The foundation of our national strategy should be giving the government back to the people. The GOP runs Washington behind a curtain, doesn't tell us what their doing, and is never held to account for what they've done.
Now that language might not be exactly right, but this is how American's feel. How do I know? Just look at this poll from two weeks ago
Americans feel strongly that good government depends on openness with the public, with seven out of 10 people concerned about government secrecy, a new poll says.
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Bush is the most secretive President in history, with the largest collection of classified documents ever. This secrecy leads to unaccountability, because we don't know what's been done in our name. Then, when we hear something, like $9 Billion missing from Iraq, the people can't do anything to figure out what happened, because the GOP congress will NOT investigate what Bush is doing.
So every Dem House and Senate candidate challenging a GOoPer should get a couple of lines down and repeat them over and over:
Dem Candidate: So you can vote for these Rubberstamp Republican and you will continue to be shut out from government. The GOP will continue to hide and have more secrets from the citizens then ever before. They will keep more secrets from you, your money will continue to be wasted, and what's being done in your name will continue to be hidden behind a cloak of unaccountability.
But you have a choice. You can vote for me, so together with my Democratic colleagues, we can open up our government again, with no more secrets. We can find out where our tax dollars are being spent, and hold accountable those politicians who have squandered America's good name.
I also said something about Social Security didn't I? Well, at Polling Report I saw this little gem of a poll number:
"Please tell me if you support or oppose: Reducing guaranteed benefits for future retirees"
Support: 20%
Oppose: 75%
Unsure: 5%
We just have to turn the entire GOP plan into trying to reduce guaranteed benefits. Nobody wants that, and it's a huge political loser. But that is what Bush and the GOP are trying to do.
We must use these issues as our battle-cry. Any time we see a poll number that shows 70% of Americans on one side of the issue, and it agrees with our core principals, we have to use it, use it, use it.
The GOP does. They know opposition to gay marriage usually polls around 70% too (while support for civil unions is between 55-45%). That's why all they say is gay marriage all the time.
Rubberstamp, Red-Ink Republicans: They're increasing secrets, and reducing your benefits.
Side note: This whole Schiavo thing has kind of changed the dynamic. It has shown just how beholden the GOP will be to the fringe-wacko-right wing base. Again, 80% of Americans aren't down with that. As I said before, anytime there is a super majority of Americans thinking something, we have to, have to, have to find a way to use it.
Don't fight the super-majorities