What will it take to take back control in 2006?

[sabra]

One of my main concerns is paperless voting, seeing how well '02 and '04 was for Dems, I am concerned about future elections.

On top of that, what else is it going to take? Ideas?

[aprillcm]

1. People actually insisting on...

1. counting every vote
2. News agencies reporting only facts, and checking their information.
But most of all us the people making sure that we hold The Senate and The House responsible for their voting records, Basically overseeing who we are sending to represent us! Which in my mind people being more active in looking up info for themselves, instead of listening to 30 or 60 sec sound bites.

[napi21]

2. Making the public AWARE of all the dumb things the Pubs have done

since taking control of both branches of the Fed. Gov't.

Start with a list now, if you don't already have one, and add to it every time there's another FORCED vote on a controversial issue.

There are quite a few issues they pushed through that the majority of Americans disapprove of. The bankruptcy law, the exploitation of Terri Schiavo, the many tax cuts for the wealthy, all come to mind.

[sabra]

3. Good idea, thanks. eom

[PKG]

5. LOL. Yeah, that'll work real well.

I'm sorry, but ever since Dukakis and "This election is not about values, it's about competence," we've been playing the same game.

1994: If we just tell the truth about the Contract with America...
1996: If we just tell the truth about how the Contract with America was a lie...
1998: If we just tell the truth about the good work we've done...
2000: If we just tell the truth about the last eight years...
2002: If we just tell the truth about the last two years...
2004: If we just tell the truth about the last four years...

What on Earth makes you think "If we just tell the truth about the last six years" will be one iota more effective than it has been for the last five?

You might convince yourself by throwing a list of figures at people, but you won't convince anyone else.

Read "Don't Think of an Elephant" by George Lakoff. It's a good place to start.

[NewJeffCT]

13. Lakoff is a great way to start

The problem is that the Republicans all get together & agree on the same talking points every week, so not only do they control much of the media, they always present a consistent vision.

Even if every Democrat read Lakoff & swore by him, there is no way we could all get together & on the same page like Republicans...

[napi21]

18. I wasn't talking about just telling the truth. I said recite a LONG list

if things the Pubs have done over the last years that have really pissed of a majority of people! People forget stuff very quickly, but it's amazing how that feeling of anger comes back when they are reminded. Similar to the Reagan question "Are you better off today than you were 4 years ago" only "Did you get what you expected when you voted for these people?"

[texastoast]

4. Fighting Democrats

I met with a candidate for a state office this week. I was very impressed with what he had to say about Rove's perspective about weak-kneed, polite Democrats (i.e., the conduct of Kerry and his campaign). He also mentioned the consultocracy used by the party, the go-with-the numbers philosphy and its failure in fact.

It's time to stop this backing down (75 Democrats voting FOR the bankruptcy bill???). Willingness to possibly compromise on the ethics issue (trade weakening the ethics rules for a shot at getting rid of DeLay??--I don't THINK SO).

In other words, its time to find some huevos, and those Democrats who are disgusting DINOs should be booted out on their wimpy asses.

The party has to support populist, people's candidates, and stop this crap of who-owes-who-a-favor preferentialism. Support the candidates with the passion and love of our country. Screw the Liebermans.

I was also impressed with this candidate's logic that the "middle" is relative to the definition of the left and right. So long as Rove and his circle take the right fringe farther and farther to the right, the middle must move. Democrats pandering to the new middle then leave progressives and those folks who were former true middle hanging out with nothing. Meanwhile, Rove is moving the middle farther and farther to the right, the Dems are trying to show they represent this new middle, and America falls closer and closer to the flame of destruction.

WAKE UP!! The Dems are playing right into Rove's laughing hands.

[PKG]

6. So if the minority party

realizes it can't possibly get its way on everything, they're weak? Obviously this state-office candidate will have a hell of a schooling on the way politics work when/if he gets there.

And I really don't like to read about people talking about voting Democrats out when we're only six seats away from the Republicans removing our filibuster ability without the nuclear option.

[texastoast]

17. So what is your take?

No, weakness is Democrats voting for the bankruptcy bill, voting for going to war in Iraq, voting for the Patriot Act, and the list goes on and on.

Why will the entrenched Democratic methods win next time?

I would like to hear a plan than stops the bleed. So far, I've heard nothing more inspiring. The current "what to do? what to do?" mantra has got to go.

[stellanoir]

7. verifiable voting

that's all.

[Zinfandel]

8. The republicans are filling the states with electronic voting machines as

we speak...All though Bush's "Help America Vote Act".

The usual cute & deceptive name for their lies...This time its the republican owned, operated & serviced electronic voting machines, with NO paper trail, quietly being put into your state, under that same bullshit act!

[Stinky The Clown]

9. I'm not sure the BBV issue will have as much impact in '06 ....... '08 is

a whole other story.

In '06, the biggest seats are statewide, not national. Not all states use BBV ... and not all districts. I see us having a better chance of winning these seats (House, Senate and local) than we will in '08 for the national election.

Not to say BBV is a non-issue ... its not ... it is a **huge** issue.

[Zinfandel]

10. Better check again...

Rove, & the republicans got rid of the ELECTED Democrat CA Sec. of State, convicted of NOTHING. He was also dead against electronic voting machines in CA...Coincidence? You think so?

And now, Guv Musclehead, as predicted, appointed a republican Sec. of State and he's in complete favor of electronic voting machines in CA.
(And they are now, again quietly, being put into more and more counties in California).


You better check and see if your state has a Republican Secretary of State!

[Stinky The Clown]

14. All very true ... and the picture of the future, to be sure

But for '06 ... I still think we have the better chance to see votes counted.

I'm not at all disagreeing with your sentiment.

[NewJeffCT]

11. If Tom DeLay is still majority leader in October of 2006...

We have a chance, as people will look at him as the symbol of corruption & hubris, sort of like the Democrats in 1994. I think if we get rid of him too soon, the Rove Machine will be able to bounce back and replace their Darth Vader with somebody even more powerful...

[Zinfandel]

12. Right. who will be counting the vote?

Machines?

[NewJeffCT]

15. I was responding to the OP's request

The original poster said "on top of that" when it came to paperless voting.

[ReadTomPaine]

16. Simple answer - when we want to win more then they do.

Not a moment before.