How Dems can win

[Aerows]

You aren't going to win the party with LESS progressive Democrats.

Progressive isn't a dirty word. "Moderate Democrat" that substitutes for "Republican"? That's a dirty word.

Head back to the Republican party if the REAL Democratic party doesn't suit you - I speak to everyone. We need populism, we need forceful advocation for Social Security, and we need push back to raise corporate taxes.

Liberal, progressive, tax and all of those are not dirty words. Populism is a word to victory.

Embrace it.

[RBInMaine]

1. HAVE A STRONG ECONOMIC MESSAGE, TOUT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND SHOW UP !

Also, FRAME YOUR OPPONENT WITH A RESONATING ATTACK MESSAGE: i.e. "THE DO-NOTHING BACKWARDS REPUBLICANS."

None of this happened in this election, so the Dems lost big. INEXCUSABLE.

[SamKnause]

2. Do they want to win ???

Their actions have me questioning their motives.

Maybe President Obama didn't get the message when he put CPI for Social Security on the table.

1. President Obama is lousy at the art of negotiating.

2. President Obama is carrying out the Republican agenda.

You choose, 1 or 2.

Just wait until our Democratic hero signs the TPP and the Keystone pipeline.

[bravenak]

3. Stop being pro Prison State

Use the money we save by releasing non violent offenders to ankle monitor for the people.
End the drug war.
Use the billions saved on infrastructure.
I have many more tips!!

[Aerows]

5. AMEN!

And if you aren't brave enough to stand for something, you are too damn timid to be a politician.

[bravenak]

7. For real!

They act like shy strippers.

[Aerows]

10. LMAO

That's the best description I've ever heard of current Dems. You either do it, or you don't, damn it!

[Jackpine Radical]

11. Unfair to say they stand for nothing.

They stand for self-enrichment and post-Congressional lobbying careers. And if you're gonna lobby, you don't want your contact list to be filled with prudish Progressives who are too righteous to take a little bribe contribution here & there. Therefore ya gotta caucus with the Turd Way while you're in office. It's all very simple & pragmatic.

[tjl148]

22. +1

More tips? I'm listening.

[bravenak]

25. My journal has a list of policy positions.

I like them all but am willing to compromise with other liberals.

[Rex]

4. Don't let a group of libertarian investment bankers make policy.

Reaganomics should not be part of our policy.

[Aerows]

9. They aren't part of our party platform

Nor should they be.

[Rex]

12. No, but they donate money and have a large amount of influence over our party.

We need to get rid of big money in politics, it has poisoned our democracy.

[BillZBubb]

6. I agree that a real, progressive message would be optimal...

but even a "moderate Democratic" message would be better than the NO message at all we've got now.

The only message our candidates seemed to have come up with is "I'm not as bad as the republicans".

[Aerows]

8. If you are too gutless to stand up for your party platform

You aren't standing up for your party platform. Bottom line.

Our opponents aren't moderate, and we can't afford to not stick to our principles, either.

[SHRED]

13. How long will it take?

Here is how it went wrong.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025793571

[Aerows]

15. Until we condition them

that they aren't going to get wealthy by taking office if they continue with that shit in the long term, we have no chance of changing them in the short term.

[Blanks]

14. Progressives won the election...

There were African Americans elected in southern states, homosexual candidates elected, marijuana was legalized, minimum wage raised etc.

The progressive victories weren't democrats, but progressive issues did fine. If the democratic candidates want to win, they need to brag on their progressiveness and quit trying to appeal to conservatives.

[whereisjustice]

16. kick

[Phlem]

17. why can I only rec this once!? Damn it!

Your singing my song and your doing a beautiful job!

[Aerows]

23. Thank you

I intend to keep singing it!

[leanforward]

18. Populism, populism, populism

Thanks you for the words. I've thought for some time now that we democrats need to tout what we have done. Unemployment: down's; deficit: down. I'm sure others can come up with a lot more. The President has tried and has had limited success. He has probably given up too much in an attempt to do the right thing. Compromise.
The President has done what he can, but, to me, he has to work with a bunch of idiots.

Our Republican and Democratic leaders are beholden to too many corporate interests. Many Republicans espouse beware of big government. Our problem is not big government, but big business. Corporations.

