What's next

I feel a change in the winds. If the Democrats don't screw up, they might actually have a majority in Congress this decade. Blame it on the hubris and carelessness of Gingrich's heirs.

Folks who spent years decrying the narcissism, immaturity, and amorality of liberals and Democrats have reduced the business of running this country to tactics, manipulation, and cheap theatrics. Not that there was some sort of golden age, but we live in a time of relentless anti-intellectualism and apathy, and this has certainly been aided by the Pavlovian conditioning of the words "family values," "compassionate conservative," "reformer with results," et cetera.

It's easy to rag on the timidity and cluelessness of the Democrats. But the job they have is terribly hard. They are playing by old rules. But more than that, they're dealing with institutions of power that Republicans have worked very hard to create. They still have some illusion that the point of politics stretches beyond keeping the party in power and securing a position as an industry lobbyist when it's all over.

I keep hearing from bloggers and columnists and thinktankers and the lot that the Republicans should be emulated in how they've come into and held power. This reflects a failure of imagination, the like of which leads to Democrats losing. Never fight the last war. Beyond that, the Republicans are a disaster. Nothing they do works, they can't get their favored non-tax-cut legislation passed, and their quickly becoming ballot box poison.

Democrats, please do this: embrace reform. Not just rhetorically, really embrace changing the queasy nature of politics. I want to hear hardcore demonization of industry lobbyists. Nobody likes lobbyists.
Don't let Republicans dictate the terms of class warfare. Do a couple Republican things- like identify conservatism with its many sins. Everybody likes lower taxes, but the idea of rich people who live of inheritance or other unearned wealth getting huge tax cuts while they get a pittance bothers people. Paris Hilton, people! Also, nobody likes deficits, wastefulness, bridges to nowhere in Alaska. Educate the public.
Do something about the environment. People still think that anyone who cares about the environment is a patchouli-smelling hippy. Change this. And change it soon. Gas has become dangerously expensive, we're losing topsoil, global warming, the list is endless. I also think it would be good strategy. Republicans don't see the environment as a Dem strength because it's kind of out of left field and it plays to a lot of notions of Democrats being pansies.
Do that Contract with America thing you're talking about. Don't talk about 1994. Nobody cares about it, and referencing makes it sound like you're playing politics instead of trying to change the country. If you're trying to convince somebody of something, you don't preface it by saying "I'm going to run a campaign to convince you of this." If you're going to crib from somebody's playbook, you don't warn everyone about it beforehand.
Foreign policy is tricky at the moment, because Americans have a childish macho pride. But Gephardt admitting he was wrong about the war is a good first step. Build a consensus within the party over a new path forward. The Democratic base is generally less hawkish than the electorate in general, but at least it's a position of some priniciple. The electorate at large is reactive and has few foreign policy core beliefs other than a belief in the superiority, strength, and decency of the US relative to the rest of the world. I think the profile of the Dem position should be humane and internationalist. This isn't possible unless there is a significant withdrawal in forces from Iraq.
In general, it's a good idea to be supporting Iraq vets for office. People like symbolism of that sort. There's a long history of veterans serving in the Capital.
I don't think I'm good for advice about immigration, which I see becoming a campaign issue in '06. Democrats always have it harder on these type of issues because it would be easy for a Republican to adopt an extreme (like, say, turn our Southern border into the 38th parallel) but politically safe position.
Most important, in general, is to articulate a wholistic vision for the country. mingle exciting policy (Mars, bitches, except more practical, and more real for voters) with work on Brand Democrat.
The important thing is not to freeze up, to remain defensive, to avoid issues in a way that pushes you in awkward positions, and to dictate the terms of the debate to the greatest possible degree.