"Patrick Henry Democrats" (some advice from Digby to gain back respect)

[KoKo]

Patrick Henry Democrats

by digby

The truth is that I have no idea where the NSA spying scandal is going and neither do they. The Republicans would like it to go nowhere for obvious reasons and so they are trying to psych out timid Dems. What I do know is that the most important problem Democrats have is not national security; it's that nobody can figure out what we stand for. And when we waffle and whimper about things like this we validate that impression.

In Rick Perlstein's book, "The Stock Ticker and The Super Jumbo" he notes that many Democrats are still reeling from the repudiation of the party by the Reagan Democrats. And while they continue to worry about being too close to African Americans or being too rigid on abortion or too soft on national security, they don't realize that the most vivid impression people have of the Democrats is this:

"I think they lost their focus"
"I think they are a little disorganized right now"
"They need leadership"
"On the sidelines"
"fumbling"
"confused"
"losing"
"scared"


The reason people think this is because we are constantly calculating whether our principles are politically sellable (and we do it in front of god and everybody.) We've been having this little public encounter session for well over 20 years now and it's added up to a conclusion that we don't actually believe in anything at all.

-snip-

A party that is described as fumbling, confused and scared is unlikely to win elections even if they endorse the wholesale round-up of hippies and the nuking of Mecca. People will listen to us if we can first convince them that we know who we are and what we believe in.

more......
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com /

[MissMarple]

1. Highlighting the core issues that define what it is to be an American.

And that starts with upholding the Constitution and the rule of law, not hiding under the covers and expecting some "sugar daddy" to protect you. George and the neocons make lousy sugar daddies, anyway.

[grasswire]

2. it's the framing, stupid

(I'm not calling the poster stupid, mind you.)

The number one propaganda message from the RNC this year has been that Democrats are stupid, spineless, confused, lost, scared, yada yada. They have totally sold this message. It is the national opinion.

I don't believe it, and I won't repeat it. I won't be part of the propaganda campaign. I will push back against that campaign with everything I've got. The Democrats I know and the Democrats I watch on television are tough, righteous, principled people -- the protectors of democracy, liberty, and human rights.

My message to these nay-sayers: come and say it to my face. You can expect to have your verbal ass kicked.

[BillZBubb]

3. I respectfully disagree.

I have been saying this same thing since 1993, before the 1994 debacle. Our side is rudderless. We have voices all over the political map and no unified positions. We rarely have any issues that ALL (or even a big majority of) Democrats will go to the mat for no matter the politics of the situation. Our opponents aren't like us in many respects and this is a prime example. They virtually always follow the party line--and they have a party line.

We can't say that Democrats stand for this or that position, because as sure as the sun rises in the East, there will be a Miller, Lieberman, Koch, or even a Clinton, saying well maybe not. We are the gang that can't shoot straight. We look like we don't stand for anything. We look weak and indecisive as a party.

Those of us who follow politics closely know the Democrats do stand for what is good about America. The general public doesn't see that. The right wing propaganda machine is merely reinforcing the perception of Democrats that has existed for a long time. That's why they always get traction with the "flip-flopper" charge.

[KoKo]

4. I'd like to see "Bribery and Extortion" of foreign Govt's for "Poltical

Favors" attached to the Abramoff/Delay Scandal. If we shouted that from the rooftops would Lieberman, Landrieu and the rest complain?

However, the Repugs would shout back "Abscom," "Budist Temple," "Clinton's Cock."

Still we out here on the internet could begin to frame issues that hopefully would eventually get out there when more Americans wake up and see what's been going on.

[grasswire]

7. tough

Reagan's first rule of politics should have been adopted by Democrats a long, long time ago. He said "never say anything bad in public about another Republican." His rule has allowed the Republican Party to shape its message, to impose discipline on its members and leaders, and to essentially impose its crafted "brand" on American dialogue.

I'll not criticize Democrats in public places. I'll reframe conversation, for sure, shifting the topic away from Lieberman or Hillary to promote the strengths of our party. But I will never, never, never call Democrats soft or weak or disorganized.

I have plenty of criticisms, but mostly of hired strategists. All it would take for Democrats to win consistently is to run on the moral high ground earned through the fight for civil rights, for working people, for families, for individual liberties, for the rule of law and equal representation in the justice system, for an independent press, for affordable housing and living wages and a clean earth and, and, and.......

We hold the high ground. Let's use it, and push back those who try to shape public opinion in negative ways.

[KoKo]

11. Yet....no matter what folks say about "Reid's War Room" the message

of Unity and the "Reframing of Issues" always seems to fall flat.

There is still a "timidity" to call "Repug Corruption" what it is. And, to go back into the decades of Scandal in the Repug Party.

Why are Dems so afraid of not being able to defend and defray their own "scandals" which were PUNY compared to the Thugs and Crime Operatives whom the Repugs have been pushing for comperable DECADES on the American People.

I never get an explanation about this from fellow Dems that makes sense to me.

[grasswire]

15. I don't think there's a strategist in the bunch, really.

I've yet to see a true strategist in a Dem campaign.

[bpilgrim]

6. the dems have a problem coming off as reTHUG-lite

especially with the DLC gang & it is a perception problem that reTHUGs exploit.

denying it or screaming at folks who point that out doesn't solve the problem at all unless your screaming at the politicos themselves ;->



peace

[JAbuchan08]

5. Everyone nows that the best critics are reverant, respectful

and civil - look at Mark Twain.

