Daily Kos

(Lack of) Ethics in the House

by kos

Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:04:29 AM PDT

Looks like the DCCC plans on making the GOP's utter lack of ethics in the House a major campaign theme in 2006.
Democratic House leaders are casting about for squeaky-clean congressional candidates -- even if they're long shots -- to challenge prominent GOP incumbents who have been tainted by news reports of their allegedly unseemly connection to lobbyists.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) strategy, still in development, aims to make ethical charges the touchstone of those campaigns and would use several high-profile local races to create a national image of corruption in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives.

Several Democratic lawmakers and aides said that Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) will be the first target of this new strategy.

Explicitly borrowing from the anti-corruption planks in Newt Gingrich's "Contract with America," and hoping to replicate the 1994 watershed victory that followed, the new plan suggests that Democratic leaders believe they need to weave themes of abuse of power into any successful campaign to recapture the House.

Make this a campaign about "reform". The GOP recaptured the House in a single massive wave based on similar issues (rampant corruption in the House Dem caucus), wearing the mantle of reform.

And the public is increasingly disenchanted with Congress -- a GOP-heavy sample polled by Gallup gave Congress an anemic 37 percent approval rating.

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Permalink | 71 comments

  •  Squeaky clean candidates? (none / 1)

    I don't know where anybody is going to find one of those, considering most politicians come up through the fraternity/sorority system.

    It only laughs when I hurt

    by Princess Sparkle Pony on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:08:40 AM PDT

  •  about time (4.00 / 2)

    Hit the GOP where they're weakest. It should be easy to show these Bible-thumping zealots up as immoral and unethical hypocrites.

    "We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." - Benjamin Franklin

    by CaptUnderpants on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:08:42 AM PDT

  •  Loud and clear (none / 1)

    Two excellent ideas posted on dailykos today.

    1.  Frame the issue as Big Business (GOP) vs. the rest of us.

    2.  Talk about Republican ethics, in that they don't have any.  Repeat over and over.  Then repeat some more.  Repetition for teh win!

    by agpc on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:09:21 AM PDT

    •  hrm (4.00 / 2)

      Not completely agreed.  Big business isn't automatically our enemy here - Repubilcan criminality showers rewards on certain 'in-the-club' businesses while shafting others.  Most businesses suffer from criminal and incompetent leadership just as much as any other Americans.  Against this GOP business should be on our side.  

      Tom DeLay's GOP: cheating America in a time of war.

      by Tom Frank on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:12:42 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  agreed (4.00 / 2)

        as well, the business leaders tend to reflect the era they're in. we're nearing (or have arrived at) a new guilded age here, and the prevailing theme seems to be "it's easier to apologize than ask permission" (or cop a plea instead of ask permission), so those kind of people are rising to the top.

        corporate money is absolutely the biggest single corruption issue we face, as far as i'm concerned. it starts every other problem, the thing itself and the love of it.

        occasional drunken bloviation

        by garth on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:17:15 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  We can't just run against big buisness (4.00 / 3)

          It in and of itself isn't the problem.  It is the completely selfish & self centered bastards that lead some of these companies/institutions.

          Show how corporate tax rates have plummeted & show how tax bites for middle & lower incomes have raised correspondingly.  I say bites because you can't say the rate so much as the total tax paid w/ respect to income generated.

          That works with middle america.  When doing this you also have to showcase businesses that aren't the enemy and how it can be done with a concience.

          by kindness on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:31:30 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  exactly (none / 0)

            It's like Kos said - pit shareholders against the asshat CEOs who enrich themselves and their 3rd mistresses whether or not they run their company into the ground.  Spitzerize the election.  

            Tom DeLay's GOP: cheating America in a time of war.

            by Tom Frank on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 10:01:15 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  asshat CEOs (none / 0)

              Too bad public campaign slogans have to be G-rated.  I really like "asshat CEOs," and it's so true...

