Economy 'improving', Bush* a 'war hero' - Democratic strategy?

[Q]

- The mainstream media is reporting the 'good news' about the economy.

- Republicans, Centrists and more than a few Democrats now admit we 'had to' go into Iraq and we're there to stay for as long as it takes.

- Bush's* lies about Iraq WMD have been all but forgotten and the betrayal of the covert CIA operative has become back page news. Bush* can stall release of the 9-11 document for years.

- RRWing Christians and certain generals think George* was chosen by God to save our country during a 'time of war'. Even some Democrats are saying he is the right leader at the right time.

- Dozens of other scandals and lies by the Bush* administration have been shoved under the table by the American media and the opposition party.

- We'll need much more than the individual game plans of the candidates. The Democratic Party needs a coherent, organized strategy to defeat Bush* in 2004.

- So where do we go from here? What issues can Democrats use to defeat the 'greatest wartime president in history'?

[Maple]

1. You have lots of issues

what you need is a leader.

[Q]

4. It will take more than leadership...

...it will take leaders able to look the American people in the eye and tell the whole truth about the state of the union. Part of that truth MUST include exposing the corruption and lies of the Bushies.

[ShaneGR]

2. I would suggest tranquilizers

It's one day, but I must say you seem excited Bush had a good day.

[Q]

3. Why do you even bother?

- You take all the effort to click on this thread and respond...only to say I should take 'tranquilizers'?

- It's not about one day. It's about accepting the fact that the Media will make sure George has lots of 'good days' before the 2004 election. Or haven't you noticed by now that the media intended for him to become 'president' and stay at least two terms in office?

[zonmoy]

5. that simply means

that the media is a puppet of the fascistic cabal that put shrub into office.

[Q]

6. Many Americans still believe the media is simply 'slanted'...

...at times. But it's more than that: they're actually working for the Bush* WH. That's why they don't report the truth about Iraq or push and follow-up stories like those mentioned above.

- Mark my words...as the election grows closer...the media will give the Democratic candidate the 'Gore treatement' and make George* look like the best thing since sliced bread.

- Everything from the economy to the Iraq quagmire will be blamed on the 'war on terrorism'.

[janekat]

35. We need to take back the media - THAT's our biggest problem

THEY brought us Bush. The fact that they could have hornswaggled as many people as they did to vote for Shrub vs. Gore says it all. I still find it hard to believe to this day.

[Cocoa]

16. unfortunately for Bush and Q...

his problems are way too deep for one positive economic figure to help him very much. That figure is fake, by the way. It's going to be revised later, I predict, at a convenient time for Bush.

[Q]

21. Of course the economy isn't 'improving'...but perception...

...is everything.

- And would it matter if the economy doesn't improve? Bush* isn't going to run on the economy...because he can't. He'll run on the WAR ON TERRORISM and blame everything on terrorists. And unfortunately...the American media will report the story Bush's* way.

[sangha]

41. Perceptions change, Q

Bush* can run on what he wants, but it's all going bad. His "When they kill our troops, it means they're desperate" isn't cutting it. Even the Repukes wince at it. For the next twelve months, there will be several stories, each and every day, relating to deaths in Iraq, bad economic news, and Bush* scandals.

[sangha]

47. And then there's this

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAENVRNFMD.html

Have you read about this yet, Q? Why don't you ever mention the problems seniors are having? They vote!

[Q]

51. I'm not quite sure you understand how New American media...

...and politics work. Bush* has had 'bad news' from day one. Before 9-11...he had shitty polling numbers and the world thought of him as 'illegitimate'. Since 9-11...his adminstration has become 'untouchable'. They've already gotten away with things that would have meant impeachment for any other presidency.

- Why is it that some on the left just don't seem to 'get' it?

- Bush* is all the Republicans have...and they will vote for him no matter how many die in Iraq. Why? Because they believe he did the right thing. They're more pissed at the 'unAmerican' left for not supporting him.

[ShaneGR]

55. Q.........................................................................

Do you speak in bullet points?

- I think maybe you do, it's easier to get quick thoughts out.

- Bullet points are cool, because we don't have to type out paragraphs.

- Is it the Democrats fault that so many Americans only type in bullet points? How can Democratic leaders combat this style of writing?

[sangh0]

57. There's nothing new about it Q

and I doubt you've given any thought to how Bush* went from 93% approval to about 50%, given this "New" media's silence and Bush*'s "untouchable"-ness. The Dems didn't do it. The New American Media didn't do it. Q didn't do it on his own.

I guess it was just magic!

[rucky]

7. CLASS WAR!

We continue to make sacrifices, and the rich keep getting richer.

It's the only constant we can count on in this mis-administration.

[demgrrrll]

8. In my best Pacino voice, this crew is gooooood. He was on the ropes

over the banner and they come out swinging with Zell Miller
and good economic news and they know they have the media in their
pocket and they know they can knock a bad story off the front burner when they need to. I can understand your concern. I still think we can win. Today is just today and the election is a year away. Many things can happen during that period of time. We'll see. Stand up.
Keep fighting.

[Q]

9. Once again...I'm not referring to 'today'...

...but a pattern over the last four years...beginning with the media givng George* a free pass during the 2000 campaign.

- And now...three years into his 'presidency'...the media hasn't attempt to connect him to any scandal...and have gone out of their way to deflect them away from him.

- The problem: there's no indication that things will change...giving Bush* an advantage over the Dems in 2004.

[ShaneGR]

56. q.......................................

...everyone knows the media gave George a pass in 2000

-And now... other than the Washington Post, NY Times, ABC, CBS, and CNN blasting away "Leakgate" "16wordgate" "nojobsgate" "Vacation Gate" "NoWMDGate" "87BillionGate"... the media has gone out of there way to cover up everything.

-The problem: there's no indication that the Dem attacks on Bush haven't worked, his poll numbers have plummeted, he appears flustered, and he can't get Iraq under control.

[Q]

10. Let's admit it...at least to ourselves...

...the Democratic party doesn't have a real strategy to defeat Bush* in 2004.

- The only 'plan' in place is the 'anyone but Bush*' plan where the party expects Dems to vote for anyone they throw into the ring. But this isn't a plan...it's a formula for defeat....given that many on the left have already said they intend to vote for the best...not ABB.

- The other part of the half-assed plan is to 'move to the center' and sway the so-called 'swing' voters into voting anyone but Bush*. The obvious problem with this plan is that it ignores the traditional Dem base. Another problem is that the Bushies will also be going after the middle...a much easier task if you have the media on your side.

[Resistance Is Futile]

22. The only strategy

The only current strategy is to surrender quickly and support everything the GOP does in the hopes of recieving some scraps from time to time. It's obvious where this leads.

The biggest opposition mistake was failing to defeat the GOP monopolization of the media. Even getting rid of ineffective cowards and party traitors like Daschle and Miller will not fix things now as, without a means of controlling the public debate, the opposition is merely fighting in a funhouse where the rules are set by the enemy.

[ShaneGR]

60. Admit it to yourself Q

You are the negative personality trying to bring everyone else down. The truth is that Bush is a LAME DUCK president with little or no hope of getting reelected. The only thing that can help him is people encouraging others to not participate, because its supposedly already over. Bah!

[LeahMira]

11. Yes, it's bad, but...

... honestly, the country has gone through these kinds of things before. I even remember some of them (although I was very young at the time ;-)).

How about if instead of looking for a leader each of us decides to do one thing every day, or one thing every week, or however often we can in our circumstances. Donate to the candidate of your choice, write a letter to the editor, phone up your Congressperson, call in on a local talk radio program, put a new bumpersticker on your car, print out some flyers and leave them in the public library racks ... whatever. Share ideas, if you like. But instead of just typing about it (and I really do realize that many people do way more than that!), let's get busy.

Elie Weisel said in a presentation I attended long time ago that there are many things wrong and sometimes they just seem so huge that we despair of ever changing them. He said, "Just do one thing. And when you have done that, do one more thing."

[demgrrrll]

12. Ok Q read this, it is the beginning of a strategy I think

Linked per atrios.
it is a start in understanding what is going on and needs wide circulation.
<http://www.berkley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/10/27_lakoff.shtml>

[tritsofme]

13. Link is dead

[demgrrrll]

14. Ok will try again

<http://www.berkley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/10/17_lakoff.shtml>

[Q]

15. This country has never been through a coup...

...and blatantly stolen elections. This country has never tolerated this type of corruption in the WH or the media transparently supporting one political party over another.

- You can't use history to formulate a plan...since many of these things have never happened before.

- None of these things can be resolved by pretending they're not happening.

