After looking at the
Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll results, the big question that comes to mind is: how on Earth can 2/3 of Republican voters
still support Bush?
I'm worried about this because I can see how Republican candidates are already trying to distance themselves from this administration in an effort to reclaim the 33% of Republicans who have wised up about Bush, Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld, etc. As others have pointed out on many occasions, we need to do a better job at tarring all Republicans with this administration's failures.
If we can get one third (or more) of Republicans to either vote Democratic or stay home next November, we might actually have a chance at reclaiming some part of our government. To do this I think it will help to have some good sound bites that don't actually come across as mean-spirited but still manage to trigger a strong negative gut reaction among rank-and-file Republicans. Bankrupt is my suggestion.
I think the word "bankrupt" is a good concept to attach to the Republicans, not just because it so well describes the many ways Bush & Co. have failed our country, but also because it's such a dirty word to traditional conservatives. Here are a few ideas as to how I think the word can be applied:
- Republican policies are bankrupting our economy, our foreign policy, our environment and our schools.
- The GOP has been morally, ethically, and intellectually bankrupted by selling out to the neocons, the religious right and the K-Street lobbyists.
- Republicans have bankrupted our influence as a world leader through their incompetence and dishonesty.
- The Republicans are bankrupt of ideas, leadership, and values.
Can you think of more specific ways in which the word "bankrupt" can be used to describe the GOP?