What specific issue would you use to beat Bush?

[littlejoe]

Economy? The environment? War on Terror? Tell me your thoughts.

[Killarney]

1. It's early now

If the economy does not bounce back, I would use the economy. That's how we kicked his Daddy out.

If for some reason the economy goes through a big rebound, I would use Iraq and the lies regarding Iraq, the environment, big business ties and big business tax loopholes, etc.

[TruthIsAll]

24. Here are a few. And it is NOT too early.

Creeping Fascism. Pre-emptive war. Unilateralism. Former allies. Worst president we ever had. BushCo Lies. WMD. Diebold. Disenfranchised blacks. Cronyism. Kyoto. Global Warming. Tax-giveaways. Harken Energy. 9/11 warnings. Kristen Breitweiser. Star Wars. Ellen Mariani. Enron. Taliban. Saudis. Fear. Medicare. Social Security. Anthrax. Unemployed. Military benefits. Jessica Lynch. Veterans benefits. AIDS. Deficits. Foreclosures. Bankrupticies. Market crash. Patriot Act. Protest zones. PNAC. NeoCons. Halliburton. Carlyle. Iraq No-bids. Bin Laden. Arbusto. FuneralGate. Wilson/PlameGate. "Mission Accomplished". "Bring 'em on". "Who cares what you think"? "I saw the first plane hit the WTC live on television". TriFecta. Military Casualties? Whoremedia. Quagmire. Booker School. Cronyism. Volusia. SCOTUS Coup. Rob-Georgia. BBV. Katherine Harris. James Baker. Jeb Bush. Neil Bush. Marvin Bush. Unprecedented. John O'Neil. WTC Bldg #7. 9/11 Simulation? Texas Redistricting. California Recall.

[GOPisEvil]

Expose the whole damned house of cards.

Hit 'em hard; hit 'em early; hit 'em often; hit 'em from all directions; hit 'em with the truth!

[derby378]

2. So many to choose from...

Accountability might be a good choice. I'm talking about the old "we don't answer to Bush, he answers to us" angle...

[littlejoe]

4. I agree, there are too many things to choose from.

But, if you were a candidate, which topic do you think you could resonate with the voters on, concerning Bush's record?

[Cocoa]

15. accountability

why did no one get fired for Sept. 11?

Why does he keep blaming Clinton for EVERYTHING?

[Demeter]

3. You Have to Use All of them

There are too many weasels out there.

If the argument is on one topic, then the weasel says, yes but...

So the list must be clear, concise, and complete.

NO WEASEL ROOM!

There is no need to exaggerate any of Bush's flaws. Just enumerate them.

[rucky]

5. His Elitism

Every aspect of his policies reflects upon his elitist attitude.

[forgethell]

6. Try the unfairness

of the tax cuts

[bain_sidhe]

7. not only is it early

it will at least partly depend on who our nominee is. Clark would, I think, have the greatest effect framing his arguments in terms of our international standing - going after foreign policy, both the Iraq war and it's cost in domestic programs, (not to mention the trade wars brewing over our "contracting" policy) and the economic costs of losing alliances and good will from the rest of the world.

Dean, on the other hand, would I think have the greatest effect using Bush and the hard-right's locking ordinary citizens out of the policy making process - that would be another hit on the "economic damage" Bush has done to the middle class, and could tie in both the war and trade policy, but would present the arguments more in populist terms rather than policy terms.

IMHO, that is.

[QC]

8. His war against the middle class.

That takes in a lot of things: the tax cuts, overtime, Medicare, and more.

The overall thrust of his domestic policy is to elevate wealth over work, as Edwards puts it, and it's time to start talking about that.

[qanda]

9. Assault on the middle class

More people are moving down than are moving up. Only the rich get richer under Republican administrations. Sure the middle class got a tax cut, but all the remainder of the policies have come along to strip that extra money out of the pockets of the middle class.

[HFishbine]

10. Honesty/Competence/Who's Interests

Had to pick three, although they overlap.

I think it can be demonstrated (further) that the Shrub is a GD liar and that he isn't competent.

