How to Beat the Republicans at Their Own Game (READ IT)

[rfranklin]

This guy has nailed it!

--An excerpt--

The Emotional Element

What is it that the Republicans do that enables them to manipulate the images of Republican vs. Democrats in the minds of Swing Voters? George Lakoff says that the Republicans are especially talented at choosing words & associations that work for them. True as that may be, it becomes apparent with a little more reflection that it’s not really the words or value-associations that matter so much; it’s the emotions that are expressed when words are used. How is it, after all, that the word liberal acquired the negative connotation that it has today? The Republicans created that negative connotation by repeatedly expressing scorn and derision whenever they used the word to describe their Democratic opponents. They expressed disgust for anyone who would be foolish enough to be such a person. (Whenever politicians express strongly felt emotions, Swing Voters tend to grant them a greater measure of authenticity. After all, why else would they be so upset?) Think also of the times when Republicans laugh at Democrats. They don’t just laugh in a way that shows they have a good sense of humor; they laugh in a way that communicates their contempt for Democrats.

So it’s not the words we use, Democrats; it’s the emotions we show when we use particular words. Consider the phony outrage that Lynne & Dick Cheney expressed after the third debate. At a time when it was crucial for Kerry to continue to build momentum after a solid debate performance, his advisors ended up losing the post-debate spin. They lost it because they didn’t understand how crucial Kerry’s response would be and they didn’t understand how a candidate absolutely must respond to an Angry Outrage Performance if she wants to win. The big story that Swing Voters saw on TV the next day (those who didn’t watch the debate) was that the Cheneys were really angry that Kerry had called their daughter a lesbian on national TV. What turned this into a home run for the Republicans was Kerry’s unfortunate response; a written statement that sounded a lot like an apology. The overall impression this gave to Swing Voters was that Kerry had apparently done some “dirty politicking.” Then, after the Cheneys apparently called him on it, he offered a weak apology and then tried to change the subject.

http://taxwisdom.org/republican_nemesis.htm

[JDPriestly]

1. Kick

You are so right. Integrity exists where there is unity of conviction, purpose and expression. Our leaders and candidates do not fully embrace Democratic values and therefore cannot express them wholeheartedly. They seem insincere. They seem to be merely mouthing words without conviction. They seem embarrassed to be standing up for us middle class working people and for our values. We need to demand that our leaders either demonstrate integrity or give way to leaders who will.

[FreedomAngel82]

60. I think that could be why Clinton did so well

He connects with people and shows his emotions and charm really well on camera. While both Kerry and Gore are great people they didn't quite have that niche down. Gore does now, I think, but Kerry needs to work on showing his real self on tv. The John Kerry a true die-hard supporter knows.

[Imagevision]

73. Clinton? even the best bullshitter is now endorsing Roberts!!

[evirus]

2. suggestions

having picked a major of politcal science my dad keeps telling me to pretend like im a republican and after getting into all the crap expose everything. but of course that would mean i wouldnt be able to sleep at night

[Pacifist Patriot]

16. I had a similar thought about a week ago.

Wondering if I could suck up to the local Republican party long enough to get elected to an office....then perform to my liberal conscience.

I decided I wouldn't be able to make it through a single REC meeting without vomiting. The jig would be up.

[FreedomAngel82]

61. I wouldn't do that

That's not being true to the voters and the people you're representing deserve who you are and not someone you're trying to be. You don't have to be a republican to do this.

[Pacifist Patriot]

78. Oh I know. That's why it was a brief thought and drove me to nausea.

I could never do that in good conscience.

[Raiden]

3. Kicked and nominated!!

Dean reads a lot of Lakoff's work doesn't he?

:kick:

[BlueEyedSon]

4. "Whats the matter with Kansas" addresses the psychology of

successful mass political movements.

I just read the chapter how the anti-abortion wingnuts swept though a MODERATE, somewhat liberal state.

I'm still digesting it, but I recommend the book...

[kentuck]

5. I always notice how FOX News grins and laughs when telling....

what should be a serious story about any Democratic position. Brit Hume is especially prone to this ridiculing grin. Have you noticed? It tends to dismiss the story as nothing more than a little humor, with no substance to be taken seriously.

