Don't do it Peggy! You have so much to live for!
Posted on 01/06/2005 5:02:31 AM PST by RWR8189
The 109th Congress has been sworn in and convened, and now the new post-election reality begins. If I were a Democrat right now I would think big and get serious. Second terms are tough for incumbents; history has not handed George W. Bush an easy ride, and there's no reason to think that will change now; and Mr. Bush is a gambler who's not afraid to throw the dice, which means he will likely have not only stunning gains but stunning losses ahead. The Democrats are still competitive. "In every defeat lies the seed of future victory, in every victory lies the seed of future defeat." Every morning I'd put my game face on knowing my party will stand a good chance of making a big presidential comeback in four years. Look confident; this will encourage victory. Or at least leave people saying you look confident, which for you will be a victory.
No one wants to be head of the Democratic National Committee. This is bad but understandable. A fractious party has been further fractured by a hard year. What you need for DNC chairman is a man or woman of some stature who can make the case for your party day in and day out in big media. Fund-raising expertise is secondary--hire someone to do it. So is organizational skill--hire organizers. You need someone who makes the Democratic Party look nonsleazy, nonmanipulative and nonweak on TV. He doesn't have to be nationally known, but he must be--how to put this?--good-natured, moderate in manner, and normal-seeming. That would mean not Howard Dean.
There is much to build on. You hold 44 Senate seats, 202 House seats and 22 governorships. You have been on a losing strain for a while, but you can turn that into opportunity.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
Shh, Peggy! Don't let them get smart! ;)
:-))
She left out issue #1 - Immigration.
Round up the illegals and head 'em out.
I love her. As usual she is right on the mark. Fortunately, they won't listen to her.
Personally, I prefer the idea of moving to Canada.
If I were a Democrat, I'd abandon that bunch of power hungry sociopaths and mindless robots so fast your head would spin and become either a Libertarian or a Republican.
The once respectable Democrat Party has nothing to offer but decay, corruption, iconoclasm, and blind faith in the predictably and endlessly proven failure of the policies of Karl Marx, cloaked in the tiresome, threadbare mantel of the '60's hippie tantrum.
Why don't you offer some how-to-succeed advice Fidel Castro, Larry Flynt, Charlie Manson, and the Colombia Cocaine Cartel?!??
The Bush administration has stood for cutting taxes, allowing high spending, and being tough in the world. The Democrats stand for raising taxes, high spending, and being weak in the world. Should the Democrats become more like Republicans? Yes, they should. Then, in the next big contest, they can agree on the big points with the Republicans and win on three other things. First, on small points, as Mr. Clinton did with such key issues as The Campaign for the Right Child-Carrying Seatbelts. Second, on campaign expertise. Third, on the personality and character of the candidate.
Masterfully crafted, Peggy.
Don't do it Peggy! You have so much to live for!
Everything is the #1 issue when your President. Maybe you guys should trade places?
I like her, but I wish she'd give advice to the GOP side of the aisle. Maybe she already is, I don't know..
No, immigration is in there, albeit briefly:
"John Kerry was almost shrewd to try to get to the right of Bush on issues like homeland security and immigration. I say almost because he didn't do it long enough or deeply enough, and by the time he made his move no one believed much of what he said....Homeland security can always be improved, and immigration will only grow as a fact and an issue. Get serious."
I'm amazed the completely in-the-tank pro-immigration Wall Street Journal let her say even this much.
If I was in a Dem leadership position I would simply do this:
I would abandon all special interests that play to the left. Then I would go after the moderates from both parties. I would be strong on defense, moderate on spending, work to reduce local taxes and probably be cognizant of choice, however not make a political issue out of it.
Easier and cheaper to just re-register as a Republican.
C'mon Donks! Listen to your inner elephant!
No amount of false posturing on abortion is going to change the mind of any sensible voter.
The dems have truly lost their way and their souls.
Yes, and more people would adopt pigs as pets if only they'd become puppy dogs.
We've already got to many RINOs pretending to be elephants. Let them move to Canada.
I watched part of O'Reilly last night, and it struck me that frankly, the only Democrat I can see who could have ANY credibility for the Democratic party is Jerry Brown (now mayor, former governor, former presidential candidate). He can go on national TV and not sound like a nut job like Dean or Clarke. He's not an arrogant idiot like McAuliffe (all bow to the wonderful job he did for us Republicans!) or sKerry (bow in thanks to the Democrats for nominating THAT loser!). Brown sounds moderate, even if he isn't. In many ways, he's the perfect stealth DNC chair, as opposed to the entirely insubstantial slate they have now.
But as noted up thread, Peggy's advice was intended to create a healthy two-party debate on the issues, instead of the screaming and childish temper tantrums of one party; the Dems probably won't take any advice from a Republican unless it is personally approved by x42 or his "co"-president, Shrillary. If they can't win by yelling at you about the eeeeee-vil Republicans, then they think they didn't yell loud enough to get their message across.
I think Peggy is right on the money on local taxes. I live in NJ, and our state is wallowing in corruption. Every time you turn around, there is another boondoggle with another politician being paid off. Meanwhile, state income and property taxes are going up 20% a year, every year.
I mean, political corruption is OK as long as they leave me alone. But when they start raising my property taxes a thousand bucks a year, just to stuff the money in their pockets, I start getting PO'ed.
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