But I'd drive home the view that polls support, that most American's think Bush is out of touch with the problems that ordinary American's face and that he doesn't agree with people on issues they care about most.

http://www.pollingreport.com/bush.htm

[proud patriot]

11. National Security and The US. Constitution

I would also use his campaign promises against him

[ACK]

12. All of the above? Killer Progressive platform here.

We have to come up with the vision. Remember the contract on America that the Repubs used during the Republican Revolution? We need our own manifesto for the future.

Kuicinch has something right when he states that some libertarians, reform party, greens and other outside forces in American politics can be wooed to a Dem candidate with a unified vision of America and its future.

Here are set of my core political beliefs. I propose that a platform of change around these ideals could appeal to all of America. The real key is to reclaim the language of debate and find a new progressive populist voice forged around our beliefs.

1. I believe the Government has a duty to regulate the power of corporations when the corporate interests conflict with public
interests. In a capitalist society you have to work with business interests but you cannot be whores to them. When the rubber meets the road and the public interest is at stake then the citizen's interests much be preserved. The Citizen comes before the corporation.

2. I believe that the full protection of the Bill of Rights outlined in the Constitution should not be curtailed. Repeal the Patriot's Act and keep government out of the bedrooms and out of the business of trying to dictate behavior and speech.

3. I believe in a woman's right to choose. It is not the government's place to regulate procreation.

4. I believe that universal healthcare is a moral imperitive and can benefit both the public and the corporate structure of this country. This can be a great benefit to both the public and business interests in America. Free up the HR departments from having to worry over healthcare and you free up an incredible amount of money into the economy. With that kind of money back into the economy insuring the uninsured with pay huge dividends in increased productivity in the end. I see a single-payer system with plenty of options much like what is available to the feds right now. However, I am open to all options that meet the requirements of universal healthcare.

5. I believe in the seperation of church and state and that public money should not go to fund religious organizations.

6. I believe in the social safety net. I believe that government can give a hand up and not just a hand out. The real issue is connecting people with jobs in the private sector. The real issue is retraining and getting people to the available jobs in their areas. Moreover, the biggest issue is figuring out how to prevent single moms from having to choose between providing for their families and abandoning their children. A workfare system with a system of available childcare, retraining programs that work with local businesses and job networking systems that focus on the local employeement needs.

7. I believe in proper education funding. Focusing on the schools in the most need is crucial and accountability for performance is important as well. There can be no more unfunded mandates. We must have the guts to put our money where our mouth is. The money has to be connected to results but the idea of results without proper funding is a self-fullfilling prophecy of doom.

8. I believe in morality in foreign policy. Too often, being pragmatic has turned to being opportunistic and bullying. In the end, we always pay for it. We have to frame our actions within the insititution of the UN and embrace our allies. We do not have to take a weak hats in our hand approach but that is not the same as being arrogant and unilateral in our actions. We have to have a policy that understand the role of diplomacy and action.

9. I believe in protecting the environment and this can be done without being proxies for industry and without destroying industry. Any progress toward a cleaner environment has to involve business interests as well as environmental groups. A balanced well thought out approach is the answer here. When the business interests work with government and play fair -- praise them (this is tough for some of us) but you have to give them the chance. This is the noose of a chance that every polluter will have the opportunity to hang themselves on. Play the game or pay big. Enforce the laws on the books with a vengence. Come up with a list of the best companies and the worst and make it a huge public affair. Take down the punks and praise those who try to do right.

10. Fiscal responsibility is key. We have to balance the budget. The borrow and spend Republicans are giving away the future for short term economic gains. We have to repeal the giveaways to the rich. We have to move the country forward toward the goal of a balanced budget. The tax cuts for the working and middle class were warranted but they were a smoke screen for other people in the highest tax brackets who did NOT want to pay their fair share. A total reform of the tax structure, simplification of the rules and the cutting of loopholes for the wealthy are needed immediately.

11. Gun safety laws need to be strengthened but a ban on firearms is not practical or workable. This is the kind of talk that soothes the hunters and brings out the harsh nuts and exposes them for the idiots they are.

12. Corporate welfare should end. It is not the government's job in a capitalist society to bail out or give aid to failing corporations. Target the worst of the pork belley giveaways to the richest corporations and make it a reform based media event. Plug this constantly along with the next point.

13. Small business initiatives that promote competition in a free market society is not the same thing as corporate welfare and should endure to promote the ideals of small business owners.

