Is it just me, or do a lot of Dem candidates STILL have trouble framing?

Don't get me wrong - a lot of them are great people with great ideas. But it seems like I still hear a lot of the same old watered-down druck on vital issues that we've been saddled with for so long.

Maybe I'm just in a cynical mood. Please help me out.

The democratic party isn't in power so what they say means nothing. the media keeps trying to make a case about the dems it's the party in power that gets the credit or blame for the things in the country.

:hi: <tease! - sort of>

Here in my state, our local candidates are going gang busters. They have a great agenda and nowhere to go but up. School financing is a mess and the state supreme court is involved. So it is easy for them to take the high road on that issue.

Nationally, I guess I can see what you are talking about. I wish they would come out more strongly against the war. They also need to be shouting from the rooftops about health care.

One of the problems is the disgusting level repubs are willing to go to in order to frame their side. We choose to not sink to such levels. Therein lies a lot of the problem with our lack of superior framing.

Even outside of that though we can definitely improve the strength of our message. We let them control the direction of the debate far too often and for far too long. I've seen signs they're getting better, but we really need to step the stategy of framing up a notch going into the election.

They lie and simplify to Demonize our positions -- and what they do is pretty powerful -- we just have to be ahead of them

Good prediction and response here to what is probably coming on the Gitmo decision:

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2006/jun/29/general_rove_and_the_battle_of_gitmo

<snip>

General Rove and the Battle of Gitmo

By Reed Hundt | bio
Look for the brilliant mastermind of November victories to use the Supreme Court's pro-prisoner decision to the R's advantage this fall. Add to "cut and run" as an epithet for Democrats the potent message that D's stand for releasing murderers and terrorists. To thwart this tactic, Democrats need to clamor for legislation calling for no bail, confidential reports to Congress on the danger to the country from these prisoners (conducted by the 911 Commission), trials starting no later than in the fall, and harsh penalties.

<snip>

the only problem is that the Repubs BS is always simple and easy to understand.

Whereas real solutions are more complicated to put across, especially w all the damn noise!