Messaging Doesn't Matter.

[ProSense]

Messaging Doesn't Matter.

Generally speaking, Republicans aren't actually more disciplined or organized than Democrats, and vice versa -- whether your side is "good enough" is usually a function of whether you're winning or losing. That said, I'll make an exception for messaging; when Republicans lose elections, you really don't hear them complain about it for weeks afterwards:

In interviews after the marathon three hour meeting, several senators and senior aides told POLITICO that Nelson was just one of several senators to express anger at White House missteps – and air deep concerns about their own political fates if Obama and the Democratic Party leadership can’t turn things around by 2012. <...>
Others said Democratic leaders need to clearly spell out what they believe are the motivations behind the Republicans' positions: that they are beholden to special interests, who bankroll their campaigns. If Democrats keep losing the message war, they worry, they will be wiped out in 2012.

Two things: first, Democratic senators have very short memories. Barack Obama was a boon for down-ballot candidates in 2008, and his massive coat-tails helped Democrats grow their slim majority into a supermajority. Before unloading on the president, they would do well to remember that he remains the most popular (working) politician in America: more popular than Republicans, Democrats and Congress as a whole.

As for 2012, Democrats need to stop worrying about "messaging" and start trying to improve the economy; as I've said too many times, the only thing that will save Democrats is economic growth. If they can deliver economic growth, the messaging will take care of itself. Or put another way, the most brilliant campaign in the world won't matter if unemployment is above 9 percent and the economy is still stagnant. In which case, say hello to President Romney and his new Republican majority.

From the Politico article:

<...>

But the complaints are not new. Over the past year, Senate Democrats have expressed dissatisfaction with Obama’s policy priorities, especially his determination to ram through a health care bill against the objections of party conservatives like Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.). The caucus’s left wing, including Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders, have argued the opposite point: that Obama’s timidity has led to the defection of liberals and young people turned off by Obama compromises on the public option and economic stimulus.

<...>

Ben Nelson complaining about the President, what's new? If Democrats listen to Ben Nelson, no amount of messaging will save them.

[ProSense]

1. No comment? n/t

[OHdem10]

2. Where does the tinidity come from. Structural problem in Democratic

Party. You have the Conservative Wing who are more
like Moderate Republicans and Liberal/Progressives.

As a result, there are very few messages that can
please both groups simultaneously. This inhibits
leaders.

Years ago even when Bill Clinton was president the
various means of communications were not as prevalent.
On-Line Activists were just getting started for example.

It appears that the party up until now depended on
the President to do most of the communication from
the party. With Fox, the Internet and fewer people
actually reading papers, this old model(President
doing most of messaging and selling ideas and plans)
--this old model does not work. It is humanly impossible
for one person to push back and fight the daily globs
of misinformation being put forth. Because the divisions
in the Democratic Party make it impossible for the party
to have one over-arching message that surrogates could
go out and passionately spread to counteract the Republican
Message----the Republicans won the last election.