Bush* Republicans: setting the Democratic agenda?

[Q]

- Bush* Republicans are framing the public debate and setting the agenda on the issues of: Abortion, drugs, marriage, civil rights, guns, social programs, religion, aggressive war, worker's rights and corporate / government accountability. Democrats respond by either 'softening' their own agenda to make it appear more 'conservative' or simply refuse to participate in public debates on these issues.

- I've read from several sources on the web that it's a 'brilliant strategy' for the Democratic leadership to discourage 'negative' talk about illegal wars or criminal actions of the executive branch. This is EXACTLY the strategy the Bush* administration was hoping for from the Democratic leadership. In fact...the Bushies willfully goaded Democrats into backing away by calling them 'Bush* haters' whenever they dared look behind the curtain of corruption and deceit. The lack of direct confrontation from the opposition gives Bush* the opportunity to lie his ass off until November and play the role of a 'war president' without being directly challenged by the media OR the loyal opposition.

- Democrats...fearful of being called 'Bush* haters' by the RWing-controlled American corporate media...have backed away from any issue that could be called 'controversial'. The idea is to show the 'undecided' voters that Democrats are concentrating on the 'future' instead of dwelling on the past...but it ends up being yet another free ride for Bush* and turns off voters who seek strong, principled leadership.

- This non-confrontational strategy benefits Bush* Republicans more than the Democrats. Bush* Republicans are jumping for joy at the prospect of not having to defend themselves in the public forum against well-documented charges of malfeasance, felonies and abuse of office. The Bushies are now free to pretend none of it happened and 'brag' about 'winning' the war on terror and making America safer.

- Once again Republicans have used extortion, coercion and intimidation to set the national agenda and Democrats respond by altering their public positions on issues to please the extortionists. It doesn't have to be this way. The American people have the right to know the truth about those running for president. Tell them the truth about the Bush* administration and allow them to choose a leader with INFORMED CONSENT.

[mstrsplinter326]

1. agreed

[DenverDem]

2. Did you watch any of the speeches last night?

Nobody backed down on anything. Three presidents called the publicans what they are, power elite facilitating, anti-American war profiteers.

[Q]

3. Making a speech is EASY...

...but those speeches don't represent the Democratic party's platform or positions. You'll hear Democrats at the Convention rant about Bush's* 'handling' of the Iraq 'war'...but their OFFICIAL position is that of support and not to 'cut and run'.

- It's nice to hear these speeches against the Bush* empire...but what the people want is ACTION and opposition that extends beyond the convention.

[DenverDem]

5. a busholini election ends any hope of opposition.

4 more years will end freedom. You have to take one step at a time.

Action starts in January.

[AndyTiedye]

8. Few People Will Ever See Those Wonderful Speeches

Whenever we point out the failures of the Bush* regime,
the Repub media turns the cameras off, and then switches
to their tame talking heads who berate us for "Bush* bashing".

The Democrats CANNOT frame the debate anymore, because we have
no forum in which to do so!

The Republicans have bought and paid for not only the microphone,
but the cameras, the transmitters, all the people who use them,
and the airwaves they broadcast over.

[KurtNYC]

4. Pure numbers

DNC did their own polling and the strategy is peel righties away from Bush. Tonight's Reagan stem cell emphasis is right on the money.

There is no need to continue to hammer Bush. From a strictly pragmatic angle it is not efficient. Bush has high negatives, he didn't have a majority last time and all we need is a few righties to switch and we win.

Step one was an assault on the media to expose their bias and complicity. F911 kept this debate focused and had impact. Weakening their effect just in time for ...

Step two. Position Kerry as right on fiscal responsibility and stem cell research and defense.

Step three. Close the deal. Create the feeling that a Kerry victory is inevitable. Media is already fighting this one with weighted polls.

[KharmaTrain]

22. Spot On...

My posts below attempt to say what you just summed up wonderfully!

Cheers!

