see above.
the DNC might be able to deal with these compromises.
I think the model for the Democratic party should be a return to it's Jeffersonian roots.
Doing so would fix a lot of problems; two obvious ones come to mind. First, it gives it an alternative philosophical basis to the party without inventing one, and second, it would give the libertarians something useful to do.
Conservatives are critical to get it moving. I don't know that they will participate. I hope they will realize that this is their future as well. There just seems to be this incredible urge within conservative circles to declare victory prematurely. Sad to say, few conservatives still have a seat at the Democratic party table in order to influence the outcome. I hope that changes.
The DNC itself will not compromise or change unless it sees a way of retaining power by doing so. The tendency is to do the same old thing a little harder and cake the makeup on a little thicker (to paraphrase Zell).
I am an optimist, but I have to acknowledge that it's awful difficult to convince conservatives of a fundamental truism: sometimes there comes a point when if you want it done right, you'll have to do it yourself.
I think you and I are singing off the same set of music, just different pages.