In the introductory diary to this 3-diary series, I wrote:
The first [of two preliminary steps] is a disclaimer of sorts and it is this: first ideas are not necessarily valid or practicable but never dismiss them out of hand. Their true value lies in their being a launching pad, a means of stimulating the little grey cells of others who then produce other ideas followed by more and even better ideas until finally a workable and effective solution is reached. So if my ideas seem to you unworkable, don't stop at that but offer an improvement or a better idea. This is the process whereby solutions are reached and that must be our goal if we want to turn the Democratic Party around.
I am aware that some believe it is not possible to substantially influence change at the state and national levels; that we are at the mercy of the movers and shakers within the party. But I believe otherwise. I believe it is time to be brave and be bold. What we can all achieve together – a progressive agenda that works for everyone – is much greater than the greed and self-centeredness of the Right and special interest groups. Yes it's a huge challenge but it's not insuperable. It will take time and effort and enterprise but there is that in abundance in the Daily Kos community.
In reading extensively about the messaging failure of the Democrats, it occurred to me that the one thing missing is a nationwide campaign. Because of this, general elections sprout a miscellany of individual campaigns ranging from Senate and House seats to state government and local positions. Instead of a unified and co-ordinated national platform it is, to put it politely, a hodgepodge mess and it is one of the main causes of Democratic messaging failure. Presidential elections don't entirely solve this problem either. The discordance of downticket messaging is still present in the hundreds of individual campaigns, each with their own separate playbook.
There are other, profound problems with Democratic messaging including the actual messages themselves (such as Republican lite policies and running away from Democratic achievements) all wrought into tired old negative advertising and begging emails. Notably too, a barrage of doomsday emails from the Dem acronyms elicited anger and vows never to support them again. That isn't to say that supporters won't donate to campaigns. There is a long accepted culture of supporting preferred candidates with donations and GOTV efforts. They are simply and very clearly stating that they will no longer support non-progressives or the Dem acronyms.
Phase Two of the People Power Plan attempts to address and, more pertinently, redress these problems. It's a plan whereby progressives take the initiative and very deliberately pre-empt Democratic messaging. To accomplish this, we need to launch a nationwide campaign of our own. What I am proposing is the establishment of People Power supported by the People Power PAC.