A desperate plea to the Republican base ...

[kentuck]

How long before they hear this?

"If we put the Democrats back in power, they will roll back all the progress we have made in protecting the lives of the most innocent. We will see more states legalizing gay marriage and we may see the end of traditonal marriage as we know it. This may be the most important vote you will ever make. If the Democrats win back the House or the Senate, have no doubt they will increase your taxes. Big Government will come back with a vengeance. With major problems facing our country, they will spend most of their time investigating and subpoeaning witnesses against the Administration. We need to continue the job we have started. Tell all your friends to get to the polls this election. We can't afford to have the Democrats back in power..."

This will be the type of bullshit they will send to their followers. And they buy it! What can be done if/when this happens? This will be the message we will have to battle.

[rkc3]

1. And remember the promises we made to you in 1994 and for the

bush admin - lower taxes, a smaller/less-intrusive government, responsible gov't spending, and retoring honor and dignity to the WH.

How many of those promises were kept?

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. Well, they're working on it.

But it's hard work.

[LSparkle]

2. We need to fight dirty this time

Bring up all the scandals, all the mismanagement, the WASTING of taxpayer dollars on sweetheart deals. It's not going to be enough to just come out with a positive agenda because you're right, they're going to use fear BIG TIME in this election. We need to get them just as frightened of maintaining the status quo by reminding them of all the crap this administration has brought us. Bring up 9/11 and how we had the world behind us, and contrast that with our current status as a pariah. Remind them of how Dumbya and company seem to care more about Chinese and Indian jobs than those of middle class Americans. Point out border insecurity and what that's costing us. Dust off the ports deal ... Fear needs to be OUR weapon as much as theirs during this election cycle. We can't afford NOT to get our hands dirty this time (for a change!). NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!

[kentuck]

4. And remind the Republicans:

That their leaders are pulling out the same old stuff they have used over and over. They think the average Republican is a fool! They want people to concentrate on personal issues such as abortion and gay rights and forget about the war, the deficits, the loss of jobs, the bankruptcy of our nation. Hey! Look over here! they say. Don't think about what a lousy job they have done - think of what those evil Democrats will do when they get in power..

[ComerPerro]

5. Give it two or three months, suddenly gay marriage will be back

in the spotlight.

[Lexingtonian]

6. Oh, they've already started on that one....

In their little five point plans that's the 'remind voters of what Democrats stand for' and 'aggressive media strategy' thing are in large part about.

But apparently their focus group polling says that's not enough. They're not focussing on it in Cunningham's former district outside San Diego- they're going to crudest smears and just out-bullhorning the not well known Democrat (Francine Busby) and the DCCC there. This shift from 'expose the Democrats' to outscreaming and smears is also what Karl Rove is supposedly working on.

The deal is, the people who are saying they won't show up for the GOP are their partisan moderates- about 15% of their midterm voters. This bloc has been shifting socially liberal- they're the people who went over from not caring about abortion rights to backing them this past year. They don't really care about gay marriage one way or another- many do support it. They used to see Republicans as being about 'small government', but they've given that idea up during the past year. (The social democratic state is inevitable.) They don't care about the hardliners in the Administration biting the dust- they may even cheer it. As for taxes vs deficits, they're Undecided- a lot of them are white suburbanites and pretty well off. They know that inflation and housing bubble burst and other hidden costs of further tax cuts will hit them, and that the amount their taxes get cut is only of the same order or smaller- all the definite benefits go to the few richest, the mass of suburban Republicans realizes that on the whole getting they're getting neutral deal at best and maybe a bad one.

At least that's what I'm picking up from polls and the Pubbies around me.

Their Party is not pounding on the policies or facts this year. It's going over to finding some remaining resentments they hold against Democrats and tapping that via smear campaigns.

[NanceGreggs]

7. They've already put this stuff out ...

"If we put the Democrats back in power, they will roll back all the progress we have made in protecting the lives of the most innocent."

Over 60% of the country believes abortion should remain a matter of individual choice, and legal.

"We will see more states legalizing gay marriage and we may see the end of traditonal marriage as we know it."

While the Fundies think this is an important issue, they are a small majority (don't let VOLUME fool you). The average Republican voter may not want legalized gay marriage, but they have more pressing things on their minds these days. And they KNOW that gay marriage would have no effect on their own 'traditional' marriage.

"If the Democrats win back the House or the Senate, have no doubt they will increase your taxes."

All voters have heard for years now, especially during the last election phase, that Democrats want to increase taxes by rolling-back the tax breaks given to the wealthiest 1% by this Administration, as well as tax breaks and subsidies that presently go to major corporations, especially Big Oil.


"With major problems facing our country, they will spend most of their time investigating and subpoeaning witnesses against the Administration."

Well, there's an easy response to that one, and it's Bush's own words: "If you have nothing to hide, why should you be worried?"


"We need to continue the job we have started."

The American people now see the 'job' the Republicans have started - deficits, debt, an unwinnable war in Iraq, job losses, increased gas prices, increased health costs, less funding for education and social programs, less environmental stewardship - and believe me, the LAST thing they want to see is the GOP having an opportunity to "finish the job".

I've spent a lot of time browsing websites lately that are visited by Republicans as well as Democrats, and believe me, it's been an enlightening experience. The average Republican voters is now as pissed-off with this regime as we have been from day one. Sites like Free Republic are NOT representative of the way average voters are feeling these days. The post I've been seeing over and over is:
"I've voted Republican all my life - but this election, I'll vote Democrat or I won't vote at all."

That 32% poll number is based on something. It's based on people who are hurting; it is based on people who, regardless of past party affiliation, have had enough.

[stepnw1f]

8. Fuck Them and Their Exclusive Mentality

They get theirs and give everyone else the middle finger. "Innocent" they call themselves... how about fucked up closet case sociopaths living in denial, and trying to conform the world around them into a hell they supposedly fear. They are fanatical bullshitters who lie to themselves and then to everyone else around them.

These people need a fucking beating.

[insane_cratic_gal]

9. They may say it... but will people buy it?

32%.. say it with me now... 32%!

The ones who will rush to the check out line to buy it, are that hardcore freeper type, too ignorant to think for themselves.

They'll use the big scary Hillary is gonna get ya before the "innocent lives being rolled back" Honestly they own the SC atm, they have already done unimaginable damage to a woman's right to choice.

[EC]

10. You're right, this is standard for them, we should be able to

answer them by now....




"If we put the Democrats back in power, they will roll back all the progress we have made in protecting the lives of the most innocent. - WHAT PROGRESS? In fact the figures for abortion have increased, The Dems did a better job at prevention...


We will see more states legalizing gay marriage and we may see the end of traditonal marriage as we know it. - Tell me how this affects YOUR LIFE and ends YOUR traditional marriage, you're still married to the opposite sex aren't you? No one is forcing you to marry a gay....


have no doubt they will increase your taxes.- Only if your yearly INCOME is above $250,000

Big Government will come back with a vengeance. - Back? What do you call what has been added to government the last 5 years?

they will spend most of their time investigating and subpoeaning witnesses against the Administration - SO? If they've done NOTHING WRONG why would this bother them?