Democrats wise up, return to 50 State Strategy

[silvershadow]

So it's official: Democrats have learned the lesson of 2014 and 2010 and are seeking a return to the 50 State Strategy. Article is here.

The Democratic National Committee on Saturday released the interim findings of a review intended to examine problems in the midterm election. The report said Democrats lack a "cohesive narrative" and recommended that the party find ways to help it explain bedrock values such as fairness, equality and opportunity.
[...]

The report recommends a multiyear effort to prepare for the next round of congressional redistricting after the 2020 elections, wary of Republican clout in statehouses that will determine the new boundaries for members of Congress following the next census.

It calls for more financial support and training for state parties in a return to the principles behind the "50-state strategy" promoted by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who led the DNC from 2005 to 2009. That approach aimed to compete in state and local elections throughout the country, even in states dominated by Republicans.
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more at link: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/02/21/1365927/-Democrats-wise-up-return-to-50-State-Strategy?detail=facebook#

[DinahMoeHum]

1. About fucking time.

What this strategy was ever shelved in the first place baffles me.

[COLGATE4]

2. Truly an instance of 'better late than never' nt

[rhett o rick]

3. The big question is, why did they ever depart from that strategy? What was their reasoning

at the time? Was success too much for them?

Personally, I believe that progressive Democrats have learned not to give money to the Conservative DNC machine and are supporting progressive candidates outside the Conservative Party Machine.

[Jim Lane]

7. You're right about what progressives have learned.

I can't imagine any circumstance under which I would give a penny to the DNC, DSCC, or DCCC. I contribute directly to good candidates (or, on occasion, to mediocrities who have a chance to beat someone truly awful). The Party entities are all too likely to back conservatives, and even to work against progressives in the primary.

[ellennelle]

9. well, you're partly right

success was too much for rahm emmanuel. he sharp-elbowed howard dean and took credit for the big wins in 06.

plain and simple.

took credit for the wins, but did not have the good sense to at least take on the strategy.

i do despise that man, and cannot wait to witness his comeuppance.

SUPPORT CHUY!!

[rhett o rick]

16. Rahm is part of the power source that helped elect Obama. nm

[craigmatic]

22. In 2006 the question came down to "did we win because people suddenly became liberal or

did we win because people were sick of bush?" I think the machine decided it was the latter. Then it came down to who to spend money for in these races local and state levels. They were concerned mainly with pushing money to candidates who were already winning instead of people who actually could've won if they had the extra help.

[rhett o rick]

23. My theory is the conservatives that control the Party at the top level, really don't care what

happens at the lower levels as long as their conservative candidates win.

[craigmatic]

24. I really don't think it's about ideology at the top. It's about power and who gets the say so over

limited resources. They really want to do as little as possible not out of some conviction but just because they're lazy and content with their cushy jobs lording the machine over the base. It all amounts to the same thing though.

[Scuba]

4. Once again, appealing policies take a backseat to campaign strategy.

I agree we should have a 50 state strategy, but it isn't enough to cover up the void in policies that will move voters to the polls.

[MBS]

5. oh, thank goodness. n/t

[jeff47]

6. I'll believe it when I see it. (nt)

[rhett o rick]

8. I am not impressed. If they took up a "50 State Strategy" for Progressive candidates

like the Progressive Democrats of America, then I might be interested. As it is, I think their strategy is 50 states of conservative Democrats.

[brooklynite]

12. Explain to us all how to elect progressive candidates in Idaho, or Kansas, or Mississippi

...or is it okay to waste the Party's resources just to make you feel good?

Howard Dean was never that narrow-minded.

[rhett o rick]

15. Did you support the DNC's decision to dump the "50-State Strategy"?

Are you supportive of their change back? How do you feel about this? Do you have anything substantive to say or do you simply want to name call?

[brooklynite]

18. I have no problem with the 50-State strategy...

...since it's built around being competitive with the most electable Democrats in each State. Even if (heaven forbid) there there are some Blue-Dogs in the mix.

[rhett o rick]

19. So you were disappointed when the Obama Admn dumped Dean and the 50-State Strategy?

Just askin because some here applaud Obama which ever way.

[erronis]

13. Good call. However who determines

Which candidate is progressive or conservative? Is it just on their bumper-stickers/press handouts? Are candidates anointed by DU? Perhaps by Wall Street?

I must admit I am rather befuddled by all of these labels applied to sub-groups within the parties. Does anybody have a nice chart that shows how these are interlinked with the "common good"?

(This coming from a son whose father was an ADA democrat for a while and then became rather hawkish after the 50's.)

I've seen charts showing all the religious offshoots of the major/minor/cult/basement theologies as well as charts showing our abrahamic/evolutionary heritages. Maybe a timeline of when each label is "fashionable" would be useful.

Since labels are so easy to peel off and change, perhaps we need an easy way to categorize them by deeds instead of pronouncements (DU or otherwise.)

[rhett o rick]

20. You ask a good question. Some Democrats don't like the label of "conservative" so call themselves

"progressive" because they support LGBT and women's issues, and other social issues. But to me you can't be a progressive if you support fracking, Free Trade agreements, Wall Street domination, the overreach of the NSA/CIA Security State, the Patriot Act, etc.

The Third Way was formed to trick people into thinking they were real Democrats when their economic programs, war worship, and support of a strong Security State align with Conservatives.

[Persondem]

10. Nice to see this especially as we get closer to 2020.

In NC at the time, the party leadership extended the 50 state strategy to a 100 counties (all) strategy. After 2008 it all fell apart though when new leadership(?) came in.

[Corey_Baker08]

11. Extremely Smart & We Owe Howard Dean A lot For Proposing The Strategy!

[MBS]

17. " " " " n/t

[jwirr]

14. We need strong parties in all 50 states for more reasons than the general election. Certainly we

must see that local elections are extremely important. We have enough evidence for this just in the handling of same sex issues and in those states that refused to extend Medicaid.

[blkmusclmachine]

21. DC DEMS have a total infatuation with capitulation/bi-partisanship. Helps to ensure the 1% always

get what they want.