Posted on 07/18/2006 4:59:20 AM PDT by rhombus
WASHINGTON -- It was a bit startling the other morning to hear Sen. Charles Schumer of New York -- the garrulous poster boy of Democratic liberalism -- intone that New Deal Democracy is over. But also, he added just as surprisingly, so is Reagan Republicanism. Schumer, who as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is charged with leading his party's effort to retake control of the Senate in November, was in a reflective mood. He said he was looking past that critical challenge to the longer-term prospects of the party, and he didn't sound optimistic. As important as it was to regain a majority in the Senate to put the brakes on President Bush in his final two White House years, Schumer said, the greater test for Democrats was to connect with average voters in a time of his party's disconnect with them.
(Excerpt) Read more at sltrib.com ...
Here's the answer to your dilemma, Chuckie.
"Become an originalist". Ask Justice Scalia to explain it to you.
Plus having the poster boy of wing nuttism, howard dean, running your party, doesn't help either, but keep him around, howard dean is great for the GOP.
...communicating to average voters about the day-to-day matters that concern them most.
...selling themselves
...phrasing its message for the man and woman on the street.
...rolling out the pitch they hope will enable their party to achieve that majority in both Senate and House
...articulating what they stand for
I don't see Chuckie talking about what the message IS. He's just looking for a way to sell ice to eskimos. Salesmanship is easier if you have a product people want, but he's not in that lucky position.
But they don't like to be preached at either, he seems to be saying, observing at one point that "the hard left has a moral eliteness that is obnoxious."
IMO there are a lot of disaffected democrats who would be ripe to vote republican if the reps nominate a moderate.
This from the man who condoned the theft of LtGov Steele's credit history, with no apology or admitance of wrong-doing.
Interesting thought. Prepare to be jumped on by the FreeRepublic Fighting Anti-RINOs. Like it or not, in the Y2K election many, many disaffected Democrats did vote for the "compassionate Conservative" agenda and it was still a close election. On the other hand, issues like immigration and spending might be disasterous for a moderate Republican as today is NOT 2000.
Having the "talent" of being obnoxious is a prerequisit in moving up in the modern American democrat party.
Afterall one must have that prerequisit to talk and relate to their obnoxious peers, the American MSM. That is what most important.
What the Democrats are saying to one another, "If we don't hustle, we won't be in a position to take credit for Bush's successes."
I agree that a lot of unhappy democrats are frightened and harmed in their own lives by the illegal immigration that is going on
This is pure Clinton 101. Hey you. Yeah you, the party faithful. We have to get elected in order to get you what you want, right?
Okay, stay with me here. Those gay marriage, cut and run, abortion for all stuff isn't going to get the votes we need from the middle class folks.
You see we need a message that we can sell to them. No, we are not going to abandon you, you know that. We just need to pretend a little while in order to get elected and as soon as we do we will follow the Clinton model. You know the one where we raise taxes, put gays in military, allocate federal funds for abortion and take over the health care industry. And that is just day one.
But who the hell wants a moderate Republican?
Ronald Reagan was about as far to the left as I would care to see any Republican President.
Us despised moderates vote Republican also.
Schumky is realizing that:
"I hate Bush,
I really hate Bush
I REALLY REALY hate Bush
I love queer marriage, I have killing babies and give me your gun, and Oh yeah the economy sucks, just isn't a winning message".
Thank you very much. We appreciate your vote, just not your positions. Although that would depend on what exactly they are.
However, Rudy and McCain are not acceptable nominees. I'll hold my nose and vote for 'em, I guess, if they happen to win the nomination. But certainly they will never get my vote in the primaries.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.