“The boost in financial aid to college students was one of half a dozen domestic priorities Democrats set when they took control of Congress this year. Two others — an increase in the minimum wage, and mandatory air and sea cargo inspections — have become law, and a third, ethics reform, is awaiting Bush’s signature.”

The Dems also passed a law making the 9/11 Commission Report suggestions official. I found it a bit weird an important piece of business was completed on a Friday. And, as Slate noted, two papers put it inside. The LAT did not.

Given the LAT and educational background of some here, I thought this might be of particular interest. It also shows that the stuff is there for a good “frame” … even on security issues.

They forgot who they are and what they do. Their political senility began when the DLC took over and, only partly in reaction to the unintended consequences of campaign finance reforms, moved the party way over to the right to be able to get some of that cash out of those who, ironically, were left in the campaign finance driver’s seat: corporations and robber barons.

That meant Democrats had to learn to speak and lead in a way pleasing enough to Republicans, and that’s what they’ve been doing ever since. Their subsequent failure of leadership and their abandonment of their traditional constituency – a large majority of eligible voters – have been replicating themselves like memes in the halls of Congress, and thus we have Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid: unsure exactly what they believe in and scared of their own shadows.

And thus we have this.

While it’s true that Democrats don’t have the echo chamber Republicans do, they aren’t completely bereft of resources. There are a fair number of organizations doing progressive policy research, and the information and policy recommendations they provide are there for the taking. And on top of that, there’s 200 years of progressive political history and theory to serve as a baseline guide.

The questions I have are “what does it mean to be a Democrat?” and “what does it mean to be a leader?”

The Democrats get beat up on foreign policy all of the time for taking “soft” positions. They need a way to be able to deflect this frontal assult. To provide backside protection the Democrats need a full-functioning think tank on foreign policy that is out front with the message and let them set the tone for the debate.

Much of this goes back to Bill Clinton and Terry McC. They wrongly focused on raising money for campaigns from fat cat contributors in the corporate world. Democrats strength is at the grass-roots level, witness the impact of Blogs in 2006. Howard Dean has started to reverse this failed strategy but it takes a little time to rebuild what was allow to rot by neglect.

Not helpful is a MSM that performs as stenographers with the talking points spun off by the right wing noise machine. Yes, we need a left wing noise machine (read think tanks) to level the playing field. Once this infrastruction is in place we can then hold our politicans more accountable. It just takes a little time to get the ducks in a row. I am willing to give them that time. You are more impatient. Perhaps I should be.

The average person, rightly or wrongly, don’t pay attention to foreign policy. In fact, Congress often doesn’t, leaving that in large respects to the POTUS. So, it seems unfair to now say “hey, the people aren’t pressing enough.”

True to a point, but it only takes us so far.