Republican Success - how do they do it? (long)

[ScooterKen]

Republican Success - how do they do it?

Its obvious to us that the Republicans are out for themselves, and not to help Americans. At least, not directly. If, in helping themselves, they accidentally help Americans, well, that's O.K. by them. But the core of the Republican ideology is "Every man for himself.... and the women can bake us some pie." So why can't the public see that?

I have a theory I'd like to share.

First, we need to admit that people are stupid. Oh, sure, individual people have the capacity to be smart. But as a whole, people are stupid. Almost no one uses the internet for news, relatively speaking. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that virtually everyone on the internet is either us or the freepers. The real information, the stuff we all know, just doesn't get to normal, average, every-day citizens. So, they pretty much go by what they see on T.V. and we all know that's, like, bad.

But, you see, the Republicans accept that. The Republicans accept that people are stupid and go by what they see and hear on TV and sometimes in newspapers. They count on it, in fact. Republicans know that people only want one thing from politicians - teamwork. The issues hardly matter, even though many people claim they do. You see, people just love team sports and will always root for the team they feel is the best team. It doesn't matter if the team has the most players who've received "sanctions". It doesn't matter if the team has the most players that were found to be taking "illegal steroids". Remember, people are stupid. People are also simple. People stick with their Team.

What I am getting at is this - Politics is a Sport.

The Republicans, for all the unethical, immoral, reprehensible and flat-out illegal behavior they engage in, are always, ALWAYS a Team. They stick together on EVERYTHING. When you think of one Republican, you think of ALL Republicans. Look at what we Democrats say every time a Republican makes the news. "Those Republicans have been indicted again" or "Those Republicans have committed more crimes again." Even us Democrats are referring to Republicans as a Team. As much as we are trying to use that to our advantage, it really works against us. Because it paints all Republicans as a cohesive unit, succeed or fail, sticking together.

Do Democrats have this label? No, we don't. People never think of Democrats as a Team. Why? Because we aren't. We are Liberal and damn proud of it. And that Liberal/Progressive mindset allows for individual creativity. Dont get me wrong, we love individual creativity. But individual creativity specifically thwarts the concept of Team Play. So, what can we do about it?

Its time that Democrats treated Politics like a Sport. We need to be a Team.

Democrats have a way of defeating ourselves. We split on various issues. I've seen it happen. You've seen it happen. Why do we do this? Because we are caring, compassionate people. We evaluate the issue and we (our representatives) vote in the best interests of the people. And that is a good thing, don't misunderstand me. But often times, the fact that we are Liberal and forward thinking means that various individuals will vote different ways on the issues that face our country. In this way, we become fractured.

How did John Kerry lose the election? Overwhelmingly, the answer from the American people was this: "We didn't know what he stood for."

Why? Wasn't John Kerry clear? Well, actually, he was very clear. So, why did people say that they didn't know what he stood for? Simple. They tried to look at John Kerry not as John Kerry, but as "A Democrat" and tried to see what "Democrats" stood for. And what they saw, was varying and differing votes and opinions on every subject! We were all over the map! Not even Kerry and Edwards agreed on all the same things!

This has to change. We need to "tow the party line" like the Republicans do. We need to vote as a unit like the Republicans do. We need to all wear the same jerseys, paint our faces with the same patterns, and sing the same theme song. Its GREAT that we are Liberal and Progressive and Forward Thinking. But rather than each individual candidate, senator, congressman, and governor spouting off their great and differing ideas to the public, we need to change our tactics as a TEAM. We need to talk out our ideas in PRIVATE. We need to formulate our positions in PRIVATE. We need to disseminate the best ideas, come to a concensus, and then present our UNIFIED POSITION to the public, as a Team. When one Senator votes No, we ALL VOTE NO. When one Congresswoman votes Yes, we ALL VOTE YES. When one Governor takes a position, ALL Governors Take That Position. This cannot be optional. This must be mandatory. Anyone seeking to run as a Democrat and receive the backing and support of the Democratic Party must agree to be a part of the Team. If they get into office, violate our trust, and act as an individual, they will not receive the backing of the party for their next election. Its that simple.