14. I believe in a military strong enough to defend the nation. A two-pronged approach to the military is needed. Weed out waste and give over better benefits to the men in the ranks. We all know there is waste in the current defense budget. This is the only way to cut down defense spending without looking weak. You highlight the cuts as unpatriotic wastes of the taxpayer dollars. You give back at least 50% of all the cuts back to the common soldiers and the vets that have given so much.

15. Independence from non-renewable energy sources should be a national goal with a set of real deadlines. A real energy policy that focuses on getting America away from the dependency on foreign oil and onto the path of using renewable resources is an idea who's time as come. We cannot simply give away more money to energy companies and destroy our national wildlife heritage. That is not the way. Initiatives and grants aimed at promoting new ideas and technologies is the real winning plan. These are the technologies that can put America businesses on top in the long term and preserve our nation's treasured resources.

16. I believe in a worker's right to organize and collectively bargain. Any law that would take away over-time benefits or prevent the rights of workers to collectively bargain must be stopped. The minimum wage must be expanded. Illegal union busting tactics must be stopped. The business of America is business but the core of business is built on the initiative, work, sweat and pride of the American worker.

[littlejoe]

17. To ACK

An admirable platform, to say the least, and one which I would be proud to run on. Yet, I wonder, as with Bill Clinton's "It's the economy, stupid" mantra, can whichever democrat gets the nod win, unless he or she beats the Bushies continually over the head with one overriding core issue?

[ACK]

22. Economy/corporatism

It is the difference for a moderate between actually talking and working with business and being whores to them.

How many times will the administration get on their knees before the corporate interests and sell away the interests of their country?

It is the difference between supporting growth and competition and stifling it by only supporting the interests that are associated to the administration.

It is the cronyism of the administration and those companies associated to fund raising for themselves and the GOP in general.

The government can help to provide a competitive environment in a capitalist system in as fair a way as possible. That will fuel the economy.

Talk about reform and getting rid of the 371 billion in pork the Repukes are pushing through and ending corporate welfar and giving back to the people in more middle class tax cuts.

Citizens before corporations. Small business initiatives not corporate pandering. Working with NOT for the business interests of this country.

This is what will fuel the economy of this country.

BTW, this is how to be progressive, capitalist (sorry common folks hate socialist talk), pro-growth, pro competition and anti-corporate scandal.

All in the same breath.

[Kamika]

13. Today.. I'd use jobs

He has lost tons of jobs.. even if you're a conservative, without a job you'll notice it

[RobertSeattle]

14. I hate to be this cynical, but I'd question his Christianity

I see very little in anything George Bush does that is truly Christian. Sure he USES Christianity as a political weapon against his political enemies, but I question his sincerity. I think some of his handlers told him a decade ago, "George, if you are going to get into GOP politics, you're going to have to establish yourself as a devout Christian man..."

The strategy works. Regardless of what George does, there is a huge segment of the US population that supports (and forgives) him unquestionly since "he's a good Christian man".

[info being]

16. I would use anything DK says. Its right on

.

[TheBlob]

18. There's so many

But if the public found out the truth about 9/11 negligence, that would be the nail in the coffin.

[grannylib]

19. All of it: his desertion, his obvious incompetence at everything he's ever

done, as evidenced by his repeated bailouts by daddy's rich friends with money; the Harken thing; his refusal to release his Gov records, the records from the energy company hearings, his military records, etc.; his refusal to give unedited documents to the 9/11 commission; his refusal to hand over whoever leaked Valerie Plame's name to NoFacts (I wrote NoFacts a bit ago and told him what a wrong-wing media whore he was for printing it); his lies about ties between al Qaeda and Saddam, just so he could play army with other's lives being the ones at risk; his theft of the 2000 elections; his ties to Diebold and company; his PNAC ties; his stupid brothers and their personal/business dealings (which would be getting constant media attention if they had been pulled off by Roger Clinton)....
I'm tired of typing, there is just SO damn much wrong with him/his misadministration/the direction our great country is taking under his 'leadership...'
We have GOT to stop this internecine quibbling, be as positive as possible about the Democratic candidates, and focus on getting this loser asshole out of the White House!

