I don't know if any of you got to hear the interview on the nationally syndicated NPR show "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross. Listen to the interview yourself at whyy.org, NPR.org or
http://www.npr.org/...
She interviewed the co-authors of the book "The One Party Country: The Republican Plan for Dominance in the 20th Centry" by Los Angeles Times Reporters based in Washington DC,Tom Hamburger and Peter Wallsten. But based on their coverage of Capital Hill and the Whitehouse, they
cite example after example of how the the right wing has
planned and plotted to take over the county. We have to learn from this and plan our counter strategy and messgage based on their analysis.
Loyality to the party by votes, volunteering and giving money is the only criteria for political jobs and advancement. The lobbiest on K Street all have to be Republican. You can't publically or privately question or criticize the President, the Republican Party, or the Administrations policy, plan or message. Strict discipline of "staying on message" They have been working on this ever since the defeat of Goldwater in 1964. Karl Rove is the principal strategist and planner.
We as activists have to get busy and stop preaching to the choir and to the hard work of going door to door, hosting house parties, leafleting, conducting teachins, organizing demonstrations and being more visible.
Blogging is not enough. We have to use the media creatively to get our message out to the public. We have to "stay on message" What is the Progressive Agenda?
Why is the Conservative Agenda wrong for America?
The authors describe how every Wednesday morning, the conservatives meet in Washington, DC Norquest, head of the Americans for Tax Reform, host's this forum. The range of right wingers coordinate their common agenda, talk about the news and how they will respond as a conservative movement.
This is how they stopped Harriet Myers and brought in Alito as their nominee. And hence, the Constitutional Amendments
on flag burning, gay marriage.
We as a progressive movement need to learn from this and plan accordingly. We need "freedom for autonomy and unity for strength".
You might recall Dubyah's recent press conference in the Rose Garden, where he chastised a reporter for not taking his sunglasses off, who has a eye disease, made worse by bright light,who stood his ground in not taking his glasses off for the king and in his question! Peter Wallesten, one of the co-authors is that reporter.