Senate Democrats Prepare for Weekend Policy Retreat

[WilliamPitt]

Senate Democrats Prepare for Weekend Policy Retreat

By Erin P. Billings
Roll Call Staff

Thursday, April 27; 10:19 am

Senate Democrats will head north this weekend to privately chart their election-year course, focusing largely on how to beat Republicans at their own game and get mileage out of issues they believe the GOP has mishandled.

On Friday morning, Democrats will head to Philadelphia for a three-day issues conference at the Ritz-Carlton hotel. The party is being tight-lipped about details of the gathering, but in the agenda obtained by Roll Call it is slated to feature appearances by several notables in the party, including former Vice President Al Gore; retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a one-time White House hopeful; and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Vallaraigosa.

The minority party needs to achieve a net gain of six seats this November to win the majority, an uphill climb by anyone’s measure. But pundits and polls agree that the Democrats have a decent shot at gaining some ground come Election Day.

Against this background, Senate Democrats will spend much of the weekend talking about how to seek advantage against Republicans. Democrats will hold panel discussions on whether the country is winning the war on terrorism, how to go “head to head” with the GOP on national security this year and on White House power abuse in a session called “Bush, Cheney and the campaign to expand executive power.”

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) — the chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee who’s charged with structuring the retreat — described it as “the one weekend to get away and spend some time with our colleagues.” Dorgan didn’t share specifics, but he said that Senators will spend a good share of time talking about health care, the war on terrorism and other national security matters.

“We’re feeling pretty good,” Dorgan said of his Caucus. “We’re really hoping to take the majority this year. We hope the American people will give us the opportunity to assume a majority.”

More, pay site link: http://www.rollcall.com/issues/1_1/breakingnews/13043-1.html

[LSparkle]

1. Wish I could be there -- 2 of my faves, Gore and Clark

Maybe they'll realize that together, they could be a strong ticket in '08 ... ???

[Ian David]

2. It's not a retreat. It's a phased redepoloyment to The Ritz -Carlton. n/t

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

3. They should NEVER use the word "retreat"

I'm just sayin'. :rofl:

[bryant69]

4. I hope they decide to nationalize the election

This election needs to be about the unpopular and dimwitted George W. Bush. They should spend time connecting their opponents to President Bush (showing how they supported the unpopular President and his dimwitted plans).

Or that's my opinion anyway.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. I wish they'd stop retreating.

[incapsulated]

6. "uphill battle" my ass

We should get the majority with even a minimum effort, honestly. Obviously I do hope they are doing everything and anything they can to win the maximum amount of seats they can. You can never have too much of a majority, as evidenced by the events of the last ten years.

[TayTay]

8. No we won't.

The Rethugs know how to cmpaign and how to smear their opponents. They will question our candidates, their families and everything they ever did in this life. They will question their patriotism, their lifestyle and any thing else they can think up.

It is naive and dumb to think that this is easy. It is not. You have opponents who would basically kill their own grandmothers in order to get the chance to smear Democrats.

It is never easy. Never.

[incapsulated]

10. We will win.

I'm even willing to bet on this and I'm not a betting woman, especially when it comes to politics.

When gas prices went through the roof, that was the nail in their coffin. Even endless war doesn't begin to compare to the outrage that will create with americans. They will punish the party in power, who already have a figure-head who is setting records with his tanked out approval ratings. Congressional approval ratings are even worse and that always spells a change in majority.

Their old tricks won't work this time.

[radio4progressives]

7. How insulting.. "former Vice President Al Gore" .. it should be written:

"Formerly Elected President Al Gore" - (victim of U.S. Coup Detat) ...

:argh:

[godhatesrepublicans]

9. Unless Bartcop gets invited, they'll continue to work hard to lose.

Or me, but my invitation seems to have been lost in the mail.