"It's time the Dems played hardball"

[Bluebear]

1-the word “conservative” is not off-limits. Let’s drag that through the mud as much as they’ve already dirtied “liberal.” How about an ad in which children sit in a dilapidated school with no books, a voice over claiming “conservative left all these children behind?” Or one with a couple sitting at a dining room table trying to struggle with their credit card debts while a voice over claims that “conservatives say Americans should be more responsible about the debt they accrue, but they don’t think that applies to them. Conservatives have put this country into record debt. It’s time to hold them to account.”

2-John Kerry should not have to defend his record against those who resent his post-Vietnam activities. But now that he does, why are we not seeing ads that lay out the AWOL charges against Bush? Sure, everyone knows that story by now, but so what? Do unto him as he allowed others to do unto Kerry. Put his reputation where it deserves to be: underfoot in the dirt.

3-Take things out of context. Dick Cheney gave a speech in which he derided Kerry for promising to fight a “more sensitive war.” So what if Kerry was using Bush’s terms? Cheney turned it against Kerry by removing it from its context, giving it his own special Satanic, close-mouthed spin. There is absolutely nothing—except scruples—keeping democrats from doing the same.

You get the drift: it’s scruples or success at this point. Karl Rove and the Republican Party are not going to let the Democrats win this election. There is too much at stake for them. The only hope for kicking these bums out is to beat them at their own game.

Don’t get me wrong. I believe in civility. I think the world would be a better place were we all to play nice. I also believe that the only way to get politicians to play nice is to even the playing field. Once everyone gets as low as they can possibly go, things may well turn back up. But in the meantime, we should never forget that the biggest dog wins the fight. How sharp are our teeth? How angry are we?

http://www.rawstory.com/exclusives/contributors/time_dems_played_hardball_902.htm

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. YES!!!!! I LOVE THIS POST!!!

Fight hard, cut their balls off!!! This is war, Democrats are the Allies and Rethugs are the Axis! The Allies must prevail!

:dem:

[Bluebear]

3. "Scruples or success?"

We spent the whole say wondering if bush was booed or oohed when Bush announced Clinton was ill... "Oh, that may not be 100% accurate." "Oh, let's not sink to their level." The conservatives know damn well we are nicer people and they exploit it all the time.

[creeksneakers2]

2. It won't help to be dishonest

Dishonesty turns off the people on our side. I think we can prevail over these guys by being MORE honest about who they are.

[Bluebear]

5. To what "dishonesty" are you referring?

Where does this editorial call for being dishonest? We're supposed to listen to this shit about Kerry and not mention AWOL? Do you think AWOL is dishonest? Where is Bush's DD214?

[creeksneakers2]

7. Taking things out of context

And beating them at "their own game."

[Bluebear]

8. Well to begin with it's an editorial, not my post

But the sentiment stands. While we worry so much about the high road just remember what the other side doing. Every single day.

PS Did you notice that the day after the Big Speec and in the middle of a hurricane they dumped the news that Medicare costs are going up 17% next year? And when we point it out, they will say we are "scaring seniors".

[creeksneakers2]

9. Yeah

They do that stuff to libs all the time. While I don't agree with being like them, I do agree we need to sharpen up our attacks and language.

[bagnana]

14. fuck that. We only need the truth

Cheney = "Saddam's Business partner".
Bush = "the Cowardly Liar."

[volosong]

4. IT'S BEEN TIME TO DO THAT NOW FOR OVER 3 WEEKS!

Hope it's not too late

[volosong]

6. DIVE DEEP, AND STAY NEGATIVE

Negative ads work. That is all that matters or should matter to any of us.

[Bluebear]

10. This recurring theme is coming from Digby, Estrich, many voices

[Hippo_Tron]

11. Conservative = person who desires to return to the 14th century

[independentpiney]

12. Cheap Labor Conservatives

I've been using that in all the discussions I start with people since reading it on DU, and it seems very effective, along with mentions of the Saudi ties and fighting a rich mans war. There's populist things that will get through to independents and the less informed who might react negatively to the standard campaign talking points

[grasswire]

13. never take a knife to a gun fight (eom)

[bagnana]

15. Cheney:: Saddam's business partner.

Bush: The Cowardly Liar.

From his college days on, he was a cheerleeder. Cheering others on who did the dirty work for him. He hasn't the balls or the soul to lead a team, much less this country.

He's nothing but a cheerleader. Sending your children to die while he cheers and cries for them. What a cowardly liar.

[USMC0311]

16. Hardball?

Hardball?

[Cogito ergo doleo]

17. The facts are on Kerry's side re:*

while the *bots have had to make things up about Kerry. * has a lousy record that needs to be shown for what it is.

[NightOwwl]

18. Damn straight. Remember this brilliant move:

(from 7/26 Boston Herald article, http://news.bostonherald.com/dncConvention/view.bg?articleid=37155)

"Democrats are scrambling to tamp down former Vice President Al Gore and firebrand Howard Dean before they step to the convention podium, worried they may embarrass John Kerry with red-meat anger and excessive Bush bashing. The Democratic National Convention and Kerry campaign staffs are working feverishly to rewrite, polish and tone down speeches submitted in advance of today's convention opening bell."

I'm sure Rove and Co were laughing their asses off. I'd like to see us have the last laugh on November 2.

[thebigidea]

19. Go for the jugular. Mock him at every turn. Brand LIAR on his brow

failing that, make parodies of the Swift Vets ad bringing up his missed drug test, suspension, and poor record:

http://www.terminalproduct.com/tangang.rm