Only a "populist" can fight the present enemies of our democracy.....

[kentuck]

Because the people will only listen to someone that can inflame their passion and their emotions. And only the people can change what has taken over this country. Many a good Democrat can know what is happening and beleives the same as many of us but, they do not have te capability to communicate it to the people. That is the key.

Inflamed passions and emotions should not be seen as a "negative" in these times. It is a necessary "evil" because the people must be awakened. Otherwise, we will be stuck forever or at least, until we sink.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. I agree.

n/t

[ewagner]

2. Our inability

to "frame" the issues is because we have not touched the EMOTIONAL level of the voting public....that's what a populist can do for us.

[kentuck]

5. In my opinion, Howard Dean is the closest we have to a "populist"

His "scream" was populist. That is why it scared the hell out of them. Because he can arouse the emotions and passions of people and he has a way of "framing" the issues that I do not see in another candidate at this time - since I'm not running..:)

[sangh0]

3. I'm coming around to that idea

TO be honest, though I do admire populist's committments to aiding the "common people" (ie not the corporate execs, but ordinary citizens) I am not very pleased with some of their less tolerant tendencies. However, I am growing more and more doubtful that any established politician or established political party can effectively lead the soer of reform movement that is needed in the country.

[SmokingJacket]

4. Yes... but are you saying that it doesn't matter what anyone says..

but how they say it?

If Bush actually won (Big freaking IF) I can't see that it was on anything but what he actually said. He had very little passion. Maybe the fear he capitalized on inflamed something in people. I don't know. The "success" of that guy makes little sense.

Are you saying that Dems need someone inflamed and passionate? I would agree. But sheesh... Dean was the most passionate of all, and "the people" seemed to react negatively to him.

Maybe when people get down and desperate they'll look to someone who sounds as desperate as they feel.

Meanwhile, in here in ComplacencyLand, people do NOT want to be awakened, as far as I can tell.

Do you think four more years will do it?

[Plausible]

6. Sounds right

Someone who conveys the passion of their convictions.

[wuushew]

7. I don't think I would like where populist foreign policy takes us

Americans are far too comfortable with the Iraq debacle to make me believe they would not be sympathetic to more incorrectly justified interventions. A true populist would represent the sizable majority of idiots who needlessly chant the peace with honor mantra that no doubt will be carried out in Iraq for many many years.

Also a populist approach to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict would not be nearly as even handed as needed.

[JAbuchan08]

8. The people were led into Iraq

they didn't initiate the idea to invade. The policy was made and then sold as "neccessary." Kind of a nitpick, but the average person is STILL not some redneck sociopath as easy as that is to believe. Its disconcerting that some of my friends and family are lining up on the other side of the aisle when the chips are down (that metaphor was carefully mixed - not haphazardly slapped together), but I still love them and I don't think they're crazy. They're impressionable and we need to work at building an impression.

[wuushew]

9. How can the truth be sold without the media?

With the right-wing takeover of news media an accurate account of American intervention will never be told. Also a large segment of the public is responsible for the degeneration of entertainment. Shows like American Idol, Simple Life and the Laci Peterson murder actually do get better ratings than a picture of an Iraqi child with half his scull blow away. American culture is locked in a downward feedback cycle that will be hard to stop based purely on populism.

The only populism that can work is economic populism with stealth liberal positions on everything else.

[JAbuchan08]

10. The only populism that will work is fake populism

don't bother trying to be sincere, cuz the people are too dumb to know what's good for them. That's what I'm hearing. I believe that if we can give people a better option they will take it.