How do you solve a problem like the Democratic Party?

You don't do a damn thing, you argue over details, you fire people, and you hope things turn out for the best!

Um. (What's the old saying about herding cats? Or "I don't belong to any organized party--I'm a Democrat!" Insert your favorite hackneyed political phrase here.) I'm a liberal Democrat. Oh yes, I am. And sometimes I just don't like my party. It's not that I want a third party. Third parties are for nerds, quitters and people who have enough money to make a third party feasible. I just want my own party to work better. And I really think the Democratic party has promise, or I wouldn't have registered that way. But oh, some days--

So here's my list of stuff I'd like to see out of Democrats, sometimes. To be a little better as a party. And win a few more battles. Sometimes. I guess.

1) He's your damn president, isn't he?

People worked their asses off for Barack Obama. They did not want John McCain to continue George W. Bush's policies and worse. Obama turned the world on with a smile. He took a nothing day, and suddenly made it seem so worthwhile. Running for president is a big thing. It's not a great job--people blame you for everything. You don't have to think he's doing the best job ever or refrain from all criticism, but it would look kind of good if more liberal/progressive/Democratic types....well? Rooted a bit. Spunk takes support. Defend him from lies and stupidity and respect the things he does right.

2) Get on the same page.

Party discipline isn't just about not letting pillow fights and games of Truth or Dare get out of hand. The Republican party, in the days before the Tea Party insurrection, used to have really good party discipline. They supported each other. It was like the mob. They didn't put hits on each other and they recognized their common goals. Nowadays, they trash each other and even starry-eyed zombie-Reagan fetishists recognize how far the party has gone to the right even since the heyday of Trickle upon Down economics and Iran Contra and all that. But that doesn't mean some unity in messaging wouldn't be a great idea. In the words of Davy Crockett- decide what's right, then go ahead. If you have to lose, lose swinging and doing something right. Stand for something or you'll fall for anything--that's Malcolm X. I'm feeling eclectic with my quotes.

3) Can we brag?

You know. I feel good about being part of the party of FDR and JFK, RFK, and even Mondale and Dukakis. The point of being a Democrat is thinking we're doing something right. Ending DADT is right. Supporting a female-bodied person's right to choose is right. Supporting the rights of voters to access to and transparency in their voting, and supporting the rights of working people to organize and of consumers to get what they are paying for, the recognition of the government as a tool of the people to do important things well--these are things that need sticking up for, and it only makes sense to do that. Stand if you must on the shoulders of giants--and see a little farther than they even did.

4) Can we slam?

They really did cheer letting a guy die. Alan Grayson was right. I know it wasn't all of the Tea Party audience, just a few loud guys, but still--the GOP is the party that did Watergate, Iran-Contra, Iraq-gate, etc., etc. and the Tea Party is the distilled bile of the GOP. If the way to win is to point out every failed, screwed-up meme and every fallacy, point out every lie, go as strongly negative on the opposition as possible--why the hell not? Go hard. Make it newsworthy. Get it in the papers. Get it repeated. Also--get it deadly accurate and never back down or apologize. Hold the cracked mirror up to them and let them see how distorted they can be.

I dunno. Just that sort of thing. Off the top of my head. Would be nice.