What strategy should the Democrats pursue in order to win back the Presidency & control Congress in 2008?

Answer 1

In order for the Democrats to win they need to do a few things. First, and foremost, they need to establish their own message. For so long, they have established themselves as the reactionary party, responding to Republican messages, while having nothing cohesive of their own. 2004 was embarrassing, as their national campaign amounted to "Bush sucks". While it makes a decent bumpersticker, its hardly the foundation of trust and leadership necessary to win the presidency.

It doesn't look like the Democrats have learned this lesson. They continue to cast themselves as a reflection of the Republicans...allowing the republicans to set the agenda and national conversation, with Democrat perspectives offered as an opposing footnote. The democrats need to set the tone themselves, find the issues that will excite and motivate their core constituency, while not alienating the moderate and conservative voters.

The republicans have managed to galvanize their base with key and devisive issues such as Gun Control and Gay Marriage. People that may have otherwise voted Democrat are compelled to instead side with the democrats based on one issue. The Dems have their 'one devisive issues' as well..such as abortion and affirmative action. They would be well served to find less shrill and less polarizing issues.

A few examples might be....education. Run a national revitalization campaign, promising to increasing funding to schools and colleges across the country. Iraq....but a different tactic. Instead of relentlessly criticizing a war they openly supported 3 years ago, talk of ways in which the money being spent could be put to a better use. We could have made our Social Security system solvent through the end of next century, or rebuilt our entire highway system, or secured our ports and borders with tens of thousands of extra police, border patrol and the most advanced technology availble.....instead of spending the money in Iraq.

In short, Democrats need to be leaders, instead of 'Anti-Republicans'. So far, the electorate has viewed the Democrats as possibly sucking less than Republicans....but have not been impressed with the message or direction the democratic party has taken. Change that.

Answer 2

This is just my opinion (as an independant). But I don't want to see either party controlling both houses AND the white house.

IF I were the DNC I'd be pushing ideas that resonate with the core of the Democrats in the past. If it doesn't benefit everybody shun it like the plague.

Democrats were great when they meant THEY were the party of the common man. Today it's just lip service. The pandering they have done to get special interest groups to vote for them has cost them their base of days gone bye.

I'm in the south and most here will still say they are Democrats. But they will also tell you they are Conservative Democrats or Moderate Democrats. And they aren't happy about where the Liberal Democrats have taken their party. What the liberals are pushing isn't playing in the south. and like it or not Democrats can't win without the south. And they are 0 for a bunch in the last two elections.

Look at the results. Gore couldn't carry his home state. And he couldn't carry Arkansas where Republicans used to NEVER be elected. Kerry didn't do any better.

You want to win get back to basics. And OBTW Quit telling everyone just how bad the Republicans are right now. Democrats have a too many weeds in their own garden to point out Republican weeds. It sounds too hypocritical. Democrats losts Congress and the White House because Republicans gave people a new idea.

Vote for me--I'm not a Republican won't cut it. You'll get hard core Democrats. But you'll not get the majority of moderate Democrats and none of the Conservative Democrats. You may think you'll get a lot of swing votes. But I wouldn't count on it without some GOOD ideas and telling HOW you are going to pay for them. The voter today is too smart for tax and spend programs to work. They know where that national debt came from and they know Republicans didn't do it all.

*LOL* You asked and there you have it. Feel free to write me and tell me where I'm wrong.

Answer 3

properly there quite isn't a unfavourable consequence senario for Democrats. Worst ingredient would be McCain wins, yet Democrats will nonetheless administration the two homes, in all probability increasing their type of seats in the two chambers. That being reported the Dems nonetheless choose the Presidency extraordinarily undesirable. The proper courtroom is proper leaning and multiple the liberal/moderates are extraordinarily previous. The President is Commander in Cheir of the defense force, and a Republican President gaurantees we would be in Iraq lots longer. The financial device is one section the place the congress quite has extra ability than the President, yet having the Presidency too could make Democratic enomic reforms less complicated to enforce. McCain is extra proper in some aspects than Bush like on international Warming and torture, yet there are far extra subject concerns the place he with Bush and Democrats are lifeless set against him.

Answer 4

Damn Howard Dean you don't give up do you? What the democrats should do is this.
Take back their party by throwing out the left wing nuts that have destroyed your parties credibility
Get back to basics
Get you integrity back
Focus on Security
Support America first

Now this is the last time I'm going to help you......

p.s. If you keep the wing nuts and say they've changed, we'll know it. So don't go getting uppity on us.

Answer 5

Do you really think they need any kind of strategy after seeing what the Republicans have done to our economy over the last 8 years?

Answer 6

Just let the Republicans continue to be the corrupt power-hungry unjust politicians that they are, and pretty soon people will wise up and vote them out

Answer 7

Keep complaining about Bush and not come up with any campaign strategy other than "We're the anti-Bush."

Answer 8

Just sit back and let George Bush continue to hang himself while his party loyals continue to support him. They will sabatoge their own chances of getting re-elected.

Answer 9

Support the fair tax

Answer 10

Be honest tell the truth and put something of substance on the table about what they will do.lol
But we know this will never happen
Oh and quit siding with the terrorist