Democrats Without Portfolio

As Republicans careened out of control the past twelve months, many of us have urged the Democratic Party to embrace a program for America.  No one articulated the need better than Robert L. Borosage in the Nation on October 6, 2005.

Democrats are likely to pick up seats next year just by continuing to hammer at GOP failures and corruption. But to engineer a landmark election that dislodges incumbents and marks a fundamental shift, Democrats have to make themselves the party of change, championing an activist government in service to the common good.

There is still no national Democratic plan for November, which is just three short months away.  Obviously, it is too difficult to commit to health care, real national security (terrorists, Katrina, safe neighborhoods), education, and a fair and just economic system.

Democrats are a minority party.  Majority parties are not built on the transgressions of others, though minority parties can capitalize on them.  The weakness is not the party's liberalism; it is the Democratic Party's lack of commitment, and trying to win without a portfolio.

Comments

[A.J. Love]

When it comes to the National Democratic Party, the conflict has long seemed to be between the trappings of being beholden to big corporate lobbying and big corporate campaign contributions and the actual liberal issues that makes one a "Democrat" in the first place. Dare I say that the Corporations are still holding a lead over the public good. Most of these DNC'ers are blood-thirsty for power, not to change the world for the better. Besides Feingold and a very few others, they are all as fake as a 6 dollar bill.

[A.J.]

I should add: I am speaking mainly of US Senators. I do see plenty of good from US Reps such as Conyers, Baldwin, Watts, and others...