What direction should the Party take?

[Walt Starr]

Simple question with some simple choices.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. And

take no prisoners

[Unstuck In Time]

2. Other: Follow Howard Dean's lead.

I don't care whether he's DNC chairman or not, so long as he's out there helping to lead the charge in some fashion.

[LightTheMatch]

3. A Return to Economic populism, plus...

Better frame the debate, better use of linguistic devices, stop relying on large-corporation donors, actually stand up for the little guy instead of just saying you do, and make a stand on core Democratic issues and *stay there*!

[Telly Savalas]

4. Exactamundo

The Right has a brand of populism that plays on the worst in human nature, we need to promote populism that feeds on the better aspects of humanity. We're not going to win any votes by putting burning crosses in people's yards in Alabama. The GOP already has that angle covered. We can succeed by sticking to our roots. Maybe we can't sell Mondale or Dukakis style technocratic wonkery in red areas, but we could make inroads with a simple, populist Truman style "Fair Deal". Hell, Truman did it 60 years ago.

[Walt Starr]

5. kick

:kick:

[el_gato]

6. Closer to the keg...oh wait, nevermind wrong forum

[imenja]

7. false polemic

The left-right paradigm is outdated, a remnant of the Cold War. Is it conservative for Bush to run up unprecedented deficits and to try to remake the world in his own foolish vision?
I advocate moving neither left or right, nor staying where we are. We need to think about what our core principles are. We need a message and a party that represents the people rather than corporate interests. We need to take seriously the urban--rural/exurban cultural divide that prompts non-urban voters to shun the Democrats--not by becoming more Republican, never. We need a populist message that speaks to Americans both rural and urban. Remembering our core economic principles is central to that. But I think the Democrats make a mistake by talking about "lifting up" the poor. They speak with noblesse oblige. People don't want to feel they are the objects of charity. They want to feel the government is THEIRS, that it represents them.

I also advocate an end to campaigning with the Hollywood crowd. You don't see the Republicans campaigning with Ken Lay and the rest of their big corporate donors. Hollywood provides essential funding to the Democrats, but they aren't helping us win elections.

We would also do well to exercise some of the discipline within the party ranks that the Republicans do.

[Beacho]

8. The Anti-Imperialist Party

That's a good start

No left right paradigm there

[imenja]

9. agree

Use soft power more effectively. Emphasize moral values in our policies at home and abroad. Moral values meaning decency, respect for human life.

[Mick Knox]

10. Voted! Thanks for the poll! *waves*

Bonus free kick for you!