              We're not Republicans -- words still have actual meaning for us, and when we hear freedom we know it doesn't mean armed occupation. --felagund

              by froggywomp on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 10:29:10 AM PDT

              [ Parent ]

    •  Old ideas (none / 0)

      1. that frame is very, very old and tired and worn out and ineffective. Heard the same thing 32 years ago (and 28, 24, 20, ...)

      2. as Kos noted, ethics failings seems to cycle between both parties, so this would be answered with "pot, meet kettle" riposte.

      My suggestions for better framings:

      1. Republican--America's Leeches
         a. sucking resources away from your children's education
         b. sucking medical care away from your veterans and elders
         c. sucking blood from our soldiers for their oil companies
         d. sucking justice out of the law
         e. sucking truth from our news
         f. etc.

      2. Grassroots Dems keep a clean house (will require time)

      -6.63 -5.64

      I am I and you are you, and we are both each other too -- Clair Huffaker

      by xysrl on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 10:51:16 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  hmmm (none / 0)

        You guys are funny.  Yes the democrats can try to rationalize everything they say, inspecting each word for truth, merit and dignity.  They can take a "principled stand" against releasing potentially false and misleading information upon the electorate.

        And democrats can keep losing elections.

        I realize its not really big business vs. the rest of us, but thats how the issue has to be framed.

        Republicans don't mind spreading misleading information.  They also don't mind winning elections.

        Also, just because these are "old ideas" doesn't mean they are ineffective.

        As for pitting shareholders against the big companies, you do realize that institutional investors, who own a great portion of existing shares, are on the side of Republicans, yes?

        But go ahead, quibble with my language, fellow democrats.  Your integrity is admirable.  Our inability to win elections, however, is quite depressing.

        by agpc on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 01:14:07 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Old, tired and ineffective (none / 0)

          Do we have more or fewer Dems in Congress?

          Do we have a Dem president?

          And this condition has been improving or getting worse?

          I contend that yours, sir or madam, is the position that is losing elections.

          -6.63 -5.64

          I am I and you are you, and we are both each other too -- Clair Huffaker

          by xysrl on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 06:11:24 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

  •  Slogan (4.00 / 2)

    Tom DeLay's Republicans: cheating America in a time of war.  

    Tom DeLay's GOP: cheating America in a time of war.

    by Tom Frank on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:10:22 AM PDT

  •  Naughty and Nice (none / 0)

    The House Republicans are giving so much ammunition to the Dems, it is hard to figure out how the Dems can't make some significant gains.

    But then, they screwed up last year.  The difference this year, so far, is more message discipline in the party.

    And the concept of "reform" is one that resonates.  Bush used the word trust so many times last year and the Dems can next year.

    Do we know where the Repubs stand on issues?

    Yes.  They are against any ethic investigations in the House.  They are for deep benefits cuts and massive debt in the Senate.  They are for feeding the bank-card industries at the expense of the sick, the elderly and the military.

    The list goes on and on.  A good national coordinated campaign, tailored in terms of message presentation on the local level, can really have a positive result in 2006, which then will serve as a springboard in 2008.

    Bush, so incompetent, he can't even do the wrong things right.

    by JAPA21 on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:10:36 AM PDT

    •  Continuous fighting tactic (4.00 / 3)

      I think that the DCCC shouldn't wait until election year. They should be running occasional adds point this out NOW. Just to tie in the current headlines with the GOP.

      Then, come election time, this will be a "stylized fact" and it will have more effect.

      Right NOW there should be ads pointing out to people the voting record of the Republicans. Right NOW they should be pointing to the fact that 99-100% of the GOP is supporting these bills.

      And keep up a low-level of attack until elections, when you can ramp them up:

      "Remember the Wildlife Refuge? Well, the GOP sold it to Big Oil"

      People will remember seeing something about this in the past.

      by mlafleur on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:40:49 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Absolutely correct (none / 0)

        and several posters have commented on this in the past.

        The Republicans have had a concerted campaign in the past to paint Democrats as big government, big spenders.  That created a mind set in the voters which would serve as a backdrop to specific points the Republicans would point out.

