A few days ago I was cruising through the blog world reading all my daily reads. I don't think it will come as any surprise that I read mostly left-leaning blogs. As I perused them I noticed something rather unsettling.

Before I get to that a little preface is necessary. I started this site in September of 2002 for mostly one reason. I felt (and continue to feel) that Democrats do not focus nearly enough on issue of foreign and military policy. And when they do, it is so often that knee-jerk "It's all about the oil stuff" that I dislike so much. When I hear that I think, "there's no analysis, just reaction." I'm not saying that oil isn't a motivator--but there is so much more going on here. But I digress.

I started this site because I feel very passionately that the Democrats in this country, instead of just opposing Bush at every turn, need to stand for something. We need to have a serious vision of our own. I also believe, passionately, that our vision will be vastly superior to that of the Republicans. A vision more true to America's sacred principles.

Now, that being said, while wandering around blogistan a few days ago I noticed that the Democratic Party and many candidates are advertising on many of the Left sites in blogistan. And that the majority of sites they advertise on have their primary focus on domestic concerns. (There is nothing wrong with this.) Granted, a few do cover 'things international' but not to any great degree. And I find that troublesome. It seems the party elders still just don't get it.

This post isn't an attempt to get advertising revenue from them. Not by a long shot. I'm just simply pointing at that still, well into an election that is likely to be decided on "the world out there" the Demcocrats are missing out on a key constituency. They are ignoring the elephant in the living room and instead focusing on their domestic bias. And the last time I remember them doing that they got crushed--remember 2002?

There are so many votes out there to be had if only the Democrats would create an alternate vision for the U.S and the world. Instead of just criticizing things like falling military benefits, the War on Terror, the Middle East, Central Asia, casualties in Iraq and on and on, come up with a plan, a vision. Stop opposing and start promoting an alternative. If they came up with a hard-nosed, realistic vision of the world that is true to our core beliefs I think they can win.

I just don't see them trying.

So, in the very near future Team Agonist is going to put together a series of exclusives about what the Democrats can do to create a positive vision of America's role in the world. We'll start with an overview, followed by the war on terror. After that we will cover every region of the globe.

Stay tuned . . .