we need to shift focus from Bush to the GOP and rethugs...

[ourbluenation]

Turn up the heat on them NOW since Bush isn't running anymore. when I listen to the average joe repub they think we're obsessed with him and lets face it - we kind of are. I know I am - its just a reactionary thing with me because he's such a tool I just can't believe he's our president, even to this day.

But we need to start providing an alternative view to our nations problems to capture all these disallusioned righties. they want to hear something useful besides rantings over idiot son.

Now is the time to talk about what we believe in and the democratic philosphy and ideals instead of just pointing out what a nincompoop george w bush is and nothing else. Point out the faults with the republican and neocon approaches to government, but always follow it up with the commonsense approach that we are advocating.

[billbuckhead]

1. It is a mistake to personalize too much

Republican policies have failed even more than the Chimp-in-chief.

[ourbluenation]

3. exactly - we need to focus on that. Turns out * is his own worst enemy so

he'll take care of himself. I would love to hear a loud democratic voice rising above the din. The evil twins (Katrina/Rita) have given us a wide crack in the door to shine the light on the repub idea of small government and poverty in this country...we are fools if we don't hop all over this. Please quit arguing with the righties in your life about the chimpster and focus on democratic approaches and policies. I mean, that's why I'm a democrat. It's way more than "anyone but Bush", right? RIGHT! So lets start talking up those things we believe in and let teh bushtalk die on the vine.

[stillcool]

2. and we can start with this petition...

from Louise Slaughter for an investigation into Katrina...http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2118891

The pillaging of our national resources by this congress needs to be examined and