What wedge issues can Democrats use to divide the Republican Party?

[dolstein]

Here are a few I can think of:

Term limits (now that the Democrats are likely to remain in the minority for a while, they should embrace term limits).

MFN status for China -- The Republicans want to give the last major Communist power on earth favored trade status. The Dems ought to have a field day with this.

Farm subsidies -- A lot of Republican free marketers absolutely loath subsidies of any kind.

[Kolesar]

1. End farm subsidies or support them?

I say end them, but patronizing the Iowans may be an electoral necessity.

[dolstein]

5. End farm subsidies for agribusiness; boost subsidies for family farms

Agribusiness = Republican contributors
Family farmer = the little guy, and a potential Democrat

[QC]

7. We lost Iowa.

So I hardly see any advantage in continuing to bribe the farmers there.

[Capn Sunshine]

43. we BARELY lost Iowa

Half the people there support us ,half don't.

[davepc]

31. WE ENDED THEM IN 1996

BUSH REPEALED THE FREEDOM TO FARM ACT IN 2002.


God damn, no wonder we lost the Midwest, we don't even know whats happening there!

[thinkingwoman]

61. then why are my neighbors still getting them?

A good chunk of farmland in this county is unployed year after year while government checks are cashed.

I personally know people doing the cashing.

Seriously, subsidies are alive and well.

[lgardengate]

2. None of that will mater with the "values" voters or many others n/t

[Dob Bole]

3. Yes....term limits/salary cap for govt. employees....go populist.

[independentpiney]

44. populist is the key n/t

[Cats Against Frist]

4. The fundie issues themselves

Capitalism is driven by sex. Abortion is necessary to keep the population of minorities down. What kind of alliance do you think there really is between Maxim-Reading Brad and Aunt Rapture Pearl?

[oldhippie]

9. Wow, now that's an interesting concept.....

I'll have to think about that one.

What do you mean, capitalism is driven by sex? That one escapes me.

[erniesam]

54. consumer spending

"spend less save more" on an individual level. We should make personal thriftiness a moral issue.

[meow2u3]

53. Abortion keeps the population of DEMOCRATS down

Abortion is necessary to keep the population of minorities down.

Reframe abortion as genocide against not only minorities, but all poor people (the poor seek more abortions than the rich), and you'll expose Rethugs as the genocidal maniacs they are.

The rethugs may have gotten their alleged majority not just due to fraud, but also because the abortion rate among poor women has gotten so high it's decimated the population of African-Americans, who now are only the second largest minority, when before they were the largest. We all know that blacks are Democrats' most loyal supporters as a group. We know blacks, Latinos, and Native Americans are the groups most beset by poverty, and poor people tend to identify with the Democrats.

I think we've been shooting ourselves in the foot with a pro-choice position on abortion. It has come at the expense of the population of Democratic voters.

[starroute]

6. Split the libertarians off from the fundies

Libertarians don't want the government in their bedrooms any more than they want it in their pocketbooks. On that grounds alone, the fundies may drive them away.

Libertarians and fundies also split on privatization. The fundies' notion of privatization is to have the government paying *them* for parochial schools, faith-based social services, etc. The libertarians' objective is to cut taxes and government services entirely.

The libertarians' great buzz-word is "liberty." With fundies in the drivers' seat, they ain't going to get a lot of that.

[oldhippie]

20. That's one of the best ideas I've heard, yet.....

the libertarians are usually associated with the repubbies, but if you look at sites like freerepublic, every time a mention of libertarians comes up, they are vilified as drug loving perverts.

As a libertarian leaning type myself, I think there is fertile ground in trying to woo libs over to the progressive side. The problem is to isolate them from the social "programs", like income redistribution, and progressive taxation, that would turn them off. That might be a pretty tall order.

[starroute]

30. We don't have to actually bring the libertarians to our side

We just have to pull them away from the Republicans.

Several years ago, before DU was born and when I'd been reading far too much Slashdot, I had a vision of a future in which the Republican and Democratic Parties were both gone and the country consisted of nothing but libertarians on the right and anarcho-syndicalists on the left. A future in which all these stupid arguments about religion and war-mongering were a dead issue and the major political disputes turned on where to draw the line between individual rights and community interests.

(In Slashdot terms, it would be the difference between Eric Raymond and Richard Stallman.)

It could happen yet -- and I'd bet a lot of libertarians wouldn't mind working with us to help get there.

[davepc]

32. Drop the gun control plank, they'll line up

[oldhippie]

35. That would be a really good start

How is gun control a progressive issue, anyway? It seems just the opposite. A Fundie and repubbie "control and security" issue vs. an individual rights issue. How the hell did we get into that, anyway? And that's a big issue to the red staters.

[flygal]

40. I agree - my MT relatives are HARDLY fundies....

but they vote with the NRA!!

[flygal]

39. Right - didn't they go to Perot in 92 and that helped us...

I think we need to work on helping them find a third party - does that even make sense?! I need some sleep..

[Cats Against Frist]

22. Exactly

I think this is the best idea -- push for federalism, actually. The fundies never wanted small government -- they want big christian government -- which is why they make great partners with corpo-fascists. And corpo-fascists are not libertarians either.

We could get a long way if people actually understood what the political spectrum actually looks like.

[Francine Frensky]

45. people who love god vs. people who love money

that's the basic concept.

What issues are in there?

I think the 10 commandments are a good place to start. should they be illegal?? money people would say no, fundies would say yes.

Right now, only 3 commandments are illegal (murder, theft, and lieing -- sometimes).... is there one of the other commandments we would want to push?

[Hephaistos]

66. Ballot initiative to outlaw p0rn

that drives libertarians nuts.

Why do you think Ashcroft never followed through on the great p0rn crackdown? They needed the libertarians for 2004...

[theboss]

8. Stem cells and the deficit

That sounds like the name of really bad novel.

[Hosnon]

11. Stem cells is a HUGE one nt

[Hosnon]

10. I like the sound of this - play hardball. Let's get some wedge

issues together that will draw many votes from the Repubs.

[sonicx]

12. taxes. several on the Net have pushed the "F the red states" message.

[LSdemocrat]

13. Three words: SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY

Look at the demographics of people who voted for Bush. According to the exit polls Bush gained 7% among seniors since 2000. Bush has made it clear he intends to privatize Social Security. If we stay on message, we can easily siphon off enough of those seniors to win.

[dolstein]

16. We've tried that in the past two elections

The problem is that none of the privatization schemes the Republicans are likely to propose will touch the benefits of current retirees. And a lot of younger voters don't expect social security to be around for them anyway.

[LSdemocrat]

19. We didn't this time. And it cost us, especially in Florida.

We got CREAMED among seniors. Instead of at least having a minimal focus on Social Security and Medicare, we were spending all our time talking about the war on terror and jobs, which in retrospect was a bit of a mistake.

[Carolinian]

14. I say we need to become experts at demonstrations. Oppose every

thing that * supports. He can't ignore 50% of the population without severe consequences.

[Peak_Oil]

17. I disagree. We need to stand FOR something

rather than against them. We need to stop the Republicans from calling the tune. We need to call the tune, and we need to start them dancing. Go on the offensive.

[Carolinian]

27. We've GOT to stand against them. Oppose everything. Slow down

the process. Slow down the economy. Boycott. Demonstrate. Meanwhile, organize on the local level and build core groups to "Take back America" (Thank you Dr. Dean). The President of the US works for you and I - not just his base. Didn't you read that he intends to force his agenda and Democrats that disagree will just be ignored? Besides, our platform was already set at the DNC.

[Auntie Bush]

48. I agree. We need to STAND for something. How about...

1. Better Prescription insurance. (seniors will vote for that)
Better yet...Be FOR lowering cost of perscriptions...attack the drug companies
Be FOR getting prescriptions from Canada etc.
Be FOR getting large reduced group rates like HMO's and Vets have.

2. Be positive...Instead of being against parochial schools...Be FOR saving public Education.

3. How about a 527(?) group that educates the scared Fundies to the fact that Democrats DON'T want to take away your guns.

HERE'S HOW WE CAN GET SOME OF THOSE ANTI-ABORTION VOTES

4. Draw attention to the fact that if they take away a womans right to an abortion...all those MILLIONS of unwanted babies will be born into poverty and be on WELFARE for the rest of their lives... VERY EXPENSIVE.

