Do the Democrats have a cohesive 2006 campaign?

[wysiwyg]

The thread I am unveiling ------- DEMOCRATS PLEDGE TO AMERICA got me wondering about something.

Does the Democratic party have some sort of cohesive campaign strategy ready for 2006? I haven't seen anything so far. Is there some sort of Democratic equivalent to the "Contract With America" already in the works?

It would make me feel better to know that the Democrats are going to do something other than just target specific districts with more money.

[Totally Committed]

1. The Democrats don't have a "cohesive" ANYTHING....

There is a lack of leadership in the House and Senate, there is the DLC in there triangulating and muddying the waters, there is no one message, the Alito vote (imo) has sent some away in disgust.

Who knows what '06 will bring? Oh, did I mention no one fixed the Diebold problem... so maybe it doesn't matter.

TC

[leftofthedial]

3. took the exact words out of my mouth.

the dems are utterly pathetic right now. I'm ashamed.

[Larkspur]

2. Dean said that he will announce a plan later in the summer

but even if he announces one today, the Dems in Congress wouldn't follow it.

The Dems on the Hill are doing a heck of a job squandering opportunites to make them the majority party in the fall. They must have taken lessons from Bush.

[leftofthedial]

4. he should wait until next year.

for all the good his "leadership" is doing

[Totally Committed]

5. I agree... as far as the "leadership" of the House and Senate goes,

Howard Dean is out there alone, working without a net.

TC

[Larkspur]

13. Newt Gingrich didn't publicize"contract for america" until a couple months

before the 1994 elections.

I'm sure the main reason that Dean hasn't come out with the plan now is that Congressional Dems can't agree on a plan. Just look at the Iraq War & Occupation issue. Murtha has a plan, the senate Dems have a plan, and of course Lieberman has a plan and none of them match. Dean's plan will be a consensus plan, so I don't expect anything provocative.

[NoFederales]

14. What could be clearer and more longlasting than "people issues" about

health, medical, prescription, JOBS, job-training, pension protection, JOBS, education, etc.

Did I mention JOBS? Any goddamned candidate worth a vote can stand on these issues--delivering will be hell, but PEOPLE have to hear that SOMEONE is interested in THEM. Fuck the goddamn DLC Corporate Pols, they care not for constituents needs, only their careers and aristocratic lifestyle.

NoFederales

[formernaderite]

17. last year they said it was going to be released "early" this year...

a plan later this summer? WTF? that's crazy and much too late. Kiss 2006 goodbye.

[Burning Water]

6. I think you're tight.

I haven't seen any evidence of a plan, either. I would like to see one that obviously gives the American people an alternative to Bush with alternative goals and specific details about how the goals will be accomplished. (Not too many, just enough are needed to show that the proposals are serious, not just "anti-Bush" rants.)

We need a clear front-runner early, someone who can neutralize the "national security" issue. Currently, I favor Clark, although I am holding my options open. I'd like to see him come out with a position paper this year, maybe in time to influence the mid-term elections.

[Greyhound]

7. My dear Sir - You seem to be laboring under the false impression

that the current Democratic Party is, in some way, an opposing force to the re:puke: party. I wish to apologize to you if this is, indeed, the idea we have given you.
You see, in these trying times of social, economic, and political unrest it would be irresponsible for the Democratic Party to engage in any behavior that might be perceived as unsupportive of our current regime administration. In keeping with the time-honored tradition of Democratic capitulation, we will continue to lead from the rear, in silence, lest we be portrayed as less than respectful.
Again, please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this false impression may have caused you.

[wysiwyg]

8. Feel the luv

I was actually hoping I was wrong and someone would let me know.

Dean's the Chairman dang it! Doesn't he have any influence at all on the rest of the party?

Please be sure to share your opinions with Howard Dean.

[EXDIA53]

9. Democrats don't want to win...

To paraphrase Jim Hightower, "If we wanted to win we would nominate real candidates". Outside of Madison, Wisconsin and Austin, Texas, the majority of Democrats live on the west coast or east coast (above Virginia Beach). Many Dem's just think this is some Rush Limbaugh quip, but demographics pretty well bear this out. I'm not using party registration as the rule - if you are a registered Dem and always vote GOP, what are you? The problem we have as Democrats is the problem the GOP had back in the early 60's. One group, "hard-core activists" control the nomination process, while the general population votes in the general election.
Just as the "average" American voter shied away from Barry Goldwater as a warmonger fruitcake back in 1964, they turned away from Kerry in 2004. Did anyone really think Kerry could win a red state?
Most of our hard working activists are very young and probably not the types that love to delve into American history. This is our weakness as a party. You can't know where you are going unless you know where you've been. I've been savaged many times on this board and others for trying to shed some light on why we usually lose elections, because I'm not saying the right things. And yet we continue to lose. 51% of Americans would vote for us if we stressed economics and the basic economic justice that gave the Democratic Party control of much of government for forty plus years. 51% of Americans will not vote for any party whose public face is NARAL, Gay Pride and voting rights for undocumented immigrants. If these interest groups are more important to us as a party than economic justice, then we're doing everything right and I have to find a different political affiliation.

[wysiwyg]

10. I think individual Democrats want to win

Democrats don't feel like part of a "movement" any more. Individual Democrats running for office want to win but they don't think in terms of changing the country as a group.

[mdmc]

11. welcome to du

peace`

[doc03]

15. Amen! When John Kerry was nominated I said

another east coast liberal will never win in the red states and got flamed. We keep making the same mistakes and expect different results. When I hear Hillary Clinton is our front runner and then see who the alternatives are I cringe. Sure she can win in the Blue states but you can't win a national election by carrying the coasts. As I see it the only chance we have to win is with someone like Wes Clark from middle America.

[carpio]

12. Military Veterans....The un-Courted Constituency! Why?

I am a 100% Disabled Service Connected Vietnam Veteran.
Actually I am [u]MORE THAN [/u]100% disabled. I have two VA
disability  ratings of 100% for seperate conditions plus a few
10% rated conditions. But my poor physical condition is not
the question. [p]

My question is why does NEITHER party seem to cozy up to
military veterans and retirees? I am a long time Republican
who voted for W twice and now regrets it because of his
seeming war against military veterans. But I can't bring
myself to register or vote Dem because it doesn't seem [i]you
guys[/i] have any respect for Veterans either. [p]

Am I missing something?[p]

Carpio

[unkachuck]

16. IMO, Republicans care....

....very little....they pay lip service to the military while they use it for their corporate ends....I'm afraid Vets are treated by repugs just like any other piece of capital equipment that's used up....

....most Democrats respect and honor your service but have a hard time getting past the way the military is sometimes used and abused....starting 'fake' wars is not good for anyone....even Murtha's calling for us to wind it down in Iraq....

....you'll get a better shake with the Dems than you will with the repugs....help elect some Dems this fall and puts your demands on the table....you know what you're going to get from repugs, zip....and welcome to DU....

[snowbear]

18. Carpio.. you really need to read what General Clark has to say...

If you don't think Democrats care about Veterans..

I promise you, you'll never feel that way again!

~~ :patriot: ~~

Right Here: http://www.securingamerica.com/