As a Democrat, I want to hear a progressive agenda from our next nominee

[kentuck]

It is not enough to say that we can do better. I want to hear what we can do better. I want to hear what he/she thinks of our present tax structure. I want to hear what they think of the present state of the working man in America. I want to hear what he/she will do about the poverty problem in our country. I want to hear solutions to the war in Iraq.

I do not want to hear the same old crap. We are in a tough spot. I want to hear some bold proposals. I want to hear a progressive agenda. If they are fearful of proposing progressive solutions, then they will not have my support. The time for milquetoasts is long past.

[Cocoa]

1. I disagree

I think the nominee should be a milquetoast that is afraid of making bold proposals.

[kentuck]

2. The majority will probably agree with you.

While saying the exact opposite. :shrug:

[AntiCoup2K4]

4. Nah, we had him the last time.

;)

[Cocoa]

7. I want a milquetoast

not a flip-flopper. :-)

[Mass]

9. Were you talking about Bush?

(not the milquetoast, the flipflopper).

Too bad the media did not see that.

[wisteria]

26. Why, who could you be alluding to? Surely not Kerry.

Maybe you were referring to one of the others who didn't make it out of the primaries.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. Me, too, Kentuck

I'm tired of people who keep putting forth these bland, vanilla, TV anchorman lookalikes. That's the tactic of desperate fear. "Oh, let's get someone who's not scary."

News flash: Times already are scary, and deep down, everyone knows it. Those bland empty suits act oblivious to the real dangers we're in, so they come across as clueless.

We don't need to wean away Republicans. We need to activate non-voters, because there are a lot more of them than there are committed Republicans. We need a platform that meets the real needs of the country (first order of business) and a candidate who can articulate that platform clearly, sincerely, and memorably.

[ulysses]

6. what Lydia said.

:thumbsup: :hi:

[Casandra]

5. Well said!

We need someone BOLD to step up to the plate this time. I want to hear a real progressive agenda and I want to hear the DETAILS! Problem is, I'm not sure there is anyone left who has the 'balls' to do this! We need a combination of Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich. Now who would that be? I think this mystery person will need to come out of the Governors pool; somewhere in this country, there must be SOMEONE who can do this! Once this message gets out there and the shock wears off (that someone actually had the nerve to say it) I would expect some major support will follow! So...WHO...could this be?

[damntexdem]

8. The entire COUNTRY wants to hear a progressive agenda.

The problem is that no Dem looks to be up to taking on the leadership.

[ay3100]

10. Kerry was a horrible candidiate

Regardless of what anyone thinks of bush, kerry was a horrible candidate who came across as obnoxious and condescending, not to mention being incapable of sticking to position.

[Selatius]

12. He was just a poor communicator

I disagreed with him on his pro-free trade stance, his vote for the IWR, and his vote for Bush's tax cuts. He weakened his position because of the IWR vote and his vote for those tax cuts. His apparent condescension is irrelevant to fundamental policy decisions he made.

[politicasista]

16. Yelling like a big bully is communication

He was a poor communicator cause the media edited out everything he said, but no let's eat our own. It's productive than focusing our anger on the REAL criminal at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.


It's the corporate media stupid!

[Selatius]

18. Yes, that as well, but...

The previous points I made in my reply still stand. He had enough anvils to carry with him while trying to swim without the corporate media dumping a few more rocks on him.

[Mass]

20. Except Kerry did not vote for tax cuts. This is a lie from the Bushies.

As for his pro free-trade stance, you may want to read what he was proposing by yourself.

If you want a totally "conservative" "protectionnist" stance, Kerry is not your man, but the country would be dead and most people would not have jobs, unfortunately. This country is too far into international trade to be able to change.

If you want somebody who wants to modernize America so that it can compete with other countries without having the worker be crushed in the process, Kerry may be your man.

[wisteria]

27. You must not of been listing to him. And your information is wrong

on his voting record. The only vote he did make is the vote to give Bush the authority to go to war as a last resort. Just about the whole Senate went along with this vote. The believed Bush's lies and felt an obligation to protect this country and its citizens.

[Selatius]

29. And that's not voting for the IWR how?

Given Bush's record as far as honesty and forthrightness goes, I wouldn't have given him that authority, and folks like Kucinich and others voted against the IWR.

