The issues I think Democrats should use against Bush

[kentuck]

Yes, it is normally better to have a positive message but these are not "normal" times. When the other side is willing to lie and distort their record to paint it as "positive" and "progressive", our obligation is to inform the people of the lies and distortions, not to offer a competing "positive" message. For example, they will brag about their Medicare "reform" for prescription drugs. They will brag about the great taxcuts they have given to the "people". etc, etc.

In my opinion, we must tell the voters the truth as we see it and in perspective to what is best for this country. We cannot play the Republican game of accentuate the positives and forget the negatives.
The negatives are so blatant and bold that we cannot permit them to cover up their lack of leadership and their betrayal of this country.

First of all, we must insist that the truth be made public about what was known about 9/11... and the Commission should make this information available to the public before the election. We cannot let them succeed in covering up their responsibility for this poliical and intelligence blunder, which led to almost 3,000 deaths. We must continue to insist that the Commission come forward with answers to what happened on 9/11.

Secondly, we must offer th people a vision of hope - not fear. We must challenge the way this Administration has used fear for their political advantage. We must restore the faith of the people in our intelligence and military in believing that they are capable of protecting our nation from would-be terrorists. Simple color-coded alerts are not enough.

Thirdly, we must offer a different strategy for the war in Iraq. We should pressure the Administration to call elections immediately and get our troops out of there. We should work with our allies in the region, the ones that remain, to establish the most stable government in Iraq that is possible. In the final analysis, the type of government they want is their decision, not ours. We will assist them if they ask for assistance, but we should withdraw our forces as soon as possible. Democrats should inform our allies around the world that if we are chosen to lead this nation, we will not continue the Bush policy of "pre-emption".

There are many issues that Democrats can address but the above three are the most important, in my opinion, to winning the election in 2004. Too many cooks can spoil the stew and too many issues can dilute the message that needs to be delivered to the people. That would be my advice to our Party.

[Eric J in MN]

1. outsourcing is the issue

If the Democrat promises to get tough on outsourcing by excluding companies which heavily outsource from federal contracts, then we stand a chance.

If not, a majority of voters will feel they might as well stick with Bush.

[w4rma]

21. I agree. Job exportation is *the* issue, this election. (n/t)

[wanderingbear]

2. These are not normal times and there is only one issue..The War on Terror.

For or Against. Take a stand with us our take a sand with them.

[WillyT]

3. You're Kidding, Right ???

:shrug:

[wanderingbear]

5. Not at all.. Alot of people are basing their vote on this one thing.

[WillyT]

6. Yeah, But Are YOU ???

:shrug:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. Maybe this is like the

"But Mom, everybody's doing it" plea of the typical teenager.

The poster projects his own media-cultivated fears onto the population at large.

Within a week after 9/11, an acquaintance of mine died unexpectedly of a post-surgical blood clot. Almost a year after 9/11, the twentyish young man who used to get my coffee and croissant at the neighborhood bakery dropped dead of a brain aneurysm.

Sudden death is never pleasant for the survivors, but there are so many ways to die unexpectedly, that I'm not going to worry about the least likely one.

[kentuck]

10. So what are your issues, Lydia?

Do you think the war will not be an important issue? Do you think fear is not a major concern of Americans, even if not for yourself? What issues do you think are on the minds of most Americans?

[wanderingbear]

9. Absolutly...

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. Yeah, yeah, yeah, just keep your eyes on the

big bad scary Ay-rabs, and don't mind that the Bush administration is picking your pocket, poisoning your air and water, sending your children to die for the oil companies, and chipping away at your Constitutional rights.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, just have the mass media go on and on about "terrorism," and by the time people wake up, they'll be significantly poorer and less healthy and less free, but what they hey, we've got to get them thar terrorists, even if it destroys our country worse than a dozen 9/11s ever could.

[nosmokes]

8. since 'it's the economy, stupid' has been used

i think 'it's the jobs, stupid' would play fairly well. especially when the truth about most jobs that have taken people off the unemployment rolls pay a fraction of the job that was lost. tie that in with the special treatment big business/multi-nats get from bushco, and show how the much ballyhooed tax cut really hurt the average guy, and that would put bush behind in the polls. it's a fact that people care most about what's happening to their family, and living in fear of losing your job, or taking a 30 - 40% pay cut hits home.

the environment. the rape of the environment, including those things that were floated by the admin and then withdrawn because of the opposition of the average american are a weak point. but a lame duck president wouldn't have the same worries about image, and would do his utmost to push crap like ANWR drilling, letting corp.s off the hook for super-fund sites and the like, that will also play well with joe 6-pack. again, it's an issue that directly impacts his and his family's quality of life.

iraq/afghanistan and the war on terrah. we need to emphasize the selective components of the bushco's actions. yeah, saddam being gone is a great thing, the world is a better place, but we could have done it so much better. without dwelling on the fuck-ups, concentrate on the lies and deliberate disinformation. jessica lynch pops into my mind. and bring up the outing of valerie plame, the obstruction of the 9/11 committee. point out that assets were withdrawn from afghanistan to be sent to iraq, and now al-qaeda and the taliban are gaining strength. and importantly, it must be pointed out how greatly all the guard and reserves call ups have hurt our first response capability because of the number of firefighters, EMTs and police that are being sent into iraq.

that's my two cents, anyhow

[wanderingbear]

11. Do you know how much the WOT is costing the American Public??

so far were up to $43 trillion..

[Eric J in MN]

12. "How safe is your job?" is a great question, if the Democrat

"How safe is your job?" is a great question, if the Democrat is getting tough on outsourcing. No federal contracts, higher taxes, etc. for companies which outsource a lot.