[emulatorloo]

11. Election 04, Judy Whatshername, Inside Politics

Squinty eyed skepticism at all Dems, Wide-eyed wonder at all Repugs.

[kentuck]

12. yep....that's unbiased news !

fer you ! :shrug:

[Swamp Rat]

35. Brit's grin

[FreedomAngel82]

62. That's why people need to turn off the tv

I only watch tv now days for enjoyment. I get all of my news online. There are plenty of reliable places to get news and news papers are online now days as well. Even my town has our news paper online. If people would turn off the tv and radio and look for information themselves at election time then I think things could change. Sure, listen to both people but then turn off your tv and radio for information and research yourself. Malloy makes this point, and it's true, that the American media is made to make you forget and for brainwashing you.

[livvy]

6. Great article!

It was interesting to me in particular because of a personal experience. When I first started my "anti-nitwit" campaign with friends and family, some of them were kind of surprised because I had never been so vocally political. I told them it was because the nitwit and his malicious troop frightened me so much, that I was truly afraid of what they would do. This had more impact on my family, in particular, than any of the facts, details, etc. that I had shared with them. The idea that I was truly scared, made an impression.
Thanks for the link. Good read, and it makes good sense. Now, how do we get the Dems to follow through?

on edit: recommend for greatest, and a kick to boot!:kick:

[ray of light]

8. You can help even more by starting or joining a local grassroots group

Please join the Democracy Cell Project too. The DCP is trying to help grassroots organize and become effective spokespeople for progressive causes. Here's the link: http://www.democracycellproject.net take a look around then register in the forum.

[Greeby]

7. What is it that Republicans do to win?

lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie and lie some more

[KittyWampus]

32. Use Rigged Electronic Voting Machines. Lies Just Make Stealing Elections

seem more probable to the public.

I honestly don't believe as many are suckered in as Corporate Media would have us believe.

But the perception is created to validate the election theft.

[wryter2000]

56. I have to agree

We can analyze frames and emotion and such to the end of the Earth. The difference is that they lie and lie and lie some more. When confronted with their lies, they just repeat them.

[Jane Austin]

57. Then start with that.

At every opportunity ask, "You take those clowns seriously? Really? Why?"

They can lie, but we can challenge. Challenging them with a million facts gets lost - - and David Brock has it all on his Media Matters website if you need facts.

It's quicker to challenge their overall credibility than it is to argue each point.

A derisive laugh and a quick "you still believe those clowns?" has more basice effect.

[FreedomAngel82]

64. That's what I do

I ask them if they're serious and if they seriously believe that and laugh at them (because it is funny).

[wryter2000]

75. I think you're both right

I think the latest "scandal" with AAR and the Boys and Girls club is best handled with derision if it even merits that.

[FreedomAngel82]

63. I think what should happen

is when someone repeats these lies laugh at them and tell them how wrong they are. Make them want the truth. Give just enough though. I no longer feel sorry for someone who spews rightwing crap. I just laugh and roll my eyes and tell the truth. If you're telling the truth it should always be the same and you wouldn't have to change wording or anything like that.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

9. He certainly nailed down the psyche of the "swing voters". I totally agree

that we waste a lot of time trying to explain the issues to these folks.

The very term "swing voter" indicates an apolitical, even apathetic, approach to politics. So, in depth, detailed presentations of issues are lost on this group.

(IMHO, "swing voter" = idiot.The author has slightly kinder descriptions of them.)

Republicans have never forgotten a key stratagem they perfected during the Reagan Era: DEMONIZING YOUR OPPONENTS WORKS. It works because Swing Voters are essentially“headline readers” & “sound byte nibblers.” When they see in the headlines that Candidate A accused Candidate B of having a certain personality defect, they tend to believe it. (Unless it is effectively answered.)

MKJ

[zanne]

14. Swing voters are interested in what affects them...

Some people (and I'm sure we all know a few) only get interested in politics when it affects them personally. They don't care about an unjust war, the separation of church and state, abortion, civil rights, etc. unless they are somehow personally affected by an event or situation. If I'm a nurse or a teacher in California, I might not really care about politics, but if the governor is making my life harder, I care enough to tip the balance one way and I'll vote. If I'm gay and want to marry my lifelong partner, I care enough to vote one way. But if politics or the decisions my leaders make don't directly affect me, then I couldn't be bothered.

