Da Vinci Code

David Sirota offers up what he calls the secret to Democratic success - a progressive, anti-corporate, anti-free trade agenda based on a discussion of how the average American is losing out under the current system and bashing greedy corporations. It's no doubt true, when Clinton told Kerry to focus on the economy, and instead Kerry focused on Iraq during the final two months of the race, it was a mistake. The economic message is Democrats strongest and one on which they always win. However, with war in the news, it's very hard to get this message through and so it is hard to blame Kerry for his foreign policy focus - in fact it was the heart and soul of his campaign. However, being anti-free trade could pose a problem for Democrats depending on where they are running. Just as many states experience net benefits from free trade as experience hardships. Primarily, free trade seems to have reeked havoc on economies based on older manufacturing industries. I think Kerry's solution of stressing the importance of labor and environmental standards in trade agreements may be a better position for Democrats to stress as being free trade does not necessarily make you pro-corporate.

However, 2006, with Iraq still a mess, and 2008, with a wide open race on both sides, should be prime-time to present a new, robust, and more progressive economic agenda to the country - not simply a bunch of warmed over Clinton policy ideas.