I could be faulted for attributing a vote for Bush's tax cut, but his IWR vote is clear for everybody to see. A whole lot of people would still be alive if it were not for the IWR vote.

[Mass]

19. Thank you for repeating Rove's talking points.

[politicasista]

21. Thanks for the Rovian talking points

It's productive and it will help us in 2006. :sarcasm:

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Selatius]

11. A raw platform the Dems can possibly use as a long-termish strategy

1. Withdraw from Iraq after setting a schedule for withdrawal
2. Repeal Bush's tax cuts for the rich
3. Balance the budget
4. Push for a universal health care system
5. Push for increased spending on education programs
6. Pay down the government debt

Other things such as electoral/election reform should go without mention.

[ay3100]

13. platform

With regard to education we need plans that go beyond "spend more" the US spends more per pupil than most every country on earth, with the exception of Austria and Switzerland and yet we still rank at the bottom. We need something more revolutionary....

[Selatius]

14. Well, increasing funding into the Pell Grant program is a worthy goal

They haven't been updating that program for inflation, and it's hurting those who are least able to pay for college. I oughtta know. I am a college student where the bulk of my money is not in the form of grants or scholarships but loans and a pittance of a pell grant.

I'm with you as far as education goes though. I believe there should be a nation-wide standard as far as education goes. States that are not able to reach these standards through their own state budgets should be backed up by the feds to ensure they reach the goal. It should not be tolerated that you have states like Massachusetts and California with good education systems, while states like Mississippi are too bankrupt (or corrupt) to pay for theirs, which conveniently segues into the issue of graft. (Another discussion entirely)

[welshTerrier2]

23. context

i really want to address your post because i strongly agree with every item you mentioned and think that presenting it as a laundry list, which is exactly what the Democratic Party keeps doing, will take your good ideas and turn them into electoral losses ...

we've seen bush very successfully exploit a campaign of fear ... but the fears he cites are based on lies ...

Democrats need to awaken America to the reality that we are a nation at risk ... I think Americans sense this better than their leaders do ... it's a message they would be receptive to ... it would be the justification, the foundation, the deeper vision for the policies you've itemized ...

i won't elaborate here, but we need to explain to Americans that we are falling further and further behind other countries in education ... bush can talk all he wants about bibles in schools and "you can't just through money at it" or any other nonsense but that doesn't address the realities we face ... if we raise a generation that can't compete, not only will good jobs go overseas but our entire economy will be at risk ...

Healthcare ... employer sponsored healthplans are disappearing ... if you're counting on one, don't ... the republicans like to make a big deal of "massive spending programs" ... well, each and every American is going to have exactly that: a massive spending program ... the number of people who can't afford healthcare is steadily growing ... soon it will wash over almost every American ... it's not a question about massive spending programs; it's a question about managing healthcare costs so that every American can get the care they need ... the republicans want to leave Americans at risk because "it's not a government issue to solve" ...

the debt: the lifeblood is being sucked out of our country by China ... both left and right agree on this issue ... Dems have to make an issue out of uncontrolled republican debt ... it's going to destroy this country ...

and Iraq, don't even get me started ... the Dem position is just about as disgusting as the republican position ... it's inexcusable ... if Dems can't be the opposition party, you can have them ...

anyway, great platform you started ... but context is everything ...

[Poiuyt]

15. It doesn't matter what a candidates agenda is

The most important element in getting elected is to be charismatic. It also helps to look "presidential."

I'm sorry, but most Americans aren't too deep.

[welshTerrier2]

22. maybe we could get a Democratic pollster ...

to do a poll on hairstyles ... i wonder what style would go over big in the Red states ...

[Poiuyt]

24. Well, what would Jesus have worn?

[politicasista]

17. It doesn't matter who the candidate is, they will face a GOP media

Focus on 2006, worry about 2008 later.

[BigYawn]

28. Kick

:kick: :kick:

[rfkrfk]

30. why wait, why don't you want to hear that, now? n/t

[Eurobabe]

31. I'd settle for a coherent message from the Dems

I am still not hearing it!

[formernaderite]

32. The repubs win by running right wingers....

but the very idea that we might want to run a progressive is shocking to the democratic party establishment.

[ClassWarrior]

33. Our next nominee(s) are Senators and Congresspeople.

Focus please.

NGU.