Question of the Week: Answers will be published the week of January 21.


Within the next couple of weeks, the Primaries will be largely decided one way or the other…. And I think it’s important that Internet users help communicate their point of view.


Question of the Week


January 21, 2007

I think we all recognize the critical nature of the Primaries and the need to have a democratic winner! Therefore, I am posing the following question to our mailing lists:


Do you think that the current democratic strategies are winning strategies; or are they doing more harm than good?

If not, how would you change what the democrats are saying and doing?

Answers to questions will be published and appear on our Blog, one of the top rated Blogs on the Internet:


The Ubiquitous Blue Blog: http://www.lesaaron.blogspot.com


ANSWERS FOLLOW:


I think the democratic candidates have to be very careful to not set up a circular firing squad. The media seems set on portraying Obama and Hillary as being in this huge war and not covering Edwards at all. I think this business of Obama accusing Hillary of being racist and Hillary accusing Obama as being full of bull should stop. It's silly and not helpful. I think they should run the risk of being seen as too much alike and just toot their own horns. Leave the other guy alone. One thing they could do that would be helpful is talk about what their vision for America's future is and how it involves us. Obama does this somewhat and is very successful at it.
Barbara



I'm not sure if you are speaking of the strategies of the candidates or of the
party as a whole. I'll answer the question based on the party as a whole. I
like that Dean insists on a 50 state strategy, this is the first time that it
will be tested in the general elections. It didn't work at all in the primary
process, which has only heard from two states, yet the field has shrunk
because of the results of those those two states. I'm hopeful that 50 state
strategy will have a greater impact in the general election.

If not, how would you change what the democrats are saying and doing?

I think that the party should do more to make sure that ALL candidates are
included in all debates and news coverage. I'd also like the party to make
sure that issues are covered instead of who cried and who didn't. I don't know
how to change the way that two states seem to winnow out candidates. It's down
to three and 48 states have not even been heard from.


“…..if by a liberal they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone
who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the
welfare of the people- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs,
their civil rights, their civil liberties.. if that is what they mean by a
“liberal” then I am proud to be a liberal. “: John F. Kennedy

Claudette
Lead, SD

I'm going to go back to a comment I made a long time ago: if I could have taken all 7 original candidates and stuck them in a blender and poured out, I'd have the ideal candidate. I'm hoping the current race flap is just today's headlines and doesn't color the campaign from here on out, but if it does not, then the Reps have nothing to worry about because the Dems will just toast themselves. The LAST thing we need is a wounded candidate going against the Rep attack dogs.

Papajosh8515



Do you think that the current democratic strategies are winning strategies; or are they doing more harm than good?

If, by "current democratic strategies" you are talking about the race for the nomination, I would say that each of the top three, Clinton, Obama and Edwards, all have descended to some street fighter tactics that have proven, on the whole, not to work, and it demeans the process. The worst part about the process has been the media pundits, jumping on every word, taking out of context, caling the play by play as if they were watching a spectator sport on ESPN. Now I realize that some people might get bored by an actual discussion of policy and programs of each candidate, but is this a way to choose the next president of the United States?

The last two debates were interesting because you had a lively discussion on real issues and voters got a chance to really hear and see for themselves. Speaking of debates, it was so obvious that the anchors and pundits had an agenda in their questions: Cause a fight on stupid stuff. Nothing to do with real issues.

If not, how would you change what the democrats are saying and doing?

I think they made a good start on the last debate where they basically stuck to issues and stepped back from the bickering. That doesn't mean that you hold back on why you think you should be chosen as the nominee. That doesn't mean that you don't forcefully point out differences on agendas, policies, programs. Alice




The Democrats need to start attacking the Republicans, not each other. It's the

WAR
SUPREME COURT
ECONOMY

Not whether Obama puts his hand on his heart, or is inexperienced, or if Hillary cried or whatever. We need to GET RID OF THIS ADMINISTRATION and all the baggage with it, and I worry Hill and Barack are eating each other, and will cause us to implode.

Jesiana





The Dems strategies are not working because they are geared to each candidate. The Dms don't have a platform;



Each one needs to give a plan for each problem that he/she will face in the White House. Vague promises for change doesn't do it!

Each must do a position paper on:

Ballot fraud(without reform on this NOW the other things don't matter)

Iraq

Economy

Broken borders

Immigration

12+ million people here...what to do with them

Gay rights

Repeal of Nafta, Cafta

Repeal of Patriot Act



I could go on forever...



Michael



Do you think that the current democratic strategies are winning strategies; or are they doing more harm than good?

I believe the strategies used by the dems are being conducted by powers larger than the party... namely HUGE corporations.

Of course they are doing more harm than good.

If not, how would you change what the democrats are saying and doing?

I would hope the DNC would realize what it has done to hurt the nation and reverse its priority list.

The repubs are having their strings pulled by the same group of people - the megalo corps.

I think it's time for a whole lotta shakin' up to set things straight.

By that I would suggest choosing to write-in candidates names on our ballots at election polls during the primaries and general elections.

Humon





Do you think that the current democratic strategies are winning strategies; or are they doing more harm than good?



If not, how would you change what the democrats are saying and doing? (Les)



I would have them avoid criticizing each other. Criticizing never serves any useful purpose.

Sandra




In a message dated 1/17/2008 10:25:34 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, Hubmaster writes:

Question of the Week



January 21, 20



Do you think that the current democratic strategies are winning strategies; or are they doing more harm than good?

I think Obama, Clinton and Edwards have issued too many verbal attacks against each other, which weakens the Democrats, and gives comfort to the GOP. The voters need to know the plans of each of these Democratic candidates to deal with our country`s major problems.





If not, how would you change what the democrats are saying and doing?



The democratic presidential candidates should insist on only engaging in debates in which the candidates are allowed to pose a question to the other Democratic candidates on how they plan to deal with a particular problem facing our nation, and the respondent should be allowed a decent amount of time for their response to the question, to avoid sound bite answers.



Robert



They are doing more harm by trying to be more like Republicans, calling it moderate.



How to change? Adopt the Edwards philosophy! We are not going to help this nation by replacing a "bunch of Corporate Republicans with Corporate Democrats."



Everybody in this group is backing different candidates, but we all know John Edwards has the most principled position and is telling the people the truth.

Zack