The Democratic Platform, is this a good place to discuss this?

[rhett o rick]

Here is a link to some info http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/09/the_2004_democr.php

I would assume that the platform committee will start from the existing 2004 platform and modify it. Does anyone have a link to the 2004 platform?

What issues do you think should be included?

I think that torture, rendition and secret prisons need to be covered.

If this isn't the best place to do this please let me know.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Restoration of our Constitutional rights

correcting the balance of powers back to where the Executive can't overrule Congress and the courts, re-establishment of all the Bill of Rights, etc. etc.

[rhett o rick]

2. Anyone want to talk about the Democratic platform? Or am I in the wrong place?? nm

[rhett o rick]

3. Hello anyone home?? nm

[GreenArrow]

4. I wouldn't get my hopes up

95 percent of delegates to the 2004 DNC wanted anti-war language in the platform and ended up with language to the effect that "reasonable people disagree on Iraq." I expect more "reasonable" language this time.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. 95%? How do know it wasn't 45%?

:shrug:

[GreenArrow]

6. through the miracle of Google

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/07/26/stance_on_war_splits_democrats/

http://www.magdabandera.com/archives/2004_07.html

snip>> Opposition from the rank-and-file
This does not mean that a majority of Democrats support such right-wing foreign policies. For example, a poll just prior to the convention showed that 95% of the delegates oppose the decision to invade Iraq, something that both their presidential and their vice presidential nominees have steadfastly refused to do.

That the delegates were prevented from even challenging the platform or voting to include an anti-war plank is a demonstration of how undemocratic the “Democratic” Party has become. Even in the 1968 Democratic convention, when the target of anti-war activists was the incumbent Democratic administration and when most state delegations were dominated by the party establishment, the delegates were allowed to propose, debate and vote upon an anti-war plank, which—despite its defeat on the convention floor—did give opponents of the Vietnam War an opportunity to express their views before the convention and the national media.

It is also a sign as to just how far to the right the Democratic Party leadership has become as compared to the rank-and-file, which could severely weaken the enthusiasm of the party base the Kerry campaign needs to counter the Republicans’ advantage in funding during the fall campaign.

<<snip

http://www.fpif.org/commentary/2004/0408shift.html

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. The article says that 95% of the delegates oppose the decision to invade Iraq, not

that they wanted anti-war language in the platform.

[ProudDad]

8. You want a real progressive platform

Don't look for the corporate owned Dems to give you one.

There is one here though: http://www.gp.org/platform/2004/

or PDF version: http://www.gp.org/platform/2004/2004platform.pdf


Or just do a quick check of the differences here:

http://www.therealdifference.org/issues.html
http://www.therealdifference.org/issues2.html

[OzarkDem]

9. Some general thoughts

I took a look at the 2004 platform a few weeks ago and was reminded again how much focus there was on terrorism and homeland security. Bush and the GOP were still framing the national dialogue based on 9-11 and the Iraq War. It was disappointing to see how much other issues got short shrift, no wonder we're in the mess we're in.

This convention will be a good time to refocus our priorities on building for the future. Here's what I would like to see:

Get out of the ME and return foreign policy to diplomacy and working with the UN and Allies

Health care reform - universal, affordable, reliable coverage for all, period

A Manhattan Project for renewable energy coupled with a long term energy policy; use tax incentives & disincentives and investment to increase mass transit.

Rebuilding the US economy - re-regulation for banking/lending and Wall Street sectors; reduce the national debt, raise the minimum wage and begin redirecting tax incentives towards creating good paying jobs in the US while penalizing companies that ship jobs overseas or abuse H1B hiring programs. Invest federal money in rebuilding the infrastructure (US workers and materials only).

Restore Constitutional balance of power between branches of government.

That's a start.

[rhett o rick]

10. Where can I find the 2004 platform? nm

[GreenArrow]

11. here

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:yuZQIPNpi3sJ:www.democrats.org/pdfs/2004platform.pdf+2004+democratic+platform&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

or, if you prefer PDF

http://www.democrats.org/pdfs/2004platform.pdf

[rhett o rick]

12. Thanks for the link. nm

[OzarkDem]

13. DNC web site

http://www.democrats.org/pdfs/2004platform.pdf

Reading all the blustery language about "TERRA" and "HOMELAND SECURITY" is traumatic. Made me hrow up in my mouth a little.