[demgrrrll]

17. Ok here is the interview.

You will need to click on "an interesting interview" which is highlighted in the paragraph.
hope this works
<http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2003_10_26_digbysblog_archive.html106741320818801329>
For some reason these links are not taking. The link is at at Atrios under the heading "framing" if anyone is interested and wants to give it a try. Also the original link is at the Digby/Hullabaloo blog which was linked to Atrios. Wish I could make this work, when I try to use _ it does not show up on the link.

[papau]

23. the bear had some good econ comments today

http://angrybear.blogspot.com/2003_10_26_angrybear_archive.html#106755400917550045

[Yupster]

40. I think 1876 was a

blatantly stolen election. Don't you?

1824 was just weird.

[Selwynn]

18. None - we've surrended every issue by which we could win

Bush wins 2004. And only does so because that's how weak we are, not how strong he is. :(

I'm sorry to be negative - I'd try to suggest positive strategies for succes, but I swear to god I can't think of any. There never was much hope - only a fools hope, to quote Tolkien.

[Q]

19. Nothing wrong with losing...after doing your best to win...

...but I've never seen the Democratic party in such a sorry state.

- Call it Dem bashing if you wish...but the party needs to wake the hell up or accept defeat in 2004. Is the party doing their best? Some individual Dems are working hard for the party...but the party itself isn't following their lead.

[Selwynn]

58. I completely agree.

But I'm not sure what the best way for me to my part is...

[Yupster]

42. Contract With America

Democratic leaders need to get together and find five or six issues that they can all agree on. That shouldn't be that hard.

Then all candidates across the country should run saying, if you elect us, we promise to try to get the following five things accomplished.....

[greatauntoftriplets]

20. Personally, I think they cooked the books.

Do I have proof? No.

[Q]

25. One doesn't have to 'cook the books' when there's no one...

...to check the validity of the claims and report it to the public. They can report anything they want and the media will perform as stenographers.

- Think this is bad? Wait until we get closer to the election. The American Media will made Bush* look like a God...and his opponent look like a lying fool.

[andym]

24. Make it a personality contest

Under these assumptions, issues may not persuade people.
Only chance is to nominate a trustworthy, charismatic, charming
individual with his/her own progressive version of Morning in
America.

Should be done for each crucial office: President, Senator etc.

[Q]

26. Count on the media 'Goring' any and all Dem candidates...

- If recent history shows anything...it's that the media actually wants a corporate 'whore' like Bush* in the WH. Their profits soar unless a Dem gets in office and spreads the money around to the other 99 percent of Americans.

- At the same time...nothing will be George's* fault. Plus...God is on his side...so who could oppose him?

[mmonk]

27. Outing CIA operatives,

deceiving the American people with the imminent threat charge, graft and the military industrial complex, assault on separation of church and state, job losses, disregard for international cooperation and law, dangers to the bill of rights, and the neocon strategy needs more exposure. But what do I know? I'm sure the democratic strategists will ignore most of the aforementioned except the job losses.

[Q]

28. After '40 years in the desert' the GOPers were hungry for power...

..but the difference between the parties is that the New Republican party is willing to do ANYTHING to get and stay in power. They have no intention of going back into the desert.

- Democrats haven't been out of power long enough to experience that same type of 'hunger'. They seem satisfied with playing politics as usual...disregarding how much the political landscape in America has changed.

- For instance...the New Republicans wouldn't hesitate to investigate, hold hearings or call for impeachment if a Dem president had done ANY of the things you mentioned in your post. They would do it without hesitation and call it their 'duty'.

[mmonk]

29. You're right. Our party leaders don't seem to have the instinct

to do what it takes.

[CosmicVortex10]

30. I think its cyclical, not anything the parties have done.

Sometimes the masses go right, sometimes left. Its the nature of the beast.

[Q]

31. The masses aren't going anywhere...

...that the New Republicans don't want them to go.

- The 'nature of the beast' you're referring to is actually a government using all its considerable resources to fool the people into believing the country is going in the right direction. The masses have no choice but to follow...or resist.

- You make it sound as if the 'masses' have a voice or have anything to do with the direction of this country.

[CosmicVortex10]

38. The masses are us all.

I have a choice, you have a choice, everyone has a choice... therefore the masses has a choice.
I know its more exciting to belive everyone else is simply stupid... its great for the ego, but I think most people choose the direction that ends up causing the cycle.
Also, conspiracy theory is fun to... Its always fun to think about the great illuminati lizard people running the trilateral commision and the CFR. Truth be known, I think their are conspriacies, but they mostly cancle each other out.

