What's the best strategy for Democrats to keep winning elections?

Question

Or should strategy play no role in this?What's the best way for Democrats to take the white house in 2008 and hold the house and senate and if possible enlarge their majority as long as possible?

Answer 1

Exposing the lies and corruption of the Republican regime while continuing to stay commited to the agenda the Dems. promised America.

Answer 2

Interesting question. Let me give it a go...

The Democrats need to do several things:

1. Capture the Center.
The fact is, the majority of Americans live and die in the center of the political spectrum. For far too many years, the Democrats have been overly representative of the left wing; and if they want to capture government they must move, and do it now. Since the Reagan years, many moderate and conservative Democrats either defected to the Republicans or were defeated (particularly in the South) by Republicans. This has left the Democratic party a left wing party that is essentially the east and west coasts, with very little in between.

Much of this won't sit well with many groups alligned with the Democrats; but they have to downplay issues like gay rights, late term abortions, and a lot of other issues dear to the left wing. These issues frighten middle Americans. And if you wish to govern, you need more than the coasts. You've got to get Ohio; and a lot of other states like it. As hard as it is, the Democrats have to muzzle their own left wing.

This new crop of Democrats is actually the most conservative class the Democrats have fielded in ages; and if they're serious, they have to give up ideological purity to retain power. The American people won't have it. Democratic party stances on social issues scare Middle-Americans to death.

2. Issues. Issues. Issues.
Each party has a natural issues base. For the Democrats it is domestic policy. The nation places more trust in Democrats on issues like health care, social security, minimum wage, and education. They have to hit these issues, and hit them big. They're going to have little time, and the American people are going to expect policies to match the rhetoric. If they dilly-dally around, they'll quickly loose momentum and loose the confidence of the people. Come this January, they've got to come out of the chute swinging.

3. Gridlock.
Everything I'm telling you, the Republicans already know. They know the Democrats have to produce programs to match their words, and the Republicans will do everything they can to slow them down. The worst mistake the Democrats can make is being sucked into a tit-for-tat struggle with the Republicans. One element of this is the cry among some Democrats for an impeachment of Bush. Believe it or not, the Republicans wish the Democrats would do this -- they REALLY DO!!! They wish it because they know it would force the Democrats' attention away from the domestic agenda (as well as foreign policy) and result in no victory anyway, as the Republicans in the Senate would NEVER allow Bush to be convicted (just as the Democrats would never allow Clinton to be removed). So, bottom line, any diversion benefits the Republicans. The democrats cannot allow themselves to get sucked into this.

There will be fights over policies. There will be vetoes. But the Democrats need to stay on message at all times, and do what they can to state that they are trying to do the right thing, but are being thwarted by the President (Which is why in 2008 we need to elect a Democrat, etc, etc,).

4. Iraq and National Security.
Without a doubt, THIS is the Democratic party's weakest link. This is a real minefield, and they have to be especially careful. The Democrats must do everything to avoid being labled as the "Cut and Run" party. They must cooperate fully with the current policy, and garner as much support as they can for alternatives among the Joint Chiefs, as well as the upcoming "Baker Commission Report.". Democrats have not always had the best relations with the Pentagon, and they need to mend fences. Luckily, Jim Webb of Virginia is a conservative Democrat, Annapolis grad, War veteran and former Secretary of the Navy (under Reagan). He, and Joe Lieberman both have a lot of credibility with the military; and they need to be brought out as liasons.

The Democrats also need to develope a real strategy for Iraq and national security. Up until now, they've been in the minority and so have enjoyed the luxury of simply being critical. If they aspire to real power, being critical won't be enough -- the American people know what the Democrats are against -- but they're not sure exactly what the Democrats are for. And the Democrats better tell them -- RAPIDLY.

As stated, this is where the Democrats are most vulnerable. National Security is a Republican issue. The people trust them, and the biggest task the Democrats will face is in demonstrating that they can be trusted with the defense of the nation. IF they blow it, they'll be thrown into the wilderness for another generation, because, in the grand scheme of things, if you feel vulnerable, it doesn't matter what your wage is or if your kid goes to a better school -- security is the deepest and most visceral impulse we have. And when this button is pushed, people will react every time.

Once again, as previously stated, the Democrats have been in the minority, and thus have been able to say with impunity that the Republicans were wrong. But if they want to be taken seriously (on this most serious of issues) they better get tough on security, and start acting like a majority party by making the people feel secure.

5. Put a large sock in Charles Rangel's mouth -- and leave it there. "Nuff Said!"

Hope this answer helps. Cheers.

Answer 3

Keep nominating moderates. Don't slide back in into liberal la-la land. Hopefully, this isn't just political positioning, so they seem moderate in 2008. And then after Nov 2008, we see a liberal congress and president. If that happens, Democrats will never win an election again with independent voters, at least not with my independent vote.

Answer 4

Keep stealing elections...

Oh wait, I forgot, when Republicans win it's cause we stole the election. When Democrats win it's cause the American people were sick of the current situation.

Here's a thought, you have 55 congressional seats in districts that Bush won two years ago. That's a huge number. If you want to keep winning, be CONSERVATIVE Democrats. Cause if you're not, we'll take back both houses in two years.

Answer 5

Find out how to keep the Republicans from altering the electronic voting machines, and for the democrats to just flippin vote.

Answer 6

Simply by doing a good job in the house and senate now.
If they act responsibly, and succeed in making the kind of changes that are needed, then they will gain a lot of credit with the voters.

Answer 7

Never give your vote to any party without knowing what it took them to win your vote. Your loyalty should be to values and principles rather than parties.

I encourage people to vote third or fourth party for a number of reasons:

* You communicate the most information with a "minority" choice.
* You are actively voting for diversity of representation.
* Your intent will affect the mood of the local population proportionately, and could therefore win more support for your cause.
* Your vote will give strength to would-be third party voters in future elections.
* Whoever gets elected, they will want to win the next election, and you have given them some indication how to win your vote. You could find yourself better represented than many voters for that candidate.

Answer 8

If the democrats come into power and allocate enough money to FINISH the war on terror, I will vote Democrat.

And I never have.

Answer 9

The only way they could do that would be to follow through with all of the platforms they took during the campaigns, which we all know they are incapable of doing.

Answer 10

I don't call sedition a strategy.

And heaven help us if that ever happens.