IT'S ON! GOP Plans to 'Get Personal' in Last 60 Days with $45M Attack Ads

[AtomicKitten]

Bring it on, you bastards! We're not bending over for it this time!


Washington Post: 'GOP plans to get personal' in final 60 days of fall elections campaigning

RAW STORY
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Washington_Post_GOP_plans_to_get_0909.html

The Republican Party 'plans to get personal' in the final 60 days of fall elections campaigning, according to a front page article in Sunday's Washington Post.

"Republicans are planning to spend the vast majority of their sizable financial war chest over the final 60 days of the campaign attacking Democratic House and Senate candidates over personal issues and local controversies, GOP officials said," report Jim VandeHei and Chris Cillizza for the Post.

"The National Republican Congressional Committee, which this year dispatched a half-dozen operatives to comb through tax, court and other records looking for damaging information on Democratic candidates, plans to spend more than 90 percent of its $50 million-plus advertising budget on what officials described as negative ads," the article continues.

Excerpts from the Post article:

The hope is that a vigorous effort to "define" opponents, in the parlance of GOP operatives, can help Republicans shift the midterm debate away from Iraq and limit losses this fall. The first round of attacks includes an ad that labeled a Democratic candidate in Wisconsin "Dr. Millionaire" and noted that he has sued 80 patients.

"Opposition research is power," said Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (N.Y.), the NRCC chairman. "Opposition research is the key to defining untested opponents."

"When you run in an adverse political environment, you try to localize and personalize the race as much as you can," Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said.

In a memo released last week, Cole, who is running to succeed Reynolds at the NRCC, expanded on that strategy. The memo recommended that vulnerable incumbents spend $20,000 on a research "package" to find damaging material about challengers and urged that they "define your opponent immediately and unrelentingly."

* Full Unquotable Rag article here http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/09/AR2006090901079_pf.html

[Demobrat]

1. The Dems need to do an ad

using the Puke's own sleaze against them.

Something along the lines of

"By their own admission, Republicans, who this year dispatched a half-dozen operatives to comb through tax, court and other records looking for damaging information on Democratic candidates, plan to spend more than 90 percent of their $50 million-plus advertising budget on negative ads, in order to deflect YOUR attention from their botched war in Iraq."

[chaska]

2. BINGO!

[Morereason]

35. THAT'S THE WINNING STRATEGY!

Absolutely. The people now are aware of the tactics of the republicans. Dems need to come in hard and call the pubs on this in each district. Show their tactics and convince people it is propaganda. They must hit it head on and frankly. At the end it should say something like: Give the Republicans a message: tell them that THIS TIME you will not fall for their tricks!

[ClintonTyree]

36. Action beats reaction every time.........

I'm sure these "operatives" will have a much easier time finding "dirt" when they have the NSA spying on everyone for them as well. The Democrats MUST stop REACTING to the RepubliCON smears and start ACTING, beating these slime-balls to the punch.

Now, we'll have to wait to see if that happens or if it's business as usual for the Democratic Party. We've spent the last 8 years reacting to RepubliCON lies and it's killed us. It's time to start smacking around a little GOP ass!

[civildisoBDence]

47. You can fight fire with fire

but you can't react to reactionaries.

Newsprism

[Dinger]

45. OOooooooooo, Excellent!

Me Likey, me likey!

[kenfrequed]

74. Sure... but that falls a bit short

First off you have to front load what is going on that is important.
-An unequal economy.
-Jobs being outsourced.
-Education being defunded
-Peoples futures being mortgaged off to corporations
-An energy policy that rewards big oil
-The environment and science being gutted at a time when we are on the verge of environmental catastrophe
-The troubling costs of war being saddled on the poor and middle class with no end in sight.

At this time when there are so many crucial issues we should be concerned about the Republican party seems soley dedicated to blinding us all to the crimes they have committed against the American people with cheap and sleazy tricks and attack ads.

It is time for a change.

---

Of course that's just sort of a rough outline, you get the picture.

[Mojekearthe]

99. ONLY ANSWER POSSIBLE... BAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

It is indeed a fact that the Republican Party, in itself, is an organization that does NOT exist for the dissemination of democratic, spirited debate in the arena of ideas. Instead, the very basis of the Republican party is now more in line with that of a Mafia-esque organization, which uses deceit, criminal activity, and repressive suppression to counteract the demonstrably overwhelming desire for democratic and liberal principals that humanity itself is based on. The frightening reality of the situation is the Republican Party is DESTROYING humanity, not just in our country, but exerting its criminal influence all over the world.

The harsh fact remains: EVERY republican is guilty to some degree of horrendous crimes against humanity, be it choosing corporate elites over the working masses, the environmentally destructive activities that more than a few corporations and entities which will forever make the planet extremely inhabitable for the overwhelming masses of poor and disenfranchised global citizens, and the support of policies which destroy the very humanity of our souls. In fact, we can denounce Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, et all, for their criminal activities that surpassed those conducted by Ghengis Khan, Adolph Hitler, Richard Nixon, and even Ronald Reagan all we want. In fact, when we take Congress back, our first order of business is for Speaker Pelosi to call for the impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney, for Senate Majority Leader Reid to ensure that the votes are enough on the democratic side to uphold the impeachments, and remove these criminals, along with their felonious cabinet members and aides, prior to incarcerating them all for their crimes against humanity. But there will be a NEW Bush, a NEW Hitler, a NEW Reagan to take their place at the Attila the Hun chair of the Republican Party.

Which leads me to this point: We need to LEGALLY BAN the Republican Party. SPECIFICALLY, we need to look into the overt ways it engineers and manipulates its finances. Unlike the Democrats, Greens, and other righteous parties, the Republican Party has proven itself to illegally funnel questionable sources for its funds to buy elections, especially the makers of voting machines, the media for dispensing hateful lies about supposed democratic actions regarding the Republican manufactured "War On Terror", and the other hideous activities it dispells. What we NEED to do is to bring out the accounting practices to light, and enforce existing RICO acts against the party. Once we do that, we can make it illegal for individuals to join and campaign under the Republican Party banner. Keep in mind that this is NOT an infringement of the First Amendment, or free speech! The Republican party pretty much has gone way past their democratically political leanings to that of an organization that is, unquestionably, the most destructive, inhuman entity in the history of the planet.

So attack the republican party's financial capabilities. Attack the party's officers and main political office holders, ensuring that they have indictable charges so we can remove them from societal influence. Finally, make it official: Any involvement in the Rebpublican party should be banned forthwith. There is FAR AND AWAY enough diversity in the Democratic, Green, and various Socialist parties to ensure a rich dialogue of ideas, ideas that have been suppressed NOT by votes, but through fear mongering and criminal manipulation of the ballot boxes by the criminals of the Republican Party.

KEEP IN MIND...I do NOT advocate the suppression of free speech or justifiable political activities of ANY citizen. I DO advocate the ability of PREVENTING an organization to ILLEGALLY SUPPRESS such free speech and political activities! Therefore, we are NOT banning individuals from political discourse, we are PREVENTING an organization from even HAVING THE RIGHT to political discourse IN THE FIRST PLACE. UNDERSTAND THIS VERY IMPORTANT PARAGRAPH.

UNTIL IT IS BANNED, the REPUBLICAN PARTY IS, HAS BEEN, AND ALWAYS WILL BE...AMERICA'S ULTIMATE HATE CRIME.

That should be one of our main taglines all the way to the election, and once we take over Congress, along with the above impeachments and immediate return of our troops from Iraq, we must look into banning the republican party.

[rrasile]

103. Do an it right

It's simple enough, flash a photo then Text the charges. All of them, it doesn't matter what state their from. Connect each one of them to the BIG LIES that Bush and Company spread. If you show it often enough they will believe it.
Our voters are dumb enough to elect anyone.

[depakid]

117. Don't hold your breath

The Dems simply refuse to nationalize the elections and hit Republicans back.

It's almost as if the want to lose.

[Major Hogwash]

3. Let them defend Bush's war in Iraq and see how personal it gets!!

Over 2660 Americans have been killed in the Iraq War.
Another 42,000 have been wounded.

And 130,000 innocent Iraqi citizens have been killed.

[p12psicop]

29. 130,000 ? wow I thought it was less but OMG

[phylny]

40. My 79-year-old father was visiting on Friday, and he wisely said,

"Mark my words - when the number of American soldiers killed in Iraq equals the number of people killed on 9/11, there should be hell to pay for the Republicans and Bush, even though one had nothing to do with the other."

[kurtyboy]

48. Your father will see such a thing happen soon

At current casualty rates, the US troop losses in Iraq will match and exceed 911 deaths in 147 days, or February 2, 2007.

At current casualty rates, coalition troop deaths will meet and exceed 911 deaths in 32 days, or on October 11, 2006.

[cyborg_jim]

85. Sounds like a great way to celebrate my birthday.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. And some on our side still want to play fair

Game On, motherfuckers.

[AtomicKitten]

6. my sentiments

EXACTLY

[brentspeak]

10. There's going to be a need to expose the GOP operatives and

Club For Growth people who are beginning to crawl throughout NJ on behalf of Kean.

[The Wizard]

38. Washington does not need

another Junior fouling the air and the climate. We've seen the results of Bush Junior, and we don't need a Kean Junior to be his rubber stamp.

[femrap]

11. Give me the big chunk of dirt....

I'm throwing it straight at DeWine and his money grubbing rubber stamp!

[ladym55]

101. Can you share?

I'd like to throw large chunks of dirt DeWine's way. His gap-toothed mug is on TV constantly as he down-homes for all us dumb Ohioans and lets us know that Sherrod Brown can't be trusted.

Lying sack of crap. :grr:

[femrap]

120. I was doing some googling today

on the ranking of states on jobs, poverty, and education. Ohio has really dropped....I did this because I was canvassing yesterday and a man didn't believe that we were approaching what I call the Alabama/Mississippi bottom 5....(LA, SC and either TN or KY).

Anyway, when I am canvassing in working/middle class neighborhoods, I am going to slaughter DeWine as the rich boy who does everything * tells him. DeWine is scared of Cheney and *. He's afraid they won't give him any $ to campaign with so he votes exactly like they tell him.

Ohio has lost more jobs than any other state--We're Number 1 in Job Loss! And the pugs have been in power while this happened. And with this national debt (Iraq is making this much worse) getting bigger and soon to explode, don't you think Ohio needs someone in office who gives 2 cents about the working people of Ohio...that's Sherrod.

I'll type up all of these notes about Ohio tomorrow and post them in the Ohio Forum.

I want to scare and/or anger the people I am canvassing and calling....the scripts that I have been given are crappy. I think its time to get to the voters' emotions. That's what will motivate them. So I will scare and anger them. We have so much ammunition against the pugs and we're not using it.

[LibDemAlways]

You nailed it. While repuke freaks are

launching Swiftboat and worse attacks on Dems, how many of the targets will fight back and give as good as they get? Each and every lie and distortion needs an immediate response to set the record straight and call these bastards on their bullshit. Anything less isn't good enough.

[Totally Committed]

44. Exactamundo, Stinky!

The "Path to 9/11" was the last straw.... I'm in! Down and dirty... steel cage deathmatch all the way!

TC

[calimary]

64. PLEASE see this link. It's the Link of the Year.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/9/9/124753/8755

May I draw your attention to Rule Five? Unfortunately, it just HAS to be this way. I don't like it, either when I think about the idea of having something called a conscience. But I know it's what WINS.

BTW - all credit for posting this originally goes to DUer AX10.

[Stinky The Clown]

98. Rule Five is perfect ... well .... nearly so ......

The Stinky Version of Rule Five is 'go for the balls, grab hold, and squeeze till they screech like girlie-men'

Fuck 'nice'

[bonito]

5. It's time to get vocal and be heard

This is it, we must take november or bust! who among us can take another 2 years of the killing and destruction? My good lord is not here dam it, but I am.

[Mr_Spock]

7. I'm probably going to spit into a Repukes face this fall

I've had enough of their shit at this point.

[brentspeak]

8. It's already happening in NJ

Republican (GW Bush-appointed, in fact) U.S. attorney for NJ Christopher Christie just launched a federal investigation into the financial dealings of Democratic Senator Robert Menendez. The issue is an obscure real estate transaction which occured three years ago.

1) Christie decided to launch his federal investigation into Mendendez two months before Election Day.

2) Although Christie didn't make a formal announcement about the investigation, his office leaked this information to the press yesterday.

[NJCher]

24. Not only that, but the investigation is totally groundless

Menendez took the transaction through the Ethics Committee back at the time of the rental.

When I heard the repuke DA was doing this I was nearly apoplectic. The bastards will stop at nothing. There are no standards, no ethics, no sense of decency. They will use the system--OUR system---to achieve their ends, no matter what the price.




Cher

[The Wizard]

39. So when do we start

the rumor campaign? Start sending letters to the Star-Ledger and other major publications questioning possible sightings of Kean at gay bars or Klan rallies. The letter might read: As a life long Republican I am concerned about the stories circulating of Tom Kean's connection to (fill in the blank). Mr. Kean must come forward as soon as possible to refute these claims.
In short, make them talk about it.
Now since they monitor this site they know what we're thinking. We need to be monitoring repube sites and watching Pox and listening to hate radio to know where they are going. Showers are recommended after such activity though. As unpleasant as it may be, we have to get down in the dirt. Playing defense to Ku Klux Karl is a losing strategy. Hit them hard, hit them now, and hit them below the belt. The Bush junta must be stopped.
Start your own push poll. If you learned Tom Kean had a gambling addiction could you still vote for him? If you knew Tom Kean never worked a day in his life and has been living off a family trust fund would that make you more or less inclined to support him. Note the language here using
supporting Tom Kean and his living off a trust fund in the same question.

[calimary]

68. See? NOW you're thinking.

If the game is dirty pool, then let the games begin.

Remember how the rumor campaign started against John McCain (and how it derailed his candidacy in South Carolina - when he had beaten bush and was looking like a winner, and the bushies realized they had to take him down, FAST?) - and how SUCCESSFUL and EFFECTIVE it was? It was dirty as hell, but IT WORKED. And why wouldn't it? Politics itself is dirty as hell. If you don't like that, you're in the wrong game.