[Q]

23. But...a delegate poll shows that...

...95 percent are against the 'war' in Iraq. More than 80 percent of them have been against the war from the beginning. What chance do THEY have in framing the debate on Iraq so it reflects how many Dems feel about preemptive war?

- We can't 'close a deal' with a foundation of half-truths and concessions to Bush* corruption.

[KharmaTrain]

6. You're Missing Who This Convention Is Trying To Reach

Throw bombs and scare away those who are curious about voting out Bunnypants or make those who have just come over to take a second look. It gives the media the red meat they're desperate (and Tweety was damn desperate last night) for that is then soundbit by the Rove machine like Dukakis riding a tank or Gore inventing the Internet.

I want the Repugnicans to set the agenda...you can't take the battle to them any other way. Let them bring up all these issues in the weeks ahead and then let's force them to justify what they've done or lose even more support. Let them keep insulting the intelligence of millions who know different than what the Rove spinners are trying to spin, it's about to backfire on them big time.

Hopefully Democrats are better than to play the same "eye for an eye" tactics the wingnuts do. Isn't that what we're fighting against...not attempting to duplicate?

[BeFree]

13. Yeah....the Sheeple

"Can't scare the Sheeple".

Rinse and repeat.

[Q]

19. Eye for an eye? Or truth versus lies?

- Republicans and Democrats alike seem to suggest that calling the Bushies on their lies and criminality is seeking some sort of revenge or retribution. What the fuck ever happened to simply telling the truth?

- Americans can't make the right decision and vote for the best leadership if they're left ignorant of the facts. We already know that's the job of the corporate media: boost Bush's* image while tearing down Democrats. Democrats only HELP this process along and become complicit when they help keep the people ignorant of a corrupt executive branch.

- Republicans don't play 'eye for an eye'. That implies retribution for wrong done to them by Democrats. What they play is DIRTY...expecting the Democrats to back down in fear. It seems to work every time.

[KharmaTrain]

20. Do We Really Need To Say It's A Lie Now?

Let the truth and realities take hold. Soon this regime is going to have to explain why they should be allowed to continue and there's only so much day is night, black is white that people are going to believe anymore.

Are we to be elitists as the Repugnicans by sticking this regime's lies in its face? I like the tact of letting them wrestle with this tar baby all by themselves. All we need to do is plant the question. I have enough faith in the rationale of voting Americans who already knows this regime lies and will be hard-pressed to be won over again. The good news is the GOOPs are still so blinded in their myopia they don't see this coming. They think their lies are still being believed. Let their own incompetence, ignorance, arrogance and selfishness be their doom. I think the best way to help these fine folks is just let 'em dig themselves deeper and deeper.

People will walk into the voting booth in November and the vote will be a barometer of where things are that day. If the economy is booming, some kind of peace has taken hold that our troops aren't getting shot at and 1,000,000 new jobs all of a sudden show up, we're screwed no matter what other lies this regime says. But I suspect that's one tell of a tall order and this regime will just lie and deny...and the more they do, the more they'll alienate more and more voters.

I'm not saying we remain silent as places such as this and the many blogs will never let up on this regime's abuses and corruption...and I assure you I won't stop talking about it when I talk politics with others...but being strident and in your face is what people are starting to find repugnant about the GOOPs...why show them the Democrats are no different...no matter who did who wrong first or worse.

[Q]

24. Really? Most Americans still don't know the truth about Iran/Contra...

...or even Watergate. And now you expect the truth to eventually 'trickle out' on its own? What are the odds of that happening? The free press or the loyal opposition would have done it by now if they had any intentions of exposing the truth.

- You might as well ask after witnessing a rape or murder: Should I report it later...or not at all? You could hide in the shadows and wait for someone else to report it. If no one else reports it...it never happened. Right?

- What we're talking about here is morality and leading by example. Yes..we need to call it a Lie now....or risk forever being labeled as part of the problem.

