Should we tell the truth about rightwing thuggery,

[MoonRiver]

Poll question: Should we tell the truth about rightwing thuggery,

or should we keep appeasing and mollifying to capture the "center" and/or independent voter? I guess that would depend on how successful each strategy has been.

[bryant69]

1. Interesting way to pose the question

Here are a few more ways to ask it.

"Should we be boorish self righteous jerks?"

"Do we really have the time to focus on policy and explain our positions in a convincing way, or is it just more fun to just throw perjoratives around?"

"Is everybody who thinks differently than myself a freeper spy?"

"Will the world end if I don't speak this truth immediately? What if I miss my chance?"

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[MoonRiver]

2. Are you implying then that:

being "borish self righteous jerks" equates with telling the truth?

[sangh0]

3. Who could tell?

The way you worded it, "telling the truth" could mean anything. FOr example "should we keep appeasing and mollifying to capture the "center" could be depicted a lie, which puts you in a questionable position when it comes to "telling the truth"

[MoonRiver]

5. Well, obviously I meant telling the truth as we see it now.

Even in science "truth" is a relative to our current knowledge base.

[MoonRiver]

11. Additionally, by appeasing and mollifying I meant NOT mentioning

rightwing outrages, because we might get somebody mad. I did not imply that lying is a choice.

[bryant69]

6. Nope

I equate being boorish self righteous jerks with being boorish self righteous jerks. You can be that with reference to true statements and with reference to false statements.

[HEyHEY]

4. Tell the truth

But tactfully so we aren't dismissed as wingnuts

[MoonRiver]

7. I refuse to be timid and afraid. I also won't be tactful if it diminishes

my argument's effectiveness. Sorry, but shaking like a terrified Little Red Riding Hood facing the Big Bad Wolf has gotten we Dems nowhere.

[AntiCoup2K4]

8. Pandering to the right wing is what's killing this party.

It's amazing how quickly the 2002 election fiasco has been forgotten.

[MoonRiver]

9. Absolutely.

And somehow Reagan's death has sent this board spirraling back toward that perfect storm we just weathered.
:argh:

[bryant69]

12. OK Let's apply this

Do you really think if all our party echoed the "Fuck Reagan" sentiment around her it would help or hurt our chances in the election? Is that what we are talking about? Or something else?

I notice that hte people here aren't talking specifics very much. Where do you think we are missing the mark exactly?

It takes more effort and more courage to choose your words carefully than it does to just vent, in my opinion. I like how President Gore has been speaking lately for example. Although the Right wing accused him of insanity, they haven't pulled out any quotes to tar him with, and the speeches themselves were models of lucidity. Passionate lucidity, but lucidity all the same.

[MoonRiver]

13. I, for one, am not stating that we should start screaming "Fuck Reagan".

I do believe we should be free to discuss what he did WRONG. Even Judy WoofWoof is talking about this.

[bryant69]

14. OK.

What's stopping you from discussion what he did wrong?

The fact that someone might disagree with you?

[MoonRiver]

15. That's not the purpose of this thread!

Frankly, I think Reagan's legacy is only of historical significance. I'd rather focus on current events. But if others want to vent about what he did while in office, more power to them.

[bryant69]

16. OK.

In what current events do you feel that moderates are leading us astray?

[MoonRiver]

18. I did not say that "moderates are leading us astray".

My point is whether it is worthwhile to try and appeal to some mythical "moderate" or "independent" voter. Personally, I don't think those people differ significantly from the left's views. Most of we left and center Dems are pro-choice, pro-environment, pro-national health care, anti-assault weapons for everybody, etc. But some are so frightened of the rightwing attack dogs that they refuse to publicly espouse what they want for fear of the illusory centrist boogyman. To those folks credit, though, they have definitely been propagandized into this belief by the rightwing media whores. The goal of the whores and the entire reichwing is to keep Dems meek and mild.

[bryant69]

19. Let's go back to the top

You basically imply that many democrats are afraid to tell the truth. So what is the truth you want them to tell? And can you point to any specific examples of this cowardness?

Also what's the difference between honest disagreement and cowardness? I mean I wouldn't favor many of the plans for national health care that have been proposed, but that doesn't make me a coward. Just someone who disagrees.

[MoonRiver]

20. For starters, many Dems were afraid to tell the truth re the 2000 theft

Afterwards, many Democrats were afraid to tell the truth about most of *'s horrendous policies and initiatives. Many of those Democrats I respect otherwise. I'm not presenting anything new here. Dems have been selling out to the right for stupid reasons over the last 25 years.

[Shredr]

17. So true!

They just bulldoze ahead, regardless of what anyone in the WORLD says or thinks. Why should we pander and worry?

[JDPriestly]

10. History

Imagine you are living in Germany. It is 1932. Would you tell the truth about the thuggery of the Nazis?

Fascism takes control when rational people are silent.

Yes, we speak up and make ourselves heard about the thuggery of the right.

[leyton]

21. Tell truth, but in an unassuming way.

If we shout, "Bush is corrupt, Cheney is beholden to Halliburton, Rumsfeld is evil, Karl Rove is evil too," nobody will care. That won't convince anybody of anything they don't already believe.

Instead, we need to point out things like Valerie Plame. Halliburton's excesses, particularly the sending of empty tractor trailers on pointless, dangerous back-and-forth missions. That sort of thing - concrete evidence that speaks to the incompetence, the corruption that takes place in this administration.

We've got to stop assuming that everyone knows how bad these folks are and that all we have to do is drive the message home. There are doubts about their competence and integrity to exploit, but we need to lay out the case carefully.

[MoonRiver]

22. We tell the truth with facts.

Don't need hyperbole when the truth is on one's side.

[EndElectoral]

23. Bill Plante on CBS did a nice other side piece on Reagan tonight

It was done without screaming, but showed Reagan's deal with the Ayatollah Khomenini so arms could be sent to Nicaragua bypassing Congress....It was a very good piece.

Here's the link

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/06/07/eveningnews/main621620.shtml

[MoonRiver]

24. Thanks!

That was a very good piece, factual, honest, but not hysterical. We need more honest reporting like that! CBS is proving itself to be an outpost of democracy in the media.

And welcome to DU EndElectoral!! :hi: