Is there a long term democratic strategy beyond 2008

[Juche]

Lets assume in 2008 all goes well and the democrats get 340 EV, 58 senate seats (including Lieberman and Sanders) and 255 house seats. Assume in 2010 the dems also get another 2-3 senate seats.

What is the long term strategy? Will the voting realignment seen in the 2006-2010 election cycle be effective at turning state and local governments all over the country more democratic? Demographically things look good for the dems and bad for the GOP. The GOP demographics are married, white, older, financially secure christians in small towns. The democratic demographics are unmarried, non-white, younger, financially insecure non-christians in large cities. The dem demographics are growing across the board, the GOP demographics are shrinking. As of 2004 people who never go to church for example made up 16% of the electorate and preferred Kerry by a 2-1 margin. People who went more than 1x a week also made up 16% and preferred Bush by a 2-1 margin. So the secularists among us already make up just a big of a slice of the electorate as the religious fundies, and we are just as partisan. Combine that with the fact that the GOP may have lost the entire millenial generation (25% of the electorate now, 33% by 2015), unmarried people (esp unmarried women who make up 26% of the potential electorate), non-whites (latinos a growing fast), etc.

What pressure can be exerted to make sure we get progressive democrats and not DLC democrats? I liked the attempt to oust Pelosi in her district by more progressive dems, is that the major strategy to keep pulling the democratic party to the left?

2006 should just be the beginning, with 2008 being another step. Are there long term strategies to ensure progressive leadership into the 2010s and 2020s? What are we doing to make sure the gains that progressives are making in these few election cycles translates into long term progressive leadership on local, state & federal levels?

[dipsydoodle]

1. Whether they'll get the seats or not

may be a matter of their voter's opinion on them voting to to bail out Wall Street without considering alternative approaches. Only time will tell.

[midnight]

2. It will be interesting to see how that vote does play out. Many

details were left in the dark and speed was the big discussion.

[spelldmilk]

3. Oh Oh Oh, Get Local!

This is exactly what I have started talking to local peeps about. We are going to win this election, Damnit, but if we want real reform, we have to keep a low level political buzz going.
We have to keep info available about all candidates, local, state and national, all candidates, not just our particular party, available and out there.
We need to sustain our political conversation. This will keep our candidates honest, and give them the support they need while in office. If they hear us, if we are a constant buzz in the background, we will not be ignored.
If we keep up the conversation, we will wrest our government out of the hands of the corporations.
It's all very exciting. But we must think local, it's not just about the national level. The only reason Obama/Biden are doing sooooo well, as opposed to Kerry/Edwards, is because the national campaign comes in and taps the local network.
If the local stays active, I really think we can change the political process. Staying active is the only way "to ensure progressive leadership into the 2010's and 2020's."

[leftofthedial]

4. there is no democratic strategy beyond the next 5 minutes

apparently

although they probably do have the day in the calendar when the next lobbyist check arrives outlined in red.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Fortunately, for them, Bush set the bar at ground level.

However, their antics in congress aren't exactly inspiring.