How should the dems best deal with the challenge from the left?

[mdmc]

I personally think that the platform of Dennis Kucinich is the wave of the future for us (the Democratic Party).

While some think that the DLC third way is our best chance to win elections, I disagree.

But even if the DLC strategy is the best way, if running up the middle is the best way to win an election, then how do we address the challenge from the left?

DLC'er Al From feels that these challenges from the left in fact make conservative democrats look more mainstream, therefore more electable. Kinda like-
"Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney want to protect terrorists rights over American safety concerns. Obama supports the FISA compromise."
"Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney want to end free trade. Obama supports a competitive global economy."
"Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney think the drug war is a failure. Obama supports strong criminal penalties for those that continue to break the law."

By having the issues of the far left voiced and advocated, Obama and the democrats can paint themselves as mainstream, not radical.
This makes Obama look more palatable to the "undecided middle voter."

I would also like to flesh out exactly what the "undecided middle voter".

[ClassWarrior]

1. IMPEACHMENT.

NGU.

[mdmc]

2. From my experience, you are correct

The non-voters I meet don't vote for many reasons.
Some hate the republicans and the corporations, and just wish their was an alternative, an opposition party. They see the dems as cut from the same cloth.

Some folks know that their state is not in play, so why waste time registering to vote and voting?

Some folks think the system is too fucked to bother.
Some folks think the system works so well that it doesn't need their participation (they'll be okay no matter who wins / what happens).

I have to round up my buddies to vote every year. I track them down in bars, grow houses, and hiding in their apartments. Yo! mdmc is here! Do we need to go vote or something?

[AtomicKitten]

18. the Dems were remiss in not getting testimony under oath on CSPAN.

A huge error in judgment and missed opportunity. It is on the back of exposure of this administration's crimes Obama could have catapulted to victory without breaking a sweat.

[patrice]

3. They can start by getting our issues right. nt

[mdmc]

11. good starting place

[Lilith Velkor]

4. Triangulate between the DLC and the Kucinich positions, instead of DLC and Bush

Otherwise, the Dem and Rep candidates look alike, and the "undecided middle voter" gets confused and either flips a coin or stays home.

[mdmc]

16. Undecided middle voters want choice

Most don't give a fuck one way or the other. But they will get out there if someone gets to them.

[LWolf]

5. The fact that "Dems" have to "deal with" the "challenge" from the left says it all.

Either "Dems" are inclusive enough to embrace the left, and the DK platform is the wave of the future, or the bleeding of the left to independent and 3rd party candidates continues, and increases, until there is no longer any "left" in the Democratic Party, and the centrist/dlc/"3rd way" becomes the "new left" of the party.

Edited to add:

At which point, the party suddenly embraces "the left," and it becomes mainstream.

[Breeze54]

6. Al From is a republican and the Democratic Party used to BE on the left!

We need to take our party back!! :grr:

[wyldwolf]

8. "the Democratic Party used to BE on the left!" When??

[IndianaJones]

20. certainly not Carter or Clinton....or Kennedy or Johnson....or Truman...or....nt

[anonymous171]

7. DLC is going to lose most of its power now that the DNC's 50 state strategy is working.

[wyldwolf]

9. I don't follow that line of reasoning

Can you explain it?

[mdmc]

17. explain please

how?

[blindpig]

10. Surrender!

Bwahaha! All your base is ours!

[World Citizen]

12. From TPM

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/07/forgiving-the-fisa-cave.php

re: FISA vote

Voters Read This As Obama Moving Toward the Center, and We Don't Need Another Mondale/Dukakis/Gore/Kerry Loss, Where We're Tagged As Too Liberal To Govern.

Rasmussen Reports says that voters (correctly) see Obama moving toward the center. According to a July 8 poll, while in June 67% of Americans thought of Obama as liberal, now 56% do. While 22% thought him moderate, now 27% do. While we are liberal, and would love to elect a President who campaigns as a more unabashed liberal, even now, with Democratic voter identification at a recent high in relation to Republican voter identification, there are fewer self-identified liberals than conservatives. Like it or not, Obama wins the election by holding the left and winning the middle, which presently, he is. Obama could be tagged with Wright, with Ayers, with distortions of his voting record to appear too far left for swing voters. He's playing defense. It's pissing you off, but he's playing defense. It may not be the right play, but it's only decisively wrong if we, the left, bail on him in meaningful numbers.

[Major Hogwash]

13. Ignore them.

That's what the real Democrats are doing.

[Cleita]

14. Personally, I think the DLC should break off and become the new

conservative/business party. The Repbulican Party should be investigated as a crime syndicate and dismantled as such for unAmerican activities. Then the Democratic Party can return to it's roots as the party of labor and the common person.

[iconicgnom]

15. By leading it?

[John Q. Citizen]

19. The far left will push for the Death Penalty for impeached presidents, That way, when we send

bush to the Hague, we look "moderate."

[anonymous171]

21. I say destroy Nader. Dig something up on him and make him go away.

[crankychatter]

22. the dlc is the brain child of the necessity to compete for election funds with the RNC, yes?

and from this, a world of bullshit doth flow.

it's my firm opinion that the conciliatory behavior of our congressional dems with the bush junta's agenda... is directly proportional to the money received from the same sources as the gop

this faux centrism is a function of corruption, not good government... not deal brokering and pragmatism

all that said... it makes me ill to read this "us and them" paradigm regarding other progressives

can't even think about it without dramamine

she won't get my vote, but cynthia mckinney is yummy... and although i've never voted for him

I STILL LOVE RALPH NADER.... even when I hate him