        We have to do the same, use specific catch-phrases to describe the Republicans, and then comeback and hammer on specifics.

        Bush, so incompetent, he can't even do the wrong things right.

        by JAPA21 on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 11:41:55 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  channel Reagan (none / 0)

      "Are you better off now than you were 4 (or 2) yrs ago? Is the country better respected, does your dollar buy more, are we more secure?"

      There will be few people who will say yes. And for those that do, we can point up the error of their ways.

      Though by next November, we might not have to. Those $5.00/gal gas prices and $500 heating bills, coupled with 8% inflation, are going to do it for us.

      (Hopefully, somebody will be able to throw that back in my face next year -- but I kinda doubt it)

      by mmacdDE on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 12:43:35 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  squeaky-clean candidates (none / 1)

    Democratic House leaders are casting about for squeaky-clean congressional candidates ...

    Methinks they're going to need a much wider net.

    Granted, Dems got nothing on Repubs in terms of bald-faced corruption, but if they really want squeaky-clean candidates, well ... maybe they can get Diogenes in on the search. (It's not his current hobby has any chance of panning out.)

    "All progress depends on the unreasonable man." -- George Bernard Shaw

    by Bearpaw on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:11:41 AM PDT

  •  Oh, please use this in the CT (none / 0)

    I think a lot of GOPers - including Johnson - could be unseated by this campaign.

    "The revolution's just an ethical haircut away..." Billy Bragg

    by grannyhelen on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:11:57 AM PDT

    •  Rowland will be sentenced tomorrow (4.00 / 2)

      just to remind Nutmeggers of where the GOP is at.

      "Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies." - Groucho Marx

      by DemFromCT on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:14:26 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Absolutely... (none / 1)

        I think it's fair to mention DeLay and Rowland all in the same breath, along with the Video News Release scandal.

        "The revolution's just an ethical haircut away..." Billy Bragg

        by grannyhelen on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:21:27 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  and Philip Giordano (4.00 / 2)

          R-Waterbury.

          West Hartford man pleads guilty to illegal campaign contributions to Giordano

          March 10, 2005
          BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- A West Hartford man pleaded guilty Thursday to helping his former employer make illegal contributions to the 2000 Senate campaign of Republican candidate Philip Giordano.

          Michael Watts, 51, and three other employees of Arthur A. Watson & Co. Inc. and their spouses each made $1,000 contributions to Giordano, the disgraced ex-mayor of Waterbury. A total of $8,000 was donated, U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor said.

          ...

           Giordano, who lost his Senate bid to Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman, was convicted in 2003 of violating the civil rights of two young girls by sexually abusing them. He also was convicted of using a cellular phone to set up the meetings with the girls.

          He is serving a 37-year prison sentence and awaits trial on related state charges

          "Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies." - Groucho Marx

          by DemFromCT on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:25:40 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  A true slimeball if there ever was one (none / 0)

            Giordano is a low as they come. If nothing else, putting pressure on the GOP here in the CT might have the effect of Johnson/Simmons/Shays trying to distance themselves from DeLay, because the corruption here is so local and so bad...

            "The revolution's just an ethical haircut away..." Billy Bragg

            by grannyhelen on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 10:02:19 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

      •  Nutmeggers :) (none / 0)

        Okay, this may have been around awhile, but it's the first time I've seen it.  And it made me smile.  Thanks.

        by WisVoter on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 02:27:03 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  Trial run in Ohio (none / 1)

    The nomination of Ohio's Rep. Portman as special trade representative will trigger a special election in 2005.

    I hope the special election will be about Social Security and House ethics, period.

    by Elwood Dowd on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:12:03 AM PDT

  •  We can't go after Bob Ney (4.00 / 3)


       his stunning love of our troops was displayed when he led the "Freedom Fries" charge. My God, how can we do this to such a patriotic American?

