General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe year was 1994. Democrats controlled the House.
Bill Clinton was president, and was not popular at that time. The Republicans in Congress, under Newt Gingrich nationalized the House elections by coming up with a 10 point "Contract with America." They promised, if the American people would give them a majority in the House that they would vote on those 10 issues. The American people did just that. Newt became Speaker of the House.
In other words, rather than just griping about how terrible they thought Clinton was, they played OFFENSE! They promised to DO SOMETHING, and they were rewarded for it.
In my opinion, we Democrats need to do the same thing. Go on offense with a promise to do 10, easy to remember, things if America gives us a majority in 2018. We could promise to vote on 1. Raising Federal Minimum Wage to $15/hr. 2. Jobs Bill to bring jobs that cannot be outsourced. 3. Closing gun show loophole while protecting 2nd amendment rights. 4. Constitutional Amendment that overturns "Citizen'United." 5. Forgives all student loans after 10 years of unmissed payments without it be counted as income. 6. Medicare for All. 7. Public financing of elections. 8. Income TAX CUT for all making less than $250,000. 9. Making Social Security solvent by lifting the cap. 10. And, yes, Congressional term limits and/or Balanced Budget amendment.
Just some ideas that I think are popular. You may have others. My point is that we cannot gripe our way to a majority. We need to offer people hope for a better future.
Don't promise the world. Get a message of hope that is tangible. Communicate that message. Stay on topic. Let Mueller do his thing, and in the meantime get busy working FOR the people, not just AGAINST one asshole.
unblock
(52,317 posts)republicans were headed for a big victory and newtie wanted to create himself a "mandate" and take credit for the pretty normal loss of house seat in a new president's first mid-term election.
hence the contract on america, which probably influence zero actual congressional elections, but got a whole lot of national attention and made gingrinch a republican celebrity.
rateyes
(17,438 posts)the beginning of the end for Dem majorities in GA, FL, TN and elsewhere, imo.