Do the Democrats need a makeover?

[2GOLD 0]

If Obama runs, I'll vote for him.

 

The candiate wasn't the problem, the party was the problem. This is the second candiate in a row that LISTENED word for word what his party leaders told him and he lost. Hell, Gore turned his back on Clinton when the country still liked the guy.

 

They need to send Clinton into the South next time and let him hammer away. They have California and New York nailed down so why they campaign like crazy there I have no idea.

 

Send Obama into Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and the Midwest region. Use Hillary or whatever as the candiate to keep the hold on the NorthEast. Use Dean in the Midwest.

 

Actually CAMPAIGN to all the states. Don't just say "oh, this state isn't important" cause you actually have voters there that will not come out cause they are ignored. The Republicans went all out in campaigning and nailed this one.

 

The Party needs re-thinking badly. It's becoming an insanely bitter party which could end up making them look like the evil of the two evils.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

That's how Kerry defined himself -- accept it...

[Guest thebigjig]

That's how Kerry defined himself -- accept it...

There's nothing to accept. There was absolutely no context in this election what so ever.

 

And Bush flip-flopped many, many times on many crucial issues and it's the Democrats own fault for not jumping on them.

[Guest MikeSC]

Run Hillary in 2008. Get her out of the way if she's unelectable. How old is Richardson? If he's young enough, run Richardson in 2012, then pull Obama as VP in and groom for 2020

 

The Dems need a long-term 20 year plan right now to get back into things.

 

=)

Quick suggestion: Stop front-loading the primaries.

 

Consider the primaries as an interview process and use it as such.

-=Mike

[Guest Cerebus]

Dean for DNC chair.

For God's sake Tyler, are you STILL drunk?

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Shush.

 

If the DNC did that, there will be GOP majorities/presidents for the next several generations...

[Jobber of the Week 0]

The Social Wedge Issues are fucking the Democrats.

The problem is that the Democrats helped make the social wedge issue a problem.

 

Gavin Newsom fucked over his previously bright political future by marriage licenses with two dudes names on them. A great number of Americans suddently felt like the world's moral compass was unraveling through their fingertips. Gavin Newsom was shut up by the state. Big deal.

 

That should have been the END of it.

 

Instead, gay marriage actually became the most dumb issue of importance in this election. I'm putting it above "the draft" because even with the military's reluctance, one cannot completely rule it out until the selective service dept is dismantled. But people, Republicans even, were going out and voting because of GAY MARRIAGE?! This is like somewhere after mercury levels in the water in the order of importance.

 

The Democrats fucked this one up by making an issue to cater to a crowd that would have voted for them anyway. Gays hate religious fundamentalists that keep trying to take their rights and their children away. There was no chance of gays going and voting Bush en masse. The position that should have been taken was that any changes from the status quo would be left up to the courts. Bush's "activist judges" shit was so ridiculous it should have been popped without having to make gay marriage an issue.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Dean for DNC chair. Other than that, don't run a candidate in 2008 because we're going to fucking lose that one, too

You don't think the Republicans are going to run this blank check so far that they fumble huge and set their whole ideology back 20 years? Because that's pretty much what I'm expecting.

[Guest MikeSC]

Dean for DNC chair. Other than that, don't run a candidate in 2008 because we're going to fucking lose that one, too

You don't think the Republicans are going to run this blank check so far that they fumble huge and set their whole ideology back 20 years? Because that's pretty much what I'm expecting.

Because the GOP hasn't shown any political wisdom.

-=Mike

...Ironically, a high turnout election went overwhelmingly for Bush...

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I agree Jobber, and I want a solid Democrat Party to oppose the GOP...

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

It doesn't matter how electable a person is in terms of being a DNC chairperson. Dean would do well to try and get the slovenly, slobbering Jimmy idiot teenagers out to vote, which is something Kerry obviously failed miserably at.

