Soros says be patient

Ever wonder why 1964 is such a key year for the Republican party? That is the year in which Barry Goldwater got spanked by Lyndon Johnson. It is the birth of the modern Republican party. Shortly after that drubbing, the GOP started looking for ways to grow in reach and power.

One of the key developments of the late 60's and 70's was the development of conservative think tanks to research republican ideas, test them out, develop them and present them to canddiates as issues. The development of conservative think tanks did not take place overnight and in many ways it is still going on.

George Soros, the billionaire backer of Moveon.org and dozens of other liberal groups, told a bank of liberal minded investors that you can't expect a think tank system to develop ideas overnight.

George Soros told a carefully vetted gathering of 70 likeminded millionaires and
billionaires last weekend that they must be patient if they want to realize
long-term political and ideological yields from an expected massive investment
in “startup” progressive think tanks.

Perhaps Democrats, or at least their money men, are starting to realize that it not that Americans like the GOP ideas so much better (which they do since most americans, at least at their core are conservative or change adverse), but rather that the Democratic ideas are just bad ideas. Instead of touchy-feely platitudes about social justice, rights and fairness, the Democrats need to develop real proposals and real ideas.

Building a base of issues identified with Democrats takes time. But taking time has never been a strong suit of the Democrats. They want their successes to come now and when that immediate gratification does not occur, they go back to the drawing board, instead of analyzing what when wrong.

On a side note, I love this little gem at the end of the story:
Despite the general recognition that progressives are several years behind conservatives, liberal activists are confident that technology will help them close the gap. “Technology may allow us to do in a few years what it took the other side 40 years,” the DNC source said.

Not bloody likely, technology is no substitute for real ideas and real work. Plus the Democrats are not particularly good at employing technology to build a base. See previous post.



Soros says be patient