I'm sure I'll get shouted down, but do the Democrats need a "Promise for America"?

[Dawgs]

Something that will get the base excited about voting this November.

1) End all wars by 2012.
2) Pass a Public Option & Lower the Medicare Age to 60.
3) End DADT and DOMA by 2012.
4) Pass an 'America First' Trade policy.
5) Pass a progressive tax bill & end the tax havens for the rich and corporations.
6) Start forcing the Republicans to ACTUALLY filibuster.
7) PROMISE TO RAISE THE PAYROLL TAX AND LOWER THE RETIREMENT AGE TO FIX SOCIAL SECURITY.
8) Promise to look into the legalization of marijuana.
9) Pass a new stimulus that will create more green jobs.
10) Help ALL home owners by giving incentives to BOTH buyers & sellers.

:)

[joeybee12]

1. That list is fine with me...but is it fine with Ben Nelson whom all the Dems in the

Senate bend over backwards for?

[dflprincess]

2. Oh hell, they'll promise anything to get elected

and afterwards deny they said it.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. If it works like the "contract with America", just don't even do it.

Why disappoint us. AGAIN! (Not that I was disappointed that the Reps contract was a bunch of bullshit as expected, but I hate when my Dems do the same thing.) So just stop blowing bubbles up my ass.

But with that said, I love the list and wish it was so.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. I think that's agreat idea. I said something similar a few weeks back. Comparing

it to the Contract on America type deal (but that doesn't suck ass). People need simple messages.

[Blue_Tires]

26. it might work...

after all, after the '94 races, no one EVER bothered to check to see if the GOP actually followed up on any of their promises other than tax cuts and gutting welfare...

I did a big report on the contract back in high school...I still remember the biggest, most-hyped points were balancing the budget and instituting term limits, of course the repubs had gotten amnesia by then...

[zipplewrath]

5. The simple answer

The simple answer on the part of the GOP will be "what are you waiting for? You didn't do any of that in the last 2 years, why should we believe you now?"

[FBaggins]

15. I think you're right.

We're facing the same problem with the recession. It's so clearly th other side's fault, but implicit in the 2008 election was "elect us. We can fix it" - and most people still can't see real improvement (though it exists).

This is a great list, but we've been whining about how little we can get done with the republicans blocking everything. How can we sell "we'll do far more next time... With even smaller majorities" ?

No... I think that the answer is to fight for much of this NOW... while we still can.

[Ignis]

6. Want to GOTV in 2010 and 2012? This is a great way to do it.

:kick:

[Make7]

7. Why would Democrats need to promise what they'll do when in power? ( n/t )

[Dawgs]

11. Promise what they will do after the election.

:shrug:

[Make7]

12. Isn't that what the party platform is? ( n/t )

[Uzybone]

8. you can't get "shouted down" on an internet message board

Its a nice list.....I agree with all of them. But options 4, 7(raise taxes!!1!) and 8 are non starters for elected officials.

[txlibdem]

25. I don't think the OP meant 7 equals raising taxes

7) PROMISE TO RAISE THE PAYROLL TAX AND LOWER THE RETIREMENT AGE TO FIX SOCIAL SECURITY.

I think they meant to raise the maximum wage that social security tax is assessed on. Currently, social security does not tax any income higher than 104.000.

So these rich people who make millions of dollars pay no social security taxes on that income. Aren't you such a nice person to pay all the social security taxes and let the rich pay practically nothing?

[Uzybone]

27. I know that, but the avg American doesn't

and all the GOP and Consevadems have to do is say "look they want to raise your taxes"

I though my exclamation marks kinda made that clear. Oh well.

[txlibdem]

28. exclamation marks

Sorry, I didn't see the sarcasm smiley in that post.

I'm glad that you weren't just spouting right wing talking points as I had thought upon first read. Phew!

[niceypoo]

31. SEZ YOU!!

[Uzybone]

9. delete

dupe

[elocs]

10. How do you pass things if you do not have the 60 votes in the Senate to end debate

and bring a bill to a vote?

Frankly I don't see any of the 10 things on your list ever happening in this or a next Obama administration, if there is one.

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. Someone needs to promise to be a Fierce Advocate for the LGBT Community

Oh, wait... never mind. That promise has already been made.

[TheKentuckian]

14. Honestly, the base doesn't care about the fake promises at election time

Clearing out that bullshit bunch of traitors he calls an inner circle and cabinet, stop lying about the Gulf, and stop screwing around with these worthless wars would be a lot better than a sales pitch.

He could renounce his power to murder American citizens, not even so much as indicted or charged far away from any hot battlefield.

He could shut down the usage of mercenaries.

He could stop out processing gay troops.

He could alert Congress that each and every prisoner in Gitmo will be brought to trial or released in 120 days and follow through.

[FBaggins]

16. What I hear you saying is

You can't motivate turnout by promising more with less (smaller majorities)... You'll just remind them of how depressed they are with how little they got
in the last two years?

[TheKentuckian]

17. I'm saying that promises at this stage are just Charlie Brown adults talking

Wampawahwapwah wah wah...

I give actions that would inspire and turn things around while rebuilding some trust.

There is enough credibility for a sales pitch. Who would you trust to execute such promises??? Not the hacks in top positions now, for sure.

Restore some reasons for trust and then promises don't sound like election season pandering.

[FBaggins]

19. I agree. Do you think that a change of leadership NOW could help?

New leadership that hits the deckplates running?

[TheKentuckian]

20. It would be a start.

[FBaggins]

21. Think anyone has the guts to do it or call for it?

It would be an admission that their performance has been poor (and in Reid's case could cost him reelection).

[TheKentuckian]

23. Of course not or it wouldn't have gone down this way.

[derby378]

18. Excellent idea! (n/t)

[NorthCarolina]

22. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 would never be supported by the controlling DLC New Dems. eom

[The Wizard]

24. How's this for a campaign theme?

Quit fuckin' around and do something that benefits the majority of Americans. Lobbyists be damned.

[nightrain]

29. maybe a decent idea, but I've had enough rhetoric, we need action.

[dave29]

30. Needs: Glenn Beck exiled to Pakistan

on list