[Guest MikeSC]

It doesn't matter how electable a person is in terms of being a DNC chairperson. Dean would do well to try and get the slovenly, slobbering Jimmy idiot teenagers out to vote, which is something Kerry obviously failed miserably at.

If the DNC is still going to rely on the youth coming out to get them in office, they'll be sorely disappointed forever.

-=Mike

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

It's not something you'd rely on, but when you look at this situation, you have to ask yourself what Terry McAwful could do that Dean couldn't. Which is precisely nothing.

 

Dean brings far more to the table than McAwful, no matter what you think of the guy. If they can even raise the slobbering idiots' percentage by 10%, Kerry wins this election. Neither side gives a damn about the youth as of right now, and it shows; as Rob said earlier, why would they give enough of a damn to vote if they don't think their issues are even being discussed? They may be dead wrong by not voting and preparing to work at McDonalds for the rest of their lives, but perhaps you need to beat the fuck out of them for a few straight days and convince them that it's in their best interests to like, y'know, pretend they're an important voting block.

 

They certainly have the numbers.

[Guest MikeSC]

It's not something you'd rely on, but when you look at this situation, you have to ask yourself what Terry McAwful could do that Dean couldn't. Which is precisely nothing.

 

Dean brings far more to the table than McAwful, no matter what you think of the guy. If they can even raise the slobbering idiots' percentage by 10%, Kerry wins this election. Neither side gives a damn about the youth as of right now, and it shows; as Rob said earlier, why would they give enough of a damn to vote if they don't think their issues are even being discussed? They may be dead wrong and preparing to work at McDonalds for the rest of their lives, but perhaps you need to beat the fuck out of them for a few straight days and convince them that it's in their best interests to like, y'know, pretend they're an important voting block.

 

They certainly have the numbers.

I'll say that if McAuliffe is still in charge of the DNC next year, the Dems have given up hope. He's the most inept leader of any group I've ever seen. A thoroughly unlikeable fella.

 

Kids will never vote in large numbers. They just won't. Dems need to stop trying. It's been nearly 30 years. I see no reason to expect it to change.

-=Mike

..Registering kids at a concert is easy. Making them vote is a wee bit tougher...

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

is "We should rethink our drug policy" open-ended enough to get the "pro legalization" people on board while not offending most of the other people?

[Guest MikeSC]

is "We should rethink our drug policy" open-ended enough to get the "pro legalization" people on board while not offending most of the other people?

Considering who will come out on your behalf with that question, it's not a good choice.

-=Mike

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

I wish P. Diddy was serious with this "Vote or Die" shit. He seriously needed to run around the country on his sleigh (ala Santa Claus) and shove a Glock up every little nancy boy fucktard teenager who dares to bitch about college tuition or the prospect of the draft or whatever the fuck else these twits are complaining about and fails to vote.

[bob_barron 0]

I'll never understand why people don't vote.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

I'll never understand why people don't vote.

Makes them more likely to get jury duty.

 

I propose we make like Australia and charge money from citizens who don't vote but are legally qualified to. At least that'll help us pay down Bush's deficit.

[NoCalMike 0]

This election proved that the Democrat candidate needs to be able to somewhat inspire the youth to vote, and be able to identify with minorities, especially african americans. Kerry did neither.

 

Bush, be it because of the gay marriage issue or whatever, somehow identified with the evangelical folks, and they turned out in droves, much higher numbers then blacks and/or youth. It doesn't hurt that you have preachers basically saying not to vote for a pro-choice candidate. Also since a lot of hispanics are deep rooted into religion, I am sure Bush got a raise from them.

 

So it looks like it is blacks/youth vs. Religious fanatics. And sadly more religious fanatics are actually going to turn out and vote.

 

As far as the democrats getting better. Who knows. Kerry tried the Bush-lite act and it failed miserably. It would have been nice to actually have an anti-war candidate, because all Bush did was hammer away on Kerry voting for the war, and then not funding it(which is actually just sneaky wording) but it stuck with people.

