The Republicans are going to make this election about the usual bullshit: wedge issues and Iraq, with a bit of immigration mixed in (with immigration, it means following Bilbray's lead of denouncing Bush while playing the xenophobe card.) Election 2006 should not be about what the Republicans tell the voters, but about what WE want it to be based on.
This shit happens every election. The GOP does all sorts of nefarious bullshit that barely makes the papers (page A-10 to be exact) while our leaders and consultants fail to utilize headline after headline of malicious conservative actions. For example, why didn't Kerry hammer Bush for flip flopping in creating the 9/11 Commission? Why didn't he talk about how Bush cut money for counter-terrorism before 9/11, and how we diverted Afghan funds to fight in Iraq! Why didn't he talk more about Tora Bora, and about Bush's comment that Bin Laden wasn't important? Why didn't they talk about Bush's missed opportunity to killed Zarqawi in the months prior to the invasion? If Kerry and Bob Shrum were smart, they would have followed the Rove playbook, and attacked Bush on his PERCEIVED strengh: the War on Terror.
Kerry could also have run ad after ad talking about the behind the scenes shananigans regarding the December '03 passage of the Prescription Drug Bill, but didn't! All he did was issue half-hearted press releases on these issues that only people on sites like Daily Kos and Democratic Underground will read! Kerry's first "salvo" against the SVBT also came in the form of weak-kneed press releases.
This year, our leaders are poised to allow Rove to hijack and define the political discourse yet again! They are forcing vote after vote on wedge issue Amendments, and are issuing declatory resolutions that paint us into the corner by making look like we reject withdrawal (we reject the particular type of withdrawal that their loaded phrases advocate!) If we want to do something, we need to go on the offensive on every Bush blunder of 2005-2006:
-Culture of Corruption. Need I say more. Plus, if they bring up Jefferson, show how we stripped him of his committe assignment, while the Repubs tried to change the rules to let DeLay stay. Talk about how it is INSITUTIONALIZED in their party.
-Social Security privatization. Hammer any Congressman who even flirted with supporting it.
-FEMA, Brownie, Katrina corruption.
-Cronyism in general. Mention Harriet Miers as example. This will piss off Conservatives who have forgotten about her.
-Bloated, pro-Paris Hilton government. Mention how spending has rised to record highs, and talk about how the GOP supports eliminating the Estate/Paris Hilton Tax, while at the same time they cut student loans by a record $12 billion. This will play with younger voters and middle class and working class parents with kids at college age.
-Dubai ports deal/attacking his perceived strengh. Also talk about Tora Bora, 9/11 Commission flip flop, and Bush's comment about Bin Laden not beign a top priority. Also mention his cuts to counterterror funds in months before 9/11 and illegal diversion of Afghan funds to Iraq. Also talk about port/border security and how it's under-funded. Also talk about Bush's cuts to VA benefits!!!!!!!!
-Bush's poor handling of the border up until his May National Guard speech. Also show how Bush is insincere on illegal immigration and wants to help corporations instead of working class Americans by allowing exploitation.
-Gas prices, and Bush's lip service to alternative energy. Also talk about workplace safety, such as mine safety, and how Bush has facilitated its ruin.
-Evangelical Government intervention in your personal lives. Talk about their pandering in the Schiavo case. Turn the tables against them, and make James Dobson and those who want to overturn Roe into the "boogymen." After all, a majority of people want Roe to stay. We are the mainstream on abortion, let's start acting like it! Emphasize the brand of liberal-libertarianism that Kos has been mentioning.
If these issues are played out on ad after ad from now until November, we will be able to make the election about the issues WE WANT. Dean, Pelosi, and Reid should boycott all of these wedge issue votes and declare that the GOP doesn't want to talk about the more pressing matters of this country. Running ads based on what I mentioned would be good, but knowing the track record of our consultants, we'll be lucky to even see Social Security mentioned.