Its time to get serious.
Its time to "get into the game".
Its time to take America back for the majority who, while simple folks, are just looking for the best Team.

[blm]

1. What they did was buy up the corporate media in the 80s and 90s.

That's what brought us impeachment for a bj, Bush2 in the WH, and a coverup of the real truth behind 9-11 and Iraq war.

[ScooterKen]

8. So how do we get the word out?

The internet (and this site) isn't the way, too few people will find the info.

[AX10]

2. Its time that Democrats treated Politics like a Sport.

We need to be a team.

Also, we need some media on our side too.

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. And now the quarterback of the other team

... in fact the whole starting unit, meets with the approval of about 35% of the public.

I'm all for enforcing some discipline on the membership, but we're going to see a lot of Republicans pretending that they don't wear the presidents uniform in the next few weeks.

But you're absolutely right. 70% of the public only see politics as a team sport.

So... this is like the "belling the cat" parable. Now, develop a set of principles that every democrat can agree on.

[ScooterKen]

7. Its not that hard

I think most Democrats generally agree on most issues. Its the presentation that needs work. Rather than 3 proposals from 3 different people, we need to get behind one. That sort of thing.

[INDIA]

4. In my humble opinion...

The Republicans are very good at picking issues that people are comfortable with, and voters automatically assume the Dems have an opposite position.

Examples: It's easy for most people to be pro-life and anti-abortion, but tough for people to feel comfortable being pro-choice. Why isn't it called pro-abortion? Exactly.

War in America is ingrained in us a positive thing, Revolutionary: kicking out the imperialist brits, Civil: uniting the country, WWII:Duh.
Many people equate being anti-war with being anti american. Uncomfortable again for many, even with Vietnam and Iraq.

TAXES: Getting on that issue is the smartest thing the GOP ever did. if Repubs are tax cutters then Dems MUST be for higher taxes right?

Patriot Act: People are scared. Brilliant. This will protect you, the Dems don't want to protect you.

Gay Marriage: Most people just aren't comfortable with it. It's a lot easier for most to deny others their god given right than see two men married. I don't know why, but it's true in most cases. Also with most churches firmly against it, "we sure don't want to go vote Democrat and go against the bible!"

I feel they beat us to the punch on a lot of issues solely for political gain and painted us as the "bad guys" Do you really feel that most Republican politicians give a hoot about gay marriage on a personal level? Cheney has a gay daughter for goodness sake! Even a monster like that probably wants to see his own children happy.


WHEW! My hands hurt.

By the way, I and apparently nobody else has any idea how to turn things around besides sitting back and letting them make a mess.

[Joe for Clark]

5. The American public public is NOT stupid.

And I really think it is a bad idea to represent such an idea.

Maybe the public is a little slow - but we are no dummies, as a country.

To this day I am not sure what Kerry stood for on the war.

I think one thing is for certain, the republicans are better cheaters than democrats. As long as we take that into account for the next elections, we will be fine. Kennedy may have gotten the "dead voters" in Chicago cemetaries to vote for him, but it certainly pales in the light of this B*sh machine.

You can't fool all the people all the time - and the polls are clearly turning for us regular people. I think B*sh or his operatives thought they could continue the charade forever. But the fact is, American history will be a very harsh judge of this behavior. And that time is now.

2006 will be the worst year yet to be a republican president, I am sure. When he loses the congressional elections next year - he will WISH he was Bill Clinton.

Joe

[heidler1]

6. What percent of Liberals give a damn about team sports?

I know that I never did. I never thought that any coach cared about anything but winning. The game was more important than life its self. What percent of Liberal liked the military? That's where you follow orders even if the orders are wrong. Republicans seem to love absolutes both ways like giving and taking orders. Even if they haven't got a clue whether the orders make sense or not. The physical contest justifies everything.

That was what made Kerry seem different because he believed that he was supposed to do what they told him to do in Vietnam even if it ment puting his life on the line and if he also thought the war was stupid. Most people can't fathom that view, me included.

So naturally the military will be Republican run and college professors will be mostly liberals.