[NoCalMike 0]

I'll never understand why people don't vote.

When you have been living in poverty for a generation or two, and you have seen Presidents go in and out of office, with no change. You start to not care, and figure neither one really has your interests in mind. It is up to the candidates to grab you and/or move you in some way to want to vote for them.

[NoCalMike 0]

is "We should rethink our drug policy" open-ended enough to get the "pro legalization" people on board while not offending most of the other people?

Our country is not ready for legalization of drugs yet. We are about 5 steps away. The first step is to approve medical marijuana NATIONALLY and we aren't even there yet, although a bunch of states did just pass it in this election. Alaska did have a prop to outright legalize marijuana but it didn't pass.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

The first step is to approve medical marijuana NATIONALLY and we aren't even there yet

This election appearantly didn't teach you anything.

 

We're down to state by state laws now, and that's what it'll always be for wedge issues. You can't make Mississippi and California fit into the same profile. Thank god some people out there (some of them even against us) keep rooting for states' rights, because that's what we got left to work with.

[NoCalMike 0]

The first step is to approve medical marijuana NATIONALLY and we aren't even there yet

This election appearantly didn't teach you anything.

 

We're down to state by state laws now, and that's what it'll always be for wedge issues. You can't make Mississippi and California fit into the same profile. Thank god some people out there (some of them even against us) keep rooting for states' rights, because that's what we got left to work with.

Ok, but with state's rights, they only work out if the Feds don't try to stop it somehow. Ala, the gay marrage amendment. And just to let you know, ever since CA passed the medical marijuana law, there have been frequent raids by the feds on the shops. THis taking place even though CA voted to make it pefectly legal.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

This is why the feds need to stop what they're doing and let the states decide.

 

God, I'm sounding like Mike. This is what happens when I become shell-shocked to find out we're a minority voice.

[gWIL 0]

Senator Evan Bahy from Indiana. Got around 70% of the vote and is very moderate.

[Styles 0]

Tyler, what do you think about this?

It's from the guy who runs www.politics1.com who is trying to raise money to get Dean to run again in 08...

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Ain't gonna happen. Dean's not getting any younger, and I doubt he wants to put his family through that again. His best place, as I said before, is DNC chief.

[Guest BDC]

The first step is to approve medical marijuana NATIONALLY and we aren't even there yet

This election appearantly didn't teach you anything.

 

We're down to state by state laws now, and that's what it'll always be for wedge issues. You can't make Mississippi and California fit into the same profile. Thank god some people out there (some of them even against us) keep rooting for states' rights, because that's what we got left to work with.

Ok, but with state's rights, they only work out if the Feds don't try to stop it somehow. Ala, the gay marrage amendment. And just to let you know, ever since CA passed the medical marijuana law, there have been frequent raids by the feds on the shops. THis taking place even though CA voted to make it pefectly legal.

Difference there is that it was already illegal under federal law and the Supremacy Clause takes effect.

[NoCalMike 0]

I think George Bush won this election because he was successful in convincing the South that Abortion and Gay Marriage were the important issues. His team of campaigners convinced the south that Kerry was out to BAN THE BIBLE, and that Adam & Steve would be living next door, conjuring up thoughts of molesting your kids if Kerry got into office. The question of course is, when Abortion isn't overturned or even touched, and the gay marriage issue now dissapears again, will the evangelicals abandon the republican party again in 2008?

 

Kerry didn't help matters by not being decisive enough on his war stance. I still say the democrats were fucked from the getgo, when Dean was basically sabatoged, because a bunch of blowhards in Iowa didn't think he was "electable" so they backstabbed his momentum and voted Kerry because he seemingly appeared more "electable" I mean who knows, maybe Dean would have gotten his ass kicked worse in the national election, but for some reason I see Dean appealing to young voters, minority voters, and NEW voters, a lot more then Kerry.