The bottom line is how do we get more Democrats in Congress than Republicans?

[kentuck]

The same old "he said, she said" argument does not bode well for a Democratic majority, in my opinion.
So, how do we change that?

With such a divided electorate, it is difficult to see how we can change the narrative for the Congressional elections?

Traditionally, Democrats are moved by emotion and passion on the issues. In other words, they are more attracted by populist messages than by simple delineation of the issues. It's sort of like the old wrestling matches where everyone is yelling for their favorite until one of the wrestlers takes a bar of soap out of his trunks and rubs it in the eyes of his opponent. Then the audience support turns against the "dirty" wrestler.

If we want to change how people vote, especially Democrats, we need to change the way they look at elections. We need to change how they look at the opponents. To have Party workers go door to door and try to get more folks to the polls on election day is effective to a degree but is still just a coin toss. It does little to inspire your supporters to go to the polls or to demoralize and discourage or embarrass your opponents from going to the polls. Some may feel squeamish about such a tactic but, in my opinion, that is the best way to get Democrats to the polls and when Democrats vote, they usually win.

[blm]

1. Demand an end to extreme gerrymandering by partisan interests.

.

[KharmaTrain]

2. 2014 Is A Very Local Election...

...retaking Congress would be a nice goal...and possible if other pieces fall into place. The real battleground are the state elections. This is where those passionate issues are...especially in places in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio and others that have ALEC-infulenced governors and legislatures that are doing more to destroy rights than the federal government is. They're the one who gerrymander the districts and this is where Democrats need to focus their efforts. Get the vote out on the local level and it could springboard into big gains in the House and Senate...

[liberal_at_heart]

3. My issue is education although I think campaign finance reform needs to be done before anything

else gets done. But if you're trying to get people to the polls I think the issue is wages. And I'm not just talking about adding a few pennies to the minimum wage. We need a candidate who will propose a living wage. I think that would get people excited. However, people are disappointed and are likely to think campaign promises are hollow this next election. The democrats promised to help the middle class and the middle class keeps shrinking. More than likely what we will see is more "vote for us or you will end up with Todd Akin."

[LearningCurve]

17. Nice post

I whole-heartedly agree on campaign finance reform. I would also like to see term limits. I like 2 terms in the Senate and 6 in the House. Makes both add up to 12 years, a nice convenient figure.

[liberal_at_heart]

20. I don't know how I feel about term limits. Two of our biggest problems is that our politicians

take lobbying money while they're in office and then they get to become a lobbyist or a consultant after they leave office. I don't know that simply limiting the time they are in office fixes that. It may limit how much wealth they aquire while in office, but then they just get a cushy well paying lobby or consultant job when they leave. So it still attracts people with the wrong motivation.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

4. Nice post. I agree. How to go after all Republicans at once

With indictment after indictment of their behavior and attitudes. I think it should be broad based--not just carving up the chessboard and going for specific races.

[Skittles]

5. oh I dunno, behave like Democrats so people WANT to vote Dem?

[LearningCurve]

18. Hear, hear!

[Bunnahabhain]

6. The key is getting more Independents to vote (D)

and the question is how do you do that? Personally, I think Indies tend to be more analytical, more issue driven, and harder to keep engaged than those with strong Party affiliation. As an Indie myself I can tell you getting mean, personal, hyperbolic, lying, misrepresenting positions (yours or your opponent's), and putting Party above country and issues really turn me off. Indies also tend to be "high information voters" and they are likely to know when you're bullshitting them and are going to call you on it.

Also, I think talk about a living wage is wrong. A living wage implies you are working and stigmatizes those who are not. A guaranteed minimum income is what it's about.

[liberal_at_heart]

11. I tend to go with a living wage, and restore proper funding to education, food stamps, and other

social programs, but your idea sounds good too. And I competely agree with your assessment of independents. I just recently became an independent.

[TheKentuckian]

7. No, the bottom line is how we get a majority of good stewards

rather than corporatist, imperialists, security nannies, drug warriors, regressives, conservatives, and neoliberals.

