REFORM is not in itself a good thing

[alcibiades_mystery]

The main talking point for McCain/Palin is that they are both "reformers." Remember that George W. Bush ran in 2000 as a "reformer with results." Link to Bush "Reformer with Results" ad copy: http://www.gwu.edu/~action/ads2/bushrefres.html

Here's my claim: George Bush did, in fact, REFORM the federal government. He gave it a completely new form of rampant cronyism and politicization. He re-formed the regulatory agencies to make them powerless.

The McCain campaign is banking on the POSITIVE connotation of the word "reform." We have to steal that from them. We have to question exactly what it means to "reform" something. We have to say, yes, we're all into reform, but the thing that ALWAYS counts when you REFORM something is the NEW FORM. So, what is that NEW FORM at the other end of the reformation process? Do people like the "new form?"

The pick reveals that the Democratic rhetoric of "we can't afford four more years of the SAME" is absolutely killing the McCain campaign. The desperate gambit is not the gender play (although that's certainly an element, as the largely bone stupid responses by many DUers demonstrated quite clearly). The gambit is to wrest away the "more of the same" rhetoric that is causing so much damage. The convention was successful in hooking McCain to the Bush legacy. This is their play to get out from under that. Some thoughts on keeping that going against the "reform" rhetoric:

1) McCain's reform is a reform without a difference.
2) When the old form is the same as the new form, it's hard to call it re-form.
3) We need reform for the middle class, not the same reform for the benefit of the oil companies.
4) Bush said he was a reformer, too - a reformer with results. Do you like the results? We can't afford four more years of Bush-Cheney "reforms."
5) John McCain seemed to like George W. Bush's reforms. He voted for them 90% of the time!
6) Bush said he was a reformer. Turns out he was a deformer. With a 90% Bush voting record, it sounds like John McCain is more a conformer.
7) John McCain: Conformer with Results (audio of Bush saying he's a "reformer with results," cut to McCain talking about being a "reformer," close with with Bush hug).
8) George W. Bush said he was a reformer with results. His reforms included completely politicizing the career positions at the Justice Department. Now John McCain says he's a reformer, too. With "reformers" like these, who needs enemies?
9) John McCain says he is a "reformer." (Play clip of Bush "Reformer with Results" ad.) Where have we heard that before? We can't afford four more years of the same.
10) Bush: I'm a reformer. McCain: I'm a reformer. Bush: I'm a reformer. McCain: I'm a reformer. Bush: I'm a reformer. McCain: I'm a reformer. Same rhetoric, same empty promises. We can't afford four more years of the same.

[Zynx]

1. I'm reminded of a quote: "It's very easy to change, but very difficult to improve."

Bush brought plenty of change from Clinton sure enough.

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. Indeed.