This Jen Sorenson CARTOON challenges us to do MORE than fight off GOP

[Nothing Without Hope]

horrors, round after round of terrible proposals, moves and candidates from the Bush administration. It's called
"Whack-a-whackjob"
and can be found at the Working For Change web site:
http://www.workingforchange.com/comic.cfm?itemid=18944. I'll insert the image below.

This is the answer to the new Republican framing campaign to call the Democrats "The Party of No":
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1776818
Thread title: GOP's new Framing: Democrats = Party of "No"

We need to come up with a way to say in strong, clear words what this cartoon conveys so eloquently. How can we develop our own fleshed-out program proposals when all our energy is spent trying to fight off disaster after disaster? So many Administration-generated horrors, one after another, come at us that not all can be fought full-force. The worst of them are chosen for focussed opposition by our outnumbered forces, but even then, it's an uphill fight. We are fighting a desperate battle to save what we can of democracy and the rule of law in this country. What we are saying "no" to is monstrous, and it consumes our resources to fight it all.

Somehow, we have to find the energy and resources to come up with a comprehensive array of good programs and candidates that can be joined into a coherent alternative vision to offer the American people. As they come to fear and distrust the neocons and the corporate media propaganda, we MUST have something better for them to turn to. Otherwise, what is there for them but the acceptance of the status quo, however reluctantly, or despair? Despair is the route to violence and chaos. It's not enough to say NO, though it remains necessary - we must produce something for the public to say YES to.

And now Jen Sorenson's spot-on cartoon. I think this should be seen by EVERYONE.

[bear425]

1. The cartoon is a very good representation of what we're up against.

John Conyers, Louise Slaughter, John Kerry, et.al can't carry all the water for our party. We the people must organize together to help them!

[Gold Metal Flake]

2. When the opposition controls all mass media...

...how can we shout above the noise? Without resorting to extra-legal means, that is.

On Edit: Ref the first quote in my sig.

[ArchTeryx]

5. And what's wrong with extra-legal means?

While I'd never advocate anything violent, 'extra-legal means' to me means things such as pirate radio and the Underground Movement that flourished during the Nixon years.

With the Internet, we have a pretty decent if under-viewed forum, but I expect sooner or later the Right Wing will follow their old pattern: try to defeat via frontal assault (nearly always fails) then attempt to defeat by absorbing and co-opting (nearly always, sadly, succeeds).

See: PBS and Public Radio.

[paineinthearse]

3. The cartoon captures my feelings, will give it some consideration.

There was an earlier post today, something to the effect that "are you getting tired of being right all the time".

We need to start NOW to win back in 2006 the House if not the Senate. Sorry, but nothing is going to change until then.

Nominated.

[ComerPerro]

4. Kick for one of my favorite political cartoons

It is so direct, and it sums up exactly what is happening.

I saw this a week ago or so and printed it out and saved it.

I was glad to see you posting it again, because I really think more DUers should see it.

It sums up our situation and our frustration perfectly.

[spooky3]

6. I love her stuff.

[MissMarple]

7. Good assessment. We need to diversify, specialize, and delegate.

Not all of the Dems can do the daily hand to hand defense for the American way of life. I think Howard Dean and the new think tanks can lead on the idea front, and the growing interest in Progressive radio personalities provides an outlet for the daily battles against the latest wack job out cropping.

Democrats stand for enforcing the laws, imposing fiscal responsibility, developing sane economic policies, long range and viable energy policies, maintaining a government large enough to promote the security and prosperity of all the American people, and the protection of individual civil rights for every individual in this country, regardless of personal characteristics.

At least they'd better IMHO. Getting us caught up in petty cultural issues that are no business of government is the secret weapon of the Right power mongering elitists and control freaks.

[smartvoter]

8. You're absolutely right. nt

[MissMarple]

10. Thank you.

:-)

[Nothing Without Hope]

9. We also MUST MUST MUST reach the young with the progressive message

I recommend this Will Pitt Post (don't be put off by its title). The average age of the people he gives his pro-democracy speeches to across the country is much older than would have guessed.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3639518
This is in line with the surprising DU poll on DUer age some time ago - wish I had kept the link - showing a peak for middle-aged DUers. There are many young activist progressives - Will himself is one - but we need far more of them.

There is no doubt that the GOP is going after young people as part of their long-range plans. The young are responsive to appeals to their loyalty, idealism, and desire to prove themselves. Add this to their fresh insights, energy, and general we-can-do-it attitude, and they are clearly potentially a major force in our push to reclaim this country. WE SHOULD BE REACHING OUT TO YOUNG PEOPLE with a positive overall set of plans for the future. Again, just fighting the negatives of the GOP isn't enough. They need something to inspire them and so do we.