[FreedomAngel82]

65. Exactly

I think that's why it's important to really look at each swing state and find out what big thing is going on there. Is it health care? Is it education? Is it the economy? And depending on the swing state really use that issue that you can see through research is effecting all types of people. Here in Tennessee it's health care. I think that's the really big issue. Last year our governor made a lot of jobs and I read a few months ago he made 900 new jobs and he made a bill that said you can't outsource jobs from the state so I think mostly health care is the really big issue I've read in opinion pieces and the like. So I think if a democrat was running here he would do best running on health care reform. Talk everywhere and as much as you can about health care and what you would do if you had any type of power.

[emulatorloo]

10. Bill Clinton at Dem Unity Dinner - 03/04 - Dems win when people think

“If people think in this election, if they think about the choices that have been made and the vision John Kerry offers, we win. Therefore they (the Republicans) have to get people to stop thinking and they’re real good at that. We already see what they do. They’ve got to turn John Kerry from a three-dimensional human being to two-dimensional cartoon. It’s what they know to do.”

ON EDIT add link http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4604683/

[SammyWinstonJack]

27. Which was exactly my thoughts when reading this article.

Can't people think for themselves? Just because someone says something with emotion, doesn't mean I will necessarily believe what they are saying. Jesus! "Oooh, they're angry with so and so, they must be telling the truth, think I'll vote for them!" :banghead: How insane is that?

[catzies]

36. I've wondered that too & not enough people took critical thinking class

I didn't graduate HS & didn't graduate college either, but I'm aware of the value of critical thinking & wonder why more aren't.

That, and having a good bull$hit detector helps. :D

[FreedomAngel82]

67. That's because we live in a fast-paced society

For example my dad wakes up around 6am and heads into work at 7am. He gets home usually on a normal night around 8pm est and eats dinner, visits with us and watches some tv and goes to bed around 10-11pm est only to get up and do the same thing again. I tape the "Daily show" for him so we always watch that every weekend. :) Stewart does a really great job of being truly fair and balanced. He doesn't watch much tv unless it's a movie. That's why many Americans get their news off the networks. They believe in them and believe they're telling the truth about everything. This is why we have to find new ways to reach people. Through communication with people we come to and campaigning all year and every year and all states like Dean is doing. The Paul Hackett campaign proved we can make a difference in swing states. We just have to show up and talk about the issue(s) that matter most to that particular state I think.

[enough]

13. Nails it indeed. Must read the whole article.

The best analysis I've ever seen of the psychological mechanisms they employ, and why the Democrats seem to be powerless against them. I've seen this played out by Republicans up close and personal on the local level -- exactly the same approach.

[Bosso 63]

15. "Well thats just class warfare"

In the MSM, it seems this is the standard republican response to the suggestion of economic inequity and then the conversation is over. Just once, I want to hear someone say,"F#%K YEA! ITS CLASS WARFARE! It has been for along time, and its time to wakeup the f*#k up and fight back!" But, up till now, the right has controlled the language and discourse to such an extent, that the left can't even "circle the wagons" let alone mount a coordinated counter attack. My only hope is that our collective screwing has become so painfully obvious, that even the freepers are catching on to it. God bless their little pea sized brains, maybe they will even realize we have a common foe, not that I'm going to hold my breath. Sorry for the rant.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1988351&mesg_id=1988351

[ChiDem]

17. Fuck all that shit.

That guy is wack. How about trying thr TRUTH ?

If the American people support a lie over the truth then fuck them, let them reap what they sow. We shouldn't have to trick them into supporting the Dem's agenda, they should side with the truth without being manipulated.

And if the truth isn't good enough then fuck em.

[Buddyblazon]

22. Or we could just keep wandering down the same track...

in lala land. With our heads in the sand. Tires spinning but going nowhere.

Go ahead. You take your approach. I found one that works.

And if that isn't good enough for you, go cry yourself to sleep about how the rest of population doesn't vote for your candidates and they deserve what they get.

[ChiDem]

24. wait a minute

If you call supporting the truth .."keeping our heads in the sand" then point me to the beach.

If you think defending the truth is being .."in la la land" ...then send me to the promise land.

