WaPo - "What Democrats Should Be Saying" by David Ignatius

[Tin Man]

What Democrats Should Be Saying
By David Ignatius
Friday, August 19, 2005; Page A21

This should be the Democrats' moment: The Bush administration is caught in an increasingly unpopular war; its plan to revamp Social Security is fading into oblivion; its deputy chief of staff is facing a grand jury probe. Though the Republicans control both houses of Congress as well as the White House, they seem to be suffering from political and intellectual exhaustion. They are better at slash-and-burn campaigning than governing.

So where are the Democrats amid this GOP disarray? Frankly, they are nowhere. They are failing utterly in the role of an opposition party, which is to provide a coherent alternative account of how the nation might solve its problems. Rather than lead a responsible examination of America's strategy for Iraq, they have handed off the debate to a distraught mother who is grieving for her lost son. Rather than address the nation's long-term fiscal problems, they have decided to play politics and let President Bush squirm on the hook of his unpopular plan to create private Social Security accounts.

Because they lack coherent plans for how to govern the country, the Democrats have become captive of the most shrill voices in the party, who seem motivated these days mainly by visceral dislike of George W. Bush. Sorry, folks, but loathing is not a strategy -- especially when much of the country finds the object of your loathing a likable guy.

-snip-

America doesn't need more of the angry, embittered shouting matches that take place on talk radio and in the blogosphere. It needs a real opposition party that will lay out new strategies: How to withdraw from Iraq without creating even more instability? How to engage a world that mistrusts and often hates America? How to rebuild global institutions and contain Islamic extremism? How to put the U.S. economy back into balance? A Democratic Party that could begin to answer these questions would deserve a chance to govern.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/18/AR2005081801645.html?nav=pq

[RobertSeattle]

1. DailyKos responds...

David Ignatius: Another D.C. Gasbag
by Armando

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/8/19/12433/8404

[Supersedeas]

7. But but but Ignatius says Dimson is a "likeable guy" - case closed 'Merica

[rfranklin]

2. this is such crapola...

Letting bush twist in the wind is a great tactic.

Many may think of Bush as a likable guy, but they are rapidly and massively realizing that he is a rigidly incompetent ideologue who is screwing up everything he touches.

Why start now with policy statements. No one will listen at this point and it only gives the Republican thugs more time to distort and lie in response.

This guy is a Republican apologist.

[rfranklin]

3. Daily Kos said it better than I did...

I was writing while that post went up. But I said the same thing in my slightly incoherent manner.

[wli]

4. America needs to put the neocons on trial in war crimes tribunals

That article is all bunk. The neocon fascists all deserve long, hard prison sentences, and while they stay free the people of this country can never be free.

[bearfan454]

5. What Democrats should be saying - by bearfan454

Bush is a crook. He is a war criminal. He stole both his elections. His whole administration are leftover crooks from the Reagan disaster. Bush lied to us about Iraq. BUSH KNEW about 911 ahead of time. He MIHOP ! He is going to take away your guaranteed government benefit called Social Security. He is bankrupting our country with this illegal war. He is sending all of the jobs to China and India. He is for the rich people only. The draft will be started soon. He and his staff committed treason during a time of war. He allowed torture to take place.

Care to add any ? I know I left out at least 100 other bad things.

Come on Howard Dean, Kerry, Clark, SCREAM IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS !

[Mountainman]

6. I totally agree with the article. Just pointing out the repukes bads will

not get us votes unless we offer something better to vote for. That has been true in the last three elections.

Says Mr/Ms average voter, "OK Dems, Bush is a bad guy and the Repub Congress is screwing us. So what do you have to offer that's better, might I ask? Hello! (No sound coming from Dems) Well then, why should I even vote? I either vote for more of the same or a pig in a poke! I think I'll just stay home."

[gratuitous]

8. No sound coming from Dems?

If by "no sound" you mean that lazy reporters aren't reading platforms and position papers, covering campaign appearances and asking candidates direct questions and reporting the answers, then yes, I believe you could credibly say that Democrats haven't made any sound about what they are offering that's better.

But you'd have your head farther into the sand than the do-nothing reporters who are only interested in the horse racing aspects of a campaign.

[Mountainman]

9. I guess I am not listening either.

What is the Dem plan for the Iraq war?
What is the Dem plan for dealing with terrorists & homeland security?
What is the Dem plan for creating jobs and improving the economy?
What is the Dem Plan for education?
What is the Dem Plan for health care?
What is the Dem plan for (your favorite issue here)?

I could not tell you what the answer to any of these are. Maybe it is because I don't watch TV or listen to radio but I am a very frequent reader of these threads and I don't know what the answers are.

If I don't know them, and I am a partial political junkie, then the voters who don't spend as much time as I do reading about politics on the web don't know either.

The reason why is not as important than the fact that voters don't know where the Dems stand on the issues. They aren't aware of the alternative is there is an alternative.

[gratuitous]

12. From the 2004 Democratic Party platform

http://www.democrats.org/pdfs/2004platform.pdf

Unfortunately, I don't have the ability to copy and paste .pdf files, but here's some of it:

1. Create new alliances rather than going it alone.
2. Modernize the military to respond to new threats.
3. Deploy all of America's resources in fighting terrorism, not just the military.
4. End dependence on Middle East oil.

As to terrorism, address not just individuals or groups, but consider and work on the root causes of terrorism, enlisting the help of our allies and forming new alliances.

