strongest central Democrtatic campaign theme for 2006

[leftofthedial]

Poll question: strongest central Democrtatic campaign theme for 2006

the repukes have terra terra terra fear fear fear chaos to run on.

Polls show that the public does not perceive the emocratic Party as standing for any particular principle.

To avoid the Kerry-esque encyclopaedic mush of tiny glimpses into policy on fifty different issues, let's assume the Democrats could run mainly on one strong theme.

What will the typical voter respond to most positively when they consider the Democratic candidates this year? That is, since Diebold will swing any election that is remotely close in favor of the criminals, which theme can defeat the repuke lies and Diebold at the polls?







I'm not posting and running, but I will be offline for an hour or so.

[KingFlorez]

1. If anything, anti-corruption is best

That always leads to wins and we really do need the reform bad

[TheFarseer]

2. pro-worker or pro-energy

anti-corruption is a close second

[leftofthedial]

14. I think the key strategic failure of the Democratic Party

has been their abandonment of labor and their inability to oppose the corporate-repuke destruction of labor as a viable political bloc.

[bryant69]

3. I think Anti Corruption is best this year

ALthough a lot of those others can be strong secondary themes. The advantage to the Corruption problem is that it cuts to the heart of the house and senate.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[leftofthedial]

8. good point

if all the corrupt repukes were voted out, there would basically be no repukes in congress.

[Orrin_73]

4. Its the war stupid!!!

that sounds more reasonable.

[leftofthedial]

9. I think that's the most urgent issue in many respects

but do you really think it would resonate with the most voters in Congressional campaigns across the country?

[Orrin_73]

13. I dont think that "Its the economy stupid" will work

therefore I came up with this. You are right some sheep really believe that the war is necessary, but you never know with all the anti war sentiment.

[marions ghost]

5. corruption is

the bottom line.

We can't get any other programs through that benefit the people if corruption is not dealt with directly. The Dems are going to have to come on strong as the cleanup crew...as the 'designated drivers' after this period of Rethuglican recklessness and intoxication with power (as somebody around here so accurately described it).

But to do that the Dems will need to do a lot of 'inner work' themselves. This period of a bunch of white collar criminals being allowed to hijack the United States and run it into a wall must come to a grinding halt. This is the Dems BEST card to play. It's broke and the Rethugs certainly can't fix it. The Dems have to promise to do it and then when in power, they must do it.

[leftofthedial]

10. how would you frame that issue?

"Dems can fix it?"

How do we convince the public that the Dems are clean? Do we need to aggressively purge any dirty Dems to show we mean business? Or is that counterproductive? How does it not become a he-said-she-said, both-sides-are-dirty fingerpointing exercise that only serves to alienate more voters?

I think it's compelling if it's (erk) marketed right.

[marions ghost]

20. Focus on where the worst problem is

ie. aggressively purge dirty REPUBLICANS.

Dirty Dems can go too, but that doesn't need to be our first order of business. Let the Repukes do that.
They will have a tougher time tho. There are still far less dirty Dems than dirty Republicans. There's still a big difference with being up to your neck in muck vs. having some on your shoes. Those who have any integrity left do not need to be defensive or worry about 'finger-pointing' at Dems. This attitude comes from a demoralized position. Inferiority complex.

The simplistic argument of "clean vs. dirty" should be deflected in favor of relentlessly exposing the widepread abuse and corruption which is really at the heart of the Republican agenda. These are very specific and criminal abuses of power which undermine the fundamentals of a democracy. In other words, keep the big picture and don't allow the "Dems do it too" RW schoolyard talking points to stick.

[ugarte]

6. $500 Billion for Iraq, vs. Chump Change for Domestic Needs

If the Democrats don't campaign on an anti-war platform, they are stupider than anyone can imagine. Americans are fed up with this war and its cost, in lives and dollars. What's more, the war ties into everything: huge deficits, cuts in domestic programs, a weakened military. This insane war must be the central theme.

[leftofthedial]

11. is the public passionately anti-war?

or are they fence-sitters on the war and more passionate about the domestic problems (largely created by the war deficits, but removed by a degree of separation from the illegal, immoral, unjustifiable war itself)?

