACA. Run on Republicans’ fifty plus repeal votes and leaving us with nothing to replace it with. If the Republicans want to replace it, ask them to replace it with what specifically? Run an ad with Adilai Stevenson, II at the UN during the Cuban Missile Crisis, "Replace with what? I'll wait for your answer until ...."
Run on Medicaid expansion and how to save 6000 lives a year.
Run on Bengazi. Run on the number of investigations already finished. Run on Republican fundraising on the topic. Run on how the Republican voted down State Department funds for physical security.
Run on the 1% whiners. Run on the Kochs, the Edelsons, the Trumps, the Murdocks, the Sterlings, the Bundys, and others.
Run on Bo(eh)ner's laziness and cravenness. He was to have a "laser-focus" on jobs. Well, where are the jobs? Don't let him get away with his talking points anymore.
Run on the War on Women and Women’s Rights, and equal pay for equal work. Run on raising the Minimum Wage. Run on immigration and the Dream Act. Run on income inequality.
Run on climate change, jobs, infrastructure repair and replacement, long-term unemployment benefits, and voter ID. Run on racism and the scary black man in the White House. Run on LGBT rights. Take your pick of the issues. These are all winning issues.
Run on Senate Republicans' filibusters for no reason or logic. Run on Republican obstruction to reasonable gun laws.
Keep hammering these issues home in personal appearances in the districts and run small ads constantly.
Run on the local issues. Motivate the base. Get the people excited and GET OUT THE VOTE!
Yes, you will have to spend money and resources. That’s the nature of the beast, but you will win. By picking off the vulnerable Republicans, Democrats can pick off fifty seats in the House of Representatives and even when subtracting Democratic losses, the calculus of seating can then change sufficiently enough to fall in favor of Democrats. Imagine Mr. Bo(eh)ner having to hand over the Speaker’s gavel to Nancy Pelosi. Visualize. Cue the tears. ROFLMAO.
P.S. Don’t stop at fifty if the opportunity arises. Go as far as you can. Be a winner. Go for it!
P.P.S. Don’t do this on the cheap. Americans are smart and can and do perceive value. That is not to say you can not run the same fifteen second ad in Florida and New Hampshire.
Good Luck!