This guy is right.

[Burning Water]

We do need to keep it simple


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/01/24/opinion/meyer/main1232201.shtml

I think the Democrats should shelve all the fancy thinking about how they need to develop a new "values vocabulary," reframe old issues in news terms, learn how to use God-talk, be more daddy and less mommy, capitalize on the Abramoff scandals or become the post-Katrina party of "competent government."

.....

The 2006 GOP/Rove platform can easily be put on an index card, if not a Post-it note. It reads something like this: we are at war against foreign terrorists who want to kill you and your society and we'll do what it takes to stop it and the Democrats won't; we will cut your taxes and give you money and Democrats won't. Every Republican candidate in the country can spit that one out

.....

The controversy over domestic surveillance without warrants illustrates the efficient, black and white clarity of the Rovian message. Rove said, "Let me be as clear as I can: President Bush believes if al Qaeda is calling somebody in America, it is in our national security interest to know who they're calling and why. Some important Democrats clearly disagree."

Please draft a two sentence response that will work in a TV ad; my guess is it will sound as convoluted as John Kerry explaining why his vote for war was a vote against war.


.....

The Republican soundbite hasn't changed since September, 2001; the Democrats have a new mantra with every news cycle. The Republicans have more dollars than the Democrats. Those are facts. My advice to Democrats is simple: face the facts.

I think we do need to keep it simple. My Dad always said, in preparing a speech: "Tell 'em what you're going to tell 'em. Tell 'em. Tell 'em what you told 'em."

We need a few well-crafted remarks. Screw the nuance. We do not need not to tell the American people what a mess they're in. They either see that by now, or they never will. We need to tell them how we're going to get them out of it. In a few, short, sentences.

OK, I'm no political genius. That's what the politicians and consultants get paid for. But here's my response to the comment Rove made. "Democrats will protect your rights as required by the Constitution. Some Republicans may disagree."

I'd like to see some other responses to the Repuke talking points. I do not know how much time I'll have today to read or respond, but I'll try to do so this evening.

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. They're spying on you. I'll make 'em stop. n/t

[Burning Water]

9. I like it.

Short and sweet. But how do we address the 'security" issue? Valid or not, perception is everything, and it will be an issue. The American public will not worry so much about illegal spying on a few "treasonous" Americans communicating with terrorists. And you know how it's going to be framed.

[Telly Savalas]

14. With all due respect, I think we should aim higher.

The United States will never find its way out of the grips of conservative ideology if the boldest stand the Democrats take is "we'll avoid an Orwellian police state".

[Strong Atheist]

2. Agreed on K.I.S.S. nt.

[AX10]

3. KICK

[Hamlette]

4. two things to keep in mind

people recognize that the first order of business for a government is to keep them safe and 2, it is the economy, stupid.

[Burning Water]

10. I agree that we

should play to our strengths on the economy. But you point number 1 is valid, and will have to be addressed in such a way as to convince Americans that we can protect them better than the Repukes. Or we may be on the outside looking in , again.

[Stephanie]

5. These Republicans Are Completely Unethical.

They like to talk about values but they have no ethics. They lied about the reasons for war, they lied about torture, they lied about illegally spying on Americans. Half the Republican Congress is under investigation for taking bribes. WH officials are under investigation and some are indicted for revealing the identity of an American spy. The President has admitted to illegal wiretapping. In fact he's boasting about it. They're no better than a bunch of crooks. They think the laws don't apply to them.

[Burning Water]

11. "They think the laws don't apply to them. "

That's short and sweet. I like it.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. Politicians speaking honestly and simply? When pigs fly.

Politicians have one priority. Getting and keeping their seats. Honesty, ethics, priniciples, are all secondary to getting funding and votes by telling the voters what they think they want to hear. All else is "unrealistic", "impractical", and certainly won't get the DLC stamp of approval.

[rpgamerd00d]

7. Here are your two sentences - read 'em and weep, Freepers:

"The Republicans want to fight Terrorism at the EXPENSE of your Constitutional Rights - Democrats want to fight Terrorism and PRESERVE your Consitutional Rights. The choice you make this November is really that simple."



BAM!

[Hamlette]

8. I don't like the negative...

we need something like: We can keep America safe without sacrificing our freedom. Or, we need to make some sacrifices to keep America safe but freedom should not be one of those sacrifices.

On government: We can have a small government only if we have an efficient government. No corruption, no war profiteering, no cronyism. That's what leads to efficient government.

(It seems to me we could run just on war profiteering alone!)

Making America safe without making Americans economically secure will not work because we will continue to live in fear.

[loudsue]

13. I disagree. We have to paint them as the losers they are.

And we have to make the people realize they are in DANGER if they keep up this one-world-order republican government.

:kick:

[Burning Water]

12. Good, Good, Very Good.

I think you've hit on it.

NOw to move on to the next step. We've got a good issue. How do we capitalize on it? How do we explain HOW we're going to protect their lives and their liberties at the same time?

This gets more complicated than my original question, which I think you've answered very well, indeed. Yet very few, even of the dimmest, think entirely in terms of bumper stickers.

You've got the meme that will stick, the 'hook' so to speak. Now we need the the rest of the chorus, the verses, and the music, and we've got ourselves a song.