Houston Democrats

I think Hale Stewart is on to something. First, I think we do need to define ourselves in terms as specific and direct as we can make them. And second,we need to agree on those terms. So...here's my one cent:I think the Democratic Party's capacity for empathy is one critical characteristic that sets us apart from Republicans and from fundamentalists in particular. Repub Christians are the mean-minded, no-hearted, unthinking variety who seem to feel that if you're well-off, God must have singled you out for special consideration. I don't think it occurs to these people to put themselves in the place of the unfortunate, the poor, the sick in body/mind. Like Scrooge, they might not be able to handle such a shift in perspective. And, what's worse, they don't see the need. So they just push past those who falter and try not to look at them as they pass by. Of course,the danger of looking out for or feeling that you ought to look out for those in need of help is that the other side, the born- again Repubs, will accuse us of being brainless, bleeding-heart mushmouths--a situation that just proves our point about who's empathic and who needs a hefty shot of imaginative humanity...or maybe just an infusion of good, old-fashioned loving concern which is the product of a good deal of intellectual endeavor.
I realize that these few sentences don't go very far toward explaining us, but
I hope we'll discuss who we are and what we believe, both to show the world that we have a philosophy and to give ourselves a surer grip on the Democratic principles that I think we all share.
Forgive me for preaching to the choir.

Let me try this post a second day; yesterday's just never appeared as if some unseen censor didn't like my views.
Hale, with all due respect, the "we care more" approach is pure crap. It is an unprovable claim.
I spent 15 years as a marketing consultant to hospitals.......the losers, who had no claim of clinical superiority had to resort to the "we care more" b.s. Consumers and voters are smart.......they do not give a rats ass about what we or an organization says we are....they care about track record and a tangible "promise" on issues they care about, based on our track record.
This is the same crap coming out of the Carville beltway puditocracy. That is why as voter confidence in Republicans is falling off the cliff, we Dems are gaining no ground. We need to establish the historically true claim that our promises (marketing vernacular)in the past, voting rights, labor rights, women's rights) translated into solid, sucessful legislation (social security, fair wages, etc...) that touched them at home. Reminding voters of this track record, we need clear, short statement of values that drive our next round of help for Americans.....healthcare for all, economic security and opportunity including through cradle to grave education/re-education financing, security through friendships abroad...not enemies abroad,out of an Iraq war based on lies and oil greed with future military force only to protect us, not for empire. The DLC dominated message in the past decade or more avoids stating our history of public programs to give us a helping hand because they want a privatized America just like the Bush/Cheny gang of thieves. It is time to declare this world-view by our Party a failure and move on to a progressive vision which sharply and starkly contrasts our Party and candidates. This has to start with the promise to exit Iraq and admission that once again, Dems,as in Vietnam, chose deceit to justify military intervention over aggressive diplomacy(yes, Dem. Senators and Reps. admitting they were wrong to empower the Bushites with a death machine). You actually gain credibility and trust, we we currently lack, by admitting your errors. In marketing vernacular, this is called differentiation. Unprovable "we care more" crap is a desperation claim when you don't have a superior promise to offer America. We have a superior track record we can prove. It's time to offer a superior vision without fog and fuzz and arrogant inability to admit error and failure.

Well, Stan, yes. Though I think the Dem accomplishments you listed say that Democrats care about folks and their welfare in a way that Republicans don't, I bow to "a superior vision without fog or fuzz"--or sentimentality (mine). We do have a track record, a good one, and I guess it's past time we hauled it out and dusted it off and whacked hell out of Repubs with it.
Next item: Who will carry our dust-free banner?

I would like to comment, in a positive way, on both statements. I believe that “We care more” is provable, if you can make the statement relevant and personal. Each person will ask the question” How does what is being stated affect me?’ Based on their answer, they select Democrat, Republican, Independent or none of the above. In my opinion, the Democratic candidates for office are failing to be more specific and “unapologetic” in how they would fight to improve and promote the mainstream issues of the middle class, the underserved, underprivileged and disadvantaged. It appears that the value system that made the Democratic Party so great is being abandoned out of fear that the Right Wing will label our “compassion” as “socialism”. Because we (Democrats) have failed to frame and aggressively promote our issues and accomplishments, the Right Wing has successfully set the standard that it is Ok to fund the Iraq War and under fund Social Security. It is OK to spend billions on military build up and turn a blind eye to the needs in education, health care, childcare, seniors, the environment, etc. If there is not a continuous and effective counter voice, the Right Wing standards will become the norm.
The political landscape has changed to the disadvantage of the Democratic Party. That change started with the election of Ronald Reagan and has been progressively oppressive and punitive against the poor and minorities. We (The Democratic Party) have allowed the word “conservative” to mean someone who is good and “liberal” to suggest someone who is bad. If a politician is asked if he/she is a liberal, they shy from a direct answer. Why is that? Isn’t a Liberal, a person who has established service to others as a “high” priority”? The conservative is a person who, with great pride will speak and vote their personal biases and tell you that their “faith” dictates their actions. It was President Carter’s wife Rosalind who once stated that Ronald Reagan is a man who makes it possible for people to be comfortable with their biases. That “comfort” has been a growing force in American politics. That comfort has allowed people to vote their biases regardless of their effect on others. We Democrats care about others, and consistently fight to increase the quality of life of others. We must frame our message and actions to allow people to come to the logical and unmistakable conclusion that our way is the better way. We need legislators with backbone, willing to fight based on principle. We may not win all fights, but our voting record will be a testimony to our commitment to serve and to the fidelity of our issues. We must be aggressive and unapologetic in revealing our intentions and the logic of our actions as we fight to increase the status of all Americans. In doing so, I believe we will demonstrate through our actions that “we care more”