There's plenty of places to commiserate about our losses, but I'm throwing this up here to have a dispassionate examination of why we lost so many races tonight, how we can avoid it in the future, and what our specific next steps should be.
First, I think we had a bunch of disparate campaigns running disparate races with no unifying themes, and no real plan. Take ISIS, for example. The GOP message on ISIS is clear: Obama's not doing enough to stop them, we'll push for more to be done. What's the Democratic message? Well, each Democrat had their own message. No good.
So Point 1: Our campaigns should drive the debate. Have a strong message, with an a counter ready to the anticipated rebuttal. Something like this:
Democrat: "ISIS is a threat that should be confronted by America's allies in the region, with our support. We know that we can't trust Republicans to deal with ISIS. The last time there was Republican rule and a crisis in Iraq, 4000 American soldiers died. The last time there was a Republican ruler charged with protecting America from terrorists, 3000 Americans died in NYC, DC and Pennsylvania."
Republican: "HOW DARE YOU?!? You Democrats think you can blame Bush for everything! Get over it! A far more relevant fact than 9/11 is Benghazi!"
Democrat: "I will never forget those who lost their lives on 9/11, nor those who died in Iraq, and I find your demands I do so to be abhorrent. As for Benghazi, I am pained by the losses there. Since 4 Americans dead at the hands of extremists in a volatile Muslim country was an average day under Republican rule, we cannot permit a party which allowed such atrocities to become so commonplace to retake power."
Drive the debate, and be ready for the response.
Point 2: Our campaigns must link each issue to an overall theme. There were some issues (jobs bill) and even a sort-of-message (war on women), but it never really connected to a broader theme or stayed consistent. I'd say that the main Dem-GOP difference is that Dems will look out for their constituents, while GOPers think their constituents should look out for themselves. Emphasize that as a theme, while tying the specific issue to that theme. "I'll work hard for you every day in Congress, making sure that we're creating good jobs here in America by closing tax loopholes for outsourcers." "I'll make sure your interests are being taken seriously by your government, which means ensuring that healthcare coverage truly covers healthcare for both men and women."
Going forward in future elections, I think our biggest challenge is going to be confronting the tidal wave of money that we'll face every election season. This is the one I feel a little confounded by, and I'm not sure how to address it. Clearly, the Bannock Street Project didn't succeed in its goals. Is that still our best bet? I have no idea. But it'll have one more chance in the Louisiana runoff. Tough territory for us, to be sure, but if the GOP can elect Joni Ernst in Iowa, we can reelected Mary Landrieu in Louisiana.