VOLUME 2005, No. 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS

EDITOR'S NOTE
by Peter Ross Range

Cover Story

AMERICA CAN DO BETTER
by Al From and Bruce Reed
Hurricane Katrina exposed the Bush administration's failures of competence and ideology. Democrats must now offer a clear and confident vision for the future.

MIDTERM LESSONS
by Mark Gersh and Ed Kilgore
Paul Hackett's near-win in Ohio's 2nd Congressional District should give Democrats a confidence boost for 2006.

Fulfilling the American Dream In the grip of Bush's ideological agenda, Washington is locked in bitter partisan warfare. Democrats must look beyond the Beltway for a clear critique of the GOP and a positive agenda for the country.The Democratic Leadership Council, working with its diverse network of state and local elected officials, is developing such an agenda. It embraces four themes: securing the country, creating an opportunity society, standing up for American values, and reforming our broken political system. Participants in the effort met in Columbus, Ohio, at the DLC's 2005 National Conversation. The articles in this section are adapted from keynote speeches by Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, the new chair of the DLC; Delaware Sen. Tom Carper, the new vice chair; New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the chair of the DLC's new American Dream Initiative; Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, the outgoing DLC chair; and Virginia Gov. Mark Warner. RESTORE THE PROMISE by Tom Vilsack Bush has undermined our sense of purpose. By thinking anew, Democrats can make America stronger. Plus: IDEOLOGY OF CONTEMPT AMERICA IN 2020 by Hillary Rodham Clinton The chair of the DLC's American Dream Initiative has an optimistic vision of the not-too-distant future. THE MEANING OF STRENGTH Tom Carper Quality Education is the key to a strong economy and a just society. Evan Bayh Democrats must show they can defend the country in dangerous times. THE SENSIBLE CENTER by Mark Warner A red-state Democratic governor explains how Democrats can win again with a positive agenda for the future.

Essays and Comment

TOUGH LIBERALISM
by Peter Beinart
To win back the White House, Democrats must fight jihadist extremism and make anti-totalitarianism part of modern liberalism. Plus:

• NATIONAL SECURITY, PLUS -- by Tim Roemer

SECURITY GAP
by Lt. Gen. Daniel W. Christman
Prohibitions on ROTC and recruitment at some colleges are worsening the Army's leadership gap. Democrats can close their own security gap by challenging those bans and embracing the military.

BARBARIC IDEAS
by Tony Blair
Nine days after the July 7 terrorist bombings in London, Prime Minister Tony Blair told the British people that they must confront the "evil ideology" that generated the attacks -- not only the barbaric deeds of the killers but their ideas as well. Plus:

DEMOCRATS' OPPORTUNITY
by Bernard L. Schwartz
A defeatist message tells the wrong story about Democrats. They should be hopeful and realistic, and define America by its strengths.

NEW WORLD ORDER
by Robert J. Shapiro
Globalization is changing the rules of trade and competition. But Americans can still win with a progressive agenda focused on cutting-edge goods and services.

Counterpoint

CONTROLLING THE REMOTE
by David L. Cohen and Joe Waz
Cable companies want to prevent children from watching inappropriate TV shows by giving parents the technology to control their televisions.

Columns

Political Memo by Al From Hope and pride

The Vital Center by Bruce Reed Back to work

The Politics of Ideas by Will Marshall A smarter fight

Cultural Politics by Peter Ross Range Center party

Culture & Politics

WAR OF CONSCIENCE
by Peter Ross Range Plus:

TILTING RIGHT
by Ed Kilgore

FEAR FACTOR
by Fred Siegel