Progressives are assailed for having no principles they are willing to fight for.  Unfortunately, when the other side has such strong well-articulated principles, this lack of ideas will not do.  In order to regain our momentum, the most important need is for strong principles. This is not the same as having narrow-minded intolerant principles.  Until define what we stand for, the other side will continue dominating the debate. Here are a few possible progressive themes:

Fairness -- Americans generally support the idea of fair play and opportunity. To ensure citizens can participate in the economy, the government should support equal opportunities in primary/secondary education and health care. Investments of these types can improve people's lives and national competitiveness.

Responsibility -- Few people support a system that allows crooks to escape responsibility or encourages people not to work. But for people to compete, they need the education and opportunity to fully participate in economic life.  Opportunity and responsibility should come together.

Strength -- There are bad people in the world who want to subjugate or kill us. Although negotiation is vastly preferable, force is necessary against some of our enemies. While sending people to die is a gravely serious matter, we should not be squeamish about using force when it's necessary.

Engagement -- America is powerful but it cannot do everything itself. We need allies and they need us. In a world of interdependent trade, global epidemics, mobile refugees, TV news, and international terror, we can't afford to cut ourselves off or make enemies needlessly.

Tolerance -- No one wants an alien culture forced on them. To keep the peace in an increasingly diverse society, we need to protect all groups from discrimination and acts of violence and ensure that everyone is allowed a political voice.

Fiscal Responsibility -- A government must live within its means.  Large budget deficits are a sign of economic mismanagement.  On top of this, it is important to avoid high debt, low savings and unsustainable pension debt.  Keeping a responsible hand on fiscal policy is vital to regaining public trust.

In the end, progressives must speak to people's real concerns. They need to communicate more effectively with the grass roots and find a way to connect people's concerns with progressive causes. We also need to understand that people are nervous about the future but are often ill-informed. For example, 70 percent of voters still think though there was a connection between Al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein! If we can't convince them logically, we need to find a way to connect with them emotionally. This makes it vitally important for any progressive leader to have charisma.

In the end, the climb up will be difficult. Not only is progressive morale low, but it is complicated by a uncritical mainstream media, the effective use of a 1984-like "perpetual war" against terror by the Right and one party control of the federal government. However, progressives must return and rebuild. We need real principles and leaders who can win hearts as well as minds. It is not enough to point out the weaknesses of the Right without having a vision. Without an effective opposition, reactionary government has the opportunity to triumph, which could even threaten democratic government. In the end, democracy is not assured after a competitive and fair election -- it only lives with the promise of the next one.