Why the rethugs constantly kick ass and get away with it (it's simple)

[madmusic]

http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/examples.newt.html">Propaganda

This example occurred more than ten years ago, but it is one of the most striking applications of propaganda techniques in recent memory. A popular Republican politician on his way to the top, Newt Gingrich clearly understood the power of propaganda. His political action committee (GOPAC) mailed a pamphlet entitled Language, A Key Mechanism of Control to Republicans across the country. The booklet offered rhetorical advice to Republican candidates who wanted to "speak like Newt." It was subsequently awarded a Doublespeak Award by the National Conference of Teachers of English in 1990.

The booklet contained two lists of words. GOP candidates were instructed to use one set of "positive, governing words," (glittering generalities) when speaking about themselves. A second set of negative words (name-calling words) were to be used against their opponents.

[CJCRANE]

1. Repubs work very hard...at changing the "perception".

That's all they do. They don't govern and they don't work at improving things physically.

[Mike Nelson]

2. Why desn't everyone...

- all the LOL "Liberal Media", elected officials start calling Repiblicans a standard set of names? Change the name to "The Republic Party" and use a disdainful tone whenever mentioning the name in any form. The Republicans do these things... repeatedly. They also change terms terms that become generally accepted... "Partial Birth Abortion" "Death Tax" "Mrs. Anthrax"... the corporate media supports it! WHY doesn't somebody - Howard Dean? - do this for our side? Change "Liberal Media" to "Conservative Media" - JUST never say "Media" w/o "Conservative" and bingo, you do what they've done.

[guitar man]

3. They represent the "easy" button

It's a lot easier to be hateful than it is to show compassion

It's easier to throw your hands up and say "that's just the way the world is" rather than "we can work to change it"

It's easier to be all about "me" than to recognize we're all in this together

It's easier to "take it on faith" than to engage in critical thinking and research

and so on and so forth. They appeal to the lazy, whether it's intellectual laziness or general laziness and apathy, they will always have a certain amount of people to fill their ranks that can't be bothered to think and act in a positive manner

that's why that list of words has been so effective.