This is the kind of thinking we need if we're ever going to win again

[HootieMcBoob]

Dean and Democracy For America are doing the hard work it is going to take to build the Democratic Party into a real powerhouse. My fear is that if Vilsack is chosen to head the DNC as it appears is likely we'll have more of the same old thing. There's a lot of go along to get along, dead wood in this party that I feel has been dragging us down for a long time.

This is an excellent article written by Bob Brigham who worked for Ginny Schrader. She won a formerly Republican congressional seat in suburban Philadelphia Bucks County PA.

I am a Reform Democrat

Bob Brigham worked for Dean Dozen candidate Ginny Schrader in the 2004 election

The Democratic Party needs reform. Without discussing whether we need to move to the right or the left, what can we do to reform the way we do business?

The following is a compilation of some of the best ideas I've read, coupled with my experience as a political hack young enough to have grown up with computers but old enough to have a few cycles of experience in traditional Democratic campaigns (in both red and blue states).

Lead America
If we only follow the polls, we will be reactive to the whims of Americans and unable to win in the long run. We need to lead on issues. This Gonzalez nomination is a great example—instead of having a debate about whether we should oppose him, we should have a debate about whether a torture supporter should lead the Justice Department, and then hit him with everything we have. We need to stand up for what we believe in!

Go Young
People under the age of thirty are the only age group that we won. The young vote was turned out by young people managing organizations with enough resources to succeed. We need more young people in decision-making roles at the DNC, and in positions where they have the resources to maintain and expand on our successes with young Americans.

Offer Alternatives
We cannot offer compromises. Instead, we need to offer coherent alternatives to Republican proposals. These proposals must be crafted with an eye towards framing the next election.

much more... http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/005569.html#more

[PATRICK]

1. More bluntly

The current Dems, WHATEVER their centrist ideology are politically damaged goods from thought to organization. Totally behind the simplest practical learning curve. For smart, issue servants they are woefully impotent players, capable of great speeches and simple campaigning but lost in the World. With all their gifts and centrist base they can't accept that at all. So they are blind and will lose again and again and again to any prepared and ruthless foe.

regardless of whatever position Dean fills, his aim is to take the initiative, and it is not the ideological leftyism that makes the nerves of the DLC jangle, it is the practical politics of simply WAKING UP and MOVING. The same stupid morass of the DNC mindset gets Dean all wrong. he is hardly the liberal gold standard or the extreme left wing. he IS the central heart of the party, not the dry safe center of safe ideas that get us all murdered in our beds. It should be using him. The GOP would. It even has a use for Nader.

The base and the middle of the party must move on its own and complete the castration of the delusional authorities. If the babies want their bloodbath make them wait and cry. The party can be built without them up to a point, new coalitions forged, new methods employed.

They can soul search with their focus groups until they find some self peace with defeat. That makes them bigger loons than the PNAC barbarians. Dean should have a VOICE in choosing a real head of the party. If they can't recognize that they are destroying the party and America for an utterly unwinnable and worthless cause. If Kerry can't do anything but fizzle what on earth is the continued value of lesser luminaries and even more hopeless repetitions?

Some people would hate the DNC and current DLC for what they have done or not done. They have no right to share and thus increase our lot as victims. We needed much much better. They are not bad, simply not what the times strictly demand for our very survival. Let's cut the pride and theory crap and fight right.

[HootieMcBoob]

5. agreed

hopefully DFA, NDN and some of the other new organizations will do the work that we expect the DNC to do and help to make DLC insignificant.

[NYCGirl]

2. Great blog entry! I read it yesterday and was very impressed.

And DFA has the right idea in a 50 state view — don't give up on the "red states".

[TheFarseer]

3. I agree with alot of that

I think that young people suck, though. Trying to go young is a loser. They just don't get out to vote. I know that we need a coherent message that is written in stone next time. I think it needs to be a simple message that is something almost everyone can agree on. Something along the lines of standing up for the working man or the middle class or something. We need to cut out the unpopular controversial stuff and just set it on the back burner. Simple is good. Simple wins. Family values, lower taxes and strong defense is an easy message and it won the election. Just standing in opposition to something is not going to win. The republicans were not anti-gay, they were pro family values - got it? I think too many people on here totally discount moderate democrats. This is the bunch that won elections for Reagan and Clinton. Think about why the republicans consistently get more democrats to cross over than democrats get republicans to cross over in general elections. Get these people back in the fold and you've got a winning campaign.

[MichiganVote]

4. The youth vote gave Kerry Michigan. Nuff' said.

[TheFarseer]

6. "If your under 30 and vote republican, you have no heart"

"if you're over 30 and vote democrat, you have no brain." The first part of that will never change. The second part has GOT to change.