There are many concrete and practical suggestions, including impairing terrorists' ability to move money quickly and secretly around the globe, beginning on page 4 of the platform an following on for several pages.

You will see in the table of contents sections devoted to the economy (21), education (32), and health care (29).

I don't know why a partial political junkie wouldn't know any of this; but I do know that lazy journalists haven't bothered to find out any of it, or to communicate it to their audiences, which is why voters are unaware of any alternatives.

[welshTerrier2]

10. oops ... please ignore ...

[welshTerrier2]

11. we have failed to demonstrate we can lead ...

i'm sorry to say i agree with the gist of the article although it's clear the author is a jackass ...

the Democratic Party has chosen a political strategy that chooses to hurt bush more than it helps lead the nation ... the author's point that Democrats are content to let bush hang from the tree he planted rather than solving America's problems is sadly true ...

Howard Dean said on last Sunday's Face the Nation, and i paraphrase from memory (such as it is): "we cannot expect individual Congressmen and Senators to come up with a plan for Iraq" ... well, fine ... can we expect the OPPOSITTION PARTY to come up with a plan??? can we expect anyone other than the WH and the neo-cons to come up with a plan??? who the hell is getting us out of this mess?? it may NOT be Dean's place to define policy for the Party but he shouldn't be in a position to have to admit Democrats don't have a plan on Iraq ... that is hardly the kind of leadership the country needs, and is seeking, from the Democratic Party ...

and we'll inevitably see a string of posts about the evil media blocking our message ... give it up, already ... i hate the media ... they are far too centralized and corporate controlled ... but Dean is on TV all the time ... so is Biden ... and i doubt anyone would turn Hillary down when she wants to share her thoughts ... the reporting and the bias stink but we do have access ... what we don't have are plans ...

and for those waiting around for "campaigns and candidates" to tell us where the Party stands, you'd better realize that's a prescription for disaster ... the Party needs to listen to Americans, especially Democrats, and reflect that in their values, their platform and their candidates ... a Party that allows ideas to bubble up from its constituents rather than pissing down on them will likely find more success ...

Ask yourself this ... do Americans know HOW Democrats will address the distant concerns with Social Security funding? don't argue with me that there is NO crisis ... i agree with that ... but will Americans vote for Democrats because they understand what Democrats will do either now or in the long run? the only honest answer is: No ...

Do Americans understand exactly HOW Democrats will address the health care crisis? the only honest answer is: No ...

some Democrats seem hellbent on proving how tough we are ... Kerry and others have called for sending more troops to Iraq ... some Generals have said that we would need to DOUBLE OUR TROOP STRENGTH to succeed ... DOUBLE IT !!! Will Americans support a major INCREASE in the effort in Iraq? and that is not the "Party's policy"; it's the recommendation made by a few Democrats ... Do Americans know what the Democratic Party would do in Iraq? ... the only honest answer is: No ... and don't even get me started about Iran ... the time to join the national dialog, or even have a national dialog, is NOW; not after bush announces the bombers are on their way ... we either exist, and lead, or we are irrelevant ...

How about budget deficits? Do you think Americans are concerned about this? Do you think they understand what the Democratic program is to balance the budget?

Maybe corporate interference in the government is important to some ... Have Democrats, as a Party, addressed this issue? Do you think Americans understand the Party's ideas about corporatism?

The point of all this is that, once again, we are being told to wait until we have candidates before we address the American people with our ideas ... this is a guaranteed loser ... we've proven that over and over and over and over and over ... but the country is facing numerous very serious problems TODAY ... not next year during the midterms; not in 2008; TODAY !!

the American people are desperate to hear solutions to the problems we face ... and they are sick of politicians who only seek political gain rather than real solutions ... and that, as a Party, is the strategy the Democratic Party is currently offering them ... and, btw, it will take more than a few poll-tested ideas to win the support we seek; it will take passion, the courage of our convictions, and the willingness to articulate and fight for our beliefs on a daily basis ...

if you're a "phonebank, GOTV" Democrat and you're waiting around to find out where the Party stands from our future nominees, you are part of the problem; not part of the solution ... campaign work is critical but leadership is NOW ...

[Diamonique]

13. The Democratic Agenda

Read this: http://www.democrats.org/agenda.html

I agree with Kos. Now is not the time for Dems to be putting forth specific plans. The Rethugs would only tear them down or take them as their own. We are out of power. We can't really do anything right now other than be the opposition party.

However, we do have an agenda and our politicians should be getting the details in order now so we can unveil our plans during next year's campaigns.

Just my opinion.

[welshTerrier2]

14. if we snooze, we lose ...

i've read the Party's 2004 platform and i've read "the agenda" ... if we're depending on these documents to demonstrate our leadership and demonstrate our passion to fight for them, we are as naive as those who believe an Iraqi Constitution will "cause" peace and stability ... when we are battling for the hearts and minds of Americans, and the soul of America, words on paper without being imbued with the passion and dedication of the messenger carry only the most minimal power ...

the Democrats' words are whispers tucked away in obscure documents on obscure websites that do not tell America who we are; they don't show America the depth of our commitment to our beliefs; and they sit waiting for the inevitable like a will in a sock drawer ...

when Democrats finally learn that we cannot fight a "movement" with a once-every-two-years political campaign, perhaps the tide will finally turn ... while so many of us in the grassroots, and most at the Party's elite level, continue to believe in the myth of campaign season, we will get little more than we currently have ... this is a losing strategy ...