On the other hand, the enthusiasm of the young can be turned to susceptibility to deception by cynical manipulators who know how to push their buttons. There is no doubt that the GOP and the Fristians are going after young people. In this context, I'm very worried about the intrusive religious intolerance in the Air Force Academy (and who knows what is going on in the OTHER military academies?):
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1762771#1763754
Thread title: "WaPo: Air Force Academy religious bias probe – FUNDIE INFILTRATION?"
Where will the loyalty of our future military lie? (Not to mention what these people will do when confronted with non-Christians.) The Nazis had their Hitler Youth - think about it.

[nickgutierrez]

13. An idea I had earlier: Make the Democratic Party a brand.

The way to do this is by making commercials - and not the boring, shrill, "THIS CANDIDATE HATES PUPPIES!" rhetoric you hear around election time. What we need to do is craft a message that conveys the party platform in a way that appeals to the TV-watching disaffecteds. Create a series of commercials that cleverly, positively, and aggressively convey this image, and buy advertisements on network and cable television during prime time hours.

Yeah, this is going to be expensive, but it's a great way to work through the media filter in a way that manages to deliver a positive message about the party.

[Nothing Without Hope]

14. That sounds good to me. We also need to reach out in additional ways

like finding venues to give talks about issues; finding a way to extend Operation Paper Chase with concise, clearly written printed material; and everything else we can think of.

There must be many ideas all ready to go on this. We need to coordinate and get the story together and go with this.

[nickgutierrez]

15. Finding new ways to communicate is an absolutely essential task.

That's why The Daily Show is so effective as both a work of ongoing political satire, and as a legitimate source for information: they've found a way to work with real stories with a perspective that you can't really get from the corporate media, coupled with a rhetorical style that isn't normally associated with politics (in this case, comedy).

The Republicans have both a noise machine and an echo chamber - the Democrats have neither one. But if we can find a way to make the right-wing noise machine do some of our noise-making for us (yet another reason 30-second commercials are, IMO, a great idea), then we're a long way towards getting the message out. We have the advantage of having the majority of the American people agree with us on most of our ideas; all that remains is an effective way of reminding the people of this fact, and making elections about issues rather than about fears.

[Nothing Without Hope]

16. The activism people must have all sorts of ideas worked out

and know how to implement many of them - but the message needs to be right.

• Billboards and other sign opportunities like highway blogging
  
• carefully planned LTTE campaigns (I have heard there is a technique to this), including in LOCAL AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUS PAPERS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS
  
• radio announcements on stations that young people listen to - again would need good message and spokespeople that the young people would listen to
  
• sign up volunteers among people who are recognized, admired and trusted - many would be willing because they are appalled and frightened at what is happening in this country. They have already written great songs (like Willie Nelson's and Bright Eyes') - get more and publicize them. Good songs that make the point and stay in the mind.
  
• benefit concerts - raise money partly for a local good cause and partly to support further political activism
  
• Other local events with space for speakers or other meet-the-people opportunities - there are a lot of these in most communities
  
• Invent NEW local events that benefit the people and have the Democratic "brand" - "fairs" designed with good things for kids, elders, artists, musicians, military families, so much possibility here

There has to be a LOT more ideas, ideas that are practical and well worked out - I'm just talking off the top of my head. But the MESSAGE and the MESSENGERS have to be right or else they will be tuned out and ignored.

It has to be a message that gives hope and a real alternative to the fear and hate.

[nickgutierrez]

18. Yes, a positive, hopeful message is the key here.

One of the things I had envisioned for the 30-second commercials is to just have "regular people" talking about everyday situations where the Republican Party has done serious damage, or where the Democratic Party is pushing hard. Moving away from familiar faces would have the effect of giving the commercials a populist voice, which given the medium, would be a pretty effective approach.

[Nothing Without Hope]

17. I agree - make it a BRAND - and not just for commercials

assocaite it with all sorts of good and hopeful events and activities. I posted a few off the top of my (inexperienced) head downthread.

[Nothing Without Hope]

11. kick n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. kick n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

19. kick - I wish more people would think about this. It's important. n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

20. Time to Whack the ANTI-FILIBUSTER NUCLEAR OPTION - VITALLY IMPORTANT

We can't stop whacking the horrible things, though we do need to add postive plans and programs.

For now, we MUST FIGHT THE NUCLEAR OPTION - if the neocons win, it will be a giant step in the further destruction of what used to be the American democracy.

See this thread for what to do:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1779309
Thread title: "What DU can do in response to Sen. Kennedy’s alerts about nuclear option"

[Nothing Without Hope]

21. Check out these wonderful billboards with the progressive message

of hope and a better alternative:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3648006
Cool Dem Billboards!!! Check it out (from kos)

We need to get this message OUT THERE! There are so many wonderful one-sentence lines that would sum it up and make people think again.