What are the Republicans trying to achieve when they call us ANGRY?

[Jade Fox]

It's amazing how they whip that one out whenever they are exposed
as doing something outrageous.

I think they mean to imply we are IRRATIONAL. You know, we oppose
Bush's actions cause we're just crazed Bush-haters, not because he has
done appalling things. We are irrational, so our objections don't need to
be taken seriously.

I'm trying to think of effective ways to counter-act this spin. I DON'T think
we need to press the point that we have every reason to be angry: that
just puts us on the defensive, which is what they want. I think it should
laugh it off: "Oh, the Republicans. They always call us angry when we
point out how they've been caught with their pants down."

[unschooler]

1. When the Bushies go down one by one...

who will be angry then?

[tuvor]

2. "Angry" fits. I'm happy to wear that!

I suppose that was a little contradictory, but still. :)

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. I suppose they want to appear serene while being sodomized

by the chimp.

[stepnw1f]

4. They are Distracting the Public from the Scandal Itself

Instead of talking about the crime commited, they hope to cast our glance upon their opposition. A tactic... Effective... to a degree.

They are still traitors!

[I Have A Dream]

7. I think that you hit the nail on the head.

They're good at things like this.

[stepnw1f]

9. The Scandal Itself is Larger Than This

They know it too... so expect more shit from the brigade of assholes like "The Swiftboat Lemmings". Creating soap opera.... creating an image they wear so well.

[I Have A Dream]

24. There has to be some way to handle this type of thing better...

on our part. They have a playbook that they reference on a regular basis. Wonder if we also have one. If not, we need to start putting one together.

[Jade Fox]

25. See my original post!

[BattyDem]

5. You're damn right we're angry!

It's better to be angry than oblivious, which is what the Republicans are!

[elehhhhna]

6. they're trying to piss us off?

[Lexingtonian]

8. emotional cover

It tells their own loose-screw contingent that it's okay for them to yell and rant and rave.

[Jade Fox]

10. Interesting point....

Like the way the wing-nut jocks and bloggers tell their fans that the Left is
full of Bush-haters and America-haters, so right-wing hatred like racism and
homophobia is okay.

[PassingFair]

11. They were VERY successful using this word against Howard Dean...

maybe they figure it's MAGIC!

Bet those "insurgents" are "angry", too.

[Jade Fox]

17. Their success using this against Dean....

is why I think we need to take it seriously as a Neo-con tactic. I have
seen two instances of Democrats being dismissed as just "angry"
today, and I wasn't looking very hard.

I think it works in getting the Democrats to back off because Dems are so
eager to be seen as rational, nice people. It's similar to how the Republicans
keep getting Democrats to apologize. Thank God for angry, non-apologetic
Howard Dean!

[karlrschneider]

12. You answered your own question, quite correctly!

I, for one, freely admit I AM MAD AS HELL. So there, freepers, make of that what you will, just don't give me any shit because my patience with knuckledragging morons has worn through like a tire with the steel cords showing.
:grr:

[greekspeak]

13. Are we angry or wimpy enablers?

We are constantly accused of being angry/in the way/stubborn. And then the other side of the mouth tells America that we are wimpy limpwrists who want to coddle terrorists. Which are we? Too angry or not angry enough?

[globalvillage]

14. Nothing wrong with a little well placed anger.

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[steve2470]

15. They're trying to imply that Dems are crazy

However, if one is not angry in an anger-producing situation for most people, one may be considered emotionally impaired, true Republicans ?

:wtf:

[tk2kewl]

16. Simple response: "Yo bet we're angry..."

followed by the litany of reasons

[CoffeeCat]

18. "Why are you so angry?"---the battle cry of an abuser!

Abusers, in an attempt to cloud the TRUE issues--will often re-position the argument. They are skilled at changing the subject, in an effort to confuse their victims and avoid accountability.

Here's an example:

Wife: "I'd like to talk with you about how you beat me."

Abuser: "What's wrong? Why are you so angry and upset?"

Wife: "Yes, I am angry at the way you treat me. However, I'd like to focus on your behavior and discuss the real issues here. You need to promise me that you won't beat me anymore. I won't take this any more."

Abuser: "Geeez! You're really out of control here!! Why do you ALWAYS start trouble?".

Wife: "I'm not 'starting trouble'. I'm letting you know that this has to change or I'll leave you."

Abuser: "OHHHH SO NOW you're threatening me! I can't talk with you! You're just so angry! You're so vindictive! You're such a troublemaker. And you've ruined my evening! That's it. I'm not discussing this issue with you. You're just so angry!"

