Messaging is important and neglected all too much. What seems to be over looked by progressives in general is that we are not the target of our own messaging. We tend to think to empathically and so relate our message in terms we are familiar with because we have internalized the arguments.
In the coming debate sequestration will be playing central roll. The Republicans have the easier time of it because they can message against the evil debt. Whatever we think about this message, it has proven to be effective. Near term vs long term, across the board vs targeted cuts none of that matters because they are not messaging towards any specific goal, rather they are using successful demonization of debt to advance the government is bad argument. At least part of their base knows it is B.S. and more importantly so to do all of the supposed "adults" in and out of the room.
The counter argument always gets bogged down in details and is lost in the words. A clear message needs to be conveyed. This can be made simpler if we realize that we don't have to reach the broad public here, but merely a slice of the opinion makers that will create pressure.
Thus Fiscal Drag. The word Sequester should never be far from the words Fiscal Drag. While that won't mean much to the majority of listeners it means the world to those who we need to influence. The Fiscal Drag of Sequester is well understood on CNBC, FBN, and Bloomberg. It is there where their own self interest will aid us in the coming days. It there that the rifts in the Republican coalitions can be most easily widened.
Just as the word Entitlements should be never be far from the words Social Security and Medicare, Sequester must be paired with Fiscal Drag. Always.