If you are a Dem leader, or if you know a Dem leader, or if you know where a Dem leader can be found, please tell them this for us:
When Republicans accuse you of not supporting the troops, you say
That's bull! Bush has gotten everything he's asked for, and all he does is mess up and promise a better future. Check the public record.
When you hear criticism of Democrats being partisan, you say
You got that right! There's the pot calling the kettle black. They've been rabidly partisan for years. Here's the difference: Republicans are partisan for a handfull of people. They claim automatic superiority to almost every American. We're partisan for the rule of law, and the American way. They have to say something to distract everyone from reality. Which is something they don't like to go near.
Now, mind you, these aren't "say this word for word" suggestions. There's a certain approach we're trying to get down. Dem leaders should be prepared for the 6-second soundbite, the op-ed piece, the 5 minute Newshour segment and every other venue.
As a matter of fact, when a Dem hears any Republican attack at all, you can say (across the jump)
Republicans have "smear and fear" and that's it. They had the government for ten years, and America has gone downhill in everyway that matters for 90% of the people in it. And we are weaker and poorer as a nation than we've been in decades. But Republicans have made out great with all this. They think ordinary Americans are stupid.
Hopefully, Dems might get the idea. In simple steps
- First, understand that seeking reasonable compromise, even as a clever political move, with someone who regularly beats your brains out, impresses the public as either cowardice or idiocy.
You must beat them up, like it or not. Otherwise, you lose.
- Never, ever, ever, engage on Republican rhetorical ground. Whatever line they throw out, brush it aside, and attack.
- Always make the point the Republican Party is the party of falsehoods and failure. (This is very very easy to document. Keep current references in mind.)
Now, here's one that's so strong, the American people would quickly snap to:
The people running the Republican Party now are closer to King George, or Stalin, than they are Reagan. These days their Party's more like a cult than anything else. You can't criticize the Leader, you must do what he says, the Leader is always good and wise and honest, the Leader has all power. That's these guys. Nothing to do with the America everyone grew up with. It's like we never got rid of Kings.
{Historical note: check out the success of the "clever political move", say the Mensheviks clever playing of the Bolsheviks, the opposition to Mussilini, politicians "harnassing" Hitler by putting him in the Chancellorship, figuring it would redound to them in the 1934 elections to have such a bumbler and fool in power...}
Of course, to start talking like this the Democratic leadership would need to have
- a clue
- common sense
- courage
Until we hear the leadership, as one, harping on the fact that Bush is tearing up the Constitution and he will absolutely be stopped, I've got to wonder why anyone thinks they've seen a leader emerge. Nothing else gets done without the rule of law.
Maybe there's no time for leaders. Maybe we've all been drafted into the citizens army to show up at our local Reps offices during their coming break this August. Doesn't matter if they are Dem or Repub, we've all got to let them know, in person, that we expect them to restore America, and to do so immediately.
If you do visit, please bring them a printout of their oath of office, and inquire as to how stupid do they think we are that we would release them from fulfilling it. Politely.
There my 2 cents.