You can't beat something with nothing

The Republicans are imploding, their brand is disintegrating. The Democratic Party needs to put something in its place, otherwise the Republicans will be right back with some new cover story for why you should vote against your own interests.

Since the Democrats control Congress now they should put together legislation on those things that people want -- end the war in Iraq (by refusing funding), make clear attacking Iran is off the table, pass healthcare now (before the lobbyists get a hold of it), pass a new energy bill that undoes the Cheney disaster and starts to address global warming -- and bring back protection for unions. Don't do this as a laundry list, tell each issue as compelling emotional stories (from the mine disaster to the cost to our soldiers and the civilians in Iraq). Take these five points and have the leadership get behind making them happen. It's irrelevant that Bush will veto them -- what matters is building up a brand for the 2008 election so the Democrats will win the Presidency, have a stronger hold on Congress and then pass the legislation Bush vetoes.

Like the man says, nothing from nothing leaves nothing...



(the youtube squib says this video of Billy Preston shows him as the first musical guest on SNL)

Update: This seems to be a popular meme these days (kos, with a fancy graph and an exhortation):

Many Democrats seem content to sit around and wait for demographic trends to make them the majority party. But a warning -- these voters won't be inspired to work and vote for a party that is unsure of its convictions and afraid to stand strong for what it believes. Or for Democrats who insist on sticking with the status quo in that corrupt cesspool that is Washington D.C. Or Democrats that continue to enable Bush's disastrous war in Iraq.

Both parties have seen their brands in the gutter. People have given up on Republicans, but they want to see Democrats rehabilitate theirs. It remains to be seen whether we can make that happen.