This 'progressive' thing is going to be our embarrassment of 2008

[sampsonblk]

As soon as the general election campaign begins, that's one of the first things the GOP will go for:

"What kind of political candidate has to rename himself to make himself (or herself) acceptable to voters?"

"Last time, they were liberal. That didn't work. This time, they're progressive. What are they going to call themselves next time?"

"You know they are ashamed of their ideas if they have to call them something else."

This is blood in the water for the GOP. They'd be foolish not to make fun of us.

"Its the oldest trick in politics. If the public doesn't like something, call it something else. That's why you know the Democrats have no business running America. They didn't just rename a policy or two. They had to rename the whole thing!"


This may actually give the GOP a ghost of a chance in this upcoming election.

[YankmeCrankme]

1. WTF are you talking about?

Like the GOP didn't rename themselves compassionate conservatives to get elected?

That was mocked by Democrats and it didn't work, Bush became president.

I always wonder when people go to the effort of telling me why it's bad to be called a liberal or progressive and what the GOP will say about it.

[calmblueocean]

2. The proper response is, "I'm less interested in labels than whether an idea works or not."

And then talk about right wing ideas, and why they don't work.

Not real worried about the "liberal/progressive" bugaboo this time.

[cooolandrew]

3. Our turnout is high and trending higher 3 to 2 we win.

[Orangepeel]

4. if that's the worst of our problems, we're in pretty good shape (n/t)

[HughMoran]

5. That's a 2 second soundbite by a RW talking head that will be ignored

You are just wrong about this.

[Political Heretic]

6. Well that's some unique spin.

Let's see..... no.

First of all, nothing about "progressive" is new. Second of all, I would beg the GOP to do this. Please, please, please try.

That is like a gift-wrapped invitation to point out so many different hypocrisies I don't even know where to begin.

The GOP is the king of renaming things. It isn't a responsible tax on less than 1% of the most extravagantly wealthy's estates for the maintenance of the social infrastructure which made that 1% so wealthy in the fist place. No, its the "death tax." It isn't a responsible position of personal autonomy of an individual woman's rights to make choices about her own body. No, its anti-life or pro-abortion.

It isn't tax breaks for the wealthiest americans and huge corporations. No, its aid to "working families." It isn't radical-fundamentalist theocratic-extremism, its the "religious right."

Progressive is not a new term. It's not even limited to staunch liberals. It has been used, in the political mainstream for over a century by numerous politicians to refer to forward-looking future oriented policies that put the needs and rights of ordinary people first.

The biggest threat to the success of the democratic party this year are ideas like yours, that we need to be so scared of the big, bad meanie GOP that we can't be true to ourselves. The GOP is imploding. It is in freefall. It's policies have been a disaster, it has driven the economy into a nosedive. It has stuck us an a disasterous quagmire of war that is now hugely unpopular. It has fueled popular anger with lie upon lie upon lie. It's "moral authority" has become the butt of popular joke, as GOP member after GOP member has been embroiled in humiliating scandal. It is deeply divided over candidates. It's conservative base is this close to bolting from the party. Even the GOP's own strategists admit that they are in trouble.

Now is not the time to COWER. Now is the time to hit back and hit hard. I welcome the GOP to make any attacks it wants, because it green lights us to unleash the fury of truth about their miserable failure.

[denem]

7. Dems: Progressives Pubs: Aggressives

No more aggressive wars. My 2c at spin.

[sampsonblk]

8. I will forgive you because you are new here

I am not scared of the GOP. Thats yet another reason I have been advocating tossing this ridiculous name change and campaigning as who we are, not for who we think we can sell to the public.

Calling ourselves progressives is not hitting back hard. Its a weak attempt at re-branding. Will the public buy it? We shall see.

[Political Heretic]

9. Thanks, but I didn't ask for your forgiveness.

First of all, I don't know :wtf: you are talking about. I must have missed the "memo" about some kind of "name change."

But regardless, we are progressive. Get used to it.

[abburdlen]

10. With McCain on top of the ticket

asking what kind of candidate has to remake himself acceptable will be the LAST thing the GOP brings up.