Talking points and the masses.

[Klukie]

The republican machine has mastered the art of talking points and for a very good, albeit detrimental reason. Talking points work. They work even better in a complacent society. The powers that be have locked into a goldmine of apathy in the good ole US of A. What once was a meaningful productive dialogue has now been reduced to a roll off the tongue catchprase that can be repeated often with no substance. For the "I want everything now" society that we have become, what a great way to sound informed without actually having to put in the work required to become truly informed. Me personally, I would never dream of spewing one of these little zingers for fear of being exposed as an uninformed shill. Unfortunately, to many in this country, exposing ignorance is less worrisome than exposing the cellulite on their thighs. I used to look at the Democratic party in frustration that they didn't retaliate against the Right Wing talking points with some of their own. I would think to myself, our party is much more skilled at language use than those on the right. What gives? Well I have changed my mind. Recent encounters with some really misguided folks have made me realize how damaging these soundbites are. These folks are locked in. They will argue to the hilt using these little quips all the while having no real information to back up any of their views. They refuse to look at information when presented to them and they repeatedly cite something as fact when in fact it hasn't been proven to be. Reason has gone completely out the window. It is truly frightening. It makes me understand how masses of people can be duped into allowing, advocating, and performing hideous acts. I have come to the conclusion that our party should stick to informed logic and reason because to fight ignorance with ignorance only makes us ignorant.

[bryant69]

1. I don't know

I do think that we could do better at crafting our message. We've done it before; Clinton was good at communicating why Democratic Programs and Principles are better for everyone. I'm also not opposed to one liners if they are backed up with sound logic and reasoning.

I do think the politics of slashing at our enemies that the Republicans have perfected are not likely to be as successful for us.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Klukie]

5. I agree

we could do better at crafting our message. We could stand to be a little more aggressive on the way we articulate it as well.

[whistle]

2. The talking points tool was developed by master liar Josef Goebbels

...what worked for the Nazis, can work for the republicans, but we don't have to lay down and let them kill democracy

<snip>
GOEBBELS - THE MASTER LIER
by Alexander Kimel -Holocaust Survivor


Hitler could not have achieved his aggressive designs and drag the world into an orgy of violence and destruction without molding a German consensus for his leadership through propaganda and terror. The terror was supplied in adequate dosages by Himmler, while Goebbels was orchestrating and directing the propaganda machine. The propaganda machine created the climate of enthusiasm for Hitler's achievements and a climate of indifference for his victims. With his propaganda, Goebbels made it possible for Hitler to assume a godlike position, and organize a government based on coercion and threats. Goebbels orchestrated the jubilation for the Fuhrers achievements, manipulated the German people to accept the persecution of the Jews, war readiness, and accept with stoicism the destruction brought by he war.

The process of extermination could proceed only by creating two contradictory conditions, first the constant flow of anti- Semitic propaganda, needed to neutralize the humane and cultural sentiments of the German population. The second requirement was the maintenance of complete silence as to the fate of the victims and the brutality of the extermination process. The silence was needed to deny the Allies an opportunity to unfavorable propaganda, and to avoid the warning of the victims. Both those conditions were effectively created by Goebbels propaganda machine.

Goebbels was born on October 29, 1897, as a crippled child with a club foot, an unusually bright child that grew up despised, ridiculed and jeered by his healthy peers. He was a withdrawn estranged child, hating and despising everybody, finding his solace in the world of books. Goebbels was intelligent bright, well read, but feeling rejected he developed a strong need to succeed, to gain acceptance, recognition and admiration, to raise above the masses. At one time Goebbels considered becoming a priest, but was rejected after the interviewing priest came to the conclusion that he doesn't believe in God. Goebbels volunteered to active service during the World War I and after being rejected he went up studying in Heidelberg, where he invented a lie that he was wounded in the battle of Verdun. The lie gained him acceptance and the much desired recognition, paving the way to the extensive use of lies in his propaganda work.

Goebbels openly admitted of being influenced by Jewish authors, he admired the poetry of Heinrich Heine, he was not an convinced anti-Semites and he did not believe in the necessity of persecuting the Jews. Nevertheless he initiated burning of their books and created and unleashed a powerful propaganda machine for the sake of his career. Goebbels had unlimited ambitions but no moral restrains. " Conscience" Goebbels said "is nothing more than a crutch for cowards". Goebbels was cynic who did not believe in Nazism, but espoused the creed.
<more>

http://www.kimel.net/goebbels.html

[Klukie]

3. Boy ....

If I didn't know any better I would have thought they were speaking of Karl Rove!

[whistle]

4. KKKarl Rove has been an avid student of Goebbels's propaganda

...techniques