[KharmaTrain]

28. What We Did Know...

Didn't help Poppy Bush in '92...along with the BCCI and S&L scandals (we never got to the bottom of those either)

I say we had a lot about Watergate out in the open by '76. Just like F911 is blowing the lid off the legitmacy of this regime, All The President's Men that summer brought Watergate back front and center to a lot of us.

Based on what you post, we will also never learn all that went on that led to the lies that now keep our young men & women mired in an invasion for pure profit. But enough people are realizing that this war is based on lies it's starting to stick to this regime. Again, it's a tar baby we only divert attention from when we give them an opportunity to change the discussion. It doesn't take much for that to happen. The best way to keep focus on their lies is make them have to battle with the doubt a majority of Americans now have about this invasion and this regime's ability to lead. It's there...and we don't need it to explode in their faces now...sometime in October would be far better.

If you want someone to call out this regime for their lies...and again, I have no problem with keeping those lies fresh in the "discourse"...bring out all this regime's dirty laundry...but have proxies do it as opposed to our heavy guns.

Clinton or Gore going apeshit about Bunnypants lies will open up a media circus about personalities...we need to stay on issues. As you say, if we fail, we are a part of the problem!

[tom_paine]

7. Once again I agree with you Q. Once again I ask, what's to be done?

Three ears of e-mails to the media and shouting at the top of our lungs and nothing has changed, it might even be more open a blatantly Soviet now.

Three years of trying to communicate to the Democratic Party through letters, emails, and donations hasn't seemed to stiffen their spiones much, if at all.

Even more than ever before, there is a greater disconnect between the Democrats and their base, to such a point where I, a moderate, finds myself arguing for the Democrats to get back on my left and stand tall for their positions.

What then, is to be done? I see what you are talking about in Whoopi vs. Cheney, in Theresa vs. Laura coverage, in any one of a thousand things since the Old American Republic died.

How to get INFORMED CONSENT back? How to get our Free Press back when so much is lost and the Fairness Doctrine remains an archaic memory.

If, as you say and I agree, the Democrats are afraid of even our OWN positions (made afraid by being whomped with the Orwellian Stick of Bushevik Party-Loyal Sub-Media and the Lazy putrid Corproate TV Ptavda that floats in it's filthy wake), how will we ever DARE to address the real issues.

We KNOW the problem.

What's the solution?

[emulatorloo]

9. Did you listen to or hear any of the speeches last night? or see Kucinich

or Dean's floor interviews with media outlets?

[tom_paine]

10. As Q said, speeches are nice, ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER

Ever since the Busheviks created this poisonous and Sovietized media atmosphere and began surrouding all of us with a Lying Fantasy Bubble, sometimes we still talk tough.

But that means NOTHING without ACTIONS.

Wake me when Kerry runs an attack ad.

[emulatorloo]

11. Making a speech is an "ACTION" countering the Lying Fantasy Bubble

The Democratic Convention is an "Attack Ad." It attacks Bush's policies and abysmal execution. It is designed to counter the repug spin machine and media slumber.

[tom_paine]

14. Whatever you say. I strongly diagree.

The media slumber is 24/7 EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY.

In a week it will be overwhelmed by the Goebbels v2.0 Attack machine and Lie Laundry.

Did not 2000 teach us ANYTHING? It appears not.

[emulatorloo]

15. Isn't it up to YOU AND ME to counter repug media as well?

Pretty much what clinton called for in his speech. . .

[tom_paine]

17. I DO every day. But my voice reaches DOZENS not MILLIONS

Nothing can be done if our leadership persists in timidity and fear of the Bushevik Party-Loyal Sub-Media dragging the wretched remnants of a Formerly Free Press by a leash.

[sallyseven]

12. We should not do attack ads

too soon. Only if they attack us. Answer.. The Duke said the other day that Kerry will not let what happen to the Duke happen to him. Bush keeps falling into crap and things a re going bad for him. People will start to notice. No need to be obnoxious at this time.