Outspokenness will get the Democrats nowhere.

[KoKo]

12. I'd love to see a Dem equivalent of Mark Twain step up to the plate...

and since the Repugs took over the house and hounded Clinton forward into Impeachment by using Media Whores who night after night pounded a message that Clinton was liar, thief and pervert...I've been waiting for a "Mighty Dem Voice" who would bring "Reality" back into our Politics.

So far..there's nothing...except for heros Conyers and Waxman and the Black caucus. Barbara Boxer has tried and Teddy Kennedy has tried...some would say Kerry has tried to get a message out...and we all know the MSM doesn't report on anything we do. But this has been going on for so long with the MSM, that one wonders when our Dems are going to come up with SOMETHING DIFFERENT to BREAK THE LOCK the RW has on MSM! It's not up to ME TO DO THIS...or YOU...BUT THEM...THEY ARE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS!!FGS!!!

[applegrove]

8. I think the Dems are keeping the powder dry. I think you will see a

campaign like no other come 2006. When you are dealing with sociopaths (like the political arm of the GOP which has them mixed in all over the place) you do not broadcast. Sociopaths need to "reality test" the truths and realities of the people they want to manipulate & control or exclude.

Only a fool would broadcast the policies and plans a year before - once they know the nefariousness of the opposition in the Republican Party. We expect Dems to fight as adults. With might. With intellect. With discernment.

No news is good news.

[BillZBubb]

9. That's what they said about the Kerry campaign.

The dry powder didn't do enough in the end.

[applegrove]

10. I think what they learnt from the Kerry campaign is that if you broadcast

your positions - they will try and set you up. In the PBS documentary (I forget what it was called) the Rove machine was waiting for Kerry to make that awkward statement on vote for the bill before he voted against it (or whatever). They assumed it would be a good clip for them. They orchestraded the bills in the fashion they did to make it foggy.

The "architect" the documentary was perhaps called.

The point is to keep the GOP & political arm in the dark so long they cannot set you up or attack your strengths. They had a long lead up to Kerry. They will not have as long a lead up to the 2006 elections because there is no nomination race.

If I were dems - I would keep it quiet. And then blast in two months all the policies, programs, values, etc.

That is the right thing to do. Surely Dems are not supposed to be as naive about the political arm of the GOP as they were in 2004 or even 2000.

We should expect more sophistication from them. Because they have learnt a thing or two.

Nefarious types play with everything - they manipulate everything. Including timelines. So the Dems should not give them anything. A long timeline.

It is just smart policy.

[KoKo]

13. Oldie DU'ers who joined up after "Selection 2000" were told Daschle was

"keeping the powder dry." We were told that the Dems had a plan after Jeffords switched parties and gave Dems in Senate a Majority that could have rolled back Bush's appointments like Asscroft and others...thereby tying his legs so he couldn't fly after the Supremes gave him the Usurption of the P-Residency.

We waited and watched and watched and waited...and every step of the way Daschle allowed Bush to get EVERYTHING HE WANTED!!!

Now...folks will say that Daschle was so threatened by Anthrax Attacks and having to vacate the Senate many times for those attacks and Bomb Scares that he was just "Overwhelmed."

But...following that...we had Mid-term Election Failures by our Dems and then we had 2004 FIASCO... Meanwhile we Dems who were so radicalized by Stolen Election 2000 were already mobilizing and finding ways on the new "Internet" to try to connect. (Birth of Democratic Underground for those of us Salon and Bart Cop visitors)

YET...HERE WE ARE TODAY!!! AND THIS FU**ing MONSTER AND HIS TYRANICAL CREW ARE IN POWER FOR THREE MORE YEARS!!!!!

Tell some of "US" to "keep our powder dry" and we will immediately go on you... You need to understand where some of us here on this site who are "left" are coming from....

[applegrove]

14. they set Kerry up with that vote on the military spending. Want that

to happen again?

[KoKo]

16. They did not "set Kerry up." It was "calculated" by Kerry and Edwards

because they knew they couldn't win the Presidency if they didn't vote to support Bush. But, I wish they had tried to stop Bush right then and run on Anti-Iraq Invasion. Would the Election have turned out differently given the closeness and the crap election machines and disenfranchisment of Dem voters? At least we Dems would have STOOD FOR SOMETHING!!! And it would have given us on the Anti-Iraq Invasion Left some credibility...given that what we all said about Iraq is coming true...We should NOT have invaded.

Kerry/Edwards could have also pointed out Corporate corruption and spying and Patriot Act abuses. There was enough info out there in 2004 for them to have made a great case against all those abuses.

They played it "safe," and angered the Left who worked so hard to support them and now our Party want's us "Center." Who the hell in the "Center" is ever going to work for Dems the way we Grassroots angry worked for Kerry/Edwards...ever again? And, what have we on the Left gotten for our reward for keeping the info out there on the Internet since 2000 Selection.

[applegrove]

17. Oh they looked like lost sheep at times. Not knowing when they would

be destroyed. But now they have Reid as a leader and that has upped their confidence quite a bit.

I think they'll do fine. They are only human and though you and i want them to fight to the nines - they have careers and fears like most mortals and it takes a while to get over facing the devil.

I am not American so of course it is not so personal to me.

Keep the courage. And the strength. Your leaders will need that!