       Ok, now that the sarcasm is out of me, go get the bastard. And also target Ginny Brown Waite in FL, the bitch who decided that all our brave soldiers from WW1 and WW2 who are buried in France would want us to remove them. Political points scored using American soldiers who died for a cause more noble than anything Ginny Waite has ever done or fought for. Knock them both off.

    by usmeagle69 on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:12:20 AM PDT

  •  2006 (4.00 / 2)

    needs to be all about "reform". fortunately the GOP has made this one a no brainer. remember in '96 when anything remotely related to the republicans was referred to as "dole/gingrich"? this time it needs to be "Bush/DeLay". over and over and over again.

    "after the Rapture, we get all their shit"

    It's time: the albany project.

    by lipris on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:13:10 AM PDT

  •  Sweet Jesus there is a God! (none / 1)

    Thank you DCCC!

    Let's shove it down their hypocritical throats.

    What would Jesus Do? He would impeach Bush.

    (-6.75, -3.85)

    by mapKY on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:15:20 AM PDT

  •  Roll out the corruption rhetoric (4.00 / 2)

    Overfed fatcats.
    One-party government.
    Self-satisfied bureacrats.
    One party government.
    Corrupt politicians drunk on the people's dollar. One-party government.
    Power-mad mandarins.
    One-party government.
    One-party rule.
    One-party government.
    American Maoists.
    One party government.

    It's all the arrogance and indifference of the old Russian and Chinese communists who rule as if they had lifetime appointments.

    'Fie upon the Congress' - Sen Bob Byrd

    by Maxwell on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:16:43 AM PDT

    •  I think this ties in very well with a general (none / 1)

      populist economic pitch.  Look at the Republican priorities: tax cuts for the rich, protecting the credit card companies, etc. etc.

      We need to start connecting the dots, and helping working class (Red State) Americans appreciate that you CAN'T TRUST REPUBLICANS WITH YOUR MONEY!

      That should be our mantra.

      by bktzoo on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:35:50 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Credit card cronies! (none / 0)

        Why do Republicans always take all the credit? Look at their connections!

        I think of the old Twilight Zone episode where the aliens come down to earth advertising their benevolent and charitable intentions through a piece of literature called "To Serve Mankind". Unfortunately, no one read the book too closely. The hitch: it was a cookbook.

        When these boys talk about "ownership society", look at the fine print and follow the connections. There's no helping hand here. When they say "ownership society", they mean they want to own you.

        'Fie upon the Congress' - Sen Bob Byrd

        by Maxwell on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 10:26:23 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  oh boy, there's the ad (none / 0)

          A plantation type house, bunch of people (of all colors/races) cleaning the car, mowing the lawn, etc., etc.

          Guy comes up, says something, they all jump, bow, whatever.

          Working guy mutters -- When Bush said 'ownership society' this wasn't quite what I had in mind...

          Then we need a tagline
          "Bush's Ownership Society -- where the rich own everything and you get... "

          by mmacdDE on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 12:49:34 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  Yes, and tie it (none / 0)

      to true opposition:

      Every time a Dem votes against an ethically-challenged Republican bill sponsored by an ethically-challenged Republican, we say something like:

      "building one more brick  in our wall of decency"

      or somesuch.

      Wonder if Sununu's fired now.

      by Republic Not Empire on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 10:42:22 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  It's about (none / 0)

    character.

    State Rep. Jeremy Kalin Energy, Transpo., Elections & Pub.Safety

    by JK Minnesota on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:16:47 AM PDT

  •  On my list. (none / 1)

    Clean government has always been on my list of what it means to be a progressive Democrat. Republicans can have their big government versus small government message. We just need to remind folks that small dirty government is still lousy government.

    The right wing hates Pooh because he reminds children to "think, think, think."

    by dicta on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:16:52 AM PDT

  •  FINALLY! (none / 1)

    This is one of the reasons I think Dean would have been a great candidate. We should have won in '04 -- not just the White House, but the legislature, too.

    The Dems just needed to run a "throw the bums out" campaign. Finally, FINALLY, we're going to stand back up and howl.

