This is frightening for the Democratic perspectives.

[Mass]

This is what the nationaljournal insider poll reports:

http://nationaljournal.com/members/pubfeatures/pdf/2006/1021insiders.pdf
What motivates your base (Democrats)
War in Iraq 42 percent
President Bush 41 percent
Republican scandals 4 percent
Democratic agenda 1 percent
Iraq and Bush (volunteered) 8 percent
All of the above (volunteered) 1 percent
None of the above (volunteered) 1 percent

If we can win this year like that, I am happy, but the idea that the Democratic Agenda is quoted by 1 % of the people is frightening for 08.

In 08, Bush will not be on the ballot. How can we win if we do not have a solid and clearly expressed message, or rather, if the insiders do not think we have and spend their time repeating that.


(read the rest, some of the responses are amazing, and certainly not to the glory of those who are supposed to lead this effort in the house and the senate.

[whometense]

1. I'm not sure -

it may just be that Iraq and the evil that is Bush overwhelms everything else right now.

I'd probably say the same, and I'm totally on board with the democratic agenda!

[ginnyinWI]

2. it makes sense to me

How can the average voter even know what the Dem agenda is, given that the media is mostly uninterested in having that debate? The only way to do it will be to be the majority party--they they'll have to give them coverage.

What they do know is that they do not like what's going on now. And that's enough to go vote, IMO.

[Dr Ron]

3. Nobody knows the Democratic Agenda

The Republicans totally dominate national politics. Democrats don't have a chance of passing legislation in the current partisan climate. The average person has no idea what the Democratic agenda is, and those who do get their description from the right wing noise machine. To them the Democratic Agenda is to impeach Bush, promote homosexuality, and cut and run from Iraq.

If Democrats take control of Congress, they can pass legislation. Even if Bush vetos everything they do, it will draw attention to an alternative Democratic agenda.

It would be best if they could control both houses, passing legislation and forcing Bush to veto. Even if they only control the House, there will still be attention to Democratic proposals which pass the House but are voted down in the Senate.