My Partner's 2-Point Plan for the Democratic Party

[Plaid Adder]

We had a little rant last night about what's the matter with the Democratic leadership, and here's her plan for what they should be doing and aren't:

1. Bring up Katrina EVERY DAY. Also have a plan to do something about it once you get into power.

As she put it, a major American city--a Democratic city in a blue state--has been *completely destroyed.* September 11 is on everyone's lips 4 years later, and Katrina has dropped off the radar screen. There's no reason the Democrats couldn't become the Party That Will Rebuild The Large Chunk of America That Bush And His Lackeys Couldn't Be Bothered To Save.

2. No running white guys from New England for president any more. Southerners with charisma and populist biographies only.

She met John Edwards once during the 2004 campaign, see, and...but as a New Englander she is also 100% convinced that the rest of the country just plain hates and resents New England, and I'm not sure she's not right.

Point 3 is election reform, which I have to keep reminding her about.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I think point #1 is especially overlooked and something which could actually be done in time for 2006. WTF is the matter with our leadership that they're not doing this? Are they afraid people are going to be telling them they've POLITICIZED a TRAGEDY? Because they're actually trying to use politics to make it less tragic?

Ah well,

The Plaid Adder

[KittyWampus]

1. Subtley Calling Out Mediawhores Should Be Number One

because until Democrats start dealing with the Media bias, nothing else will matter.

Dean needs to put together a gameplan that includes ways for Dems who get on tv or give interviews to immediately expose the Mediawhores bias WHEN IT HAPPENS. Dean should put together and circulate a bulletin of segues/rejoinders for Democratic use every time a Mediawhore asks or inserts a Rovian talking point.

"Wolf, if you were an independant journalist you would know that the FACT is this is a ..."

"Katie, as a responsible journalist, one would think you'd have done enough research to know that...."

"Tim, if you took the time to inform yourself you'd know that question is misleading..."

Democrats can NOT simply rebute Talking Points, they have to start their answer with a short segue that exposes the inherent bias in the question being asked... and the bias of the Mediawhore asking it.

[Skidmore]

3. This was what * did when he ran in 2000. I remember

the national media was pretty upset with him because he would use local media to get his message out on and bypass the national. I remember Ari Fleischer talking about this too. They marginalized the national media so that they were desparate for access. Then they would do anything to ingratiate themselves to * and crew.

[Plaid Adder]

9. Could be folded into #1. Here's how:

They just have to learn to stop answering questions and reply to everything with nonresponsive self-serving answers, the way the REpublicans do. As in:

MEDIA WHORE: So, what do you think about these Danish cartoons?

DEMOCRAT: I dunno, I don't think too much about it cause I'm still thinking about those poor souls who are still stranded because Bush couldn't lift a finger to help them after Katrina.

MEDIA WHORE: Was it inappropriate for Carter and Clinton to make political speeches at Coretta Scott King's funeral?

DEMOCRAT: Actually, I really liked what they said, especially Carter's point about the victims of Katrina.

MEDIA WHORE: But don't you think it's tasteless to use a funeral to talk about these political things?

DEMOCRAT: I'll tell you what's tasteless, is Michael Brown emailing his PR flack about where he bought his shirts while people are dying of dehydration after Katrina.

And so on.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[KittyWampus]

11. Here is my version of what you said:

MEDIA WHORE: Was it inappropriate for Carter and Clinton to make political speeches at Coretta Scott King's funeral?

DEMOCRAT: As an informed journalist, you'd know that Mrs. King's lifelong message was reinforced in Carter's speech especially as concerns Katrina and the black people who were abandoned to their fate.

[Sammy Pepys]

2. I think you're #1 should be slightly altered

Instead of just bringing it up everyday...formulate a plan and bring that up everyday.

[ugarte]

4. I think you and your partner are right, and I would take it a step further

Tie Katrina and the tepid government response to the War on Iraq and its $500 billion pricetag. I think people are incensed that we seem to have no cash shortage overseas, only here at home.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Good points

I would say that a Westerner would also be acceptible for a candidate. I think that either one who has not held elective office (like Clark) or one who has been a governor would also be good. And the "guy" could be female.