Remember what they actually said? "Would you vote for John McCain IF YOU KNEW THAT he'd fathered a black child out of wedlock?"

The key phrase here is "would you... IF YOU KNEW THAT (fill in the blank here)." Notice how that's put together. It isn't a flat-out accusation. It isn't a flat-out statement. It's an INSINUATION. They IMPLY something. They don't state it outright. They're not saying "Don't vote for John McCain! He fathered a black child out of wedlock!" They know if they were that baldfaced about it, that'd be stupid because they'd be inviting lawsuits. Instead, you get the same mileage, and the same results, by wording it differently. Wording it more sneakily, delicately, with subterfuge, with shrewdness. So that they IMPLY something, and then your ears and your brain put 2 and 2 together the way THEY want you to. They give you some rope and you hang yourself with it, and the candidate whose reputation they want to ruin. They take a page, here, from the "I'm JUST SAYING..." approach. They hand you a glue bottle and YOU make it stick. They don't apply the glue. They just leave it out there on the table with glitter on it so it'll attract your eye and you'll pick it up. They get YOU to do the heavy lifting. They just provide the tools and the weights and the padded floor. YOU - and your mind - do all the work.

They did this by enlisting mad-dog morning radio jocks and talkers, putting this out on the air like bugs crawling in people's ears, AND they had phone-calling "outreach" campaigns to voters, furthering these insinuations.

Don't believe for ONE INSTANT that every listener on the receiving end of this shit would have the forthrightness to say - THAT is BULLSHIT! How DARE they? I refuse to take delivery!!! The problem here is that, even with listeners like these, the insinuation will still be planted. They'll hang up the phone in a huff, or turn the radio off or switch stations in a huff. BUT THEN... the problem is, they will NOT be able to do that in their own minds. That sinister little insinuation will start working its way in like a little worm. It'll get under their skin and slowly start festering. And it'll start bothering that unsuspecting listener. Soon enough, there WILL be enough of these who'll start having to deal with a nagging notion in the back of their minds - "gee, you don't suppose that's true, do you?" And THAT'S the game. The insinuation just won. By the time this unsuspecting listener gets to the polling place, that nagging little insinuation will have worked its black magic, and the infection will have metastacized. That unsuspecting listener will bring that discomfort into the voting booth, and when it's time to punch the ticket, WILL allow this general malaise and can't-put-my-finger-on-it discomfort with the maligned candidate lead the voter to choose the OTHER guy. The one whose campaign operatives spread that rumor to begin with.

So... NOW we need to take this lesson and figure out ways to apply it for OUR OWN purposes.

I'm sorry it's come to this Dark-Side level, but that IS what it's come to. That's just a fact. A sad fact, but a fact nonetheless. And we have to deal with it. The best way to do that, I think, is to harness it for OUR purposes, and use the same tactics AGAINST the bad guys. Turn it back on them. TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE.

[bvar22]

9. *

"Every one has a plan...Until you hit them in the mouth." --Mike Tyson

[femrap]

13. Could you photoshop a repug in place of the

possum? Geez....I am not out to kill animals....I want some pugs run over.

Picking on animals....what's wrong with you? Pick on a pug.

[bvar22]

18. Its a political statment.

"Nothing in the middle of the road except yellow stripes and dead armadillos"---Jim Hightower

It's a political statement.
Centrism is dead!

[femrap]

20. I'd still prefer to see a pug dead in the road...

but if you and Jim insist on symbolism that picks on animals....go ahead. But if Karma works, you and Jim are coming back as earthworms.....don't say you weren't warned.

[bvar22]

22. My Karmic retribution will be worse than someone...

...who would take delight in seeing a mutilated Human Being on the road? :rofl:

Spare me.


The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[femrap]

123. * belongs in the middle of that road.....

At times I believe he is an heir of Lucifer....the worst of all evil.

I know I shouldn't wish him run over by a car, but I do. He has caused so many so much pain. I wish he had never been born.

And we let him get away with all of it.

But your point is well taken.

[DBoon]

23. What do you have against pugs?

I'd rather see a Republican in the middle of that road.

[femrap]

122. I'm sorry.....not pug, the dogs....which I think

are absolutely adorable.

I call repugnants, pug for short. It is a bad habit....I should just refer to them as slime.

[LiberalLovinLug]

43. How's this femrap?

Although he sure acts like an animal too

[Dinger]

12. And They Think We Won't? (nt)

[Hailtothechimp]

14. This is who they are.

And those who vote with them are ennabling this behavior. That's all it is.

Repulsive, isn't it?

[savemefromdumbya]

15. Negativity can work against. The opponent needs to be one step ahead

in the case of the Presidential election 2004 Kerry was lagging behind and was vulnerable for attack. Dems need to be up there and not asleep.

[sakabatou]

16. Bring it on, b*tches!

[beyurslf]

17. They do it because it WORKS. Itt's too bad so many Dems don't

realize and want to play nice. They thumb their noses at us while we play nice and lose. Whining about it later doesn't change that they are in power.

[lutefisk]

25. Yes, that's the bottom line!

Once they are in power all is forgotten. Florida 2000 is the model- once you are sworn in nothing will take that away. Sure, there are some whiny protesters talking about legitimacy, but just ignore them and keep on keeping on...

[lpbk2713]

19. The hypocrites do this while they condemn Dems "negative" ads.

And the truth told in the Dem ads is nowhere near as viscious as what they are spewing. Their shit never changes.

[Independent_Liberal]

21. The dogs are getting violent!

They're totally rabid and foaming at their mouths!

:D

[Straight Shooter]

26. It's time to have a chat with the hookers who serviced the GOP convention.

Remember what the pros said? They love it when large numbers of Repubs come to town, because business sure picks up when the GOP comes to town. They stay busy.

[Erika]

27. See www.icasualties.org

It says it all. He sent our kids in to invade a country that was never a threat. The stupid bushbots must hold themselves accountable.

[snowbear]

28. There's an article floating around out there somewhere... Dean...

...is not even phased one iota with what they plan to spend..

His piggy bank for ads is also bursting at the seams and he plans to also flood the airwaves.

Don't Worry! ..."The Doctor is In"

[Skittles]

30. awww......and I thought they would run on their record

BWAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAA

[Kierkegaard]

58. Exactly.

Their 'new' plan is 'business as usual.' They have nothing else...

[kentjay]

31. its interesting that the rethugs

state that they are going to get personal.we new that was coming.so where are our personal attacks?does this mean we are going to get swiftboated again.you know,succintly,if the the rethugs retain congress the usa as most of us know it will no longer exist.bush will recapture his lost political capitial and wars,wars and more wars.more corporate welfare,government jammed down our throats,etc.things are not looking too bright for the beacon of light.

[Skittles]

32. I really would prefer not to sink to the level of repukes

their tactics are stomach-turning and don't tell me they win elections or else they would not have to steal them

[kentjay]

33. right now i`m operating under the

"by whatever means necessary"

[Skittles]

34. the "genius" of Rove

is he is able to do things that would turn a decent person's stomach....it is not wise to hope we have someone like that

[connecticut yankee]

42. Welcome to DU

but I think if we stoop to their level, it will make us as bad as they are.