[sandnsea]

19. End the war

Which isn't the same thing as anti-war. I think that's what some of the anti-war people are missing. Alot of people want this war ended quickly, but aren't prepared to get behind the illegal occupation/invasion rhetoric and consequently don't feel like they have anybody speaking for them. I would think if ending the war is the goal, some ideological adjustments could be made in order to make it happen.

[PhilipShore]

7. Other

Peace, prosperity and freedom in a true democracy.

[cyberpj]

12. FREE PRESS, VERIFIABLE ELECTIONS, BETTER WORLD PARTNER.

[leftofthedial]

15. I think those are hig priorities once the Dems regain congressional power

but will those issues get them elected in 2006?

[cyberpj]

16. I'm not sure they can regain congressional power without the first 2. nt

[leftofthedial]

22. how do they reform corrupt voting before regaining congress?

the repukes won't kill their golden electronic voting goose.

[sandnsea]

17. Responsive government

Clean campaigns, transparent voting, respects civil rights, honest budgets, Real Progress for Real People.

[Telly Savalas]

25. I like that.

We shouldn't be hanging all our hopes on a single issue.

The point both politically and policy-wise is that we've got to change the way our government operates.

But there are two other things I'd stress:

1. The GOP promotes and thrives off a climate of fear, hatred, and paranoia. We've got to reverse this by pushing the idea that we're all in this together. In other words, pressing for a specific policy agenda isn't enough. We've got to try to shift the underlying political philosophy that's been steering our country towards the right.
Instead of trying to fight fire with fire by playing dirty politics, we've got to appeal to the fundamental goodness and compassion that most Americans have.

2. We could start plucking off a lot of Rockefeller Republicans if we argued the case that a true liberal agenda is more business-friendly and more amenable to sustainable economic growth than the Social Darwinism of the GOP. The Republicans are not only letting our nation's infrastructure erode, but they're spending a lot of money and inflating the national debt a lot in the process. Democrats would be wise to show how we're all better off if we invest in our country:

*A single-payer universal health care system would make our economy more efficient by containing costs, and it would make American businesses more competitive by taking the burden of providing coverage off their shoulders.

*Supporting education by properly funding it and managing it would strengthen our workforce. In light of the fact that the percentage of Americans with college degrees in science-related subject matters is slipping compared to other countries, maybe slashing student loan programs isn't very prudent.

*Dropping the Genghis Khan approach to foreign policy would also stimulate business. Unnecessary wars and a giant military-industrial complex may benefit a few defense contractors, but it puts an undue burden on the rest of the economy. We spend roughly the same on our military as does the rest of the world combined. That's just silly. There are real threats to us in the world, which is precisely why we need smarter and more streamlined solutions to our national defense.

*We need a sincere strategy for developing alternative energy sources. The status quo may be nice for the oil companies, but for all other businesses it's too hazardous. If oil prices were to skyrocket, it'd have a crippling effect.

...and this is just a start. It's getting late and I'm getting tired, otherwise I'd probably ramble on about this for several hundred thousand more words. But what I'm getting at is that is despite what curmudgeons like Vilsack say, we could build a wide consensus without having to compromise progressive/liberal ideals.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. I Voted Other

"Time to get this right." "Time to repair the damage done."
The Professor

[Buck Rabbit]

21. I'm with him ^^^

I would have said unfair trade and the war on the blue collar middle class, but the Professor is smarter than me and I think I see his point in a broader central theme to encompass a general feeling in the populus that many things just aren't going right.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

23. Where Is Just Simply

"Democrats Care About YOU and Your Family".

We care about keeping you safe from terrorism that comes from abroad, we care about keeping you safe from health issues at home. We care about your ability to provide for your family, we care for your ability to find a job, we care for your ability to raise a family with confidence. We care about making sure you have choices, we care about being there for you when disaster strikes, we care about your environment. We care about your hardship to afford energy, we care about your ability to get the medications you require, we care about your rights. We just care about you.

[Cocoa]

24. "Change"

keep it simple