    If the Dems really embrace this, I think we can take back the House. Then, it's impeachment time, folks. It will get stomped in the Senate, but that will just make it worse for the GOP in '08 when we throw the bums out!

    I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

    God bless America. God bless our troops.
    God damn George Bush to the fires of eternal damnation.

    by Bill Rehm on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:19:25 AM PDT

    •  the real challenge (none / 0)

      i like the strategy -- it's the GOP's true weakness: a lack of ethics and catering to corporate interests.  the concern that i have is that they really need to meet the challenge head on, because it's so old hat -- "we'll clean up Congress".  even though we know how bad it is now and even though we can come up with so many specific examples of abuses of power and  ethics violations.

      i don't think it's an easy strategy to implement but it's certainly one that taps into their weakness, and if done correctly, will stand up for the party's principles and motivate its base.

      by drh2 on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 06:55:59 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  I don't know why we needlessly are (none / 0)

    getting everyone's hopes up about a replay of '94.  That will do nothing but put a down note for the media slap on to any gains we make next election.

    '94 was a very specific situation in which redistricting had just occurred allowing for the shift of the south to the GOP to finally appear in the congress.  '06 simply doesn't offer those types of oppurtunities.

    Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.

    by Descrates on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:19:46 AM PDT

  •  I hate to say this (none / 0)

    but a voter in OH-18.  I see almost no way Ney will be beaten.  It is a brutal district.  We can barely get D's to even run, I don't know if there is even a credible D in the entire district.  Now if we can make Ney a symbol of the entire R party, that would be nice.

    by bacchusbucks on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:21:41 AM PDT

  •  speaking of GOP-heavy samples, note the following (4.00 / 3)

    series from Mystery Pollster:

    weighting by party

    Last week, the Gallup organization released a survey sponsored by CNN and USAToday, fielded February 4-6, that appeared to show a surge in President Bush's job approval rating from 51% to 57% since mid-January.  "The Iraqi elections...produced a bump in President Bush's approval rating," said CNN.  "Americans gave President Bush his highest job approval rating in more than a year," read USAToday.

    Gallup immediately went into the field with a second poll conducted February 7-10 that showed the Bush job rating back down at 49%, "slightly below the levels measured in three January polls, and well below the 57% measured in Gallup's Feb. 4-6 poll."  Unlike the first survey, this one was not co-sponsored with CNN and USAToday, and thus as blogger Steve Soto put it, this poll did not get "bull-horned through the media" the same way as the first.

    As such, I want to consider the question Soto raised Monday on TheLeftCoaster: "How often is there a 16% swing in a public opinion poll in one week?"

    The short answer is, not very.

    The MP didn't leave it there. He's contacyed many of the polling outfits and through persistant efforts by many folks,  some of them will at least get on board with publishing the party affiliation at the time the polls are released.

    Gallup's Frank Newport responded:


    As far as I know, Gallup has no history over the last 70 years of routinely posting the party ID composition of each survey we conduct, just as we routinely don't report ideology and  a lot of other measures regularly asked in each survey.  As noted, we send the party ID composition percentages to anyone who is interested (actually, we really don't get that many requests for them). But since this seems to be an area in which there is perhaps bourgeoning interest, we'll probably start posting them on our website for each survey, along with rolling trends and some explanations of how Gallup measures party ID and what it's significance is [emphasis  added].

    The link will take you to similar discussioin from Pew and others. And about time.

    "Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies." - Groucho Marx

    by DemFromCT on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:21:51 AM PDT

  •  Here's some framing (4.00 / 4)

    Courtesy of the Moderate Independent:

    SOMEONE'S GOT TO SAY IT: HOLY SHIT! WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO THE NATION?!?

    I Turn My Back On George For A Few Years, And Jesus F'ing H. F'Ing Jesus! Did I Accidentally Get Off The Plane In Honduras???

    by resident firebrand John S. Ashton

    MARCH 15, 2005 - I mean holy friggin' Jesus friggin holy shit! Has anyone else seen this yet?