[ronatchig]

13. The abject failure

of the rethugs is the issue that will win the election for whomever is forthright enough to make the case.
1) By any fair measure Nafta is an out and out failure for the American people and I mean all the American people. The wealthy are just far enough up the food chain to not feel the full effect in their lives yet. But it is coming.

2) The rethug mantra of deregulation has been proven without doubt to amount to dereliction of duty. Witness the energy, investment, healthcare,drug, meat, and airline industries to name but a few. Yes there is a lot to answer for by the rethugs when it comes the question of how are we and our families better off with a laize faire approach of government regulation.

3) The 2000 election is the "necklace" that should be easiest to hang on the great Overlords neck.

4) And last but not least: WHERE OH WHERE IS MONEY MR. BUSH! I am talking about the surplus + the current deficit which comes to around 1 trillion plus where is that 3 trillion that got lost in the Pentagon? Where o where could it be? Mind if we look at your families bank accounts Mr. Monkey boy .

[KoKo]

14. Good Post, Kentuck, it goes back to the "Three Talking Points" that

will stick in the voting populations minds. Keep the message simple and go with the "guns blazing" in those three "talking point." To do anything else obfuscates and dilutes our message.

However....some folks may differ with what the three Major Talking Points are in the Dem Party. That's where the problem lies..:-(

If we get sidetracked over controversial "social issues" then we will have the "shovel that digs the hole" for us.

[kentuck]

15. It's a decision we will need to make....

Of course, the jobs and economic issues are vitally important - but those are issues that are easier to define and we can use them at any given time. The fear, war, and the secrecy issues are more obscure in the voters minds. But they are powerful issues that we cannot let the Repubs define. They expect us to talk about unemployment, deficits, minimum wage, etc and we will...but we should do it on our own schedule. We need to put them on the defensive. But you are correct, we need to keep it simple. We need to choose 3 or 4 issues and stick with them as our talking points. When the Repubs think they have an answer, we go to the other issues. By that time, the damage will have been done to their credibility.

[Hailtothechimp]

16. 9/11 will be the only issue in this election.

bu$h utters it every chance he gets. It must be taken away from him if there is any chance of a democratic win in 2004.

I see two ways this can happen:

1) a Kean commission bombshell, or

2) 9/11 survivors speak out loud and clear against the politicization of what happened.

Unless one (or both) of these things happen, 9/11 will be the GOP cattle prod this fall.

[Poiuyt]

17. I think you're right

In my part of the country, there have been a lot of plant closings and lost jobs over the last few years. Instead of complaining about the economy, people are talking about how we must keep fighting the war on terror. And people still say that we were right in invading Iraq because the terrorists attacked us first.

I think Bush saw how popular his father was being a war-time president, so now W wants to keep fighting a never-ending war so that his power remains intact. After all, as long as there is one person who is willing to strap a stick of dynamite to his chest and walk into a shopping mall, the war is still going on.

Personally, I think that W is ecstatic that 9/11 happened, and he's milking it for all it's worth. Didn't Rove send him a memo telling him that it could be used for political gains?

[Columbia]

18. Yup

Arguing about the WOT or Iraq may be good for the primary, but afterwards, the focus should be on the economy. That is the only way to win, IMO.

[Jax]

20. So Columbia

What is your opinion of an appointed military deserter occupying the Oval Office using our armed forces as corporate mercenaries for cheney's Haliburton and Brown and Root? HMM???

Tell us all here. What are your beliefs and feelings about the appointed felon directing this oily bloodbath?

Jax

[mindless]

22. Just in defense of Columbia.

Shrub is in office and he, as of now has a decided majority. This post was to respond to ways to get him out. I personally think a negative campaign(and only that) is a loser from day one. Our canidates, yes each and every one, are only spitting hate. Mostly at Bush But also at each other. Hate wont win without a message. Hope we can find a way to look to the future and find solutions instead of insults and accusations. Its a losing propsition to be the scorned lover who wont look at the facts and see that they might also be part of the problem. Hate Bush will not WIN!! Alternative ideas might but it might be to late for that now. Bush is a popular president and hate wont win. Ideas could but I dont see that happening.

[Columbia]

24. Well

That's quite a loaded question there Jax. Although I don't agree with some of your interpretations, I will answer your question. I think it's sad that a person's character of military service has become so inconsequential in determining a candidate's suitability that a person with gaps in his service record can be the Commander-in-Chief.

I'm unclear about why my opinion matters on this however, when I am just advocating an emphasis on the economy instead of national security, which tends to be a GOP issue (and thus a losing one to Dems).

[UTUSN]

19. How 'bout Shrub's Entire Lack of Mental/Moral Fiber

and could somebody make this available to Barbara (not Barbra) Shrub?

[radfringe]

23. these are dark times

terror alerts, mad cow disease, job-LOSS economy,health insurance, schools in trouble, local taxes on the rise etc...


time for the Dem's to talk about VALUEING FAMILIES. GOPers talk alot about family values, but their actions show that they do not VALUE FAMILIES.

When you value something, you take care of it, you help it, you nurture it - you don't just talk about it and ignore it.

There is a difference between giving a family a hand-out versus a hand-up. I'm not just talking about families at the poverty level, all families need to be valued and all families need some help and hope at one point or another.

GOPers talk about trickle-down - what they mean is that American families must wait around for a couple of drops to fall on them - as any gardener knows you need more that a couple of drops of water every 4 years to grow your garden

The family is the foundation of every society, if you don't value and nurture families (through more than rhetoric) then that foundation crumbles.