Democrats to roll out action plan

And with the prospect of Murtha in leadership, that covers lots of bases.

Lets see if the Dems have any balls when it comes to Iraq

Irrelevant

Why do you hate America?:sarcasm:

no sarcasm on that one.

We're only getting bread and butter priorities.

This is what I find disturbing:

"Democratic strategists are split among those who believe the party must aggressively show voters that they offer a reasonable alternative and those who warn against providing a target that might rally opponents."

That's right. If we stand for anything, it will give our opponents a target. If in contrast we remain absolutely silent, then how are they going to be able to debate us?

http://www.dnc.org/agenda.html

Is it the Dems "hidden" agenda?? It shouldn't be, IMO, but maybe the Insurance Corpo-illness-profiteer-lobbie$ would 'cancel' their campaign 'contribution$' if it was not "hidden" (??) (or the repuke$ looted the treasury beyond the point of no return already??) :banghead:

and restore integrity to the voting process? I'm beginning to think that the Dems LIKE being in the minority and don't WANT to fix the machines. I've just about decided that if they aren't going to fight, then why the f*ck should I?

voters, whom they need on their side in Nov. From my understanding (talking to a senior congressman), they're well aware of the problem but it's not a major selling point except for those of us who will vote for them anyway, so they're trying to work on it but without being in power there's little they can do. I was urged to write LTTEs and contact rethug members of congress to help build awareness of the public interest. This was small comfort, but some comfort that at least if they win the majority role in Nov, we'll see some action.

The good: these issues are ones that affect people, and if properly sold, they will devastate the Republicans. "While your grandma can't afford medicine, and you're paying more to make oil companies even richer, what's the big concern for Congressman Skuzzle-butt? Two boys kissing!"

The bad: there are no Democrats with the courage to get up and say this. Lewis Black nailed it when he talked about Kerry's 2004 loss against Bush: "It's like a normal guy who couldn't win anything in the Special Olympics."

...considering that we now have an unbelievably large debt to pay off, an economic black hole in Iraq and almost everyone else on earth angry with and fearful of the U.S., gearing up for possible war with us, the vindictive and irrational megalomaniacs with the biggest arsenal on God's 6,000 year old flat earth.

Raising the minimum wage should go a long way towards paying for the rest of this as it will allow more workers to make enough to pay taxes, be consumers and finance enterprise.

just so he can call himself a War President>

A little good will from the rest of the world wouldn't likely hurt our economy either. Not to mention simply doing the right thing for the sake of doing the right.

... go a long way toward turning this country around.

While the Repubs and Neocons (or CONservatives) like to blather about smaller government, they've been hemorrhaging our money.

The Dems need to point out that no-bid contracts, privatization, cronyism, and all-around corrupt practices have put this country on the brink of bankruptcy. That's how they've run (ruined) the government and how they've run the war. Same mind-set all the way around.

Restoring government to its proper functions -- like taking care of people and infrastructure -- will save us money in the long run. It would be a huge savings over corrupt no-bid contracts and corrupt privatizing schemes.

Hekate

of the people, by the people and for the people to themselves. And very private people they are in their gated estates, in Dick Cheney's secret location and with their mis-appropriated "National security and Military" secrecy.

We have the power to take it back. We have a lot of power to take it back from the corrupt neocons and the corrupt among the Democrats, who did little or nothing to stand up to these fascists for that matter. If we did not have the inherent power to do so they would not have to work so hard and spend so much to keep us fooled to paraphrade this quote which was in today's Information Clearing House email;

"Ask yourself why totalitarian dictatorships find it necessary to pour money and effort into propaganda for their own helpless, chained, gagged slaves, who have no means of protest or defense. The answer is that even the humblest peasant or the lowest savage would rise in blind rebellion were he to realize that he is being immolated, not to some incomprehensible 'noble purpose', but to plain, naked, human evil.": Ayn Rand

It is time to face the music. After 6 years of running up the federal deficit we need to take bold move -- we need to raise taxes. Not only should we advocate repealing all of AWOL's tax cuts, we should raise taxes by 10-20% on people earning more than $100K per year. We have a great number of programs to fund and we must be responsible. This means raising taxes instead of running up the federal deficit. Democrats should not be afraid of telling the truth to the American public.

Raising the minimum wage to a figure that is at least close to a living wage will improve the economy a lot including the portfolios of the wealthy who, after all, depend on consumers to fatten them. Personally I would like to see a world wide living wage which would also benefit corporations who now must compete against each other, at least where they have not succeeded in obtaining monopolies, in a fiercely competitive labor market which includes virtual slave states. Strictly enforced import/export law would largely allow this to become a reality if we simply legislate not trading with any country or commercial entity that does not pay it's workers a living wage.

