The "flip-flop" issue ......

[H2O Man]

The republicans never miss a chance to start an answer to almost ANY question about Kerry and the election with a "well, Kerry flip-flops." By saying this over and over, they hope it works to convince undecided voters that bush is steady and dependable, and that Kerry is not.

I believe that democrats need a consistant response to this. I am hoping that we can come up with some good suggestions on DU today, and then perhaps present them to Kerry headquarters.

Though I'm not clever myself, I did note that it really upset republicans when democrats in congress were using the old Reagan message of "are you better off than you were four years ago?" Oh, it upset them! So, I wonder if every time one of the enemy starts their "flip-flop" crap, if a democrat should say, "There you go again!" I think that would change the tone.

[TexasProgresive]

1. President Bush: Flip-Flopper-In-Chief

Here's a good resource

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=42263

[SCDem]

2. When people say to me that Kerry is a flip flopper

I take them to task and ask why they aren't upset with Bush's flip flops and then start going down the line of things he said and then did the opposite. It usually works pretty well.... but of course that is not a quick second soundbite.

[Sparkly]

3. The Chimp is just a Flop!!

The list of policy reversals in this White House is astonishing -- and they aren't just minor adjustments, they are major 180-degree turns due to floundering, failing to plan, and just plain failing policies.

Even Jon Stewart gets it, and said that since the Senate is supposed to be the most deliberative body in our government, they *ought* to be shifting positions and we should worry if any do not. ("They're trying to get... cloture!... ")

[SCDem]

7. That's why I get so sick of the "liberal" media

when talking about Kerry.... they'll throw in a sly or off the cuf comment like well Kerry has said lots of things (meaning both sides of an issue)...

What got me was that whoever the guy is who took over for Bob Edwards on NPR has done the same thing like two days in a row.... time to invest in SIRIUS radio and stay tuned 24/7 to AAR although conservative Lou Dobbs has been catching my attention and I hope some Republicans attention as well.

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. Another good retort...

No one can hold a candle to the INCOMPETENCE of Bush and his administration. (Always include the people that Bush selected to surround himself with.)

[Kong]

5. They Can't Have It Both Ways

Look, the Republicans are really saying two things.

1. Kerry has the most consistantly liberal voting record in the Congress

2. Kerry flip-flops all the time

So, which is it? Is he consistantly liberal or does he flip from one side to the other. They can't have it both ways, and I remind them of that constantly. I agree witht he first, he has been consistantly progressive, and that is what I support in contrast to Bush, who has consistantly been regressive, when not just plain foolish.

[TomNickell]

11. "A Left-Wing Zealot, with absolutely no principles at all"

I actually heard a pundit say that about Clinton.

Overall, this seems like a pretty weak and unimaginative attack.

Kerry makes a poor Hamlet, and many people are coming to think Bush might have been better off if he had changed his mind a bit more.

[NewJeffCT]

16. Bush has changed about just about everything -

How many reasons have we had for invading Iraq:
1) Immediate, urgent & unique threat of WMD
2) WMD programs
3) potential to develop WMD programs
4) well, Saddam was a bad man

How about his promise to get Osama dead or alive, and then a mere 4 months later, said it wasn't important and he didn't care?

Or, promising not to exploit 9/11 for political purposes, and then exploiting it in his very first campaign ad?

and, the list goes on & on.

[Francine Frensky]

6. Bush is driving us full-steam ahead, right over the edge of a cliff

Something like 66% of americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction, according to a recent Zogby poll. People know this in their hearts, but, you are right, there's no oft-repeated slogan to pound it into their heads that Bush is the problem.

It should ring true with people if you say in response to the flip-flopper comment that the most dangerous president for our country would be one who plowed on with an agenda that was an obvious failure.

Thanks to bungling the occupation of Iraq, we've lost GENERATIONS of middle-easterners. Who cares how those pics of prison abuse play in america (people who watch a lot of porn will think they are no big deal), but what matters is what the folks in Iraq think, remember how we were trying to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people??

Thanks to Bush's cowboy, go-it-along attitude, hatred of America around the world, not just in the middle-east, but everywhere, is at an all-time high. How does that make us safer???

Bush is taking this country in the wrong direction, and he refuses to change course or admit that he has made any mistakes. Bush makes our country and my family less safe and that concerns me very deeply.

[TomNickell]

10. "If you are headed over Niagara Falls...

it's a good idea to change directions"
More-or-less a quote from Anthony Zinni, I think.

[Loonman]

8. Funniest thing I ever saw - Reagan/Mondale debate

Reagan said his trademark "there you go again", but Mondale was waiting for it and cleaned Ronnie's clock so bad, he blew the debate and Reagan actually said "I'm all confused, now".

Great communicater, my ass.

[H2O Man]

12. That was the first debate?

It seems to me that was the one that Mondale did best in. I agree with you that Reagan was not the "great communicator" that people "remember" him as. Yet the "there you go again" line is a part of political folk lore, and Mondale (a good and decent man) lost in large part due to Reagan's shallow but effective sound bites. I agree that THINKING people recognize and appreciate longer responses. But a significant % of the voting public is impressed by those shallow sound bites. It's important to communicate with people in the language they understand.

[Az]

9. Well George doesn' realy think things through

Not really the best way to run a country.

Have to stick to things which seem to match the observed reality. What makes the Flip Flop stick is that Kerry does change his mind. Its a sign of a thinking human. George by contrast is trapped by having to appear to be fixed on his course. Its all about the image of confidence he is trying to sell (the con in conman stands for confidence). So we can play him both ways. He is too stupid to change his mind and he is a hypocrit when he does change his mind.

[crimson333]

13. I just say all

politician's flip flop, it is the nature of the game

[Alerter_]

14. Bush keeps flip-flopping on catching Osama, that's for sure

One day he's a "priority" and the next he's "not important".

[nostamj]

15. with apologies to the Beatles...

To the tune of “Paperback Writer” (and with apologies to the Beatles)

FLIP-FLOPPING LIAR

I HEARD THE RIGHT WING AND THEIR LATEST SPIN
SAYING KERRY WAFFLES AND THAT’S SUCH A SIN
IT’S BASED ON THE FAXES FROM A MAN NAMED ROVE
BUT TO KEEP HIS JOB, BUSH HAS GOT TO BE A FLIP-FLOPPING LIAR
FLIP-FLOPPING LIAR

EV’RY PHONY PROMISE, EV’RY PHONY CLAIM
THEY WRAP IN A FLAG AND A PHONY NAME
SO HE GIVES SPEECHES TO THE BUSSED-IN CROWDS
IT’S NO EASY JOB, BECAUSE BUSH IS SUCH A FLIP-FLOPPING LIAR
FLIP-FLOPPING LIAR
FLIP-FLOPPING LIAR

WHILE THEIR TAX CUT SCAM RAISED THE DEFICIT
THEY’RE ALL SO RICH, THEY DON’T GIVE A SHIT
AND THEY’RE MAKING PROFITS OFF THEIR DIRTY WAR
SO BE A PATRIOT, AND JUST CALL BUSH A FLIP-FLOPPING LIAR
FLIP-FLOPPING LIAR

IF YOU DARE CROSS THEM, THEY’LL EXPOSE YOUR WIFE
IF THEY CLAIM THEY’RE HELPING JUST EXPECT MORE STRIFE
WHILE YOU COUNT THE CHILDREN WHO GET LEFT BEHIND
PASS THE KOOL-AID UP AND REMEMBER HE’S A FLIP-FLOPPING LIAR
FLIP-FLOPPING LIAR
FLIP-FLOPPING LIAR

Parody Lyrics Copyright 2004 by Jeff Matson

[HootieMcBoob]

17. Beautiful

I'm sure Paul would approve :)

[nostamj]

18. thanks!

I was happy with it. not sure if it's going to make the final 'cut' for the revue but... maybe!

[Poiuyt]

19. What's wrong with flip-flopping?

In the first place, who here has the same views that they did when they were 20 years old. What's important is how a person thinks today. Remember how George Wallace went from being a racist to a civil rights advocate?

In the second place, when your thoughts, beliefs, or policies are obviously wrong, isn't it a good idea to change them?

Lastly, I think that it's being a good politician to respond to the will of the people. After all, politicians are supposed to represent us. If they aren't listening and responding, even if that means "flip-flopping," then they are being irresponsible.