EIGHTEEN threads on Latest Page RE: Palin. DUers - GET BACK ON MESSAGE please...

[Triana]

...you are NOT helping our candidate.

STICK to the issues and start helping Obama find ways to make THEM (McCain ticket) stick to the issues. That IS what it boils down to in this campaign IF WE WORK TO MAKE IT SO. Otherwise, we'll lose.

Palin is a DISTRACTION. DID YOU KNOW that Obama is running against JOHN MCCAIN?

What is at stake in this election? Can you list the issues? And for each one, give a suggestion as to how the Obama campaign can FORCE McCain to address each one - publicly - during debates or in the media. Strategy?

We need to EXPOSE MCCAIN on the ISSUES and on his RECORD. (and by association ONLY - Palin).

How do we get voters to focus on and how do we help educate them on McCain's positions on the ISSUES and on his RECORD?

(HINT: They DON'T READ DU)

HAVE YOU NOTICED that every time Obama and Biden speak, they turn the conversation right back to that - ISSUES and RECORD of McCain? We need to do the SAME THING but we're stuck - like a damn broken record - on Palin.

Ugh.

[dkf]

1. Obama started attacking Palin yesterday...this IS the new message.

[demgrrrll]

2. He made one statement to tie her to Bush-Cheney, nothing since to

the best of my knowledge, how about you?

[dkf]

6. Obama raps Palin on Alaska earmarks and her claims of 'change'

CHARLES BABINGTON
AP News

Sep 06, 2008 17:36 EST

Barack Obama made his first direct criticism of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin on Saturday, saying she pretends to oppose spending earmarks when she actually has embraced them.

Speaking to 800 people at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds in Terre Haute, Ind., the Democratic presidential nominee ridiculed John McCain and his running mate, the Alaska governor, for describing themselves as agents of change at this week's GOP convention.

"Don't be fooled," Obama told the crowd surrounding him in a large barn. "John McCain's party, with the help of John McCain, has been in charge" for nearly eight years.

"I know the governor of Alaska has been saying she's change, and that's great," Obama said. "She's a skillful politician. But, you know, when you've been taking all these earmarks when it's convenient, and then suddenly you're the champion anti-earmark person, that's not change. Come on! I mean, words mean something, you can't just make stuff up."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/09/obama_rebukes_palin_on_earmark.php

[Triana]

24. Yep. He called her on her shit. Then went back to talking about the issues....

..it's the thing to do.

I guess what I'm saying is: don't DWELL on the Palin thing and her lack of qualification and lies - and the fact that yea, we KNOW she was put out there as a distraction. (And my point is that - well, gee, it's working awfully well here on DU innit?)

So stop taking the bait. Call it out and then go back to the record and the issues.

DU has been stuck on Palin's zero quals and lies for days. It's become an unhealthy obsession. They deserve some attention/calling out but we're spending all our time on it here to the detriment of getting the message out (the truth out) about McCain's record and her record and where the both of them are likely to stand on the ISSUES (and how similar that is to bu$hit).

I'm advocating a slightly different focus than where we've been for the past few days - thread after thread about whatshername. The distraction is working. Only if we LET it.

I'll get flamed (already have) but whatthehell. I'll say my piece and put on the fireproof suit.

[Triana]

5. WRONG. He called out her issueless speech and the ruse of the Repubs behavior and went RIGHT BACK

to the ISSUES. He tied it right in there.

And that's what we have to do.

McCain/Palin's RECORD and their stance/policies on the ISSUES need to be tied around their necks like a NOOSE. Every conversation must tie into and return to that.

[dkf]

11. The only blurbs from the MSM were the challenges to McCain and Palin.

The MSM isn't into issues.

[LSparkle]

3. The issue is they can't just SAY they're change ... HOW WILL THEY GOVERN?

We heard none of that during the Rethugs' convention, and
neither BombBomb nor Barracuda has said anything on the
trail since then about their specific PLANS TO CHANGE
D.C. We cannot accept EITHER at their word that they
"will shake things up" since (a) we know BombBomb is
famous for flip-flopping (most recently even away from
the "Republican" brand), and (b) Barracuda has lied
ALREADY about her own record, in ways large ("Bridge to
Nowhere" and cutting funding for children with special
needs) and small ("I put the jet on eBay").

I think the Dems' best issue now is that the Rethug
ticket is a GAMBLE WE CANNOT AFFORD. We cannot take
that "10% chance of change" and not with a man who
would be the OLDEST to assume the presidency, with
an inexperienced ideologue waiting in the wings.

[gateley]

4. Palin seems to have energized the party, and garnered some enthusiastic

supporters. That isn't part of the message?

We're laying out our policies, highlighting the folly in the Republicans' policies, presenting what we will do.

But the media is focusing on Palin. That makes discussion of her valid, IMO. She's part of what we're looking to defeat.

[Doctor_J]

7. If Big Media steers the discussion for the next 2 months, say hello

to Resident Gidget.

[gateley]

9. Possibly - but I'm still optimistic that enough of us will hit the voting

booths to ensure that doesn't happen. We just have to do what we can to ensure there are more of US than there are of THEM.

[Major Hogwash]

8. Palin is the weakest link, and we're going after her.

While you and the other fraidy cats wring your hands.

[Trajan]

10. Silly thread ....

As if DU controls the national electoral discourse ....

You are free to discuss whatever you wish, but controlling the thread subjects on DU is a bit out of your league ...

[demgrrrll]

15. Enough back atcha. I think that there should be a separate folder

for Palin rumors, opinions etc so we are not completely cluttered with these threads. This is not a silly thread. I am not suggesting limiting free speech, just organizing the threads.

[kwenu]

12. And once again we're telling you all that we must respond forcefully to attacks and then redirect.

But we must respond, you can't ignore the McCain/Palin charges and you must attack the failed policies of the Republicans. I think we did a wonderful job of educating voters and ignoring the attacks in 2004. Respond and Redirect and attack on the failures.

[Triana]

22. I think we agree that the thing to do is call 'em on their distraction tactics (+lies) then return..

...to talking about the issues and their failed policies/records in regards to those.

That's what Obama's been saying and I agree with him. It's what he's been doing, too. And Biden as well.

[babsbunny]

13. Everything about Palin has to come out here,

because if not here, where?

[KittyWampus]

14. you are trying to reach DU'ers who are essentially addicted to Palin-crack. They can't grasp their

own obsession and how unbalanced it is.

How totally reactionary and counter-productive.

You will be attacked for wanting to protect Palin.

[Major Hogwash]

18. "You will be attacked for wanting to protect Palin."

Why do you want to protect Palin?

[Triana]

20. You're right. I see that. Pfft! Oh well. n/t

[RiverStone]

16. I'm mixed on this

A week ago I would have given ya 100% agreement; but sadly, I'm reminded (via the crazy polls) that 1/2 of the American electorate is too damn stupid to focus "on the issues" - they are swayed by a few sentimental stories of a prisoner of war from 30 years ago - and a rightie hockey mom who still looks good in heels.

They watch realty TV and believe what the corporate MSM bottle feeds them.

We at DU thrive on the issues, but there is another America that could not care less - they look for whoever is making the sensational headlines in the check-out stand.

Lets just do what it takes to win and if it means showing the world what it means to have a flat earth believing fundamentalist wacko a heartbeat away from the presidency, then so be it. We need to remind people of her as crazy-extreme-scary.

If everybody paid attention to the issues like you/we do Triana, I'd agree - but that's not reality in today's America.


peace~:)

[kestrel91316]

17. Don't presume to tell us what to talk about.

Palin is an appropriate topic. If you don't want to hear about her, that's what the Ignore Thread function is for.

Who the hell do you think you are? Little Sarah Smartass herself?

[elocs]

19. I have been saying since Friday that Palin is a distraction and misdirection.

The Republicans would love for us to continue to obsess about Palin and pay less attention to McCain. It's been working pretty well here at DU although it has slowed down.

You know, Triana, you have as much right as anyone here at DU to express your opinion as to what direction we should be taking not only here, but as Democrats. To be blunt, if anyone tells you to shut up, tell them to fuck off. Yours is a good post and I agree with it.

[Triana]

21. Thanks elocs! :) n/t

[dailykoff]

23. Don't you wish we'd known more about Cheney in 2000?

I do.

[totodeinhere]

25. You are 100% correct.

Can't you people see that this is a Rovian stunt to get our attention away from the issues? The more we engage in this soap opera stuff about Palin the more the pukes benefit because people aren't hearing about the economy, health care, energy, the war in Iraq, etc., etc.

[niceypoo]

26. "Nothing to see here folks, move along now...."

[Nikki Stone1]

27. K & R

:kick:

[mrih]

28. I have just been

Kinda skipping all the topics about Sara Palin... OK, she's hot, and that's all I really care to know about her, don't think much more of her, and I will NOT be recommending this topic. :banghead:

[1776Forever]

29. You know what - Don't read them! I feel that the post I made tonight is vital and I stand by it!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6980594&mesg_id=6980594

[elocs]

30. Everybody believes their posts are vital. How is yours any different? n/t