Advice to Democrats

If I believed for a moment that the DNC would listen to me, I would offer them the following advice:

It’s November 2006 and Democrats have just won back control of both the House and Senate. Victory is sweet. You’ve worked hard and you’ve won. Once that initial blush of victory begins to fade you will face the greatest opportunity of this generation to either secure the Democratic position for a long time to come, or to blow it entirely. It’s up to you, and there are no re-dos. My bet, unfortunately, is that you are going to blow it, given you past record. So I’m offering the following ten suggestions to help you make this victory a march toward the Presidency in two years.

Please understand that I am nobody. I’m not a political pundit. I’m not a party worker. I’m an outsider who follows politics closely and who is smart enough to see where Democrats and Republicans screw up. None of these suggestions cost anything to do other than the expenditure of common sense, something you and the Republicans should have an abundance of considering how little it’s used these days.

1. Each person who will speak to the press on behalf of the Democratic party will repeat ten times before breakfast each morning: “I work for the welfare of the American people and the Republicans are not the enemy.” This will mean muzzling such people as Howard Dean until he learns some moderation.

What we the people absolutely do not want is a continuation of the partisan bickering that has been going on for so many years. This is the single most important rule you must learn. If you follow this one, you will get support from the American people on a level you will be shocked to see. We’re sick of the fighting.

2. Choose one or at most two major domestic issues on which to work. I would suggest Immigration/Border Security as number one as it ranks high among we the voters. The second place I would go would be a move toward fiscal responsibility. The war is a separate issue. I’ll get to that in a few minutes. Announce very publicly what these issues are and why they were chosen as a focus. Now comes the hard part; also announce that you are going to work with Republicans to come up with bills that work for both sides.

Make a public deal about how Democrats are the party of inclusion and that includes not shutting out Republicans from the decision making process as they also represent the American people. This is can be a very good public relations coup. Most important, do it. I don’t mean compromising where none is possible, but rather including as many good suggestions from Republicans as you possibly can. Remember the President’s position here with amnesty, etc. is extremely unpopular with voters. Play to that. Don’t attack the illegals except at the border. Dry up the sources of jobs until a viable guest worker program can be expanded to include them and let them self-deport. Start by enforcing the laws we already have, etc. Make this all as bipartisan as you can and make sure you stress how hard you are trying to work with Republicans.

Announce that the Democratic party is going to cut the pork out of the Federal budget then do it very publicly. Make sure that all parties involved know that they can put these bills up as stand-alones, they just cannot hide them in appropriation and other bills any more. Call upon Republicans to stand with you to make this happen.

3. This one is hard because it goes against every political instinct you have: do not get caught up in the expected endless round of political finger pointing and hearings, etc. Squelch any calls for impeachment. Your approach should be that Democrats are here to end this vicious cycle that has caused such congressional gridlock and that has Americans at one another’s throats politically. This doesn’t mean that if a scandal emerges you don’t investigate. It does mean you don’t go digging trying to make Republicans look bad. They look bad already. Let them stew. Just don’t push it. If you make them look persecuted they become the underdog. Everyone always pulls for the underdog. Let them continue to be the Party for the rich and for big business. They’ll sink their own ship. They don’t need your help.
4. Make a list of all the things that Republicans did to Democrats that really irritated, then publicly announce the list and state that unlike Republicans, Democrats don’t act that way and include them. Some cannot be expected to cooperate, but there are sufficient moderate Republicans who are dying for an opportunity to make some progress on national issues, give it to them. Make sure the press knows of this new direction.
5. Make a list of long-term, pressing national issues and announce that you are working on finding bipartisan solutions to them. Then do it. Not endless hearings and panels, but honest work toward incremental solutions. This includes the Medicare drug benefit, fixing Social Security, the problems with the infrastructure, resizing government, and whatever else your experts tell you resonates with the public. The key is to shift the focus off of endless foreign involvements and bring it back to the U.S. so that there is something every week or so to report on that concerns domestic issues. The American people want work on domestic issues.
6. Stop attacking Bush. I know that’s a big one, but he makes himself look bad enough without your help. Definitely point out where things that are his responsibility go wrong, such as poor choices for offices, failed or disastrous decisions, etc. but for the most part stick to the positive about what you are doing and accomplishing. There are sufficient scandals out there involving Bush and the Republicans that have yet to surface. It doesn’t require your help and it makes you look bad.
7. Refuse to accept Bush’s designation of the Democratic party as the party of “cut and run.” This is designed to appeal to the darkest fears of the American public regarding terrorism. This war is going bad enough for Bush to look bad without harping about it. That being said, however, you need a definite and united approach to the war.

The one place where you have the most opportunity to score legitimate points is to take the “strategy” that is currently posted on the White House webpage and demand specifics. It’s long on generalities, and devoid of parameters upon which progress toward the goals can be measured. “We will stand down as Iraq stands up” is a political slogan not a strategy without measurable parameters for progress. It’s sort of like “Mission Accomplished.”

Even better would be if you had a specific plan yourselves, but given that we’re there and are not just going to withdraw any time soon, you’re on thin ice there. Second guessing the military commanders is a bad idea as well. You need some military experts with political sense to give you a sound direction for this one.

Quietly and without fanfare begin investigating war profiteering and the no-bid contracts for Iraq handed out by the Bush administration. You should go public with this only if something significant and provable can be produced.

8. Begin a serious, bipartisan effort to revise the U.S. tax code. Include the public so you can hear their concerns and wishes. You might even wish to invite written ideas from them. Perhaps publish a website to keep people informed about what you are discussing. Let people know from the beginning this isn’t going to be a political rush job to score points for the next election or win a spot on the evening news, but a legitimate bipartisan attempt to fix a badly broken system.
9. This one is going to be hard, but except for critical spending such as the war, or already allocated programs, require that new legislation identify where the funding is going to come from. What will be cut to make the new program possible? Never lose sight of the idea that Democrats are first and foremost for fiscal responsibility, a balanced budget, and reduction of the debt.
10. Finally, stop thinking and acting like underdogs, and stop letting the opposition define you. One of the biggest hurdles the Democratic party faces at this juncture is the urge to let the extreme left wing of the party take over and dictate policy. This will fail as much as has the Republican strategy of pandering to the extreme conservatives and religious right. The further you get from the center, the closer you get to your opposition’s extremes. Negotiation, moderation, and cooperation are not dirty words. In this instance, they could possibly save your party and set you up for taking the presidency in 2008.

Believe it or not, we average citizens out here are not as dumb as most politicians think we are. I think that is going to become apparent at the ballot box this November. It’s up to you how much further it goes beyond that. Remember, we out here are ripe for leaders who will put an end to the partisan bickering and nastiness. And the party who figures that out first is going to score big with us. We want progress, not obstruction. We want domestic concerns addressed. The average American is sick to death of watching Iraqis given services and assistance by our government that we as citizens cannot hope to ever have.

I wish you the best of luck. Given your previous track record, you’re going to need it.