[Inland]

6. I agree with only half of two. Midwesteners can apply.

It's unfair, of course, but the fact of the matter is that this country is so divided that somebody from the northeast is assumed to be a nutbag liberal while someone from the south is assumed to be a nutbag conservative. On the other hand, nobody with a southern accent can be all THAT liberal.

Another problem with the northeast is the electoral college. W. got picked, and Jeb WILL be picked, to run because their home states carry votes. W. started his run by out-Texan-ing Texas and putting forty votes in his pocket. Howard Dean, on the other hand, started with Vermont. Give us an Ohioan or an Illinoisan or even a Missouri guy and watch the math work out.

[Stephanie]

7. yes!

Monday August 28




Tuesday August 29


Wednesday August 30


September 12


September 15

[mzmolly]

8. I agree.

We also need to hold Bush accountable for his failures on 911. Expose him as the "wizard of oz" type farce he is. In fact, I'd love to see political ads morphing him into "the man behind the curtain."

:hi:

[unblock]

10. katrina changed everything. it proved republicans are incompetent

and racist, and not compassionate, and neglectful of our infrastructure, and more interested in using disasters to funnel still more money to their corporate sponsors.

among other things.

[bigscott]

13. we northeasterners

are Americans too :hippie: but your point is well taken. BUT we DO NOT NEED a southernor or midwesterner or west coaster or rockey mountainer that is middle of the road GOP lite. We need progressive, dynamic leadership - and where can you find a man or woman these days that has the balls to lead progressivley and dynamically?? someone who is not afraid of calling out the media, explaining how much of a lying sack of shit is in the white house now, exposing the LIES and CRIMES of this administration - not the "misleading statements" they are LIES DAMMIT!!

[RaleighNCDUer]

15. You have to use the language, however. Mainstream thinks we're

being combative or obstructionist if we say 'lies', but if we say 'misleading statements' then show HOW they are misleading, the audience will see that they really are lies.

[MadMaddie]

12. I agree we should be talking about Katrina...and also our soldiers

Katrina
What the neocons have done with the manipulation of the media is they really never treated the victims of Katrina as victims, they started the questioning of why people didn't leave. They portrayed them as people wanting handouts vs people needing help. They portray the victims as not working and on welfare. The media has also ignored the other victims of the storm in the gulf!!

I think that an ambitious advertising and marketing campaign to humanize the victims, the working class people of the Gulf Coast. We have to show the people of Mississippi, LA and other gulf coast towns. Show their faces and who they were...the Leaders of the Democrat party have failed to humanize Katrina...the sister who would not leave her invalid sister and she moved her to the attic and they drowned...She worked for the state of LA...these are the stories we need to hear.

Soldiers
Also, I think we need to humanize our men and women of the Armed forces....we need to publicize how this administration has turned their backs on them after they have returned home. The Neocons talk about how they support the soldiers but every action they perform shows otherwise.

[OneBlueSky]

14. the Democrats just have to make three ironclad promises . . .

to the American people:

1. To Tell the Truth -- about everything

2. To Uphold the Rule of Law -- starting with the Constitution

3. To Govern for the People -- not the corporations and special interests

everything else will fit nicely within these three pledges, imo . . .

[Joe Fields]

16. I don't give a hoot what part of the country they are from.

As long as they are willing to FIGHT for the White House and be a true leader of people. As long as they, or their constituents aren't corrupt. As long as they embrace ALL tools of diplomacy, in dealing with the rest of the world, and not war as a first option. As long as they embrace the idea that sovereign nations do NOT have to conform to our beliefs. As long as they prove by their actions that they really are compassionate to the less fortunate who have limited opportunity. As long as they seek to give same people a wider range of opportunity.

That's just for starters. I don't care if they are southern, northern, black, white, a woman, plaid or what.

[iconoclastNYC]

17. 3. Destroy the DLC and thier sycophants n/t

[ripple]

18. I think Louisiana is a red state

And New Orleans is the only blue city in the state. Your point still holds, though. There is no way we should let the republicans off of the hook when it comes to Katrina relief. Especially given the private contracts, medicaid cuts, and their unwillingness to extend the deadline for Medicare D enrollment for Katrina victims. Not to mention the piss-poor response to the initial disaster...

Also, I don't think our '08 candidate necessarily needs to be southern, just someone who is principled and consistent. Russ Feingold fits that bill well. :-)