What Should the Democrats Do? (7 Letters) NY Times

[kentuck]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/09/opinion/l09dems.html?_r=1&oref=login

<snip>
To the Editor:

I am mystified by the media's repeated depiction of the Democrats as an idea-less, inept political party.

In fact, minimal research reveals a party that has long promoted a specific and progressive agenda, rich with creative policy thinking on every subject — from the war, the economy and the environment to Social Security and health care reform.

Now, before the crucial midterm election campaign has even begun, your front page trumpets Democratic remorse over "missed opportunities." Worse yet, the Republican-promoted myths that some party leaders are angry (Hillary Rodham Clinton) and others "flawed messengers" (Howard Dean, John Kerry, Al Gore) are presented as if they were fact.

I am waiting to read a front-page headline and article that state that Republicans may have to struggle to overcome both their own weak record and a strong Democratic platform in the 2006 midterm elections.

[NightOwwl]

1. My favorite letter (bold is mine):

The Democrats need to take a page from the Republicans' playbook and attack the other party on its perceived strengths.

President Bush's operatives took on Senator John McCain and then Senator John Kerry on their war heroism. The Democrats don't need to be nearly as dishonest to raise questions about President Bush on security issues.

After all, he did ignore the warnings about Sept. 11; he did freeze for seven minutes when he learned of the attack; he did leave the capture of Osama bin Laden at Tora Bora largely to Afghan tribesmen, allowing him to escape; he did transfer most of our military and intelligence resources from Afghanistan to Iraq; and now he says he needs to bypass the law to keep us safe.

Can't the Democrats do something with this?

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

What he said.

[karynnj]

2. The problem is they won't print it

Kerry's response to Matthew's saying BL sounded like Michael Moore was to speak about Tora Bora, saying that if Bush did his job there would be no BL tapes. It was not well covered. Kerry then used this as the basis of his first blog - putting many links together to back this up.

The point is the media is not ours.

[PBass]

3. my favorite section

"I'll tell you what: Why don't the Democrats just do the right thing, instead of worrying about re-election? The American people might follow."

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

(my comments): Right now, I see too many Democratic leaders standing around with their thumb up their butt, wondering why the public hasn't been flocking around them yet so they can 'begin leading'.

That's not how it works, guys.

You start leading first, and if you deliver a strong message, eventually the public will start to catch up to you.

PLEASE START SOON, November is right around the corner, and time is wasting.

[punpirate]

4. I would like just one main party politician...

... to stand up and say, "the war on terror is meant to terrorize you. It's meant to make you so scared that you'll give up your money to the right wing and give up your civil and human rights to George W. Bush."

That might open up a little debate on the real issues. :P