Welcome!

Welcome, all, to the inaugural post of the Democratic Insider Report. Since DIR is a brand-new blog, we feel it’s important to provide our readers a “when in the course of human events” moment in which we describe who we are, what prompted us to undertake this project, and the goals we hope to accomplish here.

As the name implies, we are, first and foremost, Democrats. Our primary concerns (policy-wise, anyway) are the four E’s: economy, education, environment, and equality. Michigan's path back to prosperity lies through recognizing that the 4 E's do not exist in a vacuum. In order to succeed, we must craft a comprehensive strategy that sees every issue in the context of an overarching, long-term vision. We have to start realizing that tomorrow's vote for economic development is today's vote for education funding, an unspoiled environment is one of the state's biggest competitive economic advantages, and that inequality (whatever its form) is anathema to a free and well-functioning society.

We decided to begin DIR in the wake of the electoral drubbing that Democrats took in the 2010 election cycle. We got a firsthand, inside look at the various ways in which Democrats did not do themselves any favors in an already extremely difficult election cycle. There are a number of areas that should be Democratic strengths – overall dissemination of a cohesive narrative, messaging on issues like the economic growth and environmental protection, and general party organization – all of which were struggles this cycle.

DIR hopes to provide news and analysis about the nuts-and-bolts of party politics (both state and federal) on all aspects of the process from adopting a platform to ultimately passing legislation.   We also hope to bring something different to our blog that others do not.  We will be having numerous guest blog posts and interviews with major party players and elected officials.  We also look forward to hearing your comments and ideas on how best the party can move forward from 2010 and start making the comebacks we need in the Presidential election season of 2012.