[LizW]

20. Corruption, if I had to pick only one

Funneling tax dollars to his cronies by way of the war and supposed reconstruction in Iraq. Risking American lives and murdering Iraqi civilians in order to enrich his donors is despicable. This alone, even without the rest of the litany of horrors, is what makes him in my opinion, the worst president* ever.

[bbmykel]

21. Credibility

Once people realize that what he says and what he does are two very different things, the rest will come crashing down.

Mike

[AndyP]

23. E.) all of the above

If I was running I'd be giddy. There are so many inconsistances, and outright lies. I'd mention the things are happening everyday but dont get a lot of mainstream attention. I the the "first amendment zones" piss me off the most.

[PurityOfEssence]

25. Terrorizing the people to force through an unrelated agenda

This will resonate. If he cared so much about our security, why did he hold up the Homeland Security bill so he could crush unions? If it was important, it was important. If it's just being used as an excuse to crush the workers and demand dictatorial control and secrecy, then it wasn't that crucial, and it's being used for personal financial gain. If it's so important, why was this used as a leverage issue right before an election; it should have been long since resolved by then.

If Saddam was so urgent, why was it also held to time out right before an election and be used as a wedge issue? If we knew--as the joint report on 9-11 proved--that Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11 or Al-Queda, why did we use the galvanized fear of the people to settle an old family score and secure vast personal financial gain for our leaders? If we cared about our people, why was this document held from release from December until well after the war?

If security is paramount, why does the administration quash any inquiry into why we were caught with out pants down? They use our collective fear to do as they please, and much of what they please is to find new and innovative ways to increase our fear.

If much of our vulnerability to the world is dependence on foreign oil, why are we not aggressively changing mileage standards?

If our economy has been hurt due to terrorism, why do we not ask those who benefit most from our society to help out, instead of rewarding them with less obligation?

Why does our government consistently terrorize us to secure more financial gain for themselves and supporters?

If Cheney has nothing to do with the running of Halliburton, how does he know immediately that there's no price gouging going on? If he has no financial interest in the company because he bought insurance on his pension payments, what about the 400,000+ stock options he still holds?

This is nothing more than gangsterism: it's a protection racket. The President might as well show up at our door in a pin-stripe suit and say, as he shifts the wooden match in his teeth: "nice little life ya got here; wouldn't wanna see it to burn to the ground, would ya?"

[LiviaOlivia]

26. Oligarchic governance

As stated previously, "All of the above".

[1songbird]

27. There are so many issues but

I would start with the one that directly affects little children. Bush did something that I never thought any Repug would do. He gave the mandate to block grant the Headstart Program, thus starting the destruction of this vital program. He knew that this program was effective. I watched the Representatives debate this issue and heard callers from both parties absolutely rail against the Repugs. The Repugs did not even use apples to apples comparisons when assessing the success of the program. Remanding the funding of this program to the states even on a trial basis is as bad as starving medicare and social security. How many inner city school programs are thriving? Not that many. With the testing standards that are incorporated into the No Child Left Behind Act, I fear that at risk little ones who don't get the appropriate attention in preschool will be relagated to a marginal status early on in their academic lives. This will ultimately put these students on the dropout path. This will have a devastating affect on society as a whole. The gap between the have and the have nots will widen. The problem crosses all color lines and would be a good issue in which to take Bush on.

We need to point out the absolute hypocrisy within this administration. They care so much about unborn children that they are willing to end abortions even when the mother's life is at stake, yet they don't seem to give a damn about the children that are already here.

[snippy]

28. It is a dangerous strategy to attempt to define the issues this early.

Too many things can change between now and next summer. What the democratic party should be doing at this stage is attempting to define Bush in the average American's mind. I think that attempt should focus on his dishonesty right now and then his incompetence once average people are joking about his dishonesty.

With Bush's record, the dishonesty and incompetency of Bush's presidency are easy to establish, but an organized and concerted effort needs to be made. And it needs to start soon.

I would include pictures like this in any ad.

[gulliver]

29. Greatness, intellect, compassion, fidelity ...

... to country.

All of the other issues are going to be used as reflections on the above qualities. For example, failure in the War on Terror will indicate that Bush is unworthy of the presidency. It won't matter what Bush's "plan" is for it or how it compares to Democratic plans.

We must field a candidate who is obviously more worthy of the title President of the United States than Bush. All of the rest will be disputed, spun, fuzzy math.