i think the first question any democrat thinking about running for the presidency of the u.s.a.

[flordehinojos]

(if bush is willing to let go, that is) is the question: "am i ready to face the bush fear and smear machine"?)

dear democrat, do not worry about the millions now needed to run a campaign.

worry first about if you are ready to face the gigantic swells and surges of smear the bush smear machine will place on you ... they know they can never stand unless they cut someone's else's legs first, and they know truth will not allow them to cut anyone else's legs so they have to smear, smear, smear ... they don't care.

so, are you ready to meet the smear war head-on?!

then, worry about making a few honest to goodness converts among the controlled electronic media and the print media who might in reporting truthfully get the truth out.

but first, remember that 2007 is still in its infancy and that there is much work to be done by you, our elected democrats, work that will prove to us that you've had enough of bush and his asinine lies, manipulations and penchant for control, smears, and fear planting. work that will tell us that you are ready to impeach his majesty and all of his court jesters. work that will tell us that you are ready to stand up for the constitution of the united states, for honesty, and for truthful; work that will tell us that you are ready not to be intimidated by the bush machinery, and work that will tell us that you are ready to stand by your words.

then, after you do this, then you are free to think about whether you want to sit in the oval office to do the people's work, not the narcissist's selfish power grab, and then, when you've answered that question ... then let us hear from you.

and crap on the tweeties and leslies and lou dobbs of the world who want to set up the democrats' running field as of last year when 2007 has not even happened yet.

be brave. have courage. fight for truth and for what has not even happened yet. fight for right and not for might.

[zeemike]

1. Face the smear machine?

I say attack it every time it attempts in any way to smear.
How different it would have been if some one would have attacked the machine when Gore was accused of claiming to invent the internet?
How different could it have been if some one would have stood up and demanded an apology from any one making such a claim and reminding them that the forth commandment was "Do not bear false witness against your neighbor". And this is exactly what that commandment was made to counter.
If every time they would have tried that meme had been smacked down it would have backfired on them.

[flordehinojos]

3. me, in saying: face the smear machine, you in saying: attack the smear machine ...

i think we are saying the same thing:

don't let them get away with a damn lie!

[Tesha]

2. I think Democrats have to learn to say "You're lying again".

Democrats tend to be very polite and to use phrases
like "well, that's not the complete story" or "There
are some other facts, too".

We need to learn to say:

"You're lying again. Stop that!"

"As usual, you're lying."

"You're lying to hide your own guilt."

Simple, clear phrases that last about 3 seconds, that
can't be spun away, and can be understood by any
American who hears them.

And please notice that my phrases DO NOT include
"(You're lying) ABOUT ME". That sounds like a whine,
and it limits the accusation to an easily-dismissed
point. My phrases are designed to foster the perception
that everything the Republicans say is a lie and
everything they do is built upon lies.

And that's the truth.

Tesha

[flordehinojos]

4. i hope every senator and his aid have read your post.

it is the kind of post that ought to give them the backbone to do what they have failed to do for a long time now when faced with the bush smear machine.