Senate Repugs changing language again - "nuclear option"

[housewolf]

They're doing it again!

Senate Repubs have discovered that the term "nuclear option" does not poll well for them so they have devised a campaign to demonize the verbage - they are now trying to turn it into a "Dem" slanderous term.


From Josh Marshall's Talking Points Memo -

Republican press operatives were fanning out to editorial rooms around Washington and New York, attempting to ban the phrase 'nuclear option' from print and airwave, unless it is duly noted as a Democrat-created smear phrase.

As we went on to explain, this is pure crap. Republicans call it the "nuclear option" all the time. Or at least they did until a couple days ago when some as yet undocumented focus group showed it didn't poll well.

more...
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_04_17.php#005497


And there's more:


If you're conversant with the Republican national political debate taxonomy, you know that there is a point at roughly 15 to 16 days after the GOP starts losing a debate that crack teams of specially trained GOP spinmeisters are sent out to bamboozle gullible newspaper editors and TV producers into changing their vocabulary to make it conform to the latest findings of GOP focus groups.

<snip>

what's happened now is that Republicans are getting bad results in the polls. So they've come up with a new smiley-face vocabulary and they're hitting all the newsrooms telling editors that it's an example of bias to use the phrase 'nuclear option' since that's a slur devised by Democrats.

<snip>

... everyone who's listened to this debate for more than ten seconds knows that most Republicans used this phrase as their preferred one until about ten days ago,

<snip>

if Republicans want to start referring to it as the 'judicial act of love' they can do that. But one side in a debate shouldn't be able to order the refs in the game to rewrite the lexicon just because people don't like what's happening. And yet that's just what's happening. Republicans are now making a concerted push at a whole slew of news organizations, trying to convince them to stop using the term in their coverage, on the argument that it's an attack phrase concocted by the Democrats.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_04_17.php#005496

[stray cat]

1. Can we call it "silencing free speech"

The republicans are trying to prevent elected representatives from speaking for their constituents.

[davidinalameda]

2. you expect anything less from these people

they're trying to hold on to power for dear life

next thing you know they'll be changing the "death penalty" to "putting them to sleep"

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. CNN Headline news just used it...

"...it will be up to Majority leader Frist to decide whether to go Nuclear or not."

Discussing Cheney getting involved and advocatiing the change..

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. Fucking LIARS. Dems DID NOT coin the phrase, "Nuclear Option!"

The term “nuclear option” is used because it would almost literally blow up the Senate. It represents an unprecedented grab for complete control by the majority in an institution where all views should be heard and respected. In fact, it was Trent Lott who coined the phrase, when he told a reporter he had a strategy in mind that would allow nominees to be confirmed without broad support, and warned that it would be “nuclear.” (Washington Times, 3/19/03)

http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/takeaction/nuclear/learn_more.cfm

Should we bombard the newsrooms with the TRUTH?

[Terre]

5. I think they're too late on this one

Nuclear Option has stuck, even the Freepers use it.

When discussing the filibuster on the floor of the Senate, many of them say "Nuclear or the Constitutional Option".

[jean]

6. Their overall fondness for nukes and going nuke-YOU-lar - (hey!

That's probably why bush mispronounces the word - it's Freudian - he's thinking "I'm gonna nuke YOU" when trying to say nuclear.)

Anyway - their fondness for destruction of the enemy is blowing back in their beady eyes. You can squint but you can't change your own frame, Senator Frist.

Sen. Bill Frist, MD, VD, (and now) NYDD

(VD - Video Diagnostician. NYDD - Nuke You Damn Dems)

[Straight Shooter]

7. Can we call it the slash and burn option? The chainsaw massacre option?

Are those Repubs never satisfied? :eyes:

[annabanana]

9. lol . . . .The Armageddon Option!. . . . n/t

[annabanana]

8. I sure hope someone publishes THAT memo!

I think the horse has left the barn on 'nuclear option' for them..But if they're trying to rein it in now, I would sure LOVE a link

(oh, and nominated)