Just remember, in a polarized media environment, your bound to hate half the news no matter what side your on. Long as we get 51% though, thats all that matters

[Yupster]

43. I've been eating lunches at Subway.

Hopefully soon I'll be a little less masses.

[Q]

52. You call it 'polarized'...but it's more than that...

- The American media is intentionally covering up Bush* administration past and present corruption. That's not 'bias'...it's the media being part of the corruption.

[Resistance Is Futile]

36. Sometimes...

Sometimes the Germans elect crazed Austrian militarists. Sometimes they don't. It's the nature of the beast.

The masses go in whatever direction highly-organized propaganda pushes them. For the past decades, the GOP has had a monopoly on highly-organized propaganda. It's no surprise where the masses are going.

[loudnclear]

32. Just be patient...things are not as they seem

"The universe is unfolding as it should." (Desiderata)

[Q]

33. That's the problem...things are not as the media reports it...

...

[Guaranteed]

34. I think you're totally wrong on this.

In the past months Bush's untouchable facade has cracked. People are willing to question him and his lack of integrity is showing. The economy HAS been recovering, but, guess what? There's no jobs! They're all going to India! It's NOT a good thing when the economy is "recovering" but people aren't going back to work. On TOP of that, a lot of that can be attributed to the holidays coming up.
Iraq IS a quagmire, and he doesn't even have a plan to get out.
What MORE can we ask for? All we have to do is get our shit together, for Christ's sake (and I think we have).
Stop being so frickin' negative. Dean's going to beat him- and I think he's going to beat him soundly.

[Q]

50. The proof is in the 'pudding'...

...and there's no sign that the party is getting their 'shit' together.

- But you point out a giant flaw in democratic logic. Many Dems seem to think that all they have to do is wait long enough and Bush* will fall from his own corrupt weight. But a 'crack' in the facade is not enough...especially when so many wait in the wings to repair the cracks with superglue.

- Indeed...you're the one being 'negative' if your plan is to wait until Bush* is held accountable for his many screwups. This ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN...which is why Democrats must go on the OFFENSE.

[Birthmark]

37. There is no strategy.

Nor can one be cobbled together quickly enough to both have an effect and not look like it was...well, cobbled together. Democrats missed the boat in 2000 by complaining rather than striking, marching, or rioting (if that's what was needed) to get the man elected by the people into office. The moment has passed.

We will not get our country back any time soon. There will be no liberal media of any consequence. There will be no campaign finance reform. We are up against a foe that is firmly in control of all three branches of government, the media, and a the economy. They will probably get stronger rather than weaker.

In my opinion, the Democratic "leadership" is complicit in all of this.

[demgrrrll]

39. I remain undaunted and I do want people to read this because it

is so damn important every democratic candidate should have a copy.
I will try one more time
<http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/10/27_lakoff.shtml>
Yay Yay Yay it works.

[Birthmark]

45. That should help out...

...in about 20 years. Assuming we still have the right to vote in 2024.

[demgrrrll]

46. I disagree, I think some of his ideas could be put into place right away.

If you are convinced there is no hope then nothing anyone does or says will make any difference.

[Q]

49. Finally read the article...

...and the author makes some very good points:

- Excerpt:

Framing the issues: UC Berkeley professor George Lakoff tells how conservatives use language to dominate politics

By Bonnie Azab Powell, NewsCenter | 27 October 2003

BERKELEY – With Republicans controlling the Senate, the House, and the White House and enjoying a large margin of victory for California Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger, it's clear that the Democratic Party is in crisis. George Lakoff, a UC Berkeley professor of linguistics and cognitive science, thinks he knows why. Conservatives have spent decades defining their ideas, carefully choosing the language with which to present them, and building an infrastructure to communicate them, says Lakoff.

The work has paid off: by dictating the terms of national debate, conservatives have put progressives firmly on the defensive."

-------

- Neocons have been looking for and planning the 'perfect storm' in politics for decades. That is...taking all three 'houses' at the same time. They've spent billions of dollars in installing the right people in places of power...like on the courts and in the media. They've built a media empire unrivaled in history. This gives them the ability to FRAME the debate and put the other side on perpetual defense.

- Sometimes I wonder if the party really understands what they're up against?

