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Democrats are resolving to improve their performance after a disastrous 2014 the political equivalent of new year's resolutions to lose weight and save more.

The ritual introspection is both predictable and imperative for parties that have been rejected at the polls, the way the Democrats were in 2014. Two years ago, it was the Republicans engaging in the self-examination.

It's such a staple of losing election seasons that it feels a little bit like the time loop in the movie "Groundhog Day" when the same thing is repeated over and over again, said former state Sen. Dan Gelber, a Democrat whose district included part of south Broward.

"The Republicans become introspective after presidential year losses, and we become introspective after off-year election losses," Gelber said.

Democrats are trying to figure out how to recruit better candidates, examining their use of data and technology, and reconsidering the way they deploy people and money in the field in an attempt to boost turnout of their voters.

Among the reasons for the post-election reviews:

Party activists need something to focus their energy, and to stave off despair.

Donors require assurances that the party is changing to avoid a repeat of their wasted money.

Leaders such as U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, need to show they're listening to voter dissatisfaction and taking it seriously, minimizing any sentiment that they aren't up to the job.

"She needs to be seen as a part of that just to make sure she isn't tainted as a failure," said Charles Zelden, a professor of history and legal studies who specializes in politics and voting at Nova Southeastern University.

Originally posted here:
Democrats seek fixes for voter disapproval

Strengthening the middle class in Wisconsin is a top priority for Assembly Democrats in the 2015-16 legislative session, said Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, last week.

"Most importantly is ... trying to create a better environment for the middle class, trying to ensure that there are more family-supporting jobs, trying to make sure that people have the ability to make a living (and) support their family in dignity," Barca said.

From Democrats' perspective, the policies favored by the Republican lawmakers who carry the majority run counter to that goal.

Barca criticized tax cuts that have benefited the state's wealthiest taxpayers over those in lower income brackets, along with reductions to credits that benefited low-income taxpayers like the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Homestead Credit.

The theme that stands out from the 2013-14 legislative session, Barca said, is the issue of income inequality.

"When you take the trickle-down approach, as theyve done, its just never proven to be effective," he said, adding that Democrats' proposed solution is. "Lets help build the middle class and theyll buy more goods and services. Small business owners will do better if more middle-class people have money in their pockets."

Democrats see a further threat to the middle class in right-to-work legislation, an idea some Republicans have voiced interest in. Gov. Scott Walker has said work on such a bill would be a distraction to other reforms he wants passed.

"The Assembly speaker has indicated that it wont originate in the Assembly," Barca said. "So Im glad to hear that. Im hoping that as people learn more about what it really does and the negative impact it has on the middle class, maybe the bill wont advance. Thats my hope."

Barca also voiced concerns with cuts made to public education funding, along with the possibility of further expansion to the state's school voucher program. He questioned whether taxpayer-funded voucher schools are held to the same level of scrutiny and accountability as public institutions.

Other worrisome Republican proposals, from Barca's perspective, include calls to reform the state Government Accountability Board and its process for John Doe investigations.

Link:
Wisconsin Assembly Democrats focused on strengthening middle class, says Peter Barca

The race is on.

Democrats and Republicans have already started their campaigns to win over Hispanic voters for the 2016 presidential election, according to articles in various publications.

An article in Politico argues that the Democratic leadership, upset over low support and turnout by Latino voters in the 2014 midterms in which Hispanics voted Democratic by a 28 percent margin, down from 44 percent in 2012 has responded by upping fundraising efforts in heavily Latino congressional districts, selecting the New Mexico congressman Ben Ray Lujn to head up the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and forming an Immigration Strike Team earlier this month.

Composed of members of both the White House and the Congressional Democratic Caucus, the idea behind the strike team is to coordinate talking points and media appearances to counter Republican objections to President Obamas executive actions on immigration.

The presidents approval ratings among Hispanics since announcing the moveswhich extend deportation protection to between 4 and 5 million people in the country illegally and increase some border security measuresjumped from 47 percent in September to 57 percent in a Wall Street Journal/NBC News/Telemundo poll released last week.

It was really bad timing for some senators who approached the president and asked him to put off taking executive action on immigration, California Rep. Tony Crdenas, the new chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucuss political action committee told Politico. Talking to Latinos, a lot of them were very bothered, a lot of them were very perplexed and confused.

The way many Democrats see it, the presidents unilateral immigration action has put the GOP on the defensive, at least where Latino voters are concerned.

I think Republicans have a problem right now with immigration reform, Lujn told Politico. Republicans are going further and further to the right instead of trying to find a way to work in the middle to get this done. Thats going to hurt GOP chances in the debates, in the presidential campaign, as well as in these House elections.

The veteran political analyst, Larry Sabato, told the International Business Times, Republicans can choose to maximize or minimize this Democratic advantage by how they handle the reaction to the executive order.

Whether that is the case or not, the Republicans have done a much better job over the last 10 years of cultivating Hispanic politicians and grooming them for prominent positions with national recognition.

Read the original here:
Democrats push to win back Latino support that slipped during midterm elections

Meeting to help Central Indiana immigrants prepare for immigration reform
Meeting to help Central Indiana immigrants prepare for immigration reform.

By: WTHR

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Meeting to help Central Indiana immigrants prepare for immigration reform - Video

Pat Buchanan on price tag to carry out immigration reform Fox News Video
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By: Breaking News

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Pat Buchanan on price tag to carry out immigration reform Fox News Video - Video