DAILY DOZEN: WHAT HAPPENED, DEMS?

Approximately 20 months ago the Democratic Party was sitting on top of the world. What happened? Was it the do-nothing attitude of the Republican Party that dragged them down? Or, was it self-destruction by constantly trying to act in a bipartisan manner on every issue? More than likely, it was a combination of both that may cost them the House and the Senate in November.

1. What went wrong? [Newsweek]
2. What’s Obama’s big problem? Liberals. [The New Republic]
3. President Obama seeks his inner Bill Clinton and feels voters' pain. [The Hill]
4. Too cool for school. [Newsweek]

5. Democratic ad casts Boehner in a central role. [The New York Times]
6. Grim election outlook for Democrats puts 75 House seats in play as Obama's star fades. [Cleveland Plain Dealer from AP]
7. Axelrod, Plouffe lay out election strategy at Harkin Steak Fry. [The Iowa Independent]
8. Democrats winning strategy. [Daily Kos]

9. Raise my taxes, Mr. President! We can’t afford the Bush cuts anymore. [Newsweek]
10. Boehner waves the white flag. [The New Republic]
11. Boehner signals he's open to Obama tax cut. [Economist's View]
12. Democrats to Pelosi and Obama: Let's extend the Bush tax cuts across the board. [Associated Content]

BONUS.What Obama's Presidency needs: A big reset. [The Nation]