I think these measures, although a fairly drastic diversion from the traditional company store economy, would benefit all and, with more money circulating, soon generate enough increase in tax revenue to at least start to bring down the deficit. Repealing tax cuts given the robber barons by this administration and it's corporate owned, rubber stamp legislature could then be minimized.

I apologize if its in the article I didnt read it.

But none the less,our troops went to war on a stolen election and a huge pack of lies.

Bring Our Troops Home Now!!!!

"increasing the minimum wage, cutting costs of prescription drugs, reducing interest rates on student loans, rolling back subsidies for oil companies, and pay-as-you-go budgeting"

:yourock: :woohoo: :headbang: :grouphug: :hug: :loveya: :kick: :hi: :nuke: :bounce: :applause:

"With President Bush and Republicans in political free fall, others in the party believe what Democrats do and say is of far less consequence than the price of gasoline and the daily casualties from Iraq."

Mark Sandalow is the Adam Nagourney of the San Francisco Chronicle. Typically, he'll write an article with a heading or a lead-in that seems as though its going to be favorable to the Democrats, but always ends up getting in a few digs, casting doubt,and creating angst. "Some say", "Sources say" and "The Democrats have no plan" are all part of the formula he uses in his "reporting".

The Pew Research Center's study "Beyond Red vs. Blue" (here: <http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?PageID=943>) has identified the issues that divide the extremist Corporatist-NeoCon faction of the GOP (identified as the "enterprisers" in the Pew study) from the the rest of America including the mainstream of the GOP.

Here are seven wedge issues which divide the most extreme and least democratic element of the GOP from everyone else in our society which most generally agrees with us on these critical matters:

1. Fair access to health care


2. Raising the minimum wage


3. Tax cut equity and debt responsibility


4. Protecting American jobs from outsourcing


5. International cooperation not unilateralism


6. Appointing fair judges


7. Regulating corporate pollution and misdeeds


WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES EVERY DAY AND IN EVERY CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THESE ISSUES REPRESENT THE IDEOLOGICAL DIVIDE BETWEEN THE CORPORATIST NEOCONS WHO MISMANAGE OUR GOVERNMENT AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS!

But have been losing seats for 12 years. :freak:

This middle 23% has not received the message that it has the champion it deserves in those Democrats who have pushed relentlessly for better access to health care, a fair living wage, tax and fiscal equity, valuing American jobs, international cooperation, a fair judicial system, and the sensible regulation of polluting and corrupt corporate abuse.

As a result of the failure of this message, this middle has voted mainly Republican in the past:



Yet the middle is on our side with respect to all of these key issues (notably, by a 2-1 margin with regard to health care and by a 9-1 margin on minimum wage relief).

Tell the truth, it really hurts, but it works!

I'm not kidding--give it a name. Turn it into a soundbyte with substance. We need a new "New Deal."

That's exactly what they need. Something pre-emptive that can be explained in a few words and that any idiot can understand.

If the Dem Strategists don't GROW SOME GONADS - soon - I am going to :puke:

This milk toast is *exactly* what the DLC and entrenched Dems want. It is *exactly* what Feingold has been warning AGAINST. :grr:

Annnny minute now they'll, uh, form a committee. Goddess help us.:eyes:

they should only focus on centrist issues and centre-left issues that unite at least 60% of the public. We need to run only on handful of ideas. You don't want to throw so much out there that people don't grasp it all. A few simple things with high approval should be enough to knock out the unpopular GOP. Liberal democrats can run on more liberal issues locally if their district permits. I just want to see the GOP out! I would rather be governed by Democrats with a centrist agenda for the next two years than the Republicans far right wing. Also, every committee in congress would be headed by a liberal if we take back the congress and senate.

and not be so particular about gay rights. And the ongoing carnage in Iraq should be hardly mentioned unless we upset some people. You won't have your 60% of the vote when real liberals abandon the milquetoast liberals and centrists. I'm voting for any 3rd party that will stand up for liberal positions and get us the hell out of Iraq.

I propose any of that? Thanks for the strawman!

stating that many of us liberals want a plan that we can get behind, like trying Bush for lying us into this oil war, a clean exit from Iraq, a firm stand on pro-choice womens rights. You get the idea.

that Bush should be investigated, choice should be protected, and as a gay American myself, I would LOVE to see gay rights advanced. However, I think these things can come after the election. The Democrats should run on bread and butter, environmental, and anti-corruption issues that have widespread support even with moderate Republicans. This way we can have the broadest coalition possible. We will need some GOP votes in the senate to overcome filabusters and vetos by Bush and his right wing lackeys to get any meaningful legislation thru. If we defeat conservative legislators like Santorum we may just see the GOP move to the center. After the Democrats suffered defeats throughout the 80's they moved to the center. If the GOP loses, they will undoubtedly do the same to hold on to swing state seats. After we push through a few successful pieces of legislation...then I would bring up fights on gay rights, abortion, and other more controversial issues. That is just my opinion though, and I am not a professional politician so I may very well be wrong.

