Forget about 08 for now...think '06.

[Mythsaje]

The next Presidential election isn't what we need to be concentrating on right now. We need to concentrate on winning Congressional seats. This is the MOST important task in front of us.
So how do we convince the average republican that we liberals aren't the "evil empire," after all?

Any ideas?

[SlipperySlope]

1. Why do you want to convince the average republican?

I don't understand. Do you want them to stay republican, or do you want them to become democrats?

[Mythsaje]

3. I want them to realize

that the neocons are NOTHING like they portray themselves to be. They're betraying this country, and don't give a rat's ass about the average voter except so far as to determine what they need to do and say in order to dupe them.

[SlipperySlope]

4. Show them that they've been ignored...

Find out what they really believe in,
then show them that the "people in charge"
have been screwing over those beliefs.

[Mythsaje]

5. They haven't been ignored...

they've been PLAYED.

[Talismom]

2. Even if we just convince them of how evil their party is now and they

stay home while we get the base out--that would do it! If, and it's a giant if, the votes are counted fairly!

[Lefty48197]

6. Psychoanalysis

It seems as if most of the Republicans have drank the kool aid these days, and there is probably no hope of them ever being enlightened. They will go down with the naked emperor's ship.
We do need to convince moderate/independent voters, that we are on their side, and that WE are not the party of corruption, patronage, and obscene profits.

[Mythsaje]

9. I think there are a lot of

average salt-of-the-earth republican voters who ONLY vote Republican because they've been convinced that that faction represents them. It doesn't, and a lot of them are starting to realize this. We need to come up with a way to connect to them that we haven't seen yet. My "Dear Average Republican" letter isn't a bad place to start.

Dear Average Republican,

There is NO "liberal agenda" but the shared interest of liberals who want to see things get better for everyone. You, your parents, and the guy who bags groceries down at the Piggly-Wiggly. Liberals want to see you with enough money to buy groceries, pay off your house, and put at least one gas-efficient vehicle in your garage.

It's not an agenda. It's people hoping for the best for other people.

It's about hoping that your Uncle John, who's been farming the same plot of land for the last 40 years, doesn't lose his farm because he falls off his tractor and breaks his leg and can't pay his doctor bill.It's about hoping that you have some options when your town's biggest employer goes belly-up 'cuz it can't compete with the textile factory in China.

It's about making sure you get paid enough that you don't have to take two or three jobs just to make ends meet. So you can spend more time with your family...so you can play catch with your boys, or take them fishing on weekends, or take your little girl to the local swimming hole and teach her how to swim.

It's not an agenda to want the best for people. It's just humanity. It's about being a good neighbor, even if that neighbor lives half a country away.

Ask a liberal what empathy is...it's about understanding where someone else is coming from. And most of us try very hard, even if we don't agree.

Being a liberal isn't about making fun of God, or your beliefs about him. Most liberals take the Sermon on the Mount to heart. They try to live the teachings of Jesus, even if they aren't sure he's really the Son of God. Thomas Jefferson called him the World's Greatest Moral Philosopher. You'll find very few liberals who'd disagree with that.

It's because of liberals that your ten year olds get to go to school rather than being forced to work in factories for spare change. It's because of liberals that you can trust your workplace to be safe and free of unexpected dangers. It is because of liberals that, should you be injured at work, you can expect fair medical treatment and compensation for your lost work.

That's what we do. We try to look out for everybody. Even the people who hate us.We don't have an agenda. We don't take marching orders from anyone. We do what we do because we believe in people. We believe in you.

All we ask is that you begin to believe in us.

[Johonny]

7. I'm thinking 05 myself

In California I'm fighting to beat the Governors horrible Props and send a message he won't be back after '06.

[Mythsaje]

10. Block his redistricting plan, that's for sure...n/t

[Johonny]

14. I feeling good ATM

Mike Gordons seat was up. Last year this was a bitter campaign Mike won. Since his death it was assume to once again be a bitter close election. Given the election was in Sept and with little notice. Dems showed up in force and dusted the republicans. I think Dems are very, very motivated to vote.

[Hobarticus]

8. I'm thinking moderates & mod/rights having some buyer's remorse

If they had voted for him. GOP's gone off the deep end, and '05 isn't even over!

[WLKjr]

11. I'm thinking Ohio getting Paul Hackett

to take out Dewine

[Mythsaje]

12. I'm sure hoping he does

I like Hackett.

[WLKjr]

13. That guy shouldn't have run for the measly race down south

but I understand he needed to get his name out there. Dewine, Taft, Blackwell, and the rest of the bunch save G.V., (which I have a sliver of support for, sorry) need to go, and go quick. Taft and Blackwell are both criminals, and Dewine, well, he is a slimy guy as well.