Does the Democratic Party have a plan to win back Congress?

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

So far, I just hear that it's nearly impossible, because of the gerrymandering. Even if we win the Presidency, without controlling Congress we have no chance of getting our agenda passed, and we might not even be able to hold the line against Republican attacks.

Now that the courts ruled in favor of the Republicans in Texas, it's more important ever that we have a plan to get back Congress, especially the House. Do we have a plan? Have we given up already?

[Yupster]

1. If they do,

it's a very well-kept secret.

[OneBlueSky]

2. using the terms "Democratic Party" and "plan" in the same sentence . . .

is something of an oxymoron, don't you think? . . .

oh, wait . . . that's Limbaugh! . . . sorry . . . :silly:

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

5. "I'm a member of no organized political party"

"I'm a Democrat!" :)

[EvilJam]

6. re: oxymoron

you had it right the first time.
they have no plan. they never have a plan.
we're so hosed.
unless...
unless we can conduct a stealth 'trash' campaign of '72 'Watergate' proportions.
when do we start? ... evil

[newyawker99]

7. Hi EvilJam!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[SoCalDem]

3. We probably do have a plan, but it takes voters and fair elections

so...... who knows??

I am afraid that the public is not wuite at the "throw the bastards out" level yet.. It will probably come to that, but even then, we will need fair elections.. oh well.. back to the drawing boards..

[K-W]

4. Our party doesnt have a single entity

that makes plans and strategies. In the republican party, one group clearly has the consented control of the others. This allows a seeming single minded approach. The democratic party is currently an internal battle for power.

The only way to do what the republicans are doing is by creating a more unified party, the problem with that is making lots of compromises. THe religious right supports all kinds of things that dont really agree with them because they get some of the things that are more important to them. I think liberals have a much harder time doing this, because there is more ideology.

[apsuman]

8. No n/t

[goobergunch]

9. Last I heard, the plan was something like this:

Contest a lot of seats this time to weaken up Republican opponents. Then go in for the kill in 2006/2008. We won't win the House back in 2004, but we will soon.

That's paraphrased from a CQ Weekly article a few months old which I read in the local library, so no link.

[zorkpolitics]

10. Pick-ups in 2004

2004 should be a good year for pick-ups in the House. So far House retirements have been less than normal, but twice as many Republicans have announced retirements: 15 Republicans vs 7 Democrats. Open seats historically present the greatest opportunity for change (in 2002 about 20% of the open seats changed party), whereas incumbents are rarely defeated (only 4 incumbents were defeated by challengers in 2002). Of the open seats, 5 Republican and 3 Democratic seats are at high risk of turn-over since they represent districts that were either narrowly won in 2002 (less than 54%) or the district was won by the other party’s Presidential candidate in 2000. Here is my list of top seats for a turnover from Republican to Democratic: CA-3, CO-3, MI-7, PA-15, SD and those most at risk for turnover from Democratic to Republican: KY-4, OK-2, PA-13

[goobergunch]

12. I don't think CA-3 is within range

However, I do think we have a shot at KY-6 (special). PA-15 and MI-7 may be out of reach due to lack of candidates. We should also have a shot at defeating the incumbent in CO-7.

We definitely need to pick up seats in 2004. However, we probably can't pick up enough just in 2004 to regain control. However, if we steadily pick up seats in 2004, 2006, and 2008, we'll get the House back.

[leftofthedial]

11. from what I can tell

they don't even have a plan to keep from dripping on themselves when using the urinal.

alas!

[Strapping Buck]

13. These Democrats.... a plan?

Thank God! I finally found a place where people THINK! I heard about Democratic Underground from a friend who told me El Duschbo kept mentioning it on his radio show.

These Democrats better get some kind of plan, and QUICK! I can't believe someone in the party ran that stupid ad attacking Dean in Iowa and New Hampshire. What kind of plan is it for the party to run ads attacking its frickin' frontrunner!???!!! It's the moderates (read: Democrats who are actually Republicans but ashamed to admit it) that must have been behind this.

[frank frankly]

14. welcome to DU, Strapping Buch

You will find that there are lots of fighters here, strapping buck.

We are in big history and we are in big trouble.