[0rganism]

44. Depends on what happens next

I swear there are days when it seems like bush* is going to go down in flames, and not even finish out Gore's term. Then there are dark days when I think bush* could sacrifice a virgin to a volcano on national TV, claim it was in the interest of national security, and Americans would still support him.

It all depends.

The media is no friend of the left, that much is certain, and that will make any campaign very difficult.

Then again, if the blackbox voting machines are as rigged as it appears they are, the best campaign with perfect exposure couldn't win against them.

And then there's the CIA wild card. If the CIA folks get tired of watching bushco smear them to cover boyking's arse, and leaking names of operatives, then who knows what they'll pull. I have no doubt that the CIA could pull bush down quicker than that tank pulled down the Saddam statue in Baghdad central.

Don't give up hope. This place is manic-depressive by nature, try not to get sucked into the cycle. Politics makes strange bedfellows, and help may come from angles we'd never expect. So cross your fingers and make sure your passport's up to date.

[Q]

48. I'm not giving up hope...just looking for a 'plan'...

- Some tend to think that questioning the party on their strategy...or lack thereof...is a sign of giving up hope. It's the exact opposite.

- I don't believe the CIA IS a 'wild card'. Why? Because they're dependent on the (Bush*) government for their very existence. Remember...the CIA isn't even a 'legal' entity...and George's* daddy used to be the director. The Bushies and the CIA go way back. Poppy Bush has already smoothed it over for his dolt of a son. They'll compromise and sacrifice a few lower echelon staffers.

- We lost the media when they became just another special interest looking for a piece of the government tax pie for themselves or their defense contractor subsidiaries. As just one more corporation...they have joined with the energy and defense industries to form monopolies that control our society.

- Frankly put...there IS no hope for our government as it now stands. Democrats need to understand this before they can plan for the future and respond to help save it.

[0rganism]

54. Frankly, I kind of agree

Problem is, the Democratic party is an integral part of the hopeless system. If the Democrats understand this, then maybe there's a chance of a blockade, leading to real reform.

A comprehensive strategy would be quite difficult in the current chaos, but I'm going to trust the pros are working on 'em.

[Q]

53. Bottom Line: DEMOCRATS NEED TO GET PISSED

- The Neocons have stolen our country, our Democracy from us. And how do we respond? We wait for them to trip and fall...instead of sticking out out legs to help the process along.

- The Bush* government isn't just 'bad'. They're corrupt and criminal and show nothing but disdain for our Constitution and people. It's our duty to oppose it...as individuals and as a political party.

[ShaneGR]

59. Q, you are full of it, here's why

- The mainstream media is reporting the 'good news' about the economy.

So what, they'll be reporting the bad news after the holiday season, your point?

- Republicans, Centrists and more than a few Democrats now admit we 'had to' go into Iraq and we're there to stay for as long as it takes.

We do. What is your alternative? Of course, we need to get NATO troops into Iraq, and we need a much more effective President to craft an agreement witht the EU. No more no-bid contracts. But we can't just abandon Iraq.

- Bush's* lies about Iraq WMD have been all but forgotten and the betrayal of the covert CIA operative has become back page news. Bush* can stall release of the 9-11 document for years.

I could have sworn there is still an investigation being conducted by Justice on LeakGate, and the media will continue to mention no WMD (As they have been doing) and the 9-11 thing isn't just going to go away. It will all remain an issue through the election.

- RRWing Christians and certain generals think George* was chosen by God to save our country during a 'time of war'. Even some Democrats are saying he is the right leader at the right time.

One Democrat. Not some Democrats. Zell Miller is a loser. Perhaps you're counting Ed Koch? He doesn't count. What do 99% of the Democrats think Q?

- Dozens of other scandals and lies by the Bush* administration have been shoved under the table by the American media and the opposition party.

So basically you're saying that the 'opposition party', codespeak for the Democratic Party, are purposely being shoved under the table by the Democratic Leadership? Have you watched a Daschle or Pelosi press conference lately? Where do you get this garbage?

- We'll need much more than the individual game plans of the candidates. The Democratic Party needs a coherent, organized strategy to defeat Bush* in 2004.

We'll have it, but right now everyone is busy trying to kill each other over the primaries. By mid-March, all will be clear. The election is a year away!

- So where do we go from here? What issues can Democrats use to defeat the 'greatest wartime president in history'?

Jobs, Health Care, and Iraq.