    I mean, I guess last time I paid attention was a few years back or so. We were a superpower, we had peace, prosperity, democracy. The nation wasn't perfect but... holy friggin Christ.

    Gas costs how much? Georgie was pissed off that oil was over $24 a barrel when he ran for office - for sure if I thought there was anything he could fix it would be that - he's a damned oil guy who sleeps with the Sheik of Saudi Arabia, for crying out loud. And then he even went into Iraq to steal the oil.

    But let me get this straight. Our President is an oil man from Texas, his lover the dictator of the biggest oil producer on the planet, and we now rule the place with the second biggest reserves, and oil is up near $60 fucking dollars a barrel? And now all he can say is, well, maybe we'll find something to help under a bird's ass in Alaska?

    For crying out loud, people! Hasn't every media outlet blown a nugget over this one already?

    And Jesus Christ, I actually believed George that his deficit-creating tax cuts wouldn't really lead to deficits. The money would be multiplied back at us, through investment or some shit.

    But holy fuck! Have you seen the debt? Or the deficit?

    Or how about the trade debt? I just saw today, not only did it just go up to a new record, but it went up 25% this year alone. 25 fucking percent?!? In one year? Over an already record above record high? I'm sure that's the top story all over the news today, right? I mean, it just came out those numbers... God Damn!!!... they must be everywhere! I was hoping to find out the verdict about some second-rate former TV actor who hasn't worked in 20 years, but no way will that make the news with this story all over the place!!!

    Jesus Christ what a mess! Long-term unemployment: at a record.

    And when I last paid attention only about 1 or 2 people were dying a day in Iraq - and I thought that massive, end-all Fallujah assault that was timed to play out exactly on election week was going to "break the back" of the insurgency, or that the insurgents were just "making a last gasp" and would be done "after the election." But shit, now it's 20 a day, dead, 30, 40!

    George! What the fuck are you doing?

    I mean, I knew he might cause some shit, but... Fuck!

    Okay, I better calm down and get some perspective.

    Record debt, national deficits, trade deficits, oil at $56 and climbing, dirtier air, propaganda on TV, record long-term unemployment, record personal bankruptcies, the world friggin' hates us now, our cat dick-sized coalition of the sort-of-there in Iraq can't even keep Portugal or Poland on board? We're even losing our mafia buddies from Italy? I mean when even the mafia decides you're too low to associate with, how low have you sunk?!?

    And wait, we're caught on film taking pictures of Arab penises? And some poor dog had to go sniffing Iraqi dicks for these pictures?

    What the fuck?

    Jesus Christ, George, I thought you quit using years ago? I mean, this shit doesn't just happen on two NA beers a night!

    Come on, fess up. You hitting the Everclear again? Or maybe the Pine-Sol? Something. Sniffing magic markers? The pen you use to sign the spending bills?

    Fuck. I mean, what the hell else can a person say? Fuck.

    Russia has built up it's structure so it now is the second largest oil supplier, only behind the Saudis. Europe is going balls out to develop alternative energy technology. India is even taking over our phone banking/telemarketing.

    And what the hell have we accomplished in the past four years? What?

    There's got to be some upside? Some positive part of what's been going on here?

    Anyone?

    Oh yeah, limited local elections in Saudi Arabia, that's what I heard the non-Moderate Independent media saying made all this worth it. "Limited," "local" elections - in a dictatorship that is Bush's butt buddy and is reaping almost $60 for a barrel of oil now. No, that wasn't just a PR show to try and help Bush out, it was real progress that makes all this worth it.

    But wait, Syria also... I don't know, did some shit related to some entirely insignificant hole named Lebanon. Wow, I feel better and safer and like record deficits, unemployment, debt, bankruptcies, oil prices, and no progress in science or anything else has been worth it. Because of something about something in... fucking Lebanon? When the hell were they about to attack us?

    Fuck George. Stay focused. You're fucking up. Stay... stay focused Georgie. Look... no, don't tell me somewhere down the road... no, don't do it. George, stop!!! George!

