Maps and Blueprints

Terrance at Republic of T has a simple list of actions the Democrats should take to reposition themselves as progressive:

• Remember that they still have a majority — more of a majority than Bush the Younger had when he pushed through much of his agenda — and then act like it.
• In other words: present a decisive, progressive agenda and own it.
• Present solutions that are firmly grounded in progressive values, and that directly address the needs and concerns of the other 99% of Americans — not just the wealthiest 1 %.
• Remind people exactly how conservatives and their policies got us here, and hold them accountable.
• If conservatives only want to be “The Party of No,” let them. And make them own it.
• Invite them to offer any ideas they have that (a) haven’t already been tried with disastrous results, or (b) are not so obviously flawed that they will only make things worse. (Like a deficit focus that would mean cutting services at the precise moment Americans are in the most economic pain and need them the most.)
• When they fail at that, move forward on your [own] without them.

The rest of the post fleshes this out.  (Also, why one tosses used teabags.)

(ETA:  Emphasis in original; word in brackets added, was probably intended, and does not change the meaning, but I kept tripping over its absence.)