"go ahead, take your approach, I found one that works"

My approach is the truth, the approach that you claim works is a lie.

If you are gonna gather support by spouting lies, then maybe you are with the wrong party

[rucky]

46. You can be emotionally truthful...

and still have a greater effect on others than those insincere bastards. th problem is dem leaders have held back expressing what they believe precisely because of the emotional response, as if they're ashamed to show emotion or something.

[scarletwoman]

47. Did you bother to read the piece? How is defining Republicans as

"morally defective and threatening" NOT telling the truth?

You say: "they (the American people) should side with the truth without being manipulated." Right, and I should Queen of the World because I have a far superior mind than the ignorant rabble.

"Should" is not an argument, it is a refusal to see reality as it IS which therefore renders true solutions impossible.

Try actually thinking about the material being presented in this piece instead of ignorantly reacting -- which, by the way, perfectly illustrates the author's point about emotional vs. intellectual perception.

sw

[Buddyblazon]

18. I would like to convey a conversation with my Con-Dad....

"Our goal should be to define The Republican Politician as a shrewd, cunning, deceiving, manipulative, mean-spirited, Con-Artist who willfully and gleefully assassinates the character of any innocent victim who stands in his way. We need to describe them in this way with palpable emotion. In terms of basic, overall strategy, Democrats need to constantly remind themselves that it's not the economy, stupid! It's the IMAGE CAMPAIGN!"



My Father and Step-Mother took me out for a birthday dinner this last month. I love them very much...but they're unfortunately brain-washed Conservatives. My Dad and I bang heads constantly. But in the end we are able to get beyond it and generally have a great time together.


Well after years of talking to a brick wall, I tried a different approach. On our way home, I first very calmly noted all the issues that we agreed on.

I told them, "You guys are against gun control. I am as well." (Unfortunately...I think of all the "wedge issues" that they are using against us, this would be the one I can go middle road, as I was raised around guns...and they are just CRUSHING us on this issue).

I then stated, "Hey, I'm Pro-Choice. And you guys are Pro-Choice." (Left over from when my Dad was still a true Republican, but an issue that we shared that the present administration does not hold).

I then continued on, but started to swing them against present policies.

"Dad, I'm for a conservative fiscal policy. And I know you are too.". My Dad nodded. "So Dad, what do you think of the present fiscal policy?"

He told me how he was pretty disappointed. And so were many of his RW friends.



After 10 mins of CALMLY verbally building policy camaraderie with them, I told them why I couldn't get behind the people that they support.

"Dad, there are Republicans I would vote for (sorry...I lied ;) ). John McCain. He does not smear. He is middle of the road. He has integrity (again...I lied).

"The guys that you support. Dad, did it ever dawn on you why their opponents ALWAYS get smeared?"

I went over all the antics that Rove's been busted for. Bugging his own office. Being fired by Daddy Bush.

And here was the statement that seemed to get through to them.

"I vote for honest people with integrity. I vote for politicians like John McCain (hey...had to seal the deal). I vote for politicians like Howard Dean. Men that are enthusiastic about their country. Men that want their country to be as great as it can possibly be.

"I DO NOT vote for politicians that spread gossip and smears. I DO NOT vote for politicians that play dirty tricks. I DO NOT vote for politicians that talk a big game with no follow through.

"Dad...these are the guys you are voting for. I will vote for a Republican or a Democrat (man...I'm a great big liar .:rofl:) . Because I want the most qualified man in that position. The one I'm POSITIVE is in it because he wants to better society.

"How you can bring yourself to vote for men that are slimy, slandering, smearing, money grubbing men that would sell their mothers for a buck is beyond me.".


With that...there was a long silence in the car. They both just sat there quietly. And as a son knows their Father, I knew that it was sinking in.



I tried the approach that the Author noted in the quote at the very top of this post.

And I think it worked!!!

:woohoo: :yoiks: :woohoo:

[ChiDem]

19. Oh please...

read post #17 ..

Like I said, If you have to lie to get support, then it isn't worth it.

If the only way you can sway your dad is with lies...then forget it...he is a lost cause...sorry

[Buddyblazon]

20. Hey,

Go Cheney yourself. ;)

[ChiDem]

21. sorry for the harshness

but you get the point, don't let your republican dad turn you into a liar...just to please him

[Buddyblazon]

23. YOU DON'T GET IT!

I've been battling with him for 15 years. I was at the end of my rope.