<Conversation ends>

The Republicans are nothing but thug abusers. They're bullies. They're using the same tired-old, mental gymnastics that psychopaths, serial killers, pedophiles, alcoholics and abusers employ.

Somewhere along the line--these reptiles crept into the Republican party and have now devoured it--like Ebola taking over a village.

It's sickening. It's revolting. The only way to counter it is to fight, fight, fight like hell with the truth, and NEVER, EVER back down or let them set the agenda.

The sick thing is--if we don't speak up LOUDLY--Melman's message will stick with the American people and we will lose.

It's much, much more comfortable for America to believe that the Democrats are angry--than to believe that the leaders of this beautiful country are evil, corrupt thugs who have lied to each and every citizen--hoodwinking us into a baseless war that never should have happened.

[Jade Fox]

22. Wow!

Yes, they keep changing the subject from what's wrong with them to what's
wrong with us. By focusing on our "anger", they make us the problem instead
of their actions which produced our completely reasonable anger. I never
thought of it that way!

Thanks for the thoughtful reply.

[SeattleGirl]

32. Been saying this for a long time

They ARE abusers. Their behavior fits the profile of an abuser to a "T". Well, I'm an abuse survivor, and I've learned to fight back. They can whine and yell all they want, call me all the names they want, and I don't care, because I see through their bulls**t!

[Mythsaje]

19. My boss,

a moderate, and quite aware of how screwed up this administration is, thinks it'll all blow over..."of course the democrats are screaming," he says..."but they're always screaming lately. No one pays any attention to that anymore."

Then, at last break, he starting cussing the "liberals" in Seattle, griping about our 9 cent gas tax hike, allegedly because they need to fix the Alaskan Way viaduct before another earthquake levels the damn thing.

I wanted to explain to him that the tax (which bothers me a little too...but not nearly as much as him) also goes to pay for roadwork all over the state, but :shrug: what would be the point?

People like him vote for Republicans because he believes they aren't going to raise taxes...but if everything else goes up in price because they're doing giveaways to corporate America, what difference does it make?

[Jade Fox]

23. People like your boss.....

like the Republicans in part I think because the GOP tells them that
everything is okay, America is the greatest country in the world, we'll
take care of everything, just leave it up to us, don't worry your pretty
little heads, etc. etc. In contrast the Democrats seem to always be
CREATING problems by bringing them up.

People like your boss want to live in a world where nothing is ever
really wrong.

[Mythsaje]

27. It's more and less than that,

actually. He knows things are screwed up...but as long as HE's okay...

Hell, I can't even say that. He's gone toe-to-toe with the corporate bigwigs on more than one occasion for us peons. But when it comes to politics, he resents the hell out of anything that costs him money...cash on the barrelhead. He was FOR the damn bankruptcy bill because it bothers him that some few people actually take advantage of the thing.

Me--I'm more worried about the credit card companies taking advantage of the people...silly, liberal me.

I almost spoke up today...he wouldn't have been offended, I don't think, but it would've been uncomfortable and wouldn't have accomplished much.

I just wish I could get him away from Drudge as his main source of news...well, that and KIRO radio--not necessarily RW, but you can see it from there.

[Jade Fox]

28. It would be nice if there was something...

in between Druge and Buzzflash for people like your boss to get info from.
It's a great format, but Buzzflash would no doubt put him off. There needs
to be a "moderate" news website set up with a similar format.

[Mythsaje]

29. I was thinking that very same thing today...n/t

[alfredo]

20. angry doesn't test well with women, and bush is

losing their vote.

[proud patriot]

21. Because they don't like me Laughing at them

they much prefer to see me "angry"

[bunny planet]

26. We are justifiably angry, big diff.

[jcv1]

30. You think THIS is ANGER?????

Just kidding... I'll repeat here what was said in the politics thread... the repukes were showing "love" to Clinton all those years???

[Hamlette]

31. another "attack the messenger" routine, call them on it

then go back to the issue.

"The issue isn't the democrats, it's what Rove did. We should talk about that."

[Sparkly]

Marginalize and silence. n/t

[LaPera]

33. To slow us down, and have the rest of the media pick it up, ala STOP Dean!

As they exploited Dean's triumph that night and so we ended up with Kerry! Just who Rove wanted...kerry was going to be easy to exploit..."flip-flopper" Distort Vietnam record, supporting the invasion. etc. etc.

We always play into their hand, they laugh about it, but they sure as fuck don't tell us what they are doing....

You'll see it happen again in California Governors race next year!