Democrats Contour November Strategy

[cal04]

Meeting of DNC Focuses on Way To Unseat GOP
Democratic Party officials continue to assemble the pieces for their midterm election strategy, but questions about the party's overall message, differences on Iraq, reservations about their leaders, and debates about campaign tactics contribute to concerns that they may not be positioned to take advantage of the most favorable political climate since President Bush was elected.

The Democrats came to New Orleans this week to highlight what they want the midterm elections to be about: a referendum on Bush's leadership and competence. Just as Iraq symbolizes Americans' disenchantment with Bush's foreign policy, New Orleans stands as a poignant reminder of the breakdown of government after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. Democrats intend to use that imagery as a partisan weapon between now and November to argue that Bush has failed the American people on multiple fronts.

"Our current Republican government will be judged by how they treated Americans of the Gulf Coast, and how it has treated, or mistreated, our American community," Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said in his speech to the committee on Saturday. "The Republicans have cut and run when it comes to rebuilding the Gulf Coast, and we will not do that."

On that there is widespread agreement, but many Democrats fear it will not be enough to win back control of the House or Senate or both in November. "We have to do two things," said Bobby Kahn, the Georgia Democratic Party chairman. "One, disqualify the Republicans, and two, provide an alternative. The first part, they've done for us, and the second part, we need to do."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/22/AR2006042201128.html

[BayCityProgressive]

1. If the Democrats

don't get their god damn shit together they will not win! People are not going to vote them in if they dont think they have a plan....I don't even care if it is a moderate or liberal agenda at this point just put something fucking specific together for Christ's sake!

[madfloridian]

2. Oh, God, please quit letting the media spin you.

They are going to do this everytime our Democrats speak out. They have their act very much together, but they are not going to throw it all out on the table for the vultures to pick apart.

DU folks should know better by now.

[Warner2008]

3. Hear, hear.

I keep waiting for the Dems to actually get their sh!t together and tell America what they stand for. Just being "the other guys" ain't gonna cut it. We can't count on demoralized Republicans staying home to propel us to victory. We need to be bringing Republicans and Independents to our side. I don't see how Dean and Co. are doing that.

[BayCityProgressive]

4. Democrats

need to be talking about how the money going to tax cuts for the rich and Iraq could be paying for healthcare and tax cuts for the middle class. Identify with their target audience more!

[madfloridian]

6. Dean is doing that. He did it on C-Span today.

.

[janx]

5. Six-point plan:

Democrats' Plan

Dean said that Democrats will fight for a six-point plan that includes raising the minimum wage, tax ``fairness'' for the middle class, ``a complete ban on gifts and travel from lobbyists,'' the inspection of all cargo coming into U.S. ports, fixing the Medicare drug plan and ``transition'' in Iraq.

``Iraqis need to take responsibility for their own future,'' Dean said.

He also said that Democrats seek immigration legislation that ``secures our borders, protects American workers and enables immigrants who work hard, obey our laws and pay taxes a path to earn the rights and privileges of citizenship.''

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aKh_NvWXsz50&refer=top_world_news

[madfloridian]

7. Have you heard any interviews lately by any of them?

Did you hear the C-Span coverage today of the DNC meeting? He did give the plan. He gives it on every show he goes on.

He says they are not putting forth details until later as the GOP is waiting to use their plans. And the media is waiting to pick the plans apart.

[janx]

8. That 's wise.

Dean gained a lot of valuable experience with right wingers and the media during his primary campaign. It's now benefiting all of us.