Reply #4: Maybe think of it not as 'framing'

[Norquist Nemesis]

but as marketing strategy for politics. The term 'framing', is in reality a verbal strategy of branding. We need to do a better job at branding us and them.

I understand your points, and agree on an intellectual level. However, in a practical sense, all you have to do is look around. We are bombarded with messages in every aspect of our lives in order to be sold on the a product. The CONS have used a strategy of selling the product while the Democrats have held on to debating with logic (and making sense about it, too!). 60 second sound bytes with themes repeated ad nauseum will eventually take hold. And these have been in play since the late 70's with Reagan, Limbaugh, and the transformation of Horowitz. Loony Left (Repeat) weak Liberals (Rewind) Tax and Spend Democrats (Replay) See what I mean?

So, I'm all for the 'framing'. There are always going to be segments of the population that can be targeted into subsegments. Reaching them is absolutely possible on a targeted level. Sometimes it's the message, sometimes it's the messenger. :)

edit for typos