I tried it. It worked.

Did I feel guilty about it. FUCK NO! 15 YEARS OF TRYING TO GET HIM TO STOP JUST REGURGITATING TALKING POINTS THAT MADE NO FUCKING SENSE!

It shut him up and got him thinking. I'm Irish Catholic and very familiar with guilt. I can assure you that that was one emotion that didn't even rear its head.

[lulu]

25. You did good!

You were just creating a way to gently bring them into your world, into reality© Hey, I have parents like yours, and next time we start talking politics ¥which is very rare¤, I'll use your tactic© Good job©

[ChiDem]

29. LOL...

You think he brought his dad into reality by lying to him ?

[lulu]

31. LOL

How would you have done it?

[ChiDem]

33. I would use the truth

I would explain that 'moderates' like McCain are scum, I would explain that scum like McCain puts his love for Bush above his OWN FAMILY..He let Bush smear his wife, child, and military service.

I would never tell somebody I would vote for such a scumbag just to please them, I would never tell somebody McCain has integrity...never.

If the truth isn't good enough, then fuck them

[FreedomAngel82]

69. And how successful have you been at that eh?

[Buddyblazon]

77. The point here is....

they absolutely will not listen to us. Why? Because we are "Liberals". Therefore, in THEIR reasoning, everything we say in regards to politics is:

A) A lie
B) Spin
C) From an uncredible source
D) "Is bullshit cause yada yada yada"
E) A loon
F) Whiney
G)etc etc etc



So I just attempted to get beyond "THE WALL"...and if I had to lie to get beyond that...fine.

But what IS important...in the end...I got an accurate view into his brains. AN ACCURATE VIEW! That * and his cronies are liars, cheats, unhonorable, blue bloods.

And THAT is what HAS to get into their brain. But they're not going to LISTEN (they may HEAR you, but they won't LISTEN to you)...unless you got beyond "THE WALL" that allows them to casually discard everything you relay.


I'm in no way justifying. A lie is a lie (although I don't understand how saying I like McCain is such a horrible lie...because I CAN in fact...stand John McCain) . But if it means that they'll accept a factual statement, than so be it.

[ChiDem]

26. whatever.

If the only way you can get your dad to support your views is by lying to him...then have at it, but you are only fooling yourself.

[ginnyinWI]

51. I think you did good! and maybe you didn't really lie.

I, too, have Repub parents, and can picture the scenario you described. It is really hard to even get them into a conversation like this, much less get them to really listen to my point of view. There is just something scary about Democrats--they've been indoctrinated to fear Dems for so long. (and I AM a former Republican.) "Democrats raise your taxes...Democrats start wars...etc." The worst thing I ever said, which caused my dad to absolutely hit the ceiling, was, "well, I guess I'm just a bleeding-heart liberal."

Also, consider that maybe you didn't really lie. I had this discussion with some other DUers this week: if it came down to a choice between re-electing a Dem who had shown himself to be as much of a failure as *, or a Repub who offered a sane and sensible alternative, had a track record of integrity, and who won all three debates, would it be better to do what was good for the country or good for your own party? Because that is what a lot of moderate Repubs were faced with in this last election, except reverse the parties. I'm a patriot first and a Dem second, so a situation like this would give me a lot to consider before voting again for a Dem president who was a failure.

Patriotism is supporting your country always, and your government when they deserve it!

[Fovea]

52. a very smart friend of mine

said that good fiction writing lies its way to the truth.

[Hamlette]

49. had hundreds...thousands of talks with my GOP dad. . .

The ones that started off emotional went nowhere but trying to find common ground is a great way to get them to listen.

You start off with "McCain is a lying piece of shit" and they don't hear another word you say.

Incidently, my Dad switched parties during the Reagan years. He gave new meaning to the term "Reagan Democrat" as Reagan turned him into a Dem.

My mom has a cousin who is a GOP nut case. Whenever she comes to town mom invites me and my grown son over to help her reason with Shirley. Sam and I have to double team her sometimes because one or the other of us always lose it. Keeping it rational has an additional advantage, she says all the media except Fox lies about everything and that all liberals lie. At the end of a conversation I always say: "now when you're tempted to believe that all liberals lie and hate their country, remember this conversation you just had with three liberals who did not lie about anything and care about this country as much as you do." A light goes on and she nods enthusiastically.