[Q]

18. How about doing TRUTH ADS?...

...instead of attack ads? The whole world knows that Bush* cheated his way into office. They also know that 9-11 has never been investigated as Bush* uses it for political advantage. They know...as does every literate American...that the attack against Iraq could mean impeachable offenses for Bush* and Cheney.

- But what they may NOT KNOW is why the Bushies went after Iraq instead of Saudi Arabia. Or they may not know that Bush* has consistently 'classified' information that shows a connection between HIS government and the Saudi financing of terrorism.

- The American people are kept ignorant of these facts...not only because the media is controlled by the RWingers...but because of the 'conspiracy of silence' of the opposition.

[Q]

21. I wouldn't presume to know all the answers...

...but I DO know that it just might take another four years of Bush* before the Dem party realizes that the Bushies are more corrupt and 'evil' than they ever could have guessed.

- This isn't about using the same dirty tactics as the right. It's about TAKING RESPONSIBILITY and representing the PEOPLE'S INTEREST in their own government. Democrats have succumbed to the Bushie propaganda that saying anything 'bad' (but truthful) about Bush* is 'hate speech' and unAmerican. Democrats don't want to be called names so they back off and bring a 'positive' message that dances around the whole truth.

- I don't have a solution beyond perhaps Democrats needing to face the harsh reality of another four years of the Bush* cabal. The Right has the direct or indirect support of the military industrial complex and the American media. Democrats have the truth on their side and they're not using it to show a distinct difference between the parties on key issues.

[tom_paine]

26. Q, after four years, half of us will be dead or imprisoned

(a quarter at minimum)

If Bush "wins" this "election", the Old American Republic is finally and unequivocally dead.

[Q]

30. Or it will make Democrats work even harder...

...to restore government by and for the people.

- It goes without saying that Bush* MUST GO. But we also know that simply getting rid of Bush* is only the beginning of the fight.

- We live in an America and belong to a party that has turned their heads or condoned some of the most horrible crimes ever committed by a US executive branch. What does this tell you about the state of American politics?

[Q]

16. I loved Carter's speech on 'preemptive war' in Iraq...

...but it's nothing more than his personal opinion when the PARTY won't acknowledge that preemptive war is also known as AGGRESSIVE war and that makes it illegal and immoral.

- The public response of the Party has been to complain about how George* is handling the war instead of the truth that it's a war crime.

[genius]

25. Democrats are proving their stupidity. The need to be more honest

The public will buy honesty if they tell it. I'm beginning to wonder if they Dems running the show thing Republican propaganda is gospel.

[Q]

27. Democrats aren't 'stupid'...just taking the bad advice...

...of the DLC. And as you know...it's the very purpose of the DLC to bring the party to the right while rejecting the 'old' Democratic 'liberal' agenda.

- I agree with you that the public will 'buy' honesty. They hunger for it. They're tired of pretending that Bush* isn't naked.

[maggrwaggr]

29. "The public will buy honesty if they tell it."

Yeah, no kidding. They'll literally buy it, they'll pay $8 or $9 a ticket to see F911 for instance.

I've said this over and over here, but the fact that F911 has made $100 million speaks to the deep hunger in this country for some truth.

The Democrats just don't get it.

Including a WHOLE ton of people on this board. (not you, obviously)

[Q]

31. Indeed...millions have paid 9 bucks to see the truth the media ignores...

...and this isn't an indication that people yearn for the truth? The ONLY politicians that we EXPECT to hide the truth are the Bushies. They risk prosecution and jail if the truth is ever exposed to the American people. What do Democrats risk if the truth about Bush* is known?

[maggrwaggr]

32. there are a ton of people herewho feel the Dems should stay quiet

because, gosh, it would piss off the pundits.

Wouldn't want to piss off the pundits, oh no sir.

Some people here think that telling the truth about Bush would be a sure recipe to lose.

Oh, gosh, no, we can't be seen as "crazy wild-eyed liberals", oh no.

We want to be like them. Only "better".

How is being IN ANY WAY LIKE THEM better?

I'm talking about a LOT of people on DU.