It's good to see that the general public is still in step with the Democratic Party's values.

Now, we just need to develop a comprehensive means to prevent the Republican extremists from lying their way into office again.

The GOPers figured out over the last couple of elections that targeted marketing of lies was the way to go. We've got to get a lot better at countering them.

Proves to me that the voting machines are responsible for the GOP wins in the last few elections.

I apologize in advance for the off topic comment, but I wanted to share with LC readers a little observation I made this weekend. As I drove around my blue town in my blue state (albeit a more conservative part of the state), I noticed that many folks still had "W" stickers on their vehicles. The interesting observation I made is that 98% of these vehicles were SUVs and not any SUVs. Everyone of the SUVs were the largest models available, Hummer H2, Chevy Suburban, Ford Excursion, and Cadillac Escalade. Do you think their is a direct correlation between what someone drives and how they vote?

It proves to me that Democrats can't campaign and formulate a simple, consistent message for dick, Sharon.

Guys are kissing! Terror alert! Support our troops! The Democrats will raise your taxes! Guys are still kissing!

What did we get? We'll bring our allies in and win the war!

Of course we lost.

I agree with Sharon. The Thugs are cheating, but what do you expect from people who are more intrested in winning and hating, then what's best for our country.

Traitors all.

you think their is a direct correlation between what someone drives and how they vote?

no, but there's an inverse correlation between vehicle size and penis size.

Jonathan's right on target. People like our message, but our salespeople suck. The repubs have a crappy message, but they have a professional sales team. This is frustrating to the Nth degree.

Triatelot, there is actually a study out there as I saw it last week. (Don't remember where.) Hummer drivers were over 60% likely to be Repubs, and approx 20% Dem. Opposite for the Prius. I still have my Kerry/Edwards sticker on my Sable, but it's going to go once the weather gets a little better.

I agree with Kevin Drum, this poll is flat out wrong. If John Kerry had proposed cutting the defense budget he would have lost by 20%. We as liberals need to be careful with polls like this.

It proves to me that Democrats can't campaign and formulate a simple, consistent message for dick, Sharon.

Yeah, that too.

that was me

lol love ya, Sharon.

Has anyone thought about the significance of BAe's purchase of United Defense, the Carlyle Group subsidiary, at this critical juncture? Suddenly Carlyle bails out of its defense subsidiary. What message does that send? It would appear that the Bush family suddenly believes that they won't be able to milk the golden goose much longer and that it's time to dump the goose on a more gullible patsy.

If I were a member of the military (especially the US Army), I would be concerned about the equipment my masters are going to be giving me. The US Army has chewed up a lot of equipment in this benighted misadventure in Mesopotamia and, now, the prinicipal supplier of that equipment suddenly sells its production arm. Why? Perhaps the Carlyle Group knows that the new environment will demand true timely performance by its suppliers with true cost accounting? With even the Republican legislators starting to push for real accounting and reining in the deficits, Carlyle and the Bush family just might have decided that outsize profits would no longer be possible. Merchants of death don't like having real watchdogs looking at their books. Cowards, all.

There you go! Looks like the Democrats have their plank for 2006.

- Cut defense.
- Quit the war on terror.
- Raise taxes.
- Amend the constitution to allow gay marriage.

Sounds like a winner!

I think its not so much the message (although it certainly could be clearer) but it's the spine issue. Face it many people hate wimps...even if they are right. They are craving leadership. They want to see people stick up for themselves when they are attacked personally or if they are unfairly characterized and smeared. If the democrats would just stand up to the abusers(the republicans) instead of being so goddamn nice and pc all the time perhaps they would gain the respect of more people. Sure the message needs to be sharper, but the democrats have to stop being so damn nice and gullibly believing that the current group of republicans wants to "play fair" and want bipartisanship....its pure bull. People will respect the party more if those that find themselves in leadership positions actually stand up to the abusers.

As opposed to the republican agenda of

Destroy social security insurance
Destroy worker protections,wages and benefits,the middle class and poor as we know it.
4 More WArs- Armegeddon.
Fiscal armeggedon and the handover of fiscal reigns to foreign countries.
Destruction of the environment
Cut taxes for the wealthiest among us
REturn of the OwnerSerf Feudal society.

Yup, so much for Peace and Prosperity

Ted, as much as I like Kevin's work, if I have a choice of believing PIPA's poll or what Kevin thinks, I'll go with PIPA.

Isn´t it time for every democrat repeat everywhere they go that this president is out of touch with the american public? Just like republicans love to do with dems?

Muckdog,
Thanks for serving so willingly as "Exhibit A" for that "lying" thing.

First, the Democrats have to defend themselves when attacked THEN the people will take them seriously on national defense.

The only reason the Republicans have a temporary advantege with the public is demographics. Simply put, adults old enough to remember the depression are too few in number now to swing elections and the negitive impact of Bushism on the average person hasn't caused the pain needed yet to expose the lies. The noise machane is powerful, but when forclosures become rampant like they did in the early 30's, the lies won't win elections.

Let me re-phrase the resident Bush propagandist:
...the Democrats have their plank for 2006.
- Trim defense to the essentials
- Win the war on terror.
- Allow the Bush tax cuts to expire as passed.
- Apply the equal protection clause to all Americans.
Sounds like a winner! Posted by muckdog
Yep.

Democratic platform for 2006-
Review military expenditures, cut fat
Save Social Security
Restore dignity to the White House
Eliminate tax cuts, strenghten the dollar thru trade deficit reduction and budget deficit reduction.
Invite a Marshall Plan on alternative energy resources, including nuclear reactors if necessary.
Propose a major manufacturing bill for the midwest, including subsidies for hybrid automobile plants.
Adjust the capital gains tax rates for to favor smaller investors.
Propose legislation that will make it illegal for Muckdog to post on political weblogs.

So the fuck what!

they 'public' may express opinions such as this poll suggests but they do not vote that way.

These dipshits that said they want reductions in defense spending and deficit growth voted in a manner that will absolutely assure the contrary is realized.

This poll tells us only about polls. Just 4 months ago America made a statement and these asshole pollsters tell us they 'misspoke'

Jesus H. Christ..when will this shit STOP!!!!!!!!!!!

My last idea is guaranteed to garner al least some votes!!!