    Look, I would, you know, really like to believe what you're about to say about how things will work out someday or year down the road, but there's the little problem of EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID SO FAR BEING WRONG! Oil is not cheaper! There are record deficits! Unemployment is a record! Iraq didn't have WMD's! It hasn't just taken "months not years"! George, you haven't gotten one fucking thing right!!

    Fuck, look at this mess... no, stop... stop... stop saying I should ignore it, that it's all about to get better. George. George!!!!

    Well, at least I'm sure the rest of the media isn't buying into any of this "it's all going really well" coke-head-liar talk. I'm sure the Democrats have made this oil disaster the massive story it should be, like it was in the Carter days. I wonder if they've activated the Emergency Broadcast System yet? Is GWB up in Air Force One for safety in case riots break out?

    What a fucking mess!

    Fuck.

    At least I'm sure there's no one at this point still dumb enough to support the President or think he's done anything but wholly holy suck. I mean, anyone who did that would make a Cretan eunuch seem like a tough-guy genius. I mean, we always had stupid people, but fuck, that would take a mutant-strength moron like only appears after a Chernobyl-like accident or something. Thank goodness we haven't had any meltdown here that I know of, so it must mean no one is mutant-stupid enough to still not see what a fucking mess things are.

    Fuck. What a fucking mess. What an asshole!

    Ok, I'm done. Sorry if I got a bit overheated. Just happened to actually look at my nation for a second and decide to say something honest.

    http://moderateindependent.com/v3i6ashton.htm

    This message has not been approved by the corporate media.

    by jre2k8 on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:22:07 AM PDT

  •  Even Congress... (none / 0)

    ... campaigns against Congress, so it's no wonder that Congress's approval ratings are low.

    Of course, this Republican Congress particularly deserves its own opprobrium.

    Liberty and justice for all

    by lovable liberal on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:29:18 AM PDT

  •  Positive, I am positive we need to be positive (none / 0)

    Somebody said that we should run on a two point platform based on the house Republicans refusal to live up to any Ethical standards and their love of Big Business.

    Attacking Republicans as "DeLay Republicans" or as the party of big business alone will not win a damn thing. We have to demonstrate a contrast.

    I think we need to be positive. We need a campaign that explains that our party stands four square in favor of morality and integrity in government.  More importantly, we need to demonstrate that we are the party of small business and the middle class.  Our program has got to be aimed at creating jobs, helping small business and making our businesses (big and small) more competative in the rest of the world.

    by ronbyers on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:43:28 AM PDT

    •  Wrong Wrong Wrong (none / 0)

      We've been the adults, we've been better than negative campaigning, adn what has it gotten us?  Out of every seat of power.  Sometimes, you just have to get down in the mud with  the pig and wrassle it to the ground (note my quaint colloquiallism...only ruined by the use of the word colloquiallism in describing it...I'm starting to let go of the Librul Elitest thing and talk like a real backwoods Populist!).  To continue my analogy, this doesn't make you a pig, it makes you a butcher.  Lets serve up some ham hocks and bacon in the midterms.  I'm tired of being polite...and I'm sure tired of losing because I'm too well bred to play hardball!

      FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!  NO RETREAT!  NO SURRENDER!

      "Any single man must judge for himself whether circumstances warrant obedience or resistance to the commands of the civil magistrate" John Locke

      by TheGryphon on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 11:55:17 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Positive doesn't mean weak. (none / 0)

        I never said we didn't need to fight.  I said we needed to present a positive image. At the same time we need to define the Republicans as being unethical, immoral and dishonest.  We also need to point out that their policies are destroying the American middle class.  

        by ronbyers on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 12:25:02 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Partially Wrong, Partially Right (none / 0)

        This is my first post here, and I'll make it brief.  I think we do need to throw everything that we possibly can at them, they've been doing it to us while we've focused on the positive and where has it got us?

        We also need to highlight our differences in as positive a light as possible as well.  We can't just have a negative message.  People want to know what the alternative is and we need to proide it for them.  

