But I think what you're missing is that many people who sit out elections sometimes do it for the opposite reasons you're proposing -- they don't want to be strong-armed into a groupthink-style mold. They don't want to be cast in the role of followers.

So, while I think some of your idea has merit -- Democrats more clearly defining the broad goals and the encapsulated spirit of their party -- I also think that both can and should be done. Give a more passionate purpose to those who are looking for reasons to join the Democratic Party...while also providing a welcoming avenue for Independent and nonaffiliated voters to support Democratic candidates on the ballot without having to "join the club" (define themselves as such) itself.

I also wouldn't knock all of Elizabeth Warren's "I have a plan" approach too much. Broad platitudes worked for Barack Obama while campaigining...but that was a unique election cycle. In the long run, Democrats need to have a policy-based explanation on hand to articulate in anticipation of the Republicans (or media Talking Heads) who are going to try to nail them with "Gotcha" questions. In fact, part of Warren's failure is that she didn't have those rebuttals fleshed out enough (particularly in regard to her health care plan).