Loserman over his stand on the Iraq war and cosying up with Bush. Lamont is making great strides.
Now KKKarl Rove is saying that the Republicans should embrace the Iraq war, extoll the virtues of Zarqui being killed. Democrats won't be able to hide from this issue. Hillary's hawkish stance has turned many liberals away from her. 3rd party candidates will siphon away support by endorsing anti-war candidates, which is where I personally would cast my vote. I think the two party system is broken, that corporations control both sides of the coin for their personal interests, that aside from social issues, there is very little differences between right-centrists and left-centrists. We now have Democratic governors pushing anti-abortion bills, pro-life democrats, hawkish democrats. With the milquetoast agenda the DLC-DINOs are putting out now, I'll probably stay home and sleep. I'm simply not motivated.

if it takes 2, 4, 6, 8 more years of this kind of shit for people to finally see the truth, so be it.

i WILL NOT support nor validate the agenda of the dlc one iota.

not with my money, not with my time, and certainly NOT with my vote.

How can we win on substance when the Republicans have those juicy wedge issues with which to lure the morons to the polls?


Note: that is only partially asked in jest.

valuing American jobs, international cooperation, a fair judicial system, and the sensible regulation of polluting and corrupt corporate abuse.

Just because the GOP's wedge issues are a phony attempt to divide us doesn't mean that our wedge issues must also be phony. Remember, "reality has a well known liberal bias." Instead of dividing the country based on phony issues, we can divide the Christofascists, the NeoCons, and the Corporatists from the sensible majority of the country because those right-wing extremists are out of the mainstream on all of these important issues.

all of them, and all well taken.

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2333961&mesg_id=2334607>

and the original source is here: <http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?PageID=943>

thats a new one on me.

I would guess. I would assume they mean repealing the tax cuts of the wealthy..

landed us in deeper debt than at any other time in history.

so the thugs are f*cked, and they know it.

They are still pussy-footing around that subject, even though the polls have shown for quite awhile now a majority think invading Iraq was a mistake. :banghead:

flag too.

Not just the cowardly 'moment of silence' -- but good, old-fashioned church + state prayer in school.

:sarcasm:

:toast:

Where is the environment? Even staunch DLC'er Al Gore gets no respect with this plan. The plan is safe...for the opposition. I suppose the democrats are doomed to remain an increasingly marginalized minority until we learn how to act like an opposition party and demand systemic change in the unlikely event that any semblance of a US representative democracy will survive long enough for that to occur.

:hi:

Yeah, I agree-bold, not bland, is the way to get people to the polls. There are scads of high priority issues, and the environment should be among the top five. If we don't slow climate change soon then none of the other issues will matter in the least.

If they really gave a damn they would go balls to the wall with Universal Health Care. I can think of nothing more needed by working Americans, nothing more likely to get the interests of blue collar workers. Yet they prefer to kowtow to their corporate masters.

I like:
Pay as you go budgeting
Roll back subsidies for Oil companies
Reducing interest rates on student loans
Cutting costs of prescription drugs

I Dislike:
Raising the minimum wage. I prefer a minimum wage as it stands for anybody 21 yrs or younger. Then a higher 'living' wage for anyone over 21 years old.

Education program similar to the Europeans
Universal Health care, similar to the education program (government controlled working with free market strengths)

Oh well, at least this is a start.

Assumes that teh votes we cast on election day will be honored.

but I think that is a terrible idea. Setting wage by age like that is what got the riots in France going. Cheap businesses would just hire as many kids as possible for the lower wage. You would be pitting the working class against itself. Also, many 17 and 18 yr olds help suppor ttheir families or have family troubles and must leave the home. If they have to join the military they have just as much a right to a living wage as anyone else.

I too hope this is the "public" agenda for winning control of the House, then the Senate and the Executive Branch. Then to start with the REAL agenda in December 2008.
Here is a slogan: "Corporations are not people and have no rights," hoowever I fear it will scare people.
A few horror stories of the working poor being driven bankrupt by medical costs and corps getting "reorganized" over and over again ought to do the trick. Most young folks are watching Jon Stewart and Colbert and love it, by the way. The NASCAR dads may or may not vote R, the Walmart crowd will. The Democrats have to appear accessible and not "elite". That will be the key to victory. We have to have a slogan that sticks in peoples heads and use the MSM just like Rove does. We have to have a meme to unite people under the influence of the Democratic Party without them knowing it, to be honest and frank.
Look how long it took FDR and Claude Peppers (my distant cousin) to get the US even tilted towards the Allied side, and then it took Pearl Harbor to cement the antifascist alliance.
Oh, some nice silent footage of a hillside being denuded, then abandonded to become waste land would be nice too. Scary stuff, like the Lyndon ad of the girl plucking the daisy...