The NYTimes
has an article today talking about how an "optimistic" Democratic Party is realizing that they need to articulate a cohesive philosophy and vision for the nation, if it hopes to again be the nation's party.
*ahem*
Explain to me again why Democrats are shcocked this man runs our nation and not their guy? I mean, congrats to Michael Tomasky and Daily Kos and all them for finally getting the party to realize that its piecemeal, Clintonian hodgepodge of rhetoric and realpolitik isn't working, but how is this news? Are we non-cons (just made it up, spread the word) supposed to get all jazzed because the DNC is figuring out what a loser its really been? Admittedly, it seems they are getting some insight into why they're losing, which will hopefully make the party slightly less annoying. One of the things that drive me nuts about Dem leaders is their constant assumption that the "masses" are just too limited in their vision to "get" the Democratic party's vision. They're always scratching their heads wondering why it is the "common people" always vote against their own interests, without ever realizing how presumptuous it is to go around assuming what is best for all of us.
So, now they're going to find a "vision" for themselves. While they go look for peyote buttons and their "spirit guide", I'll just tell the rest of y'all what I think a winning liberal party platform could be.
A-like so:
- Sustainability: Don't focus on preserving the environment, focus on managing our resources. If we're using them in a way that means they'll run out, find a new solution. It's environmental capitalism with a long term vision.
- Choice: This one is a big part of the party today, but you never know how to articulate it, because you're only ever talking about
your choices. Towns and municiplaities should be allowed a wide degree of autonomy. What plays in Peoria doesn't play in Provincetown and while we need to keep the country connected, we can't force it. If you're going to allow gay marriage in MA, talk about how you're supporting another state's move to allow faith-based initiatives to be part of an after-school program. Include white people and Christians and NASCAR Dads and the rest of us schmucks under that big rainbow umbrella of yours, guys.
-"If Americans or American interests are threatened, we will respond with force to eliminate that threat". Say it until you actually start believing it. You're not a war-monger for protecting your interests and it's your pussiness and lack of backbone that got us into this mess.
- Healthcare, Education, Government Reform: These are your values. Really, believe it or not Dems, you have values and always have. Don't talk about them as rights. It's a rhetorical dead end. Talk about them as values. You choose to work towards a world in which every child has medical insurance. You choose to take bold steps to correct our failing schools, to provide programs to give untrained workers job skills and you choose to reform the government to not just reduce, but eliminate the influence of greedy corporations and return the government to the average American. If you really want to screw the Republicans, get every Democrat to pledge to not take corporate money for campaigns and advertising. The P.R. from that alone would force the Republicans to cave.
When they say "Gun Rights", you say "Corruption", when they say "They're avoiding the issue", you say "Because there are more important issues", when they say "Aha! See they don't care about you!", you say, "Well, we care more about making sure you have a living wage job and that your kids are in a quality school than if you happen to see a gay person on TV, yeah."
Then you do this to them:
