Frame war: interrogation or torture?

[many a good man]

Let's not jump the gun and accuse Democrats of acquiescing to the so-called "compromise" - the battle won't heat up until something hits the floor of the House or Senate. We lost the first round because no one had a counter-message following the unexpected eleventh hour compromise. But there is still plenty of time to recover.

I think it will all come down to whether the issue is presented to the public as "interrogation techniques" or "torture." Democrats will be devastated if we are seen to oppose aggressive and effective questioning of terrorists. Republicans will be eviscerated if they come off as defending torture.

All politicians keep their fingers to the wind and take positions they think will lead them to victory. If there is not a groundswell of perception that we are really debating whether to allow the use of torture Democratic leaders will run from this issue. We can't let the M$M frame the debate in this way.

We need a full-scale ground offensive or else another easy victory will elude us once again. It will reinforce the false image that we are soft and hasten our nation's descent. This is a battle we MUST win.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. "the unexpected eleventh hour compromise"?

I am no political genius, but we have seen this all before. The Democratic leadership once again allowed the ruling party to control this entire episode, including running their little 'republican rebel' game. We took a pass and stood on the sidelines hoping that they would screw themselves up, and now we are forced to take a stand.

The principles at stake here as so profound - they reach back to the very founding of the republic - that playing politics, testing the waters, 'seeing how it polls' is gutless unprincipled behavior. Torture is not an American value.

[ShortnFiery]

2. Too many of our "once honorable" representatives are now "Good Germans" nt

[many a good man]

3. Then let's take back control of the issue

We can't count on the media and our leadership seems to have its head up its collective arse. Once again, by not speaking out forcefully, voters get the idea that it must not be all that bad.

Write your reps, write LTTEs. If the blogosphere can't generate a buzz on this then we are as useless as our nominal leadership. We can rant and rave and wring our hands all we want but if the message doesn't seep into public consciousness then it's hopeless.