I think you can take the high road and be effective, we just have to take off the kid gloves and hit harder.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

61. I'm with you connecticut yankee...

...We have to take the high road. We should never make up stories or seem conniving. We have to remember, THEY have the news media on their side. IF we're caught in a lie, even a small one, it would negate all the truthful garbage we HAVE to expose on them.

If we're ever labeled "liars", we could NEVER win over cross-over votes. Let's face it, every Democrat WILL vote for a democrat.

We HAVE to win over people who would never vote for a democrat.

Fair, Honest, STRONG --- LET'S DEFEAT THEM!!!!!! :nuke:

[calimary]

87. PLEASE!!! Check the following link:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/9/9/124753/8755

Rule FIVE, in particular.

PLEASE! At least consider it! And if you can't, please step ever so slightly to the side and let those of us who wanna get dirty do the fighting for you. You can serve well and gallantly in other venues of this war, but please realize that the combat must be done this horrible, dirty, ruthless way - if you don't want to lose, if you don't want to take a feather-duster to a gun fight. I say this with no flame intentions. I realize some people cannot compromise their consciences. Which is admirable and, frankly, on the side of the Light. But this is politics, and it's dirty. And if you don't want to keep losing, you're going to have to get dirty. I hate that, too. But I hate losing much more.

This is for both connecticut yankee and Just_plain_Kathy. Please at least consider it. I admire your purity of heart and of purpose. But we're up against an enemy that is ruthless, cold-hearted, takes no prisoners, and willing to stop at nothing to win. We're up against an enemy that is anything BUT pure of heart and of purpose. And we have to fight them there, because they won't even bother with here (on the side of the Light).

[sentelle]

118. Is that why

Joe Lieberman beats his wife?

He doesn't?

When did he stop beating his wife?

[ldf]

90. then you have no problem with the repubes winning again

we have taken the high road all along, and see what it got us?

it does NOT mean we have to lie. we can use the truth.

but, face it, the american populace is so shallow that they will only react to dirt.

we just have to make sure the dirt is TRUE dirt.

and i have no problem with that.

the rest of the apologists need to to go sit in the corner and stay out of the way.

[connecticut yankee]

116. Please re-read my message

I said we should "take off the kid gloves and hit harder."

I don't think we have to spread lies and sleaze the way they do.

[mac56]

95. No thanks. Link arms wiith them and sing Kumbayah?

No thanks.

The high road has gotten us where we are now.

Only a crazy person does the same thing over and over again, hoping for a different result.

[calimary]

63. Skittles, PLEASE check out this link.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/9/9/124753/8755

Please note, specifically, Rule Five.

I know, I know. I, too, hate those tactics, but if THAT is how the game is played, and THAT is how you win, or how you manipulate it so you're close enough to steal it, then dammit, so be it.

Taking the high road doesn't interest me. It takes you straight over a cliff.

[Skittles]

100. he is talking about telling the TRUTH about bush

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THIS. But this is not what repukes do - they LIE and make INSINUATIONS about people - just ask McCain and Cleland. THAT is the level I never want Democrats to sink.

[Janice325]

56. Welcome to DU, kentjay!

:hi:

[ima_sinnic]

37. so the greedhead swine have nothing at all to run on

--no "platform," no record, so they're escalating their war on We The People.

Will the dumbass voters fall for it? Will the Dems continue to underestimate the sheer evilness, cruelty, and lack of ethics/principles of these miscreants? Why haven't we surrounded them with torches, pitchforks, and buckets of tar and feathers???

I AM MORE THAN READY FOR A REVOLUTION!

[Vinca]

41. Slime politics - what a noble party they are. nt

[bluedog]

46. bring it on.....Katrina ads..........

* eating cake and playing guitar.............

[classof56]

49. Oh, I have HAD it with these ray-publicans!

Another soldier from my state was killed in Iraq last week. I've had to go back to work (Social Security and pension not enough anymore) because of their insanely disastrous economic policies. I fear for my grandsons' future. The list is endless. And all they can come up with is a SMEAR campaign?

Can't express how disgusted I am. May they all rot in Hades.

Tired Old Cynic

[Sparkly]

50. Meanwhile, Dems are still being advised not to go too negative on Chimpy

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2817045

[DallasNE]

51. This Is Dog Bites Man Story

When haven't Republicans spent more than 90% of their budget on negative ads that focus on dirt where it can be found.

Yes, the Democrats need to get blunt with the failures of leadership provided by the Republicans. Getting blunt is not going negative as long as "blunt" remains factual. Using Cheney film with Tim Russert where Cheney absolutely claimed a direct link between Saddam and bin Laden would be a good beginning.

On the otherhand, the Democrats can't let the dirt ads go unchallenged. They need a rapid response force out early, often and forcefully.

[MGD]

52. It sounds like they're trying to set the agenda again.

It worked well for them the last time around. I have learned that it is always best to make your enemy fight your fight rather than allowing your enemy to make you fight his fight. We should only fight this way if we feel that it is advantageous to do so and that will vary from district to disrict as all politics is local. Just my opinion.

[ShortnFiery]

53. The American People are now less swayed by Rovarian ...

personal smears and swift-boat type attacks. These gutter-level tactics work swimmingly (:puke: remembering Coulter commenting on Afghanistan) ONLY when the Economy is Good. With regard to the quality of "good" it is defined by The Perceptions of The Average American Worker, not The Average Upper-Middle Class Stock Holder. ;)

To be concise, RoveCo. can do their best to trash individual Democrats, however, it will fall on deaf ears as The Public chooses CHANGE by voting in a DEMOCRATIC LED CONGRESS.

It's only human to recognize corruption when it hits you personally. The Average American is FEELING the economic pinch now, on a personal level. All the "happy talk" about stocks and production increases don't mean squat when a family must struggle to make their mortgage payments.

May God Bless The American People who are finally waking up to recognize the "pure corruption" that permeates, with very few exceptions, through the entire Republican Party. :patriot:

[calimary]

89. Frankly, I do NOT trust the American people to remain less swayed.

I don't trust 'em AT ALL. I would not drop my guard for ANY reason. Yes, maybe a few of them are waking up to such an extent that they can no longer be reached, but remember one thing: The enemy has invested multi-millions in research to find the soft spots everywhere - in our local people and in the public at large - what's going to pull their chains and their heartstrings. They are attacking on BOTH fronts. I would NOT DARE count on the American people seeing through this. Not one bit. We're going to have to fight all the way, AND, for that matter, AFTER we win, also.

[ShortnFiery]

97. Of course we should not let our guard down, but I do have FAITH

in the goodness of both The American People and Humanity in general.

This world is brutal and unfair. More often than not the greedy will abuse the weak. However, the more we try to counterbalance the evil, the more we can give comfort to our fellow human beings ... and for those of us who are Christian, we know in our hearts that when we pass from this world, "The first will be last and the last will be first." That is, those who abused people in this world to provide themselves temporary wealth and comfort will be sent first to Purgatory, or worse. :scared:

We can't destroy the corrupt warmongers but we can counterbalance them and take their power down a notch or two. That would be beautiful and that is what people of humanity and compassion should tirelessly work for.

We agree but approach the issues from different perspectives. :hi:

[kentuck]

54. So, what's new ??

They always use personal attacks.