If mom could stand to have her visit more often, I think we could take her.

[FreedomAngel82]

68. Nice job!!

I think that should really show people as well. If someone is a republican simply because they believe republicans share Christian values (heh) then show people how unChristian like they act. I've always been taught not to lie, gossip etc. For example with my dad he is the "show me the proof" type of person. So that's why I've gotten him to watch the Daily show. The show is humerous but tells you the truth and he does take jabs at everyone and is truly not-biased.
Now will my dad vote democratic next year? :shrug: Beats me. My mom did last year and I never would've imagined that. I just told her all of the dirty tricks that I read about on here (so thank you DU) and now she doesn't like republicans. I told her of Arnie's troubles with nurses and school teachers and she was like "that's how all republicans are". :D I think this thread is great and I'm really learning a lot about how to help for 06 and 08. :D

[terrya]

28. But it is also the words we use.

We have to say....what we're about. Not just talking about how evil Buchco is. We have to spell out that we're Democrats, that we care about working class ordinary and poorer Americans. That we care about the environment. That we care about education.

We have to articulate a sense of who we are. And if that falls into the heading of "core values", then so be it.

Yes...the words matter, also.

[Buddyblazon]

30. Well they've already demonized the word "Liberal"....

and to them, if you're a Democrat..."yer a librul. Therefore everything you say can just be thrown out the window."

I tried finding middle ground. So it wasn't "us and them". Then they opened up to what I was saying. Because we shared several beliefs.


I don't know. Chidem's got me pretty riled. I thinking I'm going to turn on some Monk and work on my yard. Something zen before a really blow up.

Later.

[ChiDem]

34. sorry bud

I was a bit harsh.

Just stick to the truth and you will always be right.

remember that. :patriot:

[Peace Patriot]

37. To beat Repubs at their game, you have to know what their game is.

Two rightwing Bushite electronic voting companies, Diebold and ES&S, tabulated 80% of the votes in the 2004 election, using secret, proprietary programming code, with a third of the country voting on machines with no paper trail whatsoever (let alone a paper ballot backup), and gravely inadequate paper trails, audits, recounts, security, transparency and verifiability in most of the country.

That's their game.

The corporate news monopolies failed to report that our election system has fallen into partisan rightwing hands, and, when their own news consortium exit polls showed a Kerry win on election day, they FALSIFIED the exit poll numbers (Kerry won) to fit Diebold's and ES&S's "official result" (Bush won), thus depriving the American people of major evidence of election fraud, and squelching protests and calls for investigation.

That's their game.

And because Kerry's win was bigger than expected, and threatened to overwhelm Fraud Plan A (Diebold and ES&S), Rove implemented Plan B: blatant suppression of Democratic votes in Ohio on election day--including massive violations of the Voting Rights Act--consistent with the pre-election fraud preparations such as purging tens of thousands of black voters from the voter registration rolls in Ohio, Florida, and other places, and RNC-paid operatives shredding Democratic voter registration cards in several western states.

That's their game.

So, when someone advises Democrats to improve their "message," you have to wonder what that will gain them in the corporate news, when those same news monopolists acted in concert to FALSIFY strong evidence that Kerry won the 2004 election.

This is NOT a P.R. game. This is NOT a word game. This is NOT a "framing the message" game. The Bushites rig the election system, THEN they "frame their message"--fait accompli. Their rigged MESSAGE cannot be un-rigged by any amount of word play.

You have to know what their "game" IS, before you can defeat it.

And you also have to wonder about Democratic Party officials who would permit major Bush donors to count all the votes with secret formulae. Are they insane? Incomparably stupid? Do they hold shares in Diebold and ES&S? Could it have anything to do with the bipartisan fun and games at the Beverly Hilton this week where Diebold, ES&S and Sequoia are sponsoring a week of wining, dining and high end shopping for election officials from around the country, capped by a "graduation ceremony" (see below)?

Does it really matter what their "message" is, or how they "frame" it, if Americans' right to vote means nothing more to them than a piece of crap to be thrown out with the garbage, after the pork-barrel festivities are over?

