When Ed Kilgore, the Policy Director of the DLC says:  I suggest you give today's New Dem Daily a thorough and dispassionate read.  You better believe that I sat up and paid attention.

You should too.  (Hat Tip: Talking Points Memo)

The slow but significant erosion of Democratic support in recent years is a collective responsibility for all Democrats, us included. It will not be reversed by any simple, mechanical move to the "left" or the "right;" by any new infusion of cash or grassroots organizing; by any reshuffling of party institutions or their leadership; or by any magically charismatic candidates. That's why engaging in any "struggle for the soul of the party," or any assignment of blame, is such a waste of time. But that's also why Democrats must take the defeat seriously, and pursue a strategy for revival and reform.

There are three "trust gaps" outlined in the piece which can be summarized as:

If, as the DLC has long argued, the test for Democrats is to convince voters that they will defend their country, share their values, and champion their economic interests, it's pretty clear Democrats continue to come up short on the first two tests even as they pass the third with flying colors.

Personally, I can't/won't change my values any more than I would ask them to change theirs.  The difference is that my values, and I believe the majority of liberals, include the ability to tolerate their values.  It's unfortunate that it is not reciprocal.

Call me a neanderthal knee-jerker, but I'd rather not compromise anymore.  We didn't do so damn bad as all that, and in the coming years, they're going to walk all over us as if we were irrelevant. 

Hubris has always been the Achilles heel of George Bush, and it was in full form at his press conference as he chastised legitimate reporters asking legitimate, yet multi-part questions in violation of his arbitrary and capricious "one-quesiton rule."  If you thought he was patronizing and arrogant to the White House press corp, wait 'til you see what he does to Democrats.

We can and do beat them on economic issues and it will be even easier next time, trust me.  They are going to wreck this economy for all but the wealthy, which of course is the plan.  They're done with health care and the schools have gotten all they're going to get. 

Deficits, they don't matter any more than Bush cares about his legacy.  We'll all be dead before we have to pay for this ride.   They are about to dismantle Social Security and their "simplified tax plan" will consist of reducing the 1040 to two questions:

When it comes to national security, we can at least fight them to a draw now that they can't blame anyone but themselves for this or their dreadful economy.  They own this war, and the next, and the word of a casualty count expected from the imminent flattening of Fallujah will be as high as anything seen since Vietnam. 

As with Vietnam, the insurgency will end when we leave, thus neither the Dresdenization of Fallujah, nor elections. nor any continued spin from Washington will reduce our cost for this mistake of a war in either blood or treasure.  By the way, what are the chances that Afghan opium production will decrease or Osama will die of anything but old age as long as the neo-cons are in charge? Just how are they going to spin the next terrorist attack on our shores as the Democrats' fault?

But values?  I'd be glad to compromise them if I thought for just one moment that they were wrong.  They aren't.

Thinking that my values are unacceptable merely because they are at odds with yours, and if I gave in "just a little" I might win the next time, is absolute bullshit.  I already to more than social conservatives to in the way of compromise towards a middle ground.  I tolerate their right to their views.  If I start seeing some movement our way, I might, just might, think about it.


I'm willing to go pretty far, but when liberals start compromising the values, they are no longer liberal are they?