[Generic Brad]

71. Agreed

This is the same strategy they have used for the past twenty years ad naseum. This is not a new phenomenon. Ask Max Cleland.

[corporatemedia]

55. We ATTACK SANTORUM, but we still get liberals asking us....

"Isn't it time to move on to 'real' issues?"

And we respond to them:

NO, it's time to ATTACK again!

Actually, we would rather discuss "issues", but more importantly, we would rather win

Santorum Cybergate

[drmondo]

57. Same Same ... Unless we change

Democrats have the Gingrich line to keep repeating: "Had enough?" Republicans have one too, and Cheney used it just today on Meet the Press..."Speaker Pelosi". I'm pretty sure who wins that argument with the majority.

As far as I can tell, our campaign strategy has been: sit back and hope the Republicans lose this one. That's not going to happen, Democrats have to do something to win it. On a national level, Repubs are going to hit, not just with negative ads, but with ads and speeches that depress turnout among Democratic constituent groups (we saw it with gay marriage and now look to immigration to pit african americans against hispanics). Democrats will try to attack Bush/Cheney (hopefully using video footage similar to the Buchanan "read my lips" ad in 1992). This national effort is largely irrelevant if the Republicans can paint the local candidates as undesirable. Democrats also have to ensure that every local candidate is irrevocably tied to Bush and Bush's stupid mistakes. The so-called war vote (HJRes114, see below) is a lost cause, given the redefinition of the law as a vote "for the war", even though it never was. Perhaps a reminder that there are real problems in the world and that amending the Horse protection act is not one of them (among a myriad of other stupid bills passed) would help. Obviously stupid comments like "Bush is a terrific president", can be used against individuals, esp. when juxtaposed against dead bodies floating in New Orleans as Bush attends a fundraiser in a tuxedo.


Summary of H.J.Res.114
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 - Expresses support for the President's efforts to: (1) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq; and (2) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion, and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions.

[D23MIURG23]

59. Unless you've been living in a cave since 1998

This should not be surprising. Lets hope it isn't surprising to the dems.

[pauliedangerously]

60. Yeah, no shit...btw, welcome to DU

I was going to wax a little sacrastic, but I'm tired of doing that anyway. Oh, like your avatar too.

You know , I'm not sure that enough people have gotten their asses kicked badly enough in this country to put the wingers back in the minority. Ah well...I'm a little crabby this morning.

[april]

62. All the Dems have to do is Show the Truth

if the Democratic party can only do one thing is to show the truth to the American people and back it up BIG TIME...all of the BS lies from the Republicans

[calimary]

91. That's a little bit simplistic. In an ordinary world, in a fair fight, it

would be true. But this is not either of those things.

Besides, you HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT, and it IS a fact, that there are lots of people out there who simply do NOT want to face the truth. It's too much. Particularly if it runs completely contrary to what they already have set up as truth in their own minds. It will make them go "tilt." It will be more than they can deal with. At best, at that point, you can hope they just throw up their hands and stay home, but you CANNOT count on them doing so. They're just as likely to stand there in the voting booth, scratching their heads, and finally fall back on the lazy, mindless habit of "oh, fuck it. I've always voted republi-CON - no reason to change now..." Or they'll somehow justify it as - "they're all the same, both sides are just as bad. What difference does it make? Better the devil you know, I guess."

Conditions are so bad now that even the truth won't work, by itself. Not anymore.

[Botany]

65. Bring it on!

I hope the dems punch back & harder.

Bush & company lied to get us into a war.

[nam78_two]

66. GOP getting personal??? You don't say!!!

:eyes:

Thats SO unlike them -they usually have such dignified, issue-based campaigns :sarcasm:

ugh

[santorumexposed]

67. Watch this great ad about Santorum

This ad shows how completely out of touch Ricky is with the vast majority of Pennsylvanians. He's still standing by his men (Bush and Rumsfeld).

http://santorumexposed.cf.huffingtonpost.com">WATCH THE AD NOW

[ekwhite]

69. No need to make stuff up...

Most of the Re-pukes have enough skeletons in their closet that we don't have to make stuff up. If they want to go negative, we need to be in the fight with them. Refute their lies, and hit back with the truth. Look at who is funding their campaigns, and where they have voted. Republican corruption should be in the forefront, along with the war in Iraq. Hit on Halliburton's war profiteering, and Dick Cheney's connections with Halliburton. We have enough on them to make a nice series of attack ads without really trying.

[AtomicKitten]

70. for those saying "no shit, Sherlock"

The admission of gutter politics is audacious and itself a Dem campaign ad.

I was news-cruising today, and Faux News had the question: "Does Dean want to put Usama back in the pilot's seat?" emblazoned across the screen.

It is glaringly apparent that the fear meme has been tweaked for this particular election to "Dems are weak on terror." That's what "Path to 9/11" is all about. That is why they twist Dems insisting on Junior following FISA law to being Dems want to neuter Junior's terror-fighting ability.

The breathtaking admission in the OP was the starter's pistol, IMO. IT'S ON.

[blondeatlast]

83. "The admission of gutter politics is audacious and itself a Dem

campaign ad."

Abso-effing-lutely. Brilliant.

[lilypad_567]

72. how to win

Mr Populist's diary :: ::
Here is his list of rules, in the form of an open letter to all Democratic congressional candidates (and their campaign managers) this fall:

THE RULES OF PERCEPTION

John Kerry went to Vietnam, saved a man's life and was wounded. Somehow, the voters perceived of John Kerry as a coward who never served his country and would not be tough enough as our commander-in-chief. George W. Bush avoided Vietnam and failed to fulfill his National Guard obligation. Somehow, the people of this country perceived of George W. Bush as a heroic military man and a courageous commander-in-chief.

This is called MANAGING PERCEPTION. Not just managing the perception people have of YOUR guy, but more importantly, managing the perception people have of the OTHER guy! In 2004, more people perceived that Kerry was bad and Bush was good. Just enough people for Bush to win the election.
Which brings us to a cold hard fact: if the Democrats want to take back Congress in 2006 and the White House in 2008, they must become as good as Karl Rove at managing perception. The good news is, it's not some trick only Karl Rove knows the secret to. Managing perception is not even all that difficult once you know the rules.

RULE ONE
Pick ONE INDIVIDUAL to head up your election team and give this person TOTAL AUTHORITY to manage all advertising messages and perception issues. Whatever he or she says -- goes! And no more discussion.

There were 29 people in charge of Kerry, including Kerry himself. The public heard 29 different viewpoints. The Republicans had one person in charge: Rove. The public heard one viewpoint: Rove's. Americans are used to single-minded powerful selling messages, and they like a single-minded powerful point-of-view.

Hint!
Choose the roughest, toughest person who has ever created wildly successful advertising and PR campaigns. Make damned sure this person is a real marketer, doesn't take any guff from anybody and is NOT a political stooge. Make sure ALL money flows to this one person and all spending is coordinated through this person. (Strong hint: if the DNC drafted Donnie Deutsch, they'd take it all.)

RULE TWO
Learn how to disseminate simple catchphrases the mainstream media can use. Like Rove when he invented "cut and run" -- which Fox and the mainstream media lapped up like a thirsty dog. You need to do this with the same dexterity and speed. You will never exceed Rove in this, but you can do AS WELL as he does, which would basically neutralize his effectiveness in the media.

