Democrats: Get back in the game

[lady lib]

By Mark Joseph
Huffington Post

Nobody enjoys a football game where one side is running up the score while the other side self-destructs. If Howard Dean keeps this up, he’s not only going to elect another Republican president in three and a half years, he’s going to give the GOP a veto-proof majority in the Senate, making the filibuster a moot issue. Here's how Democrats can get back in the game:

1) Pray really hard that the Republicans give you an opening by nominating Rudy Giuliani or another left-leaning Republican for president. This will alienate the GOP's conservative Christian base who, Pat Robertson’s comments on the Stephanopoulous show notwithstanding, will not be able to bring themselves to vote for him. When millions of devout churchgoers stay home on election day 2008, the White House will be yours again, provided you don't energize them by nominating Hillary Clinton.

2) Change your platform on abortion and make the party officially neutral. Use some vague, noncommittal language like “we respect the views of all Americans on this divisive issue, and understand the heartfelt concerns of those who believe in a woman’s right to choose and those who believe in the unborn child’s right to life. There is room in our party for all points of view and we leave it up to each member of our party to follow their conscience on this difficult and divisive issue.” In a flash you'll win back the hearts of millions of conservative Democrats and moderate to liberal Evangelicals. Remember, Billy Graham, the famed evangelist, is still a registered Democrat. This puts the votes of the Billy Graham’s of the country back in play.

3) Nominate Indiana Senator Evan Bayh for President. Bayh learned from his father, Senator Birch Bayh's defeat in 1980 how to present liberalism with a mainstream face. He’s your man. If he’s the nominee, you win and the Republicans lose.

4) Engage the conservative churchgoing audience, don’t ignore them. Do your best to hide the condescension you feel for them. Meet with their leaders. Go on their talk shows. Tell them about the change in your party platform on abortion. Don’t sneer or condescend. Remember these are voters you are trying to win over to your side and insulting voters is always a bad idea.

-snip-
Read the rest
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/mark-joseph/democrats-get-back-in-th_1348.html

What do you think of these suggestions?

[shoelace414]

1. Jesus was a liberal

repeat often.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

2. Sorry, I don't want "wishy-washy"

I am looking for clarity, message and leadership. I want to hear someone brave enough to say, "The emperor has no clothes"...NOT, "well, the emperor is making a unique style statement today".

[FrenchieCat]

9. Although Bayh is definitely not who I want as the nominee....

As most know....

I think that he probably is the one that will walk away with the nom. In imagery, he's got what "appeals" to many....He's of the right age, with the right wife and the right number of kids.

Although he's not at all "charismatic" in "real life"....his photos are good. Democrats won't think beyond that.

In experience, he's got what the rank & file Democrats would equate as what's required-- 2 term governor of a Red State....as well as a Senator, but since he has voted more times with Bush than against, his voting record is not as big a turn off to those Democratic powers-that-be. He Sits on some committees that for the uninformed connotates "National Security" Experience.

He won't be an asskicker...more like an ass licker during the GE.... but Democrats won't see that far into the future.

He'll walk away with it in Iowa.....and depending on who they put against him.....he could win it. However, if the GOP puts up a strong National Defense type....and our Foreign policy gets worse, than he loses.

That's how I see it, but it's not what I want....at all.

[DinahMoeHum]

3. This was sarcasm on Mark Joseph's part, right ???

Because I really don't give a shit that he doesn't like Howard Dean. If Howard Dean or anybody else is kicking Bush and the Republikans in the balls, I'm cheering 'em on.


:kick:

[Caoimhe]

4. I will never back down on reproductive rights

I totally disagree with this stance, and if the Democratic party wants to abandon the Pro Choice platform, I will be seeking another party. It is ABSOLUTELY that fundamental to me.

[chaumont58]

5. I don't know who Mark Joseph is

Could he be a DLCer?

I don't think much of his suggestions. Number 5 stands out like a sore thumb, or better yet like a turd in a punch bowl. Be respectful to chimpie. I guess we should use repuke behavior of the 90s as a model to be respectful of chimpie. Has any Democratic member of the House call Bush a scumbag? Bush is by my sakes, a mass murderer and a war criminal, in spades. I haven't heard any Democratic House member call him that. For those with short memories, ole Watermelon Dan Burton call Clinton a scumbag on radio and never, to my knowledge, retracted or apologized.
Mr Joseph seems to put much stock in Governor Howard Dean's ability to shape events just from talking to the press. He is head of the DNC, not the College of Cardinals. Once again, maybe we should use repuke behavior from damn near any period in the past. Hally Barbour, of course, had only good things to say about Democrats in general and Bill Clinton in specific.
To cut to the chase, I don't think this Joseph is worth fucking with. Maybe he has read too many Nick Kristof columns.

[ewagner]

7. Re: suggestion #5

If we call the chimp an idiot it implies that those who voted for him are also idiots.......

Wellllllllllll.....if the shoe fits,.........

[ewagner]

6. I dislike the suggestions

They seem to tell us that our values and beliefs aren't good enough to portray to the voting public......

It seems to me that it's a surrender disguised as an initiative.....

[Larkspur]

8. This idiot is basing his ideas on a hatchet job article by USA Today

This guy sounds like a DLC clown. All his options are to swing the Dem Party farther to the Right.

#1) Frist is aiming to be the GOP Prez nominee in 2008. If he fails with his Nuke Option, we'll see how skilled a Repuke politician he is with the Reichwing Pharisees. Guiliani will never get the nomination.

#2) Dean's frame of the abortion debate is perfect. He is tying it to healthcare and privacy rights. Running away from abortion only reenforces the Dem image that they are timid of tough issues.

#3) While I agree that a Midwesterner or Western Dem should lead the Dem Prez ticket, Bayh is blah. He's been too much of a DLC clown to suit most of the Dem base. Sen. Feingold would be a better choice. He demonstrated political courage against the Patriot Act and IWR when it was needed and he won reelection overwhelmingly after the Repukes aimed for his seat. Feingold, not Bayh, would appeal to the Dem base and to swing voters.

#4) What about rallying moderate and progressive Christians to speak out and condem conservative Phariseeism? They far outnumber the conservative Christians. And Dean does engage conservatives, and he does a very good job, especially when he tells them that he, a Dem, balanced the budget of his state every year of his 11.5 year term as governor.

#5.a) I don't think Dean ever called Bush a name, but he has aggressively promoted the fact that Bush took us to war based on lies and distortions. Americans already are showing their displeasure at Bush, who is near an all time low in approval ratings. Dems need to aggressively and repeatedly point out Bush's failings and how he's making this country weaker.

#5.b) A flat tax is a ultra conservative policy and one that is harmful to the poor. Dean is on the right track reminding Americans the Democrats have been the party of fiscal responsibility, not Repukes.

6) The filibuster is supported by most Americans. It is a necessary tool to stop shoving of paritsan nominees who are not qualified to be on the bench from getting to where they will harm most Americans at the expense of a few robber barons. This suggestion and his description of the controversial Bush nominees shows that he is a FAUX implant.

[cindyw]

10. One problem is in the mainstream Christian speaking out against the

conservative Christians. By their nature liberal or mainstream Christian believe that religion is personal. This is the characteristic that is often confused with a belief that these people are not religious. Conservative Christians are often what is called evangelical christians meaning that they are very comfortable telling people what they should think and it is part of their faith to talk about God as often as possible in public. Most other Christians are just not comfortable with the evangelical streak that you speak of.

[DinahMoeHum]

11. "Other" Xtians to "Evangelicals" : Be secure enough in your faith. . .

to not impose it on me.


:bounce: