what we need is some INSANE NUTJOBS to GO NEGATIVE

[unblock]

i'm totally serious.

we need some ann couter-esque borderline psychopaths to make the tv rounds espousing an unapologetic agenda of anti-bushism, anti-republicanism, and anti-rightwingism.

relentless, wild, reckless accusations of scandals and smears. most important, these nutjobs should NOT feel remotely bound by the truth. sure, we have plently of ammo with the truth, and THE REST of us should remain our reasonable, truth-loving selves.

but look how the whole thing plays out for the republicans. they have their extremists lay out the wild claims, but the real politicians stay above the fray, never agreeing with the wild accusations but never really denying them either, just keeping far enough away to deny involvement in the smear.

we need to get in on that action. it's not that we should really expect, or even desire, that anyone actually believe the smears. what it's all about is IMAGE. we must constantly work to associate bush, the republicans, and the right wing with NEGATIVE connotations and images, and bombarding them with smears, even when none stick, ultimately WORKS. look what they did to clinton, look what they did to "liberal".

if this election proved anything, it's that we're not going to get anywhere merely through rational debate. we WON the rational debate, but they changed the rules, and made it so being rational was actually a disadvantage.

these days, it's all about IMAGE, and we must start NOW to tarnish theirs. we must use every weapon in the arsenal. let's not abandon logic, but we must open our minds to other forms of pursuasion.

i do not advocate this great pride for where it will lead our national discourse. rather, i bemoan that our opponents have already led it there.

the battle has been joined!

[nostalgicaboutmyfutr]

1. Isn't Randi Rhodes on our side?

[unblock]

2. not sure she's insane enough, but in any event, we need MORE!!

[NewJeffCT]

9. Rhodes is rational & fact-based

Coulter & Malkin are not, and are much farther to the right than Randi Rhodes.

[JHBowden]

3. We have to look reasonable while smearing.

Compare Newt Gingrich and Alan Keyes.

[unblock]

5. well, we need both

we need the gingrich or dole types who can appear to be statesmen while slickly smiling an gently twisting the knife.

but we also need the ann coulter whack jobs, too (alan keyes is just plain ineffective, though not due to his extreme views). they get the air time, they make the headlines. AND they make the less outrageous accusations of the real politicians appear far more measured and reasonable.

[NewJeffCT]

10. well, Coulter, Malkin & Ingraham succeed

Because *some* consider them attractive. Men automatically pay attention to a woman they think is attractive, even if they disagree with all she has to say.

[unblock]

11. well that's only a PART of it

they succeed because they SEEM like reasonable people if you don't listen to their ideology. on an intellectual level, they seem insane, but on an emotional level, they appear rational and reasonable. they don't give you that uncomfortable feeling you get when you see someone who's actually insane.

looks is part of that, but also mannerisms and behaviors and so on. this is where people like alan keyes and ross perot got nailed, they just give off a "not completely normal" vibe that coulter, et al., do not.

[BadMatt22]

4. We need our own Drudge Report...

...seriously

[Eric J in MN]

12. There are various liberal websites trying to compete with Drudge.

www.drudgeretort.com

www.rawstory.com

[DaveinMD]

6. I am going

to try to start a liberal cable news channel. I will be talking with a venture capital guy soon about this.

[iwantmycountryback]

7. That's CNN remember?

HAHA.

[DaveinMD]

8. yeah right

This is an important project. I am a direct mail consultant by trade. I'm not looking to make money on this. I just want to get this thing started and then others can make the money.

[Eric J in MN]

14. Let us know how we can help (nt)

nt

[Guaranteed]

13. Totally agreed.

You stole my idea!

We just have to go balls out on these guys. Rip into 'em every chance we get, make up stuff (why be hobbled by the truth?), totally smear 'em.

[bain_sidhe]

15. "make the tv rounds" Yeah, like they'll get air time.

Get real. MediaCo won't put them on air.

[RafterMan]

16. From a tpm reader

"If the Republican's were given the gift Dick Cheney gave the Democrats last night, Peggy Noonan would be on TV today wondering aloud why Dick Cheney felt compelled to lie about something so silly, and so easy to refute.

It's very odd, Peggy would muse... Peggy would then sweetly wonder if Dick Cheney wasn't a compulsive liar. She would detect a 'pattern' of lies stretching from his house days, to the Iraq hype, to the recent debate. She would then wonder if it wasn't a pathological problem.

Finally she would shrug and say 'I am not saying the Vice President definitely has a compulsive lying disorder, I'm just saying it's worth expert analysis.'

You can imagine the rest. A two week parade of experts mulling the possibility that Dick Cheney is a compulsive liar. Jokes on the radio and TV. Headlines about Cheney's 'illness'. etc.

Where is the Democratic Peggy Noonan? "

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_10_03.php#003588