Just watch Fox News (Official News Channel of the successful invasion of Iraq and media/PR representative for the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth). You may hate them, but they're incredibly effective at spreading the Rovian catchphrase of the day and using it to rally the faithful, while keeping GOP politicians in lockstep and on message!

Hint!
You do not have a media outlet like Fox, so you must work twice as hard to get the mainstream media to carry your message to ALL voters. Importantly, do not believe the mainstream media is for you and against Republicans. They're not. If you somehow think they'll help you win an election, you've already lost.

RULE THREE
When the other side hands you a bone, do not bury the bone! USE IT! The best way to negatively affect the perception of the other side is to use their own bone against them!
"I voted for it before I voted against it" was a bone Karl Rove shook in our face the entire campaign. It perfectly defined Kerry as a "flip-flopper". When Bush said, "I don't think much about Bin Laden," Kerry should have said, "Bin Laden murdered three thousand Americans and you promised you'd kill him! Why didn't you, you flip-flopping coward?"

Hint!
Cheer up. You missed your chance, but there'll be more. Rudy blamed the grunts for missing that weapons cache. Ask the Mayor why he's not supporting the troops!

RULE FOUR
Understand that you are dealing with a target audience that doesn't care enough, or simply refuses to devote the time to learn the real facts regarding the real issues. Instead, their perception has BECOME the facts!

The target audience fervently believed Saddam Hussein WAS behind the 9/11 attacks and there WERE weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Just as they believe today that the second in command of Al Qaeda has been killed or captured at least a dozen times -- AND they've conveniently forgotten that Osama Bin Laden is not only still alive, but happily and calmly planning future attacks against our country.

Hint!
Do not try to change this reality. Work with it. The perception you create IS the reality! Take heart! If they perceive something despite obvious evidence to the contrary, you will be able to make them perceive any number of things! Including your point of view! Rove knows this and uses it -- you must too!

RULE FIVE
Stop playing by "Marquess of Queensberry" rules. Before you get punched, you punch. Hard. Whenever possible, you punch below the belt. And most importantly, even after they are down, you keep punching.

George Bush. Cocaine. Alcohol. The National Guard. Deserter. With 40 days to go before the election, there should have been 40 awful revelations about George Bush -- one each day, each worse than the one before it.

Hint!
Stop being a candy-ass. If you start lamenting, "I'm becoming just like THEM", you have just guaranteed their victory. They currently OWN the playing field. You either play by their rules or YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE. Your job is to punch hard and neutralize their negative attacks by being just as nasty. IF you make it back into office, THEN you can start working to reform how people get elected. For now, you must get mean!

RULE SIX
NO MORE NUANCE. The target not only fails to understand even the most obvious nuance, they actually HATE the idea there should be nuance at all (it even sounds French!). Nuance = bad. Black and white = good!

"A marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman" -- George Bush.

"I'm personally against gay marriage, but I feel the states should decide." -- John Kerry (too nuanced by half!)

Hint!
Come off your high horse and forget that issues really DO demand nuance, at least until the election is over. Until November, pick a side on each issue and make sure your target audience understands CLEARLY what that side is. And relax! The only people you'll sound like a simpleton to are already voting for you anyway.

RULE SEVEN
Choose ONE VERY CLEAR LABEL for your candidate and NEVER let go of it. Keep hitting it hard until everyone in America knows it is EXACTLY what your candidate stands for.
George Bush was the "unwavering commander-in-chief who won the war on terror." John Kerry was ____. Whatever he was wasn't as bad as you think, but we're still not able to fill in that blank.

Hint!
Think of a one-word label that your target can quickly grasp. "America, I am the Jobs President!" Don't worry about which label is best. Just choose one and let that be the centerpiece. All other things the candidate talks about should grow out of this one strong position. And remember -- no matter how Rove tries to re-define you (and he will, constantly) -- make sure this one label sticks to you like glue!

RULE EIGHT
Devote a tremendous amount of time and spend a huge portion of your campaign money finding, recruiting, training and firing up VOLUNTEERS. As odd as it may sound, if you spend $100 million on TV, you MUST spend $200 million creating a massive, incredibly well-coordinated volunteer effort.
Karl Rove used pinpoint research to find and motivate volunteers who went where no campaign had gone before -- into parts of Florida where alligators were more likely to vote than people. In Ohio, Rove's volunteers dragged Republicans out of their corporate meetings to make sure they voted! It's why he won and you lost.

Hint!
Your volunteers MUST BE A MEMBER OF YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE. You need to find volunteers who attend the same church, go to the same stores and like and dislike the same things your target audience does! Remember, you cannot spend TOO MUCH money or do TOO MUCH demographic homework and research making this happen! Just so you know, Republicans do NOT own a patent on this type of research!

RULE NINE
Do not give Karl Rove any help whatsoever. In other words, do not start with a candidate who puts you in a twenty-foot ditch that Rove will never let you fight your way out of. Make damned sure your candidate has the gumption to come out swinging and immediately counter-punch every Swift Boat move Rove tries.

This is no walk in the park, but it is not impossible. Remember, George W. Bush did not have to defeat John Kerry. With Rove calling all the shots, John Kerry defeated John Kerry.

Hint!
Work hard against the nomination of anybody who cannot remain strong and stay firm on base issues while tacking to the center in a convincing, spirited way.

Hint! Hint!
Bill Richardson. Mark Warner. And yeah, Al Gore!

RULE TEN
Stop trying to be ATTAP, or "All Things To All People". You will fail. There is no way in this great country of ours that you will ever be more than 65% of things to 55% of the people. That's your goal, by the way. You reach it and you own Congress in 2006 and the White House in 2008.
Karl Rove didn't bother with liberals or most Democrats. He went after his base and the squishy center and didn't waste any time or money on anybody else. He also didn't care what anybody else thought of him or his candidate.

Hint!
By all means, rally your base. Then go figure out what you can actually say to the squishy center and spend MOST of your time and money winning them over. And for heaven's sake, don't worry about what dyed-in-the-wool Republicans think about what you're saying. They're not voting for you anyway.

RULE ELEVEN
Start today. Not later today. NOW! Start figuring out now where you're going to find your own Karl Rove and then get this person started. Any time you waste is going to make it tougher for you to win in 2006 and 2008.

By the time the Democrats got around to throwing a few punches in 2004, they were defensive punches, and way too late. Today, right now, Karl Rove has already picked his candidate and crafted a strategy he is confident will whomp your stupid Democratic butt. And make no mistake about it: he has ALREADY dug up tons of dirt on the 20 people YOU are most likely to nominate.
Hint!
Don't put off your homework for tomorrow morning. Collect data on whoever they might nominate. Spend some time NOW figuring out how to effectively deal with anybody and everybody they might nominate.

RULE TWELVE
Keep a copy of these rules by your pillow and read them every night. When you wake up, make damned sure you follow them every day. If you adhere to these rules, you are going to NEUTRALIZE Rove by making this Rove Versus Rove. That might sound horrible and off-putting, but what it actually means is that the race will NOT come down to perception, but instead, level the playing field, so you might actually have a chance to win!

