at their own game. The Democrats have got to become spinmeisters. Let's look at a recent example: the Iraq War supplemental funding bill.
They started strong, getting out in front with tough talk, drawing a line in the sand. "We will make Bush accountable to the American people," they implied. "No more free lunch! We want timelines, benchmarks."
Slowly, perceptively, the Democrats weaken. Bush stands fast in the shifting sands, stubbornly shouting "Veto", yelping about how the Democrats do not support the troops because they are asking him to justify how he's spending the taxpayers' money, burying it in a bloody hole. And the Democrats ultimately blink first. They acquiesce (although there is that quixotic vision of Harry Reid saying "We shall never surrender" [I paraphrase] in the well of the Senate).
Instead of being cowed by his groundless ravings, the Dems should have stepped out in front. Seized the agenda. Saying, "We support the troops by getting them out of that hell hole you put them in. You left them without body armor. You gave them crummy health care and aftercare. You broke their hearts, minds and spirit using tactics like stop loss policies and multiple tours to force them into continuous combat or else face the wrath of military justice. Your first move should be getting our young men and women out of there, out of another country's civil war. Spilling innocent blood is on your conscience, Mr. Bush."
The Republicans think they can count on the Democrats' failure of nerve and inability to connect emotionally with the American people. Is this true? Read more about the Age of Unreason.