Slogan suggestion: "They have failed America. We will succeed."

[Ian_rd]

At the 2000 Republican Convention to anoint Dear Leader, Governor Bush used a highly effective phrase, no doubt crafted by other more eloquent people, while listing various grievances against the Clinton, and hence would-be Gore, administration.

"They have not led. We will."

Bush would talk briefly about the economy then say, "They have not led. We will." Then he would talk about education and say, "They have not led. We will." And so on.

True, it didn't seem to make much sense considering the success of the Clinton administration in many areas, but the language was effective nonetheless as an accusation and emphatic promise to save the Republic in one single phrase. Whenever Bush would say it the crowd went apeshit with joy. It harkened back to the Declaration of Independence and its list of grievances against King George III.

With the awesome failures of the Bush administration in every concievable aspect of governance, even to the point of simply obeying the law, the Democrats would be wise to consider similar language.

"They have failed America. We will succeed."

Sample:

"The Republicans have repeatedly passed tax cuts for the wealthy elite, while ignoring the working class that is the backbone of our society. Poverty is up. Wages are down. Healthcare is out of reach. Higher education now only a distant hope for millions. And all of this while granting tax breaks to oil corporations in a time of record profits, handing hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to corrupt corporations, and feeding the largest debt in the history of the United States.

"They have failed America. We will succeed.

"Hatred of the United States is at unprecedented levels. The ranks of terrorist organizations are increasing. Iraq is in a loathsome state of violence, hunger, and despair and has become the greatest recruiting and training ground for terrorists in the world."

"They have failed America. We will succeed.

"The Bush administration has violated the most basic tenets of our Constitution in secret, and without apology when they are caught. And Congress has given them a pass again and again and again.

"They have failed America. We will succeed."

The inclusion in the phrase of "America" is important considering the Republicans' constant campaign to equate themselves with the nation itself, and hence imply that Democrats are opponents of not only the Republican Party, but the entire country and everyone in it. If you remember, the crowd at the 2004 Republican Convention were waving signs that said simply "USA." The signs didn't even say "Bush" or "Republican," just "USA" as if the contest were the United States vs. John Kerry.

I earlier considered "They had their chance, and they blew it." I still like that one, but it lacks the high note of "we will succeed" and opens itself up to the dishonest criticism from the Right that Democrats are nothing more than complainers without vision or alternative.

"They have failed America. We will succeed" is an attempt to sum up the six-year rule of the Republicans: failure. And to identify who they failed: America (and everyone in it). And to state the Democratic promise in response to this failure: success.

[jimshoes]

1. I was thinking along the lines

of Republican'ts As in they can't win in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, New Orleans, Clean Air, water etc. And yes, they have failed us, miserably. Oh and they can't stop spending our money!