You could take my subtitle "read Lakoff" two way:
I have read "don't think of an elephant" and you take it as an imperative: Read Lakoff or contiunue to be marginalized!!
Don't mean to be repetitive or bore anyone but this is the most important book for progressives I have read - and I have read a lot this year.
The right-wing machine is BIG and ESTABLISHED. We are just starting, here in the blogworld.
But we are continuing to commit the same errors as are pre-blog forebears and our non-net democratic counterparts.
You must read this book if you have not read it and we must adopt a lot of the principles in there in order for progressive to survive (let alone win) - although how we are going to fund a thinktank I'm not sure. : )
I see in retrospect that Kerry did try to adopt some of these concepts ('stronger American, alternative energy). But he was just one man, and the rest of the democratic talking heads have garbled messages and crappy old-fashioned bullshit coming out of their mouths. I never want to see an off-message democratic on televison again and if I see one, or hear one quoted, their undiscplined ass should be fired.
Yes - it requires discipline, it requires framing, in requires a united voice. It may require us to get rid off, sidestep or ignore the leadership of the democratic party.
There is so much I have learned from that tiny book. Only $10! A steal.
Here's just one note: that exodus of disgusted conservatives or high-up defection you are waiting for? That knife turning towards Bushco? It will NEVER happen. The only thing that stands between the Bush agenda and America are progressives
I will write more once I mull this over. Maybe a seminar is in our future.
Progressives - we believe in Fairness, Responsibility, Safety and Community.