5. Whisper loudly in their ear...WARNING...All those SAVED babies will probably grow up to be Democrats...now we wouldn't want that, would we?

6. Now don't flame me...I'm trying to be realistic and get Democrats in the White house. Be active in passing state laws (in every state)that BANS Gay marriage but allows for domestic partnership. (That's a good compromise) That way it will no longer be a WEDGE issue to get Republicans to the poll in 2008. Promise Gays we will do everything we can to help them get as many right as we can. Right now the most important thing we can do for them is to get back into the White House.


OK...now you can flame away while I go and get dinner.

[dolstein]

18. Demonstrations probably helped Nixon.

NT

[Carolinian]

25. Demonstrations plagued Nixon. He hated them and it showed what a

monster he was. It forced the Vietnam war to the forefront and kept it there. Without the visiblity of demonstations we will just fade quietly into the night.

[davepc]

33. yeah that anti-war movement really brought him down

[Carolinian]

36. The ONLY reason Nixon was re-elected is because he

promised to end the war. The demonstrations were esential in bringing this about. Why would you disapprove of anyone speaking out against the war through demonstrations?

[Carolinian]

37. Nixon rode high on the anti-communist wave but years of war

eroded that support. He was re-elected ONLY because he promised to END the damn thing. He would have slipped by on this promise had it not been for the demonstrators. The anti-war crowd must remain visible - the Bush crowd is scared to death of anti-war protests.

[Carolinian]

15. Fight tax exemption status for churches with political agendas.

[kodi]

21. nope, target state ballot initatives that can draw dems to the polls

just like the right wing used anti-gay marriage ballot initatives.

it will require a state by state approach to get on to the ballot plebescites that draw out liberals and moderates to vote on election day.

legalize pot, raise the speed limit to 85, no seatbelt laws, allow smoking in bars, etc., target those behavioral things that are libertarian at heart and ride them in the polls.

down here in georgia in 2002, the gop challenger won the governor's seat because he promised to repeal the motorcycle helmet law and bikers flocked to the polls and help sonny perdue beat a heavily favored democratic incumbent.

the most important things that happened in the election besides the national campaigns were the texas redistricting scheme that cost the house democrats 3-5 seats, and the 11 ballot inititives on gay marriage. these alone were small potatoes, but they forced democrats to the wall and brought out the gop supporters.

as far as tactics go one could produce inititives so outrageous that even right wingers would not support them, thus placing the gop in the position of agreeing with progressives and blurring the lines between them.

plans within plans within plans.

never, ever forget this: all warfare is based upon deception.

this time out, the GOP had better tacticians.

[Ann Arbor Dem]

23. I think some wedge issues could be drawn from the PNAC....

The paleo-con/neo-con in-fighting had started before the elections, but I think it will become very divisive within the party before long. We need to leverage it.

[Bush was AWOL]

24. Deficit spending

[jacksonian]

26. bingo - get them on the deficit

and pork spending. Fiscal responsibility.

And blast any problems in Iraq. This is what they won't do, but Kerry has made the case this is a quagmire, and the Dems can't just surrender on this one again. Run with it - fix this right, Mr. Bush. What about our interests, Mr. Bush.

We scored some foreign policy points in this election. Let's keep them.

[Carolinian]

28. Can we get newspapers to headline the deficit $$$$$ tally regularly?

[finecraft]

29. Huge Deficit = "Birth Tax" on our children

"As a responsible, moral person who cares for the welfare of my family, I cannot stand the thought of imposing a "Birth Tax" on my children and grandchildren. The "play now, pay later republicans" were too irresponsible and undisciplined to control their spending, and left my children to pay the bill." Sound Good? If the republicans want to do away with the "death tax", we should want to get rid of the "birth tax". :smile:

There was a long thread this morning about how we need to learn "republi-speak" and the "birth tax" was one suggestion. Thought it was pretty good!

[hughee99]

65. I think the "birth tax" concept is a good idea

but we need to remember this... If the repukes control the spending, as they do now, AND our idea is successful, they will cut the spending. What will they cut? Social programs! And we'll be helping them make the case for this. They'll be out there saying, we have to cut <insert program here> because we don't want the next generation to have to pay the "Birth Tax".

