I think the Democratic Party should focus on establishing common ground w/

[ArtVandaley]

I think the Democratic Party should focus on establishing common ground w/ those who have been disenfranchised by the far right republicans over the next four years, that is our key to establishing a majority.
I do NOT mean we should find common ground with the current far-right policies and meet them in the middle. What I am saying is that our focus should be on the issues that really are ticking off people in the middle about republicans: reckless spending, curbing of civil liberties, a reckless nation security policy, corporate fraud and the mistreatment of the environment.
These are not left-wing issues. These are things everyone in the country is sick off. What we need is to establish ourselves as strong on these issues in order to appeal to the swing voters and moderate republicans who are scared by these issues. Kerry won the youth vote overwhelmingly, and I, as a college student, noticed that a lot of my friends who had always thought of themselves as conservative ended up voting against Bush because of his stance on the environment, his catering to corporate interests, his anti-civil liberty stance and his position on gays (I think sadly that is a generational swing issue though, people my age don't care whatsoever if gay people want to get married, while older people do, in general).
Anyway, I don't think the key to our success is running as far-left as possible, or running inbetween being a moderate dem and a conservative republican. Our key is to redefine and reclaim the center.

[mattclearing]

1. As Ed would say, "You are correct, sir!" n/t

[WildClarySage]

2. I think our focus needs to be on

strengthening the leadership of the party, getting people involved at the local level (and right on up) and on getting our message out.

Strong leadership will help us with resisting the excesses of the right wing and encourage people to identify themselves as Dems. Getting people involved at the local levels will increase representation and highlight the issues for people. Getting our message out will prevent the right from framing the issues and deriding the "liberal" label.

Seems like all the current leadership has been doing lately is fundraising, and while that's important, it's nowhere near enough.

[moggie12]

3. excellent post -- there's been too much focus on labels

Left, center, middle -- who the hell knows what exactly they mean anymore?

Focusing on the five issues you ticked off would galvanize the Independent voters and the more moderate Republicans.

You're a smart young fella!

P.S. Try to get a job at the DNC when you graduate.

[ArtVandaley]

8. thanks

nt

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

4. Agree

From your post: What I am saying is that our focus should be on the issues that really are ticking off people in the middle about republicans: reckless spending, curbing of civil liberties, a reckless nation security policy, corporate fraud and the mistreatment of the environment.


These are absolutely issues that NORMAL people can agree on regardless of party affiliation. The insane radical right only cares about legislating bedroom behavior and plunging us into insurmountable debt.

[moggie12]

5. I hate to see this excellent post not get attention

Yo, Art V:

Maybe next time try to do a spiffy title, like "We Need to Reclaim the Center!" (or something like that, I'm not so good at titles so I shouldn't talk)

Also, small point, but leave a space between paragraphs -- I almost didn't read the whole thing because it looked like a big blob of text.

[Mountainman]

6. Why can't we work outside the framework of a party?

Why can't we be a coalition of Americans of both parties who want an end to the war and want to preserve Social Security and our environment and our freedom from religion?


Why not forget about party and winning and work to defeat this menace?

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

7. Kick nt

[KissMeKate]

9. yes, there is intrinsic common ground, and we can find it.

We just let the GOP control the conversation too much, and talk it away from that common ground.