The Pelosi Plan

[CorpGovActivist]

http://www.housedemocrats.gov/issues/issue.cfm?level2id=98&CFID=5597067&CFTOKEN=34391605

http://democraticleader.house.gov/

Honestly, when she was on MTP earlier this year, I thought she was a bit lackluster (and I was rooting for her to lay out a clear, crisp agenda).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12612211/

I'd like nothing more than for her to make history this fall, but it would be nice to see her show some of the same "fire in the belly" on substantive policy issues that she showed this week over a sex scandal.

If I'm being unfair, and/or if anyone can point me to a video clip where she has given a really strong performance, I'm open-minded. I know that it may be heresy to some on here to dare to say, "she could do a lot better job of articulating the agenda and priorities," but I honestly have no idea what a Pelosi speakership would look like (other than a gut feeling that it would be a vast improvement over another Hastert term).

That *may* - and probably will be - enough for the purposes of regaining the House.

But I suspect that - given the mood of the country, and the gamble many independents and Republican voters are making by voting Democratic - the Marshmallow Fluff honeymoon is going to be short-lived, and the Dems had better have some meat. For a safer working majority, and to entice more independents, libertarians, progressives, and fed-up Republican moderates, it would be a good idea to pivot from this sex scandal thing, and start talking about what a Pelosi speakership would be all about.

In short: start talking like winners with a plan.

- Dave

[LeftCoast]

1. I really don't understand this argument.

The republicans are in charge of all the branches of government and clearly don't have a plan. Pelosi has put forth a plan and it's still not good enough?

[CorpGovActivist]

2. Pelosi in Peoria

Think Peoria voters have the slightest clue what her plan is?

- Dave

[MsUnderstood]

3. so because americans are stupid

pelosi should not be the speaker?

What an absurd arguement.

[CorpGovActivist]

4. Come Down Out of the Ivory Tower, Nancy

I grew up in rural America, son and grandson of coal miners, and I ended up at Harvard.

If Pelosi's Plan isn't crisp and clear, that's her failure to communicate, not the voters' fault.

Steve Jobs connects with Peoria. Why can't Nancy Pelosi?

Don't get me wrong: I ****want**** her to make history, and I want her to be the next Speaker of the House.

I'd just like to see her have a solid working majority, instead of playing it safe and getting a scant majority by pursuing "strategic ambiguity" between now and November 7th. Come out with specifics, sell it crisply and clearly, and close the deal in close House races.

- Dave

[madokie]

5. when someone keeps saying the Dems have no plans instead

of listening to their plan I question their motives.

[CorpGovActivist]

6. You're Not Getting Me

1. I'm a policy wonk. I will go find the House Dems' plan. I am in the vast minority.

2. For busy voters in Congressional Districts with tight House races, what percentage of those voters can tick off the Pelosi Plan highlights?

The Dems should be saturating the airwaves with a clear, crisp message for the Pelosi Plan, so that busy voters who *aren't* policy wonks can recite it, tick off the highlights, and have it running through their head as they're standing in the line to vote on November 7th.

When voters in Peoria can sing the Big Mac song by heart, but cannot name the top three priorities of the Pelosi Plan, I worry that the Dems are missing an opportunity here: you're going to get a majority in the House. Now, capitalize, and go for broke in the tight House races, to get a *solid* working majority.

I'm not saying the Dems have no plan. I'm saying that voters in Peoria won't do what a policy wonk does, and go visit the House Dems' website to read it. They are too busy: MARKET the plan to them, SELL it to them crisply, and MAKE IT EASY for them.

So, to be clear: I know the Dems have a plan. I am urging them to shout it from the rooftops.

McDonald's doesn't expect its potential customers to log onto its website to see what new menu items are available. NO! McDonald's saturates the airwaves with marketing, to whet their potential customers' appetite for the new food items.

My motives are simple: to restore some sort of a check and balance on the Moron-in-Chief. But until Tofu Democrats realize that Reagan Democrats expect some meat and potatoes, they're not going to see a solid working majority, but an anemic one.

- Dave

[madokie]

7. Thats what the republicans do and the last thing the Dem's want to

come across as is re:puke: lite. IMO :+

[OzarkDem]

8. Her health care agenda is poor

Prescription drugs, restoring cuts to Medicaid and helping seniors is just nibbling at the edges.

How about health care for uninsured people who are really sick?

I really expected better from Dems. House Dem leadership has always been weak and uninformed on health care issues. Maybe they need to hire some new staffers with experience in health care policy.

[CorpGovActivist]

9. Re-Define Group Plans to Allow Boomer Parents to Be Added

I am the child of Baby Boomers. I would love to see the Democrats head off this demographic tidal wave at the pass: re-define ERISA to permit group medical plans to include coverage for our Baby Boomer parents.

I'd ***gladly*** pay the pre-tax premium on that, to ensure my parents are OK.

- Dave