[Aerows]

19. braveak said it best

They act like shy strippers. You are either on stage or you aren't.

[AlbertCat]

20. How Dems can win

Run a white man.

[Aerows]

21. That's what you got out of my post?

What is your problem? I'm not a white man. I'm not a straight woman.

I just laid it on the line.

What is your problem?

[AlbertCat]

24. That's what you got out of my post?

Yes, that's exactly and absolutely all of what I think. Nothing more.

There was no snark involved here at all.

As a "not white man" and "not straight woman" you undoubtedly picked up on that.




BTW.... what is your problem?


Seriously...here's what I saw this last election:

Every Dem running (certainly in my state of NC) was labeled "Obama" or one of his minions. All the negative ads against Dems were about Obama.
But Obama wasn't running for anything.
Obama has 2 lame duck years to go and then is ineligible for the office of President again.
Again.... Obama was not a candidate running for anything.

My conclusion is Dems lost because a black man is in the White House and there are lots of people (at least a majority of 39% of eligible voters) who simply cannot STAND that. Add to that most states in play this election were red states. All this must be mixed with a media that is generally favorable to Republicans.

Can Dems improve their image and playbook? Definitely.

[Aerows]

29. I love how you turn the loss of the Senate

into "Dems lost because a black man is in the White House."

Unbelievable the contortions some will go to because Democrats didn't run on a Democratic platform.

Thanks, Obama! You've won re-election twice, but you are responsible for candidates that didn't win, because RACISM!

[AlbertCat]

30. Unbelievable the contortions some will go to

What contortions?

Why did the GOP universally run against Obama when he's not running for anything? Or do you think that didn't happen? What else did they run on? What was their platform.... besides "we're not Obama!"?

It is a simple fact that can be looked up that most states in play were red.


"Thanks, Obama! You've won re-election twice, but you are responsible for candidates that didn't win, because RACISM! "

That's just what happened. Only Obama didn't "do" anything except be black.

Dems haven't run on a Dem ticket since Carter.... and you're just now noticing?

[Aerows]

31. I don't think

we are going to get anywhere with this conversation. Let's just agree to disagree and leave it at that.

[AlbertCat]

32. Let's just agree to disagree and leave it at that.

Well, you might understand the simple things I've pointed out, and refused to even address, if you get down off your very high soap box.

I'll leave it at that.

[Aerows]

34. Okay

Have a nice evening, and I mean that sincerely.

[Agnosticsherbet]

26. Don't put a test on what it takes to be a Democrat.

Put together a national platform that Democrats will vote for.

Peters just won in San Diego. Though this time he claimed to be a "progressive," two years ago he ran as a Conservadem that would work with the Republicans and eschew partisan politics.

He is an opportunist, but he was what was we needed to have a win in my district.

In some states, especially the South, fire breathng liberals or progressives would not win.

The way we win is to put together a national campaign that the party will get behind in every state. (Jobs, infrastructure, expanded individual rights, better schools, sensible non-interventionist foreign policy) We then chose candidates that appeal to local interests. There will be some centrists and even center right Democrats who can win in red states with the right message.

If we win the majority, we win the power to set the agenda.

That is impossible with only progressive litmus tested Democrats.

If we have the power to set the agenda, then we can make it a liberal progressive agenda.

[Aerows]

27. Here's the thing

I'm a member of the Democratic party. My opinions are my own, and if others agree with them, that's great! If people don't agree with them ... I'm still a member of the Democratic party expressing my own ideas.

[Agnosticsherbet]

28. On that we see eye to eye.

[AlbertCat]

33. My opinions are my own

Just don't disagree with them, or make snarky jokes about them, or you'll get a "What's your problem?"

[Aerows]

35. Let's agree to disagree

once again. If I ask what is your problem, I sincerely want to know.

I'm pretty damn straight-forward. What you read in a political thread is what you take into it, and everyone has different life experiences. Doesn't make yours or mine invalid, just means that we view things through a different lens.

Thus, agree to disagree, because it really isn't important - getting the issues on the ballot and the people that vote for them on the side we as Democrats want - that's what is important.