[BlackVelvetElvis]

34. Evangelicals vs. the others.

The evangelicals think they are in control. The sane republicans don't care for them.
There are cracks. We need to exploit that in a Rovian way-grassroots style.
I say we find their agendas and use it against them. Didn't the rw republican party of Texas have such an agenda?

[Shrek]

38. Corporate welfare?

Pit the free-marketers against the corporatists.

They want to simplify the tax code; start with that!

[TheDonkey]

41. class warfare, privacy, individual rights

[independentpiney]

42. Marijuana law reform- I'm serious

There are plenty of skynrd listening, nascar watching pot smokers who would jump onboard. It might lose some people, but I think would result in a huge net gain. Especially if the budget reducing and revenue generating angles are played up

[Generic Other]

46. Send Dolstein undercover to move the GOP to the left

:)

[sweetheart]

47. Partial conception abortion

This is where we re-interpret the bible to show that only decent
people can conceive, and lop the balls off all republican men. ;-)

Don't bother with them. Winning seats will divide them, as they
scramble to morph thier lies to re-win.

[JI7]

49. i oppose term limits

unless you mean in a sense to just use it for political reasons but not actually do anything about it.

[JI7]

50. civil unions for gays

[CBGLuthier]

51. Death Penalty

The pope has condemned both abortion and the death penalty. Those catholic voters who voted for Bush over abortion should have this hypocrisy shouted to them every day.

And I think that all catholic members of DU (not one myself) should talk to their priests and bishops and ask them to explain this double standard.

[Onlooker]

52. Assault weapon ban

I think ballot initiatives on banning assault weapons would pit the NRA and right wing Repugs against moderates and liberals.

[erniesam]

55. consumer spending

"spend less save more" on an individual level. We should make personal thriftiness a moral issue.

[ithacan]

56. separation of church and state

HUGE wedge issue, and we get to turn religion to our advantage.

In particular, fundies are only a minority of Repub voters, though they have inordinate influence in the party.

On the other hand, libertarians and moderate republicans in NE and Midwest (and west coast?) are really really turned off by the religious right stuff. Many don't know to what extent Bush is a religious right guy.

I say, push this issue as hard as we can. NOT anti-religion, but FOR principle of firm separation of church and state.

Plus, it's the right thing to do.

[JNelson6563]

57. "Communist China"

One should never say "China" without prefacing it with "Communist" anymore. Remember what an effective boogey-man "Communist Anything" was with Rethugs? They love to cower in fear and revel in loathing of something/someone, let's start reminding them how much of our money is funding Communist China.

Get planting those memes people!

Julie

[ulysses]

58. if we want to divide the right

we need to drive a wedge directly between the fundamentalists and the corporatists. It's not a natural alliance, and one that we should exploit fully.

[Hamlette]

59. immigration n/t

[sangh0]

60. Balanced budget

.

[HootieMcBoob]

62. Nail on the head

Fiscal responsibility. In fact we've already taken that issue away from them for the most part. You don't hear "tax and spend liberal" very much any more because Clinton took that issue away from them in a huge way and Bush has managed to destroy it as an issue for at least the next four years.

Reagan talked about a balanced budget all the time but never did anything about it. Clinton not only balanced the budget but gave us a surplus and for the first time in ages we actually began to pay down the national debt.

Fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget is a no brainer.

[paulk]

63. Let them outlaw abortion?

Not really -

but this election has painted Bush into something of a corner. He won because he promised his fundie cult "core" that he would act on "moral" issues. It's the same bait and switch the Republicans have been pulling on the Religious Right for years - promise them social change and act on things like - oh, social security privitization, "fixing" the tax code (by lowering capital gains taxes and giving tax breaks to the wealthy), tort reform, expanding the corporate state, etc. etc.

Sooner or later Bush will have to deliver - or the people that put him over the top this time around won't show up to vote next time. And when he does deliver, he'll split up the Republican coalition.
He'll lose the Libertarians, the fiscal Conservatives, the social moderates.

[Blue_Tires]

64. PATRIOT ACT!!!!

i've known a bunch of civil libertarians that have been disgusted with ashcroft and the rest of the administration...this is an untapped voting block