The ABC News analysis of last night's SOTU and Dem Response kept referring to the Dem response (both the direct response and the indirect, grassroots response) as shrill, argumentative and not offering solid alternatives.
Did Mehlman write Linda Douglas' analysis?
As it is, one of the interesting things that was brought up about the President's Multi-State Tour of Disinformation was a reference to Elizabeth Dole's race against Erskine Bowles and how Dole worked Social Security Deform into her campaign.
More after the fold...
At campaign stops Dole would hold up a book and say something like, 'These are my plans for reforming [sic] Social Security.'
Then she'd hold up a blank piece of paper ... 'This is Erskine Bowles' plan.'
Hardy-har-har.
But that is exactly what the conservative strategy over the coming weeks and months will be: "The GOP has this plan (hold up book); the Democrats don't (hold up blank sheet of paper)."
So that got me to thinking ...
We need to frame the conservatives' take on Social Security with more than just words (though Jeffrey Feldman, here in the DKos diaries and here, among others is doing a phenomenal job with words).
(Following in bold so it stands out. Sorry to anti-boldites.)
We also need strategies for visual references.
Perhaps we can hold up books of FDR's work on Social Security: "This is what Democrats have fought for over the past 70 years."
And then hold up a blue Social Security card - "This is what conservatives want to do to it" - and then light that card (made out of flash paper) on fire.
POOF!
Paints a very memorable and accurate picture.
I think it was Terry Moran who brought up the notion that conservatives want to make Social Security such a hot topic that Dems will be in electoral trouble if they don't talk about it (rather than the customary third rail if you do bring it up). Feeling a need that we must discuss Social Security plays into the conservatives "crisis" (oops, no, maybe it's just a "problem") meme and also Bush-As-Dear-Leader ("Here I come to save the day!") meme.
But we can also use the conservatives' desperation to destroy Social Security to our advantage.
Our progressive alternative isn't a major overhaul that is likely to bankrupt the system (or our children) but it's also not sitting-on-our-hands.
We invented the alternative and it's already the Law of the Land. It's called "Social Security" -- maybe you've heard of it. It just needs some tightening of the bolts and greasing of the gears; not a fundamental overhaul.
Dems can offer some real solutions for strengthening Social Security: Bush has suggested revamping entitlement tiers (does he mean cutting benefits? well, certainly that millionaire CEO doesn't need as much in his SS check as the little ol' lady down the street...) and everyone knows how regressive the SS tax is even if Bush won't touch taxes.... There are other minor adjustments that can be made to keep SS solvent.
As for private accounts... I'm all for improving the private accounts we already have: IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, etc. No need to reinvent the wheel or create a huge government-regulated Wall Street scheme that saps the lifeblood from Social Security.
So...
Go to the Dems' Senate War Room post on SOTU for inspiration.
Finally, pick your favorite ideas and send them to your nearest Dem Senator and Representative (does no good if we just chat about it here):
http://www.congress.org