See Amaryllis' post on Diebold/ES&S/Sequoia lobbying of election officials at the Beverly Hilton this week--it will burn your eyeballs!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x380340

The Republicans' "game" was to utterly corrupt our election system with $4 billion in federal "election reform" money--money that would pour through the hands of eager local election officials of both parties, into the pockets of the major Bush donors who run the electronic voting system companies; to "privatize" our elections--get them into corporate hands--as business contracts protecting "trade secrets" (the tabulation of our votes!) ; and to encourage and reward monopolistic practices in the ownership of "the news" so that this and other news stories that are vital to our democracy would be black-holed.

The way for the Democratic Party to fight this "game"--and to regain control of "the message"--is with a BIG BROOM, to sweep out all election officials and other leaders who have permitted the Bushites to count the votes in secret--and by telling THE TRUTH.

58% of the American people opposed the Iraq war BEFORE the invasion. I'll never forget that stat. Feb. '03.

63% of the American people oppose torture UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. May '04.

You name the issue. The Iraq war. Torture policy. Social Security. The deficit. Women's rights. The great majority of Americans oppose Bush policy on it--way up in the 60% to 70% range.

What's to "frame"? Tell the truth! TELL THE TRUTH!

[Swamp Rat]

38. Read Lakaoff's "Don't Think of an Elephant!"

;)

I also recommed Robin T. Lakoff's (spouse) book, "The Language War."

I like to also engage in what could be called an "Image War." :D

[ochazuke]

39. Right. I'm so sick of the usual diplomatic response by Dems

Dems should speak from the gut. Kerry should have reacted with disgust and derision against the Cheney's. "OH SHUT THE FUCK UP" would have smacked down the Cheneys in 2 seconds.

No more intellectualism. Go with the gut. This is war. Our enemies are fascists.

[FreedomAngel82]

70. I think that's why so many people like Dean

He knows how to do this. Same thing with Hackett. He had the "I don't give a damn" attitude and just said what he felt and also what was true. That Bush is a chickenhawk and an SOB and he didn't apologize or back down from what he said like how Durbin did about his comment which was totally true. We can't play nice or be nice to these people. We have to play too.

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

40. Rephrased argument as, "wimpy bullshit politics DOES NOT WORK."

Reasoned arguments DO NOT WORK in the modern political theatre. The Repukes understand this and the majority of liberals don't.

JB

[truth2power]

44. I'll say it again..

Repugs speak tothe primitive brain. It's not about facts. It's about belief and emotion.

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

54. And, the majority of Americans vote with their "primative brain"

Nice analysis...

JB

[niallmac]

41. Exactly why having principals means so much. If you BELIEVE in what you

are saying you yell it from the roof tops. Listening to advisors and watching polls at every turn makes for a wimpy insincere candidate. It comes through and people sense it like a dog senses fear.

[Buddyblazon]

42. I'm back.....

dethatched half my front yard. Got out some agression with a rake.

Listen, I learned at a young age that sometimes all bullies understand is a fist in the teeth. It was the only time I struck someone, but it got a whole group of people of my ass, and at least then I wasn't, "lowly scum with no right to an opinion".

[roseBudd]

43. WE MUST LEARN TO MOCK THE OPPONENT!!... I mocked in all my GOTV...

I created a flyer that was a rap/poem called:

George W. Bush is a punk ass bitch
Crony capitalist all about the rich
On 9/11 he sat for 7 minutes like a dope
While schoolkids read "My Pet Goat"
No WMD in Iraq you fool
When Clinton lied
No one died
N. Korea got nukes, Iran do too
Kerry punked Bush in each debate
Idiot boy Bush could not relate...

This flyer was extremely popular with the targeted demographic I was GOTVing. Barber shops were proudly displaying it on their walls.

My newest mockery project is http://bushcheated04.com

Check it out and help spread under the guise of "this is too funny, you got to see it"

[scarletwoman]

45. Absolutely BRILLIANT analysis!

The reality is, we are faced with an American public completely entrained to respond to image over substance, entrained to respond to emotional stimuli over intellectual appeal.

To not recognize this fact is to continue to impotently beat our heads against the inpenetrable wall of lizard-brain level consciousness in which the majority of our fellow citizens dwell.

