What Happened & What's Next (from Progressive Dems of America)

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Just saw this on the website for the Progressive Democrats of America web site. Go read this article, as the writer makes some valid points about the problems of the party.

For the first time in recent history, the Democrats have collectively out funded the Republicans. The Democrats organized hundreds of thousands of volunteers and staff for the largest Get Out the Vote effort in American political history. The Democrats ran a positive campaign against a lot of mud thrown their way. And they still lost. What happened?

The party left a fractured base after the primary. Hundreds of thousands of voters rallied around antiwar candidates during the primary and held their nose to support Kerry during the General. Because Bush was just that bad. That worked for many on the left, however still gave some support to Nader and Cobb. The voices left out of the party because for them, “Not Bush” was just NOT ENOUGH.

It appears “Not Bush” is also “not enough” for America. The Democratic Party has become the “Republicans are Bad” party. They stand for nothing more than, “Not Bush.” The reality is, if you were in the precincts, you yourself know that is not the case. Kerry and the Democrats are much more, but the message is not out there. The party adheres to the labels that the right throws at them. From “flip-flopper” to “tax and spend liberal” the Democrats took that language as policy. The party has done nothing to control the language and/or demonstrate to American voters an alternative view than what the right has labeled them.

Folks, we can't win by simply being "anti-Republican". We tried that in 2000, too, and it does not guarantee victory. We need to be decisively FOR something, and offer a REAL alternative to the Repubs-- not just some convenient shades of gray.

It's not just about the issues-- it's about our VALUES.

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1. kick (nt)

[candy331]

2. Perhaps ones tried to stand for something but were slapped

down and told to shut up and get in line so this is what you get. If there is no fight in the dog then get the damn dog out of the fight.

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3. I'm still here. And I'm still fighting.

As a matter of fact, the Dems did quite well in my state. We picked up 13 state house seats, and narrowed the Republican majority to two votes.

We nearly defeated a two-term incumbent in a very GOP congressional district.

Our state's GOP governor is desperately looking for $$ to run the government, since he promised he wouldn't raise taxes. He's shaking down the Indian casinos for 20% of their revenues right now (and making himself more unpopular, to boot).

Incidentally enough, my state also had a HUGE progressive movement during the caucuses. Kucinich got 1/5 of the caucus vote. If Dean had been in the race in March, he would have easily gotten at least 1/4 of the vote.

We got the GOP on the run here in Minnesota. And that's because of the progressive injection the state party got from us.

Yesterday was the first time I voted for a Democrat since 1992 (I've voted Green the last two presidential elections). I'm back in the party after a 14-year absence, and this time, I'm staying.

[eridani]

5. Same in WA state

Went for Kerry, and are doing better in the State House as well.

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4. kick it again (nt)

[IrateCitizen]

6. This is a pretty succinct and accurate statement, IMHO.

The Republicans are seen by many out there as the "idea" party right now, and the Democrats are seen as doing little more than opposing Republican ideas. It's basically a flip of where the parties were 40 years ago.

We need to counter this trend, and quickly. Of course, it will take time to truly tip the scales back in our direction (or at least make them even), but we need to start NOW on this.

Personally, I think that the key to this is economic populism. It provides the party with an easily identifiable theme to counter the cultural issues used by the Republicans. As another DUer said yesterday, nobody likes the boss. We have to portray the Republican Party as being the boss, as sticking up for the boss, and that the Democrats will stick up for the people against the boss.