As a follow-up to my post last week on the top 10 things the Democratic majority did right during the 65th Colorado General Assembly, I'd like to explore (hopefully with your help) the Dems' failures.
So, once again from the home office in Buena Vista, Colorado, The Democratic Caucus' Top 10 Failures of the 2005 Legislative Session:
10. Posing for that Rocky cover in the 60s vintage Corvette.
9. Failing to creatively (this means NOT holding yet another talking-head news conference on the west steps) demonstrate the havoc TABOR is wreaking on the state. Dems are such policy wonks they assume everyone knows and understands what they're talking about. Earth to Dems: most people can't speak Wonk -- stop it!
8. Pissing off Labor when it wasn't entirely necessary.
7. Democratic-leaning organizations could have done a better job of PUBLICLY supporting Dem legislative initiatives.
6. Letting Bill Owens co-opt Dem legislators into his news conferences.
5. While it may not have stuck as well as they liked, the GOP had the discipline to try to paint the Dems as "anti-business" by using that exact phrase over and over. Dems failed to have a corresponding label for Owens and the GOP. If they did, it was the best-kept secret at the capitol.
4. Inviting teary-eyed people testify in favor of your bills that YOU kill yourselves.
3. Leading into the session with Ken Gordon's brainchild to give vice chairmanships to REPUBLICANS! (thank goodness the rest of the party had the presence of mind to stop him)
2. [How 'bout you blog freaks fill in this one. I'd like to see what you got.]
1. Failing to fix blame for Colorado's fiscal crisis on Republican mismanagement. Some Dems might say casting blame would have poisoned the water and prevented a deal with the Governor. However, the Gov. and the GOP are going to find a very clever way to take credit for "responsibly fixing" Colorado's fiscal mess while "saving taxpayers from the Democrats' risky and fiscally irresponsible tax increases." Right now, the Dems think they won -- they ain't seen nothin' yet. Remember your Rovisms: attack your opponent's strengths. Any takers on whether or not the Dems will see the attack coming, much like John Kerry, amazingly, couldn't foresee the attacks from the Swift Boat Orwellians?
they did screw up on Tabor. They have basically conceded that Tabor works and just needs a little tweaking...
Posted by: learnedhand | May 18, 2005 at 09:37 AM
Failing to fix the blame on Republicans? That's hilarious. As soon as the D's bring that up, the R's will fire back that it was the Senate Ds that blocked everything in 2004. The Republican House even passed Romanoff's plan with a 2/3 vote. It would have allowed the state even more money than Ref C and Joan & Co. killed it. Bring it!
Posted by: Dan | May 18, 2005 at 09:42 AM
Rebel Dem is right on this one. Voters put Democrats in the majority because Republicans DID NOT fix the problems the state had, with the budget prime among them. Nobody is going to believe Republicans if they try to blame Democrats for the mess, but Dems could have blamed the Rs.
You're right on with everything else, too, in my book. If the Democrats ever learned to turn to people with real PR and communications knowledge, they'd be tough. Instead, they just make it up as they go along.
Posted by: Ter Ducken | May 18, 2005 at 09:45 AM
I agree the staff for leadership is WEAK. We should have had a more coordinated effort on communication between Fitz and Romo, let's call in Al Yates to straighten it out next year before we go into the elections otherwise it could get ugly.
Posted by: BigJohn in West D | May 18, 2005 at 09:50 AM
Those needing the most help are often the ones who realize it the least. And who amoung them is going to tell the 'boss' he is wearing no clothes?
Posted by: tommix | May 18, 2005 at 10:02 AM
And no mention of Gates' ousting (the only successful Dem chair in America) and/or Waak's lock changes. Amazing. Guess that's your #2.
Posted by: wow | May 18, 2005 at 10:13 AM
Wholeheartedly concur with Wow. We Dems never let a good deed go unpunished!
Posted by: Coloradem | May 18, 2005 at 10:22 AM
I think this was about the state legislature, not the state party.
Posted by: Ter Ducken | May 18, 2005 at 10:22 AM
The Gates ouster was a good move. It tought the lesson that sniping at and undermining fellow Democrats will not be tolerated from a party chair. This will help unify the party in 2006.
Posted by: ohwilleke | May 18, 2005 at 11:02 AM
What press conferences?
Posted by: confused | May 18, 2005 at 02:18 PM