We have much to be outraged about, it's far past time to turn our attention to skillfully expressing our outrage -- with passion, with emotion.

Thank you for posting this.

sw

[Hamlette]

48. how do we get past the "angry" democrats and "bush haters" meme?

After what they did to Clinton it would never have occured to me they would call US angry and haters but they do without an ounce of shame.

Remember "Get our of Cheney's house" and the "angry mob" trying to stop the vote counting "fraud"? The media didn't portray them as children having a 2 year old temper tantrum (which they were) but Dean "screams" and the media shoves it down our throats as though he were some kind of serial killer.

I'm just asking the question here. I suppose the answer is they are going to trash us no matter what so we might as well make some noise.

[NJmaverick]

50. Read the article- The answer is there

We FEAR the republicans not hate them. We FEAR what they will do to our Country

[Comandante_Subzero]

53. Taking the Fight to the Enemy

How about a sit-in shutting down POX News, for a start?

We need something to build momentum especially with younger people, who can hardly be inspired by the Dem Party appeasers of neofascism.

We should never fight on ground of the enemy's choosing or on his terms. Read the classic works on guerrilla warfare (Mao & Guevara) for concepts that can be applied to politics. (You don't have to be a Marxist to learn).

[wli]

55. As if voters mattered. It's all rigged Stalin-style.

[blm]

58. Media blew it up to distract from Bush's "not concerned about Usama" lie

in that debate.

It doesn't MATTER what any Dem says when the media, en masse, needs to keep a Bush propped up during a campaign.

Here's Media Matters comparing the MEDIA'S actions after that debate:



Media obsession with Kerry's Mary Cheney remark overwhelmed coverage of Bush falsehood on bin Laden



The media has devoted enormous coverage to Senator John Kerry's reference to Mary Cheney, Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter, as a lesbian during the October 13 presidential debate. Yet President George W. Bush's false claim from that same debate -- "I just don't think I ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden" -- has received less than half as much media attention. (Bush's debate claim is false because he said of bin Laden on March 13, 2002: "I'm truly not that concerned about him.")




A Nexis search by Media Matters for America for coverage of Kerry's remark produced 364 hits. A Nexis search for coverage of Bush's claim produced only 135 hits. A Nexis search for only the candidates' key quotations -- "I think if you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian" versus "I just don't think I ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden" -- produced an even sharper imbalance: 156 to 40.*

>>>>>>

[FreedomAngel82]

59. It's so true and it also makes sense

as to why one night at their convention they were all angry. Why? They had the power but yet were acting like the victims. And how ridiculous of the Cheney's that they did that but of course I'm sure it goes along like the writer says: that Kerry kicked ass in all the debates and they knew they had the media in their hands and used it for their advantage. I hope someone sends this to Dean and Reid. We can really learn from their technices, as long as it's with the truth of course. We have to play at their game. No more being nice!

[CTyankee]

66. I cringed when I heard Kerry say that about Mary Cheney

My political gut "told" me that it was a big mistake to insert that remark. It just seemed too contrived, too clever by half a way to remind everybody that Dick and Lynne are big effing hypocrites. It stuck out. We Dems were all of a sudden on the defensive saying "But Kerry was complimenting Mary Cheney. She'd already been outed by Dick Cheney himslef." Man, that was one weak position to be in! The repubs shoved us in a corner and it just diluted the effect of the debate, which was overall great for us as all of the debates were. We should have left well enough alone!

[FreedomAngel82]

72. And after that happened

didn't Mary campaign for them too? I remember she did. I think it was after that whole debacle they were trying to reach the LGBT group by using her to campaign and show how they really care about gay people (:eyes:).

[CTyankee]

76. Yeah, she did. Go figure

On another thread I just remarked that being on the vanguard of women's rights and gay rights is often not popular even among women and gays. It never ceases to amaze me that otherwise normal women and gays would even CONSIDER voting for repubs. But I have heard too many women DENY that they are feminists, even when you point out that if it weren't for feminists they wouldn't be able to vote in the first place.

I guess Mary campaigned for the ticket because it was for mommy and daddy. What else?

[AX10]

71. kick

[Imagevision]

74. Glad Dean doesn't do any apologizing or retractions of comments!