Progressives are most in need of a national message.

We must take the time to create and articulate a vision that will withstand the test of time and transcend two-, four- and six-year election cycles.

Progressives need to fight for "a more perfect union" - one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for ALL. A nation where no matter where you are born or where you live, if you work hard, play by the rules, you can share in the American dream.

We can get there by fighting for fundamental individual rights not just government programs. Progressives need big ideas. We need to fight to make education and healthcare constitutional rights.

If we can summon the national will and imagination to put a man on the moon, we can give every American the fundamental right to quality education and healthcare and build a more perfect union.

Progressives need a foreign policy of aggressive engagement. We will stop at nothing to defend our nation, and aggressively promote human rights and the rule of law around the world. Fighting terrorism involves attacking the root causes of terrorism, not just symptoms and eliminating terrorists around the world. We need the will and the integrity to lead so that the rest of the world will follow.

The war on terror isn't just about capturing terrorists and bombing targets, which only addresses the symptoms. The war on terror must address reducing poverty, eliminating hunger, and promoting democracy around the world. In other words, treat the soil in which the seeds of terror are sown. Aggressive engagement attacks both the roots of terrorism and the actual terrorists.

Iraq was aggressive invasion. We went in alone, didn't address the root causes, and didn't attack the actual terrorists. Iraq is attracting terrorists. What we need is aggressive engagement with our allies, doubters and the real enemy.

A message of fighting to put the human rights of education and healthcare in our Constitution as new American rights at home, and a policy of aggressive engagement abroad will give progressives a national appeal. We must not concede any region of the nation - especially those that need such policies the most.