A necessary rant...

At 3:45 PM, Kyle Michaelis said...

I don't know what can really be learned from these numbers since no real campaign was waged on Kerry's behalf in Nebraska. Maybe a study of Western Iowa would be more telling.

The scary thing is how closely those registration numbers (24% D, 53% R, 22% I) come to reflecting reality. Also, extend that income gap "a little" further because those earning $30-50K voted against us by the same horrifying margin as $50-75K (-36%). That's depressing as hell on its face, but it also shows we have a world of potential if we can re-emerge as these hard-working peoples' champion.

Where do we start? Nationally, I want to see a united Democratic Party Congressional budget proposal that is HONEST with the American people and tops Bush's defecit reduction plan. Let's show them our priorities by offering an alternative. We also need to have an alternative Social Security proposal ready to blow Bush's destructive "notion" out of the water once a real plan develops.

Here in Nebraska, I'm not seeing much of an agenda at the state level, even with the Unicameral in session. With the supposedly non-partisan nature of the Unicam, the Party has an opportunity to organize around issues and proposals without needing concern ourselves with the support of our every legislator. They have cover as do we because both of our first priorites have to be our constituents (voters) rather than each other. We work through the citizens to whom Senators must respond. Yes, we are thus weakened institutionally (floor fights become difficult), but our potential in principled stands that give voice out of moral obligation as a party is actually much strengthened.

We should have a list of priorities HERE in the state of Nebraska that we talk about at every chance we get. It is the only way we can create an identity out of the compassion and good-naturedness of our people.

Are we out of ideas? Are we biding our time? What's the delay - what is there to lose? When Nebraska voters ask themselves again in 2006 "what has the Democratic Party done for me lately?" we had better have something to show for ourselves, at least a promise of things to come, otherwise we're going to get creamed again and again.

How about a statewide living wage on govt. contracts in conjunction with a new round of extensive business incentives that just happen to require full disclosure? How about vowing to protect I-300 with our dying breath? How about going on the attack against "Conceal & Carry"? How about denouncing legal discrimination against homosexuals? How about going after Regent Drew Miller for his absurd vendetta against financial aid for low-income students based on need?

We need action. We need Democrats standing up as Democrats with some leadership and organization by the state party. We need to pick our horn, then toot it every chance we can get. At the very least, we need to show an interest in having a conversation with the people of this state on who they are, who we are, and the future we can build together.

Nebraska Democratic Party Blog: Nebraska Exiting Polling Data Reveals...