Five Ways The Democrats Can Save The Party

September 22, 5:37 PMCongress ExaminerIgor Derysh

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Obma, Reid, and Pelosi can still save the party

When the Democrats took a huge majority in Congress after the 2008 elections, many expected much reform to follow but instead saw the Democrats implode. The reason? The same strategy that the helped the Democrats win so many seats is actually what is causing the glitch in the Democratic machine.

After loading up on moderate Democrats who defeated their Republican opponents, Democratic leadership is seeing those same moderate Democrats derailing their entire agenda, despite their success in making the Republicans all but obsolete in Congress.

All is not lost for the Democrats, however, and with just over a year left until the 2010 midterm elections, there are five things that the Democratic Party can do to save the party and use their overwhelming majority the way it ought be.

1) Get Ready to Fight
The idea that the Democratic agenda has been completely hindered by the loud voices of the few Republicans left in Congress and the kooks that are mispelling "Hitler" on signs and "teabagging Washington" is ridiculous but not surprising considering the complete lack of grit by the Democrats.
Obama came to town as a moderate but Congress promised us change and change we have not received.
Democrats need to take a page out of the playbook of someone like Dick Cheney or Newt Gingrich and dominate the political spectrum, regardless of any pushback.

2) Re-take The PR War
Aside from just gearing up for a war, Democrats need to get off the tired talking points and retake the public relations war that they were dominating when George Bush was in office.
Little things like using "Public Option" instead of "Medicare for All" or letting the Republicans run all over them with the "Death Panel" propaganda is the difference between passing reform and looking like jackasses.

3) Get Their Party In Line
Despite the Republican Party's many faults, the one thing that Republican Leadership does better than anyone is keep their soldiers in line. Just consider how many votes resulted in every Republican voting the same way.
Guys like Majority Whip Dick Durbin and Chuck Schumer are the ones who went out and got moderate Democrats like Evan Bayh and Mark Pryor, now they have to live with them.
Going to war doesn't only entail going after the GOP harder, but playing hardball within your own camp. Time to get the Democratic soldiers in line.

4) In and Out
The reason that the healthcare bill continues to receive a lot of push back is the amount of time that the Democrats have spent working on this bill (which still doesn't exist).
The Democrats need to spend less time trying to drum up support for their main agenda just like they did on the corporate bailouts. If the healthcare bill was written and put up to a vote before the summer, we'd be preparing for Medicare for All right now.

5) Stop Protecting Their Own
The Democrats need to regain the trust of their own constituencies. The best way to do this is by ceasing to protect guys like Charles Rangel and John Murtha if they plan on calling out guys like Joe Wilson.