Guerilla Politics a theory

[Homer12]

What I mean by this is that when the left or any opposition to Buscho makes a claim, or critisizes them about one of their numerous scandals, the corporate media backlash and spin to save Bushco's ass is usually either pretty strong to delegitiamize the claims or the opposition itself, or just ignores the story all together.

Then you ask, if this is the case why is their any bad news regarding Bushco's mis-deeds, lies, distortions even in the mainstream media at all.

I think it comes down to this: In order to take on Buscho (a fact that they are true giant in politics), if a opposition takes them on head-on (which is important), they are bound to lose the battle, considering the inherent weakness of the opposition having ethics and morals and not having the "win-by-any-means-nesscary" philosiphy that Rovian tactics exemplify; and the nature of the bully-pulpit of presidential politics.
The only way to make gains and to win against Buscho is to use small(low-yeild)tactics, over and over again to they can build to strengthen the opposistion while opening up the lies, distortions, scandals, and cover-ups.

A little at a time (TKO) vs. One large knock-out punch

I personally see this happening.

As far as the ammunition Bushco and Republicans give us that themsevles since their the best Hypocrites in the USA at this time (i.e. The GOP senate stealing Democratic files for the last year being the new scandal).

Say what you will by media bias to Buscho, but the fact is that underneath the radar of the mainstream media, this tactic of small guerilla-esque tactics is working to EXPOSE Bushco and the GOP for what they really have become and have been for a long time:

"Self-Serving Hypocrites who will do anyything it take to Win, from lieing to us to go to war, to stealing documents for the last year and then blaming their theivery on the Democrats they stold them from, etc......."

[rockymountaindem]

1. We need to make our own news

Here's my plan for forcing the conservative media to give us air time.

If every week, 20 or 30 Democratic senators, congressmen and governors got together at the Capitol and held a 30 minute one-way discussion about our ideas and such, the media would have to cover it and have clips on the news.

I know the media would rather not pay them any attention, but there's no denying that such a large contingent of powerful people speaking up in one voice would require the media to at least have a camera crew or two on site. It would be like shouting so loud that everyone would have to listen.

[Az]

2. The secret is framing the issues

The right are masters of creating the flow of dialog. The left frankly sucks at it. We get snookered into playing their word games and as soon as we start down that road we have already lost. There is no way to win an argument over why we want to raise some poor working guys taxes.

Understand this about human nature. We are not rational beings. We have harnessed reason and logic as tools but our core nature is not a rational one. We learn through emotional associations and reactions. Some have learned that rational thought is a very valuable tool and should override emotional reactions but the vast bulk simply respond to what appeals to them on an emotional level.

Thus the right frames the issues in such a way that they never bear the burden of the negative emotional response. Taxes are something the government steals from the people. Government programs are burdensome wasteful redtape filled beuacracies that fail to do their job. Others having too many rights is a danger to you.

If instead the left learned to frame its issues properly the right would quickly be exposed as the money grubbing greedy classist fiends they are. It is not taxes. It is your voice in the government. Those cutting taxes are trying to silence the indviduals who own the government. You get more bang for you dollow buying things in bulk. Think of how an entire country doing something together will increase the bang for your dollar. There are some things that need to be done in our society that are not going to make a profit without hurting people. These things need to be done by the government and they need to be done right. If they are not currently working fix them. Don't dismantle them. Another persons rights are your rights too.

Its all about framing. Do not let them control the message and they will quickly fall apart.

[Homer12]

3. Good Point about Framing the Issue

But if an issue is framed by the opposition in the conservative/establishment controlled media, It's pretty hard to not have that frame twisted pretty quickly. Examples abound of this from the usual character assasination to the overblown reaction and exploitation of the Dean Speech the other day.

I'm not saying that we should give up fighting in the right-wing created battle-grounds, we simply have no choice, yet on the other hand we are creating our own battleground (heavily website based btw), with our own opposition message where WE set the framework.

They orginally tried to ignore, or blew-off, MoveOn, DU, blogs, etc..., but they can no longer. We are a force to be rekon with (i.e. the GOP attempting to slow down the opposition message of MoveOn and other donation taking groups that frame messages in teh right-wing media).

In order to stop us, or blunt our message on our battelground that gets into the mainstream a little at a time; they either have to forcefully shut DU and other orginzations down (they'll try, but this is going to be very very difficult), or take us on in our battleground
were we frame the issues.