We really do need to learn from Republicans

[dsc]

In my lifetime (I am 37) we have won three Presidential races. One of those was Carter and two were Clinton. Carter had the good fortune to run against a man who had never been nationally elected, pardoned Nixon, and presided over a bad economy. With all of that he narrowly won. Clinton was Clinton. Even if you don't think Perot put him over the top (I think he may well have) he still was the premier political talent of the second half of the twentieth century. In short we need just short of a miracle to win.

By contrast, Republicans have managed to elect Nixon, Reagan, and W twice each with Poppy once. Reagan was gifted, of that there is no doubt. Even Nixon was tenatious and ran against a divided Democratic party. But Poppy and W are mediocracies that should never have won. But the Republicans have a well run machine. They handle the media correctly. They play to win. We need to formulate our own version of this machine.

More importantly, we need to learn the lesson of the Christian Coalition. As recently as 1976, the Republicans ran candidate who was pro choice, pro enviroment, in favor of the ERA, had a good civil rights record, and was pretty much a moderate. Now it is literally unthinkable that a Republican who isn't pro life, anti gay, and weak on civil rights would get the Republican nomination.

In contrast, our party has been all over the map with nominees. While they have been consistently pro choice, on virtually everything else they have varied immensly. Despite having around the same numbers, the left wing of our party is as powerless over it as the Christian Coalition is powerful over its. We need to do what they did.

I am hoping that Dean can be our version of Pat Robinson. Like Robinson he has a list of activists and donators that will be valuable for years to come. He also is getting people to run for office at the local level. We need to take over the grunt work type jobs so we can take over the party. Robertson didn't win in 1988 but his ideas won his party. Dean didn't win in 2004, but with any luck his ideas will win our party.

We can oppose our enemies while still realizing they are able competators. We do not need to become our enemies but we do need to adopt their winning ways.

[MichiganVote]

1. Whatever. Its pretty largely acknowledged Gore won in 2000.

And this election certainly had its issues as well. The christian coalition can't explain away everything.

Dean can shake things up and that's what is needed.

[dsc]

3. He tied (yes he technically won)

but that just proves my point even more. Gore had 8 years of prosperity and ran against a nincompoop and tied. They just plain do a better job.

[MichiganVote]

4. Maybe. Maybe Americans are pretty stupid too.

[Blue_In_AK]

14. I don't think they do a "better" job

They just cheat more. Do we have to become like them to defeat them? I sure hope not.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[wuushew]

7. No Democratic candidate insinuated that view

don't confuse DU with Democratic politicians. Show a transcript of someone talking about the ignorant American voter.

[Cats Against Frist]

10. Well, here's a catch 22 for you

Since I'm a well-educated progressive, I happen to know that the Republican party is led by shepherds who believe that their constituents are dumber and need to be manipulated, and actually look down on them MORE than the average progressive. The uppercrust Republicans believe in the Philosopher King model, which is about as elitist as you can get.

But what -- since I'm smart enough to know that, they shouldn't listen to me?

I'm sick of this "dumb the argument down" for the idiots, crap. It's not even that they're dumb. They're just fucking defensive. I don't think most Republicans are dumb, I think they think we think they're dumb, because that's what their manipulators tell them, because their own leaders think they're dumb.

[Career Prole]

13. Hey! Mr. or Ms. Whatever You Are...

You've made posts in a couple of threads now about how Dems are pissing off "average Americans".
I've got a revelation for you...we are average Americans and we are pissed!

:wtf:

[DemoMemo]

2. Learn from them

Learn from them, yes! Imitate them, no!

[Quakerfriend]

6. Exactly!

[whistle]

8. I think not!, The republican agenda and the goals of real....

....are diametrically opposed. We need to keep the focus on our goals and keep expressing them with clarity and truth.

[dsc]

9. that is what they do

What ever else you say about Republicans you do know what they believe.

[whistle]

11. No I not sure we do know what republicans believe, they are....

...liars and hypocrits, so we never get the straight story from them.

[stillcool]

12. I have no idea what they believe!

Because every time they open their mouths more bull comes out. Elections are non-events. If you read some of the books that are out, you see they've been playing games since WW11. The most important thing anybody can do is read, then grab a bullhorn.

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

15. We need to combat the poison that is spread

daily by right-wing hate radio...Believe me, they just keep on pounding their message...

AAR is good - how I wish it would come to Pittsburgh!!!

[hector459]

16. Did anyone ever say "We need to learn from the Nazis?"

No, we need to learn from our OWN MISTAKES. We have the vision, the intelligence, and heart. We just need to have the courage.

[dsc]

18. Yeah Eisenhower did

which is why you drive on highways.

[snippy]

19. There is a difference between learning from GOP strategic planning

and learning to use GOP tactics. The absence of a democratic party strategy is one of the democrats' greatest disadvantages and one of the republicans' greatest advantages.

[kentuck]

17. We need to stop throwing our leaders overboard...

Hey, if you lose, you are damaged goods! Be gone!