WP-Democrats Struggle To Seize Opportunity----

[rodeodance]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/01/AR2006030102193.html?referrer=email

Democrats Struggle To Seize Opportunity
Amid GOP Troubles, No Unified Message

By Shailagh Murray and Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, March 7, 2006; Page A01

News about GOP political corruption, inept hurricane response and chaos in Iraq has lifted Democrats' hopes of winning control of Congress this fall. But seizing the opportunity has not been easy, as they found when they tried to unveil an agenda of their own.

Democratic leaders had set a goal of issuing their legislative manifesto by November 2005 to give voters a full year to digest their proposals. But some Democrats protested that the release date was too early, so they put it off until January. The new date slipped twice again, and now House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) says the document will be unveiled in "a matter of weeks."

Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Calif.), the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, announced on Monday that he will retire at the end of his current term in 2007. Before being elected to Congress, Thomas served in the California Assembly. What position did Thomas hold before that?


Some Democrats fear that the hesitant handling is symbolic of larger problems facing the party in trying to seize control of the House and Senate after more than a decade of almost unbroken minority status. Lawmakers and strategists have complained about erratic or uncertain leadership and repeated delays in resolving important issues.

The conflict goes well beyond Capitol Hill. The failure of congressional leaders to deliver a clear message has left some Democratic governors deeply frustrated and at odds with Washington Democrats over strategy.

[katsy]

1. Considering the Gallup poll out this morning...

that shows people favor Democratic candidates over gop rivals, I tend to think the writers of this story may want to rename this article.

Maybe: gop fiddles while America is burning and Democratic leaders carefully plan a legislative fix.

It would be more fitting to SIMPLY address the gop corruption and state that the Democrat's are carefully crafting a legislative fix to present to the American public.

bush's* rush to war has drained our economy, embarrassed our country, murdered troops and innocent Iraqis. Is that what MSM wants? Quick fixes however stupid, evil or corrupt? How devisive.

[brooklynite]

2. Sorry, but I can't excuse them at this point

Pelosi, Emanuel, Schumer at el have know since the 2004 election that they were going to need to get their act together on a message, and they've told me they're working on one, but I think its getting late in the day to start rolling it out. It is not enough to criticize the Republicans for their antics; they need short and sweet message about what themes(not policy statements, not bills to introduce, not spending plans) are important to them as a Democrat. The Republicans have this down in spades ("family values" -- "low taxes" -- "strong defense" -- "things are getting better") and regardless of whether they're honest or not, they keep to the script. Until we can come up with an equally pithy script, the only "image" that Democrats have is going to be the one the Republicans create for us.

[rodeodance]

3. maybe waiting for the campaign?