There is a huge difference between small party and big party advocates

[Peacetrain]

As a big party advocate.. I want everyone in the pool.. small party advocates want to limit access to that pool..because it can seem to diffuse our message to them.

The thing is, we have to appeal beyond our base to be a party... and be positive about who we are.. There is so much to be proud of..

We need to be proud and loud about our basic beliefs.. running away and denying our successes stymies the future work we need to do.

There is not a perfect moment when everything is all done.. Never will happen

We have a core set of beliefs.. I am a liberal ... I do not care, what someone calls themselves .. if you are progressive, liberal, moderate, conservative, religious, non religious.. how you define yourself makes not one whit of difference..

If we share the same beliefs.. and working for the same goal.. we are of the same party..

If we (generic we here) are standing on that platform together we are one party..

[RobertEarl]

1. Serious question

Who, in your mind, is the base of the party?

In your OP you state: "The thing is, we have to appeal beyond our base to be a party."

[Peacetrain]

2. Our base are the Democrats.. of all stripes

But we are about a third of the electorate, and anyone who is a registered Democrat and supports our platform whether they consider themselves a conservative Democrat or a liberal Democrat, and everything in between.. should consider themselves the base.. so there is a huge middle third who view themselves as independents, that we have to bring part of those into our voting sphere ..

By being proud and true to our platform and being proud and loud about who and what we stand for will give confidence to that center third.. not only confidence RobertEarl, but a joy in supporting us.. and I believe that with all my heart.

Running away from what we have accomplished.. really did us in this time..