The Republican resurgence began with Newt's bare knuckled

[chieftain]

approach to debate supplanting the collegiality of Bob Michel.It has degraded our national discourse and helped neuter the few moderate Republicans who remain. But it has become the standard for current politics and is ignored at one's peril.
We will not regain power by seeking areas of agreement with the likes of Lugar, Collins and Shays.As has been said many times on this board we need to sharpen our rhetoric and aggressively point out differences with the GOP.
Feingold, Murtha and Dean have shown how to speak plainly and effectively about how bankrupt these crooks and thugs are. I am sick and tired of Democrats who still think that national politics is a debating society where referring to our adversaries as our good friends shows how magnanimous we are. What it really shows is how out of touch we are regarding the nature of the challenge we face.
Our presidential candidates will have a differing positions on multiple issues ranging from DLC types like Bayh and Biden to progressive Liberals such as Kucinich. Whoever we select this time has to be able to talk one on one with the American people not as if they are orating in the Roman Senate. He or she must understand that we are arrayed against people who will lie, cheat and steal to retain power.Our ultimate choice must be willing to call liars, liars; crooks, crooks ;and fools and incompetents, fools and incompetents. Sugar coated euphemisms will not turn the tide. An unvarnished dedication to telling the plain truth to the country about these fascists is our only hope.