Followup on "so we're fighting for"

Thank you, DU community, for noticing how bad the "message" is on the statewide flier.

When I looked it over a few days ago, I informed the State Party staff that the list of "values" at the top of the flier is a good example of trying to fight on Republican ground instead of on our ground. It's an example of trying to beat Republicans by trying to out-Republican them. It's an example of the Republican-lite politics of "me too." This list of vague warm fuzzy platitudes that say nothing is an example of just about everything that has been wrong with the leadership of the Party of the People for a long time -- and unfortunately, is still very wrong with the DCCC-DSCC-Beltway scions of triangulation. It is an example of trying to blur the differences between the parties rather than to distinguish them, in the vain and foolish - and defeatist - notion that if we avoid offending anybody we'll somehow win by default.

What about fighting the corporate special interests? What about restoring democracy? What about protecting the Constitution from the Bush assault? What about fighting to protect voting rights from another election theft?

As is obvious, my comments did not result in the flier being changed.

As to where the list came from -- this list originated in 1998 when Molly Beth Malcolm became state party chair. People actually boasted about it as a great motivational tool to get voters to vote Democratic. You can still see this list on the little business-card size two-fold cards with the reddish hued American flag background of "what Democrats believe in."

It is truly amazing, isnt' it, that our state party apparatus would trot out something 8 years old that has been part of the worst 8-year period of defeat and failure in the history of the Democratic Party in Texas (except Reconstruction) and decide to use it proudly. What are people thinking? If anything, somebody should have at least stopped and said - hey wait up, this list is 8 years old, maybe we should come up with something more current.

DD friends, I respectfully urge you further, DON'T try to come up with a counter list of issues. What is facing us is not a matter of "issues", it is a matter of defending ourselves against pinstriped thugs who seek nothing less than the destruction of democracy, civil liberty, and the Constitution. Our flier needs to reflect a strong, combative theme statement, not a list of "issues".

It's not that the theme isn't available, some of your candidates are expressing it powerfully every day on the stump. I know that at least Maria Luisa Alvarado, Fred Head, Hank Gilbert and I say related versions of it every day. It needs to be short, plain, blunt, combative, sharply distinguished from the GOP, and an appeal for a vote for the ticket, not for individual candidates. I've written just a first stab that I sent to the state party staff as one example in contrast to the Republican-lite list of "values." I ran it by Hank and he likes it but it could use improvement.

Your input is greatly welcome. I know that Maria Luisa, Hank, and I are not going to sit idly by for such foolishness and that we are going to work on another version, a real Democratic message - I haven't had a chance to talk to anybody else on the ticket about it yet but I am sure at least a majority of the statewide ticket will feel similarly. Who would like to send some more samples? Perhaps we could do a contest on DU? Remember -- not a laundry list of issues.

Well here's my first stab:

"Are you tired of one-party rule that serves up nothing but cronyism and corruption? These TEXAS DEMOCRATS are fed up with government being run by and for the privileged few. They want to return YOUR government to YOU, the people of Texas. They need your vote to help them do it. Join the fight to take your government back. VOTE the DEMOCRATIC ticket."

David Van Os

need and can respect. It's a stark contrast with the state party's so-called leaders!

And I like your message, but I would prefer to see a quick POSITIVE message about the Democratic party being the traditional party of the little guy, the party of Roosevelt and Kennedy. We are the party that brings the focus of government onto the problems of everyone, not the problems of the few.

I am tired of hearing about what crooks the republicans are. I hope we all know by now that they are crooks. I believe that we need to say GOOD things about us, not bad things about them. my 2 cents

It has been since Mattox's time since i believed asking our Attorney General to stand up for the good people of Texas against corrupt interests would have any reliably positive impact..

The time has come for people to be able to believe in their Representative Government again. Time to Vote the Rascals OUT! Time to have an Attorney General who will go after corruption. Heaven knows there is plenty there to go after!!!
Go David!

VOTE the Good folks in and make DAMN SURE ahead of time that our Votes are going to be Counted accurately!