[liberal_at_heart]

9. I agree. You want to get people excited, show them a populist candidate.

[DonRedwood]

8. gerrymandering

[MineralMan]

10. Personally, I think it is the organized Party's job to discredit the

Republicans, though advertising and publicity efforts. On the local level, it is up to the local organization and its individual associates to encourage Democrats to go to the polls in numbers large enough to assure the election of Democrats.

For myself, I'm a big advocate of precinct walking, and do that for each election. I don't talk only to Democrats, either. I don't walk for individual candidates, but have literature from all Democratic candidates in hand for general elections, and will have studied their positions. When I talk to Republicans, I ask them what their individual issues are and try to demonstrate that the Democrats have those issues covered and how they have them covered. But my primary goal is to make sure that every Democrat I talk to actually goes to the polls and votes. That's why I'm out there.

The second goal, in Minnesota, is to encourage those who are not registered to go to the polls and register on election day. Voters can do that here, so I have all the information on what they need for election day registration. I've convinced a number of people to do that, and then have seen some of them at the polls on election day, registering and voting.

But, I count on the state and national party organization to do the general educational work through ads and other efforts. I'm about individual issues for the people I talk to.

GOTV 2014 and beyond!

[TreasonousBastard]

14. Agreed. See below, and I'll add...

that we have pollwatchers to see who shows up at the polls and a phone bank to get the no-shows off their asses. Even a "taxi" service for the car-less or immobile.

Note we don't have same day registration in NY, bu we already handed out absentee apps and registration forms that they filled out while we watched and we mailed in.

[MineralMan]

16. Thanks. Yes, polling place observers and

election day GOTV are both important, too. I do my thing, beginning well before the election, and leave the other two to the rest of the local party organization, usually. In 2014, though, I'll probably volunteer to take people to the polls, as well.

[1awake]

12. The best way I know is for Democrats to start acting like Democrats

instead of repub lite.

[drhobo]

21. not exactly

The candidate needs to fit the district. Running a strong gun control supporter might not do well in a more rural district. Getting someone in who is supportive on most but not all issues is far better than losing and getting someone who is a strong opponent.

[kentuck]

22. Not exactly...

In my opinion, if a candidate lives in a strong pro-gun district, he does not have to come out in favor of every right-wing position on guns in order to be accepted. However, he would need to support the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms. That does not mean he would have to support assault weapons in the hands of criminals or that he would have to be against background checks in order to win. Those are common sense measures that the majority in both Parties, in almost any district in America, understand.

But the alternative is to take issues like a living wage, sending jobs overseas, fair taxation and hiding money in overseas accounts, and other "progressive" issues and using those as a substitute for a right-wing agenda. Progressives can win anywhere in this country with the right message and the right presentation of the issues, in my opinion.

[TreasonousBastard]

13. The bottom line is "We don't know" and believe me, it's an issue in my neighborhood...

We've got an important local election coming up, but the ennui is staggering. A 10% turnout will be incredible. Next year is Congress, and will be better, but not by all that much.

The obvious answers, finance reform and gerrymandering are good, but redistricting doesn't happen until the next Census and the Supremes kicked finance reform out of the running.

So, what's left? Depends on your district. If a Dem has half a chance, run one with that half chance of winning. Here's a big hint-- you won't get far running a liberal in a conservative district. If your district isn't teabagged to the hilt, brains and common sense might move enough voters.

But, this year and next, it's GET OUT THE DAMNED VOTE. Get your lazy ass out there and knock on doors no matter how hot it is. If only 10% vote and we get 15% of ours out, we win. And don't go oput empty handed-- have stuff to pass out, registration forms, and absentee ballot apps handy

Do you know what VoteBuilder is? It's sometimes a wishful thinking pain in the ass, but it does focus your work where the best returns will come in. See if your local OFA people will let it out of their sight.

Can you get the voter lists from your county election commission? Around here we just ask the Democratic election commissioner and we get all the lists we need.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. We need to elect representatives rather than leaders and bosses.

[leftstreet]

19. First, get Democrats to stop acting like Republicans n/t