The new "Democratic Vision"
Below is "The Democratic Vision: A bold new direction for a secure America"
It's the Democratic National Committee's attempt to provide American voters with a short, easily digestible, synopsis of their goals and agenda and what sets them apart from Republicans.
1. Honest Leadership & Open Government
We will end the Republican culture of corruption and restore a government as good as the people it serves.
2. Real Security
We will protect Americans at home and lead the world by telling the truth to our troops, our citizens and our allies.
3. Energy Independence
We will create a cleaner and stronger America by reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
4. Economic Prosperity & Educational Excellence
We will create jobs that will stay in America by restoring opportunity and driving innovation.
5. A Healthcare System That Works for Everyone
We will join 36 other industrialized nations by making sure everyone has access to affordable health care.
6. Retirement Security
We will ensure than a retirement with dignity is the right and expectation of every single American.
Together, America Can Do Better.
Will this resonate with the American voter?
Were the DLC successful in identifying which issues to stress? Will it appeal to the mushy middle or independents?
And perhaps most importantly, will it trump the fear mongering and focus on "national security" of the Republicans?
What do you think?
posted by The Inside Dope @ 9/29/2006
3 comments
3 Comments:
While your outlook may be true, I'd note that the Dems made a near fatal blunder by being sucked into the fear and confusion post 9-11 and ignoring the clear signs that the right and Bushies were going to use it for rank political gain.
The Dems were as confused and scared as the population and as such fell back on a policy of simply agreeing with everything Bush did, which is fine as far as solidarity in a war effort, and it was proper to do, but where they failed was neglecting to go back to being an opposition party until it was far, far, too late.
They got rolled, in essense.
So for those who carp that the Dems attack and complain about what's been done and is being done by this administration and it's rubber-stamp legislature, I'd suggest that it's absolutely crucial for them to do so.
It's too little too late, but to fail to make the public realize what has been done to them, how they've been cynically played for chumps and lied to, is neglecting one side of the coin.
Dems "vision" for the country isn't going to inspire many people enough to overcome to vitriolic lies and huge campaign to portray all Dems as "cut and runners".
Only this morning, the loathsome John Cornyn was standing on MSNBC saying not once, but twice, in defending the codification of torture as a U.S. policy, a crime in itself, that the Dems, by voting to preserve basic constitutional liberties and rights guaranteed to all Americans, were inviting terrorist attacks.
He said, with a straight face, that if the Republicans didn't dismantle the constitution, the "cut and run" Democrats would ensure that the terrorists "would follow us back here", meaning the U.S.
This is perhaps the most idiotic and eggregious bullshit they attempt.
As if the terrorists would obviously rather stay in Iraq and continue to attack heavily defended and armored U.S. soldiers and installations than to attack utterly undefended targets in the U.S.
It's utterly stupid, illogical, and makes no sense. But you can bet that millions of people will buy it.
They're still clinging to the utterly insane "flypaper" argument that by feeding our sons and daughters into the meatgrinder in Iraq, we're somehow ensureing that they don't attack us here.
First of all, they're more busy killing each other than killing us. They only kill U.S. soldiers to try to get us the hell out of there.
And if they had the capability or desire to strike in the U.S. they would, especially while we're mired in Iraq.
If we withdrew, the chances of attack on the mainland U.S. would obviously GO DOWN, not up.
It's so stupid I can barely stand it, yet they'll repeat this crap ad nauseum, count on it. And worse, a lot of people will buy it.
Certainly, the issues identified resonate with the public. The problem is that neither the Democrats or the Republicans have provided anyone the belief that they have the ability to accomplish these universal goals.
Goodness, does anyone think that these are not the goals of the Republicans as well (and they are).
The topics are great - but the proof is in the specifics, which the Democrats have always proven challenged on (they have shown themselves to be better at the 'against anything a Republican says' politics.
TID... I guess I'm one of the "mushy middle" or independents and it really doesn't resonate with me. It strikes me more of nothing but platitudes and glitterning generalities.
Ending the Republican culture of corruption? There are just as many Democrats on the take and in office for whatever they can get as there are Republicans. While it doesn't compare to Bush and is more on the local side of things, look at the actions of Gianulius/Evans or Gov. Blago.
How does telling the truth protect us?
Reducing our dependence on foreign oil? The Dems have had many cracks at this and vote down drilling and support stronger EPA rules that make new refineries almost impossible.
Creating jobs by restoring opportunity and driving innovation is one of the emptiest concepts I've ever heard of. In a land of opportunity and innovation, just how do they plan to do this?
Affordable healthcare and retirement with dignity I'm all for. But how do they plan to do this without raising taxes? Obviously the plan doesn't mention this.
While I agree that the Dems have finally put something out on the table that is more positive than the usual "get Bush" retoric, I'd like to know the meat of these plans. I wanted to vote for Kerry, but got tired of his "I have a plan..." but never hearing what that plan was. I'm afraid that no matter who gets elected this time around, overall nothing will change.
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