"Let's show Rove who owns the net"

[carpediem]

Found this idea - thought it was a good one to pass on
(edited for clarity)

snip

The good folks over at Not Geniuses are calling for Flood the Zone Friday's. Basically, all good lefty bloggers should get together and take advantage of Bush's tools to email local newspapers and make calls detailing the administration's disastrous policies. I hope we can count on all TLS regulars to participate. Let's turn Bush's money against him.

snip

Saw this there and thought it was a suggestion worth following.

link here

Here is more from Not Geniuses:

snip

Matt Singer and I originally conceived of this as a project for the DDF, but we quickly realized this wasn't candidate specific -- this is for every lefty in America. So here is what we propose. We want to get a coalition together -- every influential and non-influential lefty site with the ability to direct readers and members over to the Bush action tools. And every Friday, we want to use those tools to write letters and make calls highlighting a different part of the Bush disaster. This Friday will be fiscal irresponsibility day -- where we blanket the media with calls and letters about Bush's absurd fiscal policies. We're even going to get you the info, for instance, behold the Bush Record (if you're not a Dean supporter, just ignore the stuff about Dean).

snip

Come Friday, Matt or I will post up some talking points and sample letters, and then watch the fun begin. Lets show Rove who owns the 'net.

P.S - I am so getting audited.

snip

[NJCher]

1. do I understand?

Got a page not found on the first link. Read the second link.

So if I read this correctly, on Fridays we can choose from various talking points that you will prepare and write our own letter to the editor. The issue will be based on whatever bush's issue is each week.



Cher

[carpediem]

2. Not my idea but I liked it...

I found this posted on likelystory.net and it pointed to the more detailed information at Not Geniuses. I just thought it was a great idea - to use Bush's tools and money against him. I was only spreading the word.

I think they will be posting the 'talking points' at the not geniuses website.

i can't get back into the likelystory.net site either.

[remfan]

3. Well Atrios picked it up

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2003_08_17_atrios_archive.html#106141974800926012

Looks like this will move through the neighborhood as quickly as "Fair and Balanced" did. :-)

I love the left. :loveya:

[BritishHuman]

4. An excellent plan...

Kickety...
:kick:

[ShaneGR]

5. I wrote my letter to the editor, here it is

The Bush/Cheney re-election website has been fully installed and they are already working to distort the truth in an effort to mislead the public. The site comes complete with grassroots tools which enable the web surfer to send a letter to their local newspaper editors. On the surface this is a great way to stimulate community involvement but, unfortunately, the website provides previously written material for the 'writer' to copy and paste into their own letters. They even provide cute little buttons to automatically add and remove the text. I suppose they're worried about people being able to hold the Control+C combo. The Bush/Cheney site offers a number of different 'issue' tabs for the user to choose: economy; compassion; education; homeland security; national security; environment.

I have chosen to critique the Bush/Cheney national security letter content that can be found at:
http://www.georgewbush.com/NationalSecurity/WriteNewspapers.aspx?AgendaID=5

"President Bush’s leadership in winning the war on terrorism has been remarkable. After September 11, President Bush acted decisively to rout Al Qaeda, and America is safer as a result. He continues to wage the global war on terror with focus and determination."

It is pretty clear at this point that we are definitely not winning anything. Afghanistan is in shambles. Just last week the Taliban launched a large attack that left dozens of people dead. Iraq is a nightmare that will only get worse. Perhaps the Bush people are talking about the war on investigative journalism. Clearly they have won that.

"America is winning the war on terror. After September 11, President Bush acted decisively to rout Al Qaeda from their hiding places, and America is safer as a result. He continues to wage the global war on terror with focus and determination. Our military proceeded with skill and bravery to liberate the people of Afghanistan and Iraq, and ensure that weapons of mass destruction never find their way into the hands of terrorists."

Last time I checked we found some rusted parts buried under a rose bush about ten years ago. I want to know where the thousands of tons of chemical and biological weapons are. Have they disappeared? If so then why is it that we can guard every oil facility in Iraq while ignoring the very reason we went there in the first place! I am so happy to see around half of the United States Army deployed in a country that clearly did not present a threat to our security. While we should have been finishing off the Taliban in Afghanistan the neo-cons in the Bush Administration were thinking about concepts like empire and increasing the size of their portfolios. No one doubts the "skill and bravery" of our military. If only Bush had even one ounce of their skill. Since Bush went AWOL for over a year during his National Guard duty, we all know about his bravery. Basically they have created a haven for terrorism in Iraq. There are little or no border controls and about 1000 Bin Ladens who are more than happy to fill a vacuum. Osama who?

"President Bush understands that we must give our military all the support it needs. He has increased defense spending in all of his budgets to give our servicemen and women the resources and the advanced technology they need to face today’s threats. This President is providing the strong leadership America needs."

Completely laughable. As reported previously by Army Times magazine President Bush has reduced funding for hazardous combat pay, military housing, and veterans benefits. While he has increased funding for technological research like nuclear bunker busting bombs he has undercut the men and women who are taking fire on foreign soil. Go and ask the family of a reservist who is stuck in Iraq right now how their finances look. It's not a pretty picture with no end in sight.

I understand that we have to make sacrificies during a time of war. I'm sure the wealthiest people in this country appreciated their "sacrifice" when they received their five and six figure tax breaks. I got $400.00 for those tax cuts. I'll be contributing it to whoever the President's opponent is.

[trogdor]

6. Posting my site now.

You'll see it in a few minutes - when I'm finished writing it.

[SharonAnn]

9. Sheeesh, more Right-Wing Astro Turf! Can't they write their own

letters? Do they have to have "ghost writers" even for Letters to the Editor?

Gues the Right-Wingers are illiterate, or at least functionally illiterate.

shouldn't we warn the newspapers that they're going to get inundated with Right-Wing Astro Turf?

[prolesunited]

10. Have you seen their spelling?!?

They're a bunch of MORANS! Besides, when have they been known to think for themselves?

And, yes, it would be a good idea to alert them to the talking points and alerting them if you see them running astroturf.

[prolesunited]

7. That's a GREAT idea!

Thanks for posting and welcome to DU, carpediem! :hi:

[prolesunited]

8. Just kicking this

because I think it's a good idea.