This started out as a comment to kos's post,"Unity" ain't the GOP's problem, but it got so long I decided to make it a diary.
The Republicans may be leaderless, but someone is still running a sophisticated propaganda operation and the rank and file are repeating the various talking points en masse. Despite their electoral looses they are managing to enforce strict conformity by all their members. Breaking with the party line is clearly verboten.
More after the fold
The "spin" that they are winning by obstructing every viable plan offered by the Democrats is simply more propaganda. What's disheartening is that the media is mindlessly repeating this tripe, or that they actually believe it. It's time to stop being angry at the media for what they are (incompetent & willing tools) and do something about it.
The Democratic Party needs to go on the offensive. This needs to be counteracted by a sophisticated Democratic Propaganda effort aimed at the media. It's not enough to do the right thing (institute an economic recovery plan), but explain what it is and why it will work (Economics 101). Further, counter propaganda should be generated painting the obstructionist Republicans as destructive and harmful. Or should I say, "Unpatriotic?" Their favorite slur of that last eight years.
Part of this should be holding the media accountable. Tell the media what they should be thinking and they will. That's what the Republican's are doing. When they mindlessly accept some idiotic statement, pepper them with reminders of what they should have asked. If they won't do their jobs, tell them how to do it.
How should this be done and who should do it? Well, this is something that I thought the Democratic Party needed for years. The efforts at delivering a cogent and coherent message have been poor at best. Now that President Obama is in the White House, I think it should be the White House Press office. But the efforts need to be more than holding press conferences and issuing press releases. It needs to include a sophisticated overall strategy that defines who "we" are and who "they" are. Then it needs to be followed up with one-on-one persuasion and pressure on individual reporters concerning what they report. A healthy dose of carrots and sticks would be very effective here. If you put their feet to the flames often enough they'll stop walking on the hot coals.