If we do not win and win with a strong majority in both Houses

[sidwill]

We will not have accomplished anything.

It's important to talk policy but policy talk becomes irrelevant if we don't win or if we win but don't have the margins neccesary in the House and Senate to overcome Republican stalling tactics.

Hillary is great, but she is a divisive figure guaranteed to unite the Rs against her and decreasing our chances of adding substantial margins in Congress.

Obama appeals to new voters, independents, and even moderate Republicans. I'm not talking frustrated conservatives like El Rushbo who say they will vote Hillary over Mcain out of spite, I'm talking actual moderate Rs who are fed up with their parties shennanigans.

This is a golden opportunity for us, not only to just win, but to win in a manner that fractures the Republican coalition of the last 30 years.

As for policy, we can go over the minutae of the merits of each candidates plans but in the end the reality is will be dictated by just how many votes we have in Congress. Hillary might have a slightly better stance on some issue then Obama, but if she is faced with a tightly divided Senate the final product will be inevitably watered down (See health care reform WJC first term).

The reality is policy differences between the two are narrow at worst and at best simply a difference in semantics.

With that being the case why should we settle for another tightly split congress facing a united and motivated opposition party?

Obama can break the pattern, Hillary will, through no fault of her own, maintain the pattern.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Very important that we have strong majorities in both Houses

I would urge those of you, who, like me, don't have a candidate in the Presidential primary, to find and support a progressive Dem in the Congressional races, either in your own state or district, or in another where they really need help.

[LWolf]

2. If that's true,

it would be smart for Democratic primary voters to field candidates that can unify the Democratic/left/independent/3rd party vote, wouldn't it?

[penguin7]

3. I do not really have a dog in this race,

but I think Clinton is more electable than Obama.

First of all, I do not see the youth movement thing holding in the general. When the election gets dirty, the youth will just see the election for what it really is--the same old crap.

I also think that racism is alive and well in this country. In a state like Ohio, race could turn into a deciding factor.

Lastly, Hillary is a known factor. This will be a huge plus in the general.

[kentuck]

4. You are probably right...

And if so, we will have a continuation of the present politics. Nothing will get accomplished. The Repubs will continue to block everything that the Democrats bring up.

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. If we do not win a strong majority OF PROGRESSIVES, you are right

Merely having a (D) after their name is not guarantee that things will get better, as the current Democratic majority prove all too well.