Iraq is to The United States what Afghanastan was to the USSR.

oh shit, and we're still in Afghanastan...

[Strapping Buck]

15. Thanks Frankly Frank....

You can count me as a fighter too. We will not let them take our nation from us!

[OzarkDem]

26. So what's your plan

Since you haven't taken the time to actually find out what the Dem plan is, shall we assume you've taken the time to develop one of your own?

[loudnclear]

16. Who wants it? Congress is a neo-con play toy.

folks, you will just have to learn to live around your government. One day at a time, make up your own world embracing the best of family and friends. Be kind, do justly, have mercy, and love yourself and others.

The rest of this shit is just a temporary nightmare.

[terryg11]

17. NO. If there is one, it's a well kept secret

It seems like the dems in congress are fighting for their lives anymore. Barely fought off a horrid energy bill and gave up on Medicare.

[YNGW]

18. No

I'm not sure we have a plan to show up in November, 2004.

If we do lose, the party needs to seriously consider retrenching. There are some elements and special interests within the party and the constitutancy who need to be shown the door. And no, I'm not willing to discuss it at this time.

[ParticipatoryDem]

19. We had it for forty years straight

What happened? Is there any one thing that took it away?

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

20. Newt Gingrich and Bill Clinton?

After 40 years, too many Democratic Congress members were corrupt (Rostenkowski and Wright for instance) and Gingrich was able to demagogue the GOP way into power.

Then the Democrats just seemed to give up.

[Hippo_Tron]

22. That's just the House...

But the GOP just happened to take the Senate in 1994 and has kept it for 10 years (as of 2004) minus the 1 and 1/2 when Jeffords switched.

[Hippo_Tron]

23. Dupe n/t

[leyton]

21. With a standard-bearer

our chances of losing more seats are lessened, and we may be able to gain more seats, but a majority is unlikely. But I think that if we nominate a candidate whom the party gets behind then we can present a national campaign to take back the house.

I'd like something a la Contract With America. (Which we can contrast with the GOP's Contract With Halliburton.)

[Hippo_Tron]

24. Run serious candidates in "safe" districts...

Dean's right, southerners have been voting Republican for 30 years and where has it gotten them? We need to carry this message to these "safe" GOP districts. Plus, 50 million voted for Gore 50 million voted for Bush and somewhere in there a few million voted for Nader. My point is that about half of Americans voted for president. I would imagine that less than half of the district in some congressional districts vote for their congressmember. Turnout is KEY. We got turnout in the Louisiana gubernatorial race by running a good campaign good ads that slandered the crap out of Bobby Jindal. Sure it's dirty but Tom DeLay's tactics aren't exactly clean. The Senate is a different ballgame entirely. Senators don't usually have "safe" elections unless they have a shitload of seniority or power and haven't done anything to really piss off their constituents. We CAN win four or five of the southern seats that are up but it will be tough. And to our advantage each one of those incumbants will most likely endorse the dem candidate (except Zell Miller). I think that we can pick up a seat in Pennsylvania and I think Ohio or Illinois (can't remember exactly) as well. The point is that it will be VERY difficult but it's not impossible.

[OzarkDem]

25. Is this the RNC thread?

If you want to know details of Dem strategies for recapturing a majority in Congress, try checking out the web sites for the

DSCC
http://www.dscc.org/

DCCC
http://www.democraticaction.org/default.aspx

Before you leap to attack your own party, take a moment to check a few facts first.

[Hippo_Tron]

27. WHOA! Corzine's in charge of the thing...

Senate majority here we come. Hrmmm, maybe I can get an internship next time around.

[KoKo]

28. ROFLMAO! About every two weeks Daschle sends me an envelope

asking for a "contribution for his fight in the Senate." I've scrawled "please take me off your mailing lists" on the reply and stuffed it in the return envelope. I still keep getting them. Just this week Senator Feinstein sent me a request to give money to Harry Reid (Daschles "second in command." I threw it in the trash.

When "Pigs Fly" does the Senate Leadership have a "plan." Our House Members are much better. I have two great US House Members here in NC and they are fighting for us! Forget it in the Senate, though. Until Daschle is tossed we have little hope.