        For example, our values state that we stand with working people they stand with Tom Delay, Wall Street and big business.  Because we stand with working people, we propose the Employee Free Choice Act, expansion of the Family Medical Leave Act, retirement security, etc.

        We stand for freedom, they stand for spoon feeding people the party line with fake news, etc. etc.  

        At the same time, we need guerilla tactics akin to what Karl Rove has been doing to us for years.  At the same time, we need to promote our  values in a positive way so that people have an alternative to get excited about or else they just won't vote for neither party.
         

        Pass the Employee Free Choice Act!

        by PaulVA on Fri Mar 18, 2005 at 06:01:08 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  A New First Name ... (4.00 / 4)

    for EVERY GOP House candidate in 2006;  "Tom DeLay And."  As in, "Tom Delay and (your local candidate) have dragged standards down in the mud for too long."  Even if it's non-incumbent.  Screw them all.

    Dear Democratic Party: Win This One or Just Disband

    by Tuffie on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:45:26 AM PDT

  •  another stategy (none / 1)

    this strategy should go hand in hand with the theme
    return to balanced government
    that US government runs better when one party controls executive and other party controls legislative.
    poll after poll show americans prefer balanced government this theme was repeated over and over by republicans and SCLM during Clinton years yet low and behold when Bush got in office and republicans took control of congress this balanced government theme disappeared from MSM.

    by smartone on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:46:40 AM PDT

  •  Ron Byers ... (none / 0)

    Yes, agreed, but we need to do both.  After we slam those bastards, say "But Democrat Joe Smith will give us a government we can be proud of again ..." or some such thing.  No issue laundry-lists, we have to know by now that no one gives a shit.

    Dear Democratic Party: Win This One or Just Disband

    by Tuffie on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:47:25 AM PDT

  •  We don't need: (none / 0)

    A congress that votes before they know what they're voting on.

    A congress that answers every corporate scandal with another tax break.

    A congress that legislates morality for everyday Americans, while they themselves refuse to adhere to even the most basic ethical guidelines.

    The DeLay congress is stupid, corrupt and hypocritical.

    by JoeWPgh on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 10:07:09 AM PDT

  •  Stating the Obvious (none / 0)

    Not to state the obvious, but that low Congressional rating blew my mind, especially because it was done by Gallup.

    If I recall, Congress rarely gets high approval ratings, but if the Republicans are thinking about the nuclear option, they may want to think again ... very, very hard.

    by Bald Peanut on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 10:09:59 AM PDT

    •  Does anyone know (none / 0)

      what the approval rating for Congress was in the 18 months leading up to the 94 elections?

      We're not Republicans -- words still have actual meaning for us, and when we hear freedom we know it doesn't mean armed occupation. --felagund

      by froggywomp on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 10:31:37 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  I'm sorry, but with the one-party-state, (none / 0)

    corruption is inevitable.

    by vivens fons on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 10:28:50 AM PDT

  •  Out (none / 0)

    Out with the hypocrite, in with the Democrat!

    "You can't negotiate with reality" - James Kunstler

    by Bob Love on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 10:29:39 AM PDT

  •  lack of ethics (none / 0)

    lets all try to push the progressive agenda in  our own home towns, and link all republicans to tom delay. and if we can knock off a few we'll be well on our way to taking back this country... so lets call the talk shows and push for getting out  the delay republicans....

    by metsfan1986 on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 10:53:05 AM PDT

  •  When Republicans Say Reform, they Mean... (none / 0)

    Whenever the Republicans use the word reform, check for your wallet, because it usually means they're taking money and power from you and giving it to people who don't need it. To Republicans the word "reform" is just another word for legalized bribery.

    by wdrath on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 12:54:50 PM PDT

  •  Thank-you... (none / 0)

    Let me know what I can do to get rid of Ney. He hasn't done a damn thing in my area and no one runs against him.(At least no one that has a chance of beating him!)I'd help campaign against him any way I can.

    by crazymom on Fri Mar 18, 2005 at 03:56:09 AM PDT

Permalink | 71 comments