We can be our own worst enemy.....

[HardWorkingDem]

On the eve of the 2006 elections there are two things that I think are very important for the Dems to fight. The first is the perception of failing to offer alternatives to the Bush Agenda. We need to offer alternatives to all of Bush's mess ups and do it fast. The American people need to see promise, optimism and positive solutions toward the future. Constant bitching about the Bush Agenda will not get us there.

The second one is Dems must get rid of the image of appearing not to stand for anything. Clinton hit the nail right on the head when he said that it is better to be strong and wrong than weak and right. Now, those of us in this party know what we stand for and how strong we stand for our ideals, but the votes we need to win over do not see it this way and this is something we must work on.

[eleny]

1. "strong and wrong"? - No thanks.

[CTLawGuy]

4. to be right is to be strong and

to be wrong is to be weak.

The inability to do right is the surest sign of weakness, as we saw with the IWR.

I think Clinton missed the point.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. Sincere communication is the key...

Just keep talking to people and telling the truth. Talk to them about things they understand, empathize and tell them how the democrats would make things better. We all know what is possible --

Of course, there will always be some on the far right who will never be reached, but I think there are a lot of people in the middle who are ready for a different way. Those are the people that we need to reach out to with all of our good ideas and draw them into the fold. :) It's time to give peace a chance.

[wli]

3. it's all meaningless in the face of Diebold, ES&S, Sequoia, et al n/t

[TMA68]

5. I agree!

Until and unless we pressure Congress into implementing certain key electoral reforms -- http://www.landandfreedom.org/news/91404.htm -- no other meaningful reforms will have any chance of even being addressed, let alone enacted.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm absolutely fed up with being told that the only way I can voice my opposition to a given policy is to vote for a candidate who supports that policy. :eyes: Those who repeatedly propagate this Orwellian notion might as well tell people they can dig their way out of a hole while they're at it.

Just as the Republican Party has been hijacked by pro-imperialist, pro-police state "neocons," so too has the Democratic Party:

http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=7097
http://www.counterpunch.org/walsh07302005.html
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0825-01.htm

This will never change so long as the rank-and-file insist on marching in mindless lockstep to the "Vote-for-me-because-I'm-not-as-bad-as-the-other-guy" drumbeat.

Reform the election system, or get used to having to "choose" between two candidates who (while perhaps differing on matters of tactics) both support the very policies you most passionately oppose.

Todd

[HardWorkingDem]

6. In my lifetime.....

I have never seen a political party run afoul of so many things than the current Republican Party. But what alarms me even more is that it seems like our party just isn't capitalizing on their problems like it could be.

For example, why aren't the Dems constantly reminding the American people that the Republicans control Congress and the Whitehouse and they own all the problems we are in now. This should be a constant reminder.

Next, the Dems must start promoting that they will be different if put back into power. They must get off the addiction of crook lobbyists and mean it. (I sincerely believe that this is one reason why DeLay has not been damaged more - because his lobbyist friend who was just indicted has a few Dems latched onto his cash.)

Now, on a high note - I do think that over the next ten to twenty years the Dems are really going to grow in power because of population demographic changes. Right now I think that white, male conservatives are at their peak and will soon start to dwindle in number. That is good for Dems.

[wli]

7. threat of Wellstoning, rethug infiltration of the Dems, etc.

That's why they're not doing anything.