[kenfrequed]

75. Good points

For the most part they are good points.

Particularly the arguments against excessive nuance and what not. I do see sort of a problem with regard to the legion of useless campaign advisors the Democrats depend upon.

They seem to come in a few varieties:

The Dick Morris: these guys will soften anything resembling a liberal/progressive edge to a candidate. They are the sort that quivver like gelatin when someone accuses their candidate of "class warfare." Moreover they tend to be DLC/big money stooges with all the loyalty of a scorpian. They will eventually go to work for the other side and will sell you out in a book when they think they can make money at it.

The worry-warts: These people must constantly reposition to ensure maximum appeal and will work hard to ensure their candidate offends no one. They rework every sentence to ensure that every aspect of the party has a little useless snippet in every possible speech while at the same time making as broad and impotent a presentation as they can manage. A lot of these are ad execs that are used to trying to maximize brand appeal and are totally boggled by someone that might actually actively dislike the candidate. They are completely out of their depth.

Old gaurd party people: They often despise the left wing of their own parties and exhaust most of their energy worrying about defeating younger or more progressive candidates on the caucus or primary level. Somehow they are totally confused when few people show up to volunteer or why their candidate fails to attract more young people. They often use idiotic and unprovable arguments like: "X is the only candidate that can beat Y" based on polling data taken six months before the media even starts talking seriously about the election.

[LiberalLovinLug]

77. lilypad - you're right on

Rove has been laughing at the Democrats inane sense of fair play for years. He knows its our "weakness" And even though as progressive thinkers, we don't believe deep down that we want to win this way, if its the only way, based on the opposition's behavior, we've got no choice. Just one more area in which the Repugs have brought down this country.

One thing is that I think that Rove got it right in playing to the extreme base. This is one thing that the Democrat leadership seems hell-bent on avoiding...to their own demise.

From what I have seen in the last two (s)elections, Americans like someone who believes in their position fervently (or at least sounds like it) and carves out positions to match what the hard core of the party believe. This seems to galvanize that "soft center" and sways them toward that candidate who looks to be so sure he is right. It doesn't matter if they even disagree with some issues, or haven't learned enough about them. All they seem to care about is someone who "stands by his beliefs".

That is why I think it is a mistake for Democrats to AVOID their loyal, albeit more radical, base. Americans in the "soft center", I loathe but we must hold our noses and confront the issue of getting their vote. And the way to do that IS TO STIMULATE YOUR BASE.
NOT AVOID THEM. S.C. Americans see how far to the wall Bushes base will go for him, and it impresses them into giving the guy a shot. I have come to the conclusion that most S.C. American voters will fall into the camp that sounds like it believes in what it is saying, no matter how "extreme". (like universal medical care, or a troop withdrawal timetable)

Shout it out! Universal medicare!, Equal marriage rights!, Higher minimum wage!, We WILL investigate!, Bring the Troops home!, Sign Kyoto!, Reverse wealthy tax cuts!, Fund alternative fuel research! etc. etc.....

We are your base. Get US excited you dumb-wads! And we will do a lot of your work for you!!!! Don't you get it yet?

[calimary]

92. Exactly. My frustrated encounters with an old friend, who's about as

knuckledragger as they come proves that out. The main reason she still appreciates george w. bush (YES, those types are still out there) is because "he did a few good things" - mainly because, in her mind, he "has balls."

Remember one more thing: bush went around campaigning everywhere saying this very key phrase: "you may not agree with me, but you know where I stand."

I CANNOT TELL YOU how important that was, and what an impact it had.

[McCamy Taylor]

73. Isnt that precious. They will disgust their own voters into staying home.

[GreenTea]

78. Wrong!

It's been proven, that the main voting block negative campaigning keeps from voting is moderates & moderate democrats.

NOT republicans, they love it and eat it up---anything to kill and stomp on democrats.

[GreenTea]

76. Dem's Must Learn from Conservative Success-NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING WORKS!

"Being Right Is Not Enough: What Progressives Must Learn from Conservative Success" -By Paul Waldman (Media Matters).

http://www.amazon.com/Being-Right-Not-Enough-Progressives/dp/0471789607/sr=1-13/qid=1157918265/ref=sr_1_13/103-8413411-8638218?ie=UTF8&s=books

If the Dem's aren't ready it's no fucking excuse...this book has been out for at least 8 month's and explains step by step how the republicans will ALWAYS attack Dem's character with lies and distortions....

BECAUSE IT’S EFFECTIVE AND IT WORKS - IT WINS ELECTIONS!

NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING WORKS –

THE ONLY PEOPLE IT TURNS OFF FROM VOTING IS MOUSEY DEMOCRATS (Which is another reason the republicans love it...Negative campaigning keeps only one voting block from voting, meek democrats)!

IT WORKS AND THE DEM'S BETTER START LEARNING HOW TO USE IT IF THEY EVER WANT TO CONTROL ANY BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT AGAIN!!!

[calimary]

93. Hear, hear! Negative campaigning DOES work.

Never mind poll after poll after poll saying people don't like it. That's completely meaningless. They can not like it all they want. It STILL works on 'em.

[LaPera]

113. Republicans adore those polls!!!!!

Because they know they'll always run attack ads & negative campaigns against the democrats...because they have nothing else to run on...if they ran on what republican ideology is really about, they'd be crushed everywhere and they know it.

So they have to lie and go on the attach, and attacking Dem's character whether it's true or not (Swift Boat) always works!

Dem's need to learn how to fight and attack, not sit there in the defensive position as they ALWAYS do...but begin the attacks short circuits the republicans before they even get started...

I'm afraid however too many Dem's listen to the republican bullshit and don't go negative because people don't like it...so the Dem's lose and scratch their head as the republican opponent went for the throat and attacked negative and is the winner. Because it's true the only ones negative attacks turn-off are DEMOCRATS!!!!

As the republican just keep laughing at the nice mellow and stupid Dem's while the republicans keep on winning.

[muesa]

79. My advice to the Dems

HIT THEM HIGH, HIT THEM LOW
HIT THEM WHERE THE BERRIES GROW





IT'S TIME FOR "PAY BACK"

[lilypad_567]

80. help

how do you this to be an ads on the t.v., i don't know how, but i hope that it will help us beat the republican

http://www.ericblumrich.com/14.html

[Kurovski]

81. That's only 5 million dollars more than the 40 million dollar

attack ad known as "The Path to 9/11" that ABC foolishly plans on running tonight and tomorrow.

[stepnw1f]

82. Hey, GOP? Without That Money What Are You?

nothing... exactly.

[blondeatlast]

84. "Nice" WON'T SAVE THE NATION. That's what's at stake.

If we don't win at least one house and gain many seats in another, the nation is fucked.

My gloves are off.

[AtomicKitten]

88. I'm thinking more steel-toed boots to the crotch.

eom

[blondeatlast]

102. Yup! nt

[KitSileya]

109. Save the nation? Not to put the pressure on,

but we're talking about more than just the US here. We're talking about the world. For almost 6 years the world has seen Bush and his cronies run roughshod over the weakest among us, the poor, the HIV victims, and the hungry. We have seen them attack women, we have seen them attack democracies, we have seen them attack any attempt on international cooperation.

I think that those who do not want to fight dirty in this, the last chance (for who among us do not, in the inner recesses of our hearts, know that if this battle is lost, there is no chance to win the next one) to stop these vile creatures, must own up to their responsibility. Their responsibility to use, if this battle is lost because they were unwilling to use any legal means necessary, any peaceful means to stop these tyrants. And with any peaceful means, I mean risk everything to stop them - go on full general strike, protest day and night, civil disobedience, hunger strikes - all the methods Ghandi, Rev. King, and others have advocated. You hold the ballot box in an election that will determine the course not just for the United States of America, but also the world. The rest of us are not enfranchised in this battle, nor can we protest if we believe these human monsters stole our votes. That is up to you.

I want you to hit them, hit them back, hit them hard, and hit them often. I don't care how confrontational your methods are, how divisive, how brutal - this is war. And in this war, they have discarded the Geneva Conventions. As long as our side stays legal, I say do it. Insinuation isn't illegal. Telling the unvarnished truth isn't illegal. Heck, wiretapping them isn't illegal. If you do not, the rest of the world might decide that what is good for the goose is good for the gander - and the US is certainly harboring terrorists in their midst. Remind me what happened to Afghanistan when they did that?

Kit
*angry beyond belief these days*

[RBInMaine]

86. Yes, Go On The OFFENSIVE damn it!

For those who are saying that Dems can not just react and even counter-punch (which must be done) but MUST go on the OFFENSIVE have it exactly right. Dems must understand once and for all that politics is competition by its very nature, and rough and tumble competition at that, and you DON'T WIN A BRTAWL BY PLAYING DEFENSE! YOU MUST GO ON THE OFFENSE. R's understand this, and they people listen to negative ads even if some people want to be in denial about it. If Kerry's and the national D's had played offense two years ago we wouldn't have been swift-lied into four more years of W. I say beat the RePIGlicans at their own game, take them head-on, and whoop some GOP butt, and there is ALL kinds of ways to hit them.

[peter anderson]

94. how much will they give me for this republican ad?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdl_Gbc-YY8

[LuckyLib]

96. There need to be two mantras the Democratics repeat:

"Had enough?" and, in response to the slightest hint of swiftboating, "Don't you dare!"

[Danascot]

105. Hey CLW

"Had Enough?"

I didn't mean to steal your slogan. I arrived at it independently and wrote mine (reply #104) before I'd read down to yours.

Great minds etc.

It would be great if the meme got bigger than just you and me.

[Danascot]

104. "Had Enough Yet?"

would be a strong simple campaign slogan, not only to reference B*sh but the whole litany of GOP corruption and malfeasance.

It recalls the 1976 movie Network war-cry: "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

I think it would resonate not only with our base but with most of the folks in the squishy middle. Enough Americans are fed up with the shenanigans of the party in power to dominate the 2006 and 2008 elections.

The pugs have some a remarkable job over the past few years by taking a simple (yes simplistic), easy to remember talking point and hammering it home over and over. As much as we'd all like to tout how much better we'd do healthcare, jobs, the economy, energy, education, environment, national security, foreign policy, etc, those things just aren't big enough and strong enough by themselves. And it's easy for folks to get bogged down and picked apart in the details.

There's a marketing axiom that goes: the customer justifies with logic but buys on emotion. We need to harness a strong emotion. Being fed up is a strong emotion, and it's out there. Big time.

Using this slogan as a heading we could run a glaring example of GOP evil every day between now and election day 2008 and not run out of material.

Not only that but it would be so satisfying to rub their noses in their own dirt. Plus it has the beauty that every word could be the unembellished truth.

By the time we hammered "Had Enough Yet?" home a couple hundred times, there wouldn't be anybody in America who didn't automatically think "Republicans" when they heard it.

[LuckyLib]

108. You're right on target. It's not that we even need to have nailed-down

solutions for all of our pressing issues, we just have to make it clear that we would actually BE WORKING ON THEM, as opposed to flag burning, anti-gay marriage, etc. People are disgusted -- from LTTE in our paper, folks are steamed in little communities I never would have expected. We have a chance in November, I'm convinced. I'm going to have my daughter make a sign for our front lawn -- "Had enough?" :)

[Danascot]

110. Here you go...

[LuckyLib]

121. These are great! Thanks!

[Overseas]

124. Excellent idea !! Had Enough Yet? with a quick sequence of

pictures of corrupt republicans-- if they want to go negative you're right we sure do have ample material on Republicons. Dems all over the country could flash some republicon failures and corruption images and do the HAD ENOUGH YET ? Or get Eric Blumrich at www.bushflash.com (He's the fabulous creator of my favorite flash movie song, I HATE REPUBLICANS.)

[AtomicKitten]

106. new wingnut political ad this A.M. according to Raw Story

Political ad in key states to urge: 'Vote as if your life depends on it. Because it does...'

Developing...

Oh, it is so on.

[AtomicKitten]

115. link to story referenced above is available ..... here

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/911_themed_ad_to_tell_Americans_0911.html

[mkb]

107. Best Wishes On Working For Human Progress

     People trying to live a good life for themselves and
others must remember the fundamentals, that the battle between
the rich and everyone else is still the primary problem we
face in working for progress.
     I'm all for people understanding complesities and
metaphors that clue you in on how to make sense of things, but
the fight to stop the rich from controlling society and
amassing power to use for bad purposes is still the most
obvious problem.  All other complexities should be tackled by
well meaning people after that basic recognition is made, I
believe.
     Are there "lucky" people that don't have a lot
of money?  Not much doubt about it, in my mimd.  But most of
them want to be rich, and usually have societal advantages
that exist without having great wealth.  As for poor people
who misbehave, are they victims of society or trouble for
society?  I have a good feeling that the "experts"
that are friends will keep those people rich and poor, who
seek to do harm to human progress, will try to understand and
resolve this problem.  Your help in making progress will be a
factor in how well things turn out.  Remember though, that the
poor, as a rule, are exploited and need to be treated fairly
in order for them to have the best chance at being good
people.  "Too much or too little, only works for a
cat."
     I don't suggest throwing caution to the wind in making
decisions, only that doing your best to keep learning, and not
losing sight of the fundamental problems of history, that I
think demonstrate that the wealthy in society tend to set the
agenda, and have not given a fair chance to the common people.
 The exceptions and complexities to this statement should not
prevent one from hopefully seeing the pressure the privileged
people in society place on everyone else.  The Republicans are
the party of the rich, and with thoughtful and cautious
effort, we can turn the situation around foo the better.  My
other posts are much about being thoughtful and cautious, so
you may wnat to read them.  I hope you can enjoy yourself as
much as possible as you continue to learn and make progress. 
Watch out for the curveballs.  I have places to go and will
hopefully make it back in good time.  Good Luck.

[surda]

111. target the talking heads

Target the talking heads who promote this brand of media. It is time for a new movie, "Rush Limbaugh ... The man - The myth".

[LaPera]

112. Mark Twain was correct; You have to fight fire with fire, you can't

react to reactionaries. Dems don't know how to fight fire with fire....unfortunately.

[Supersedeas]

114. Rovian filthy skank RW thugian politics of division and dirt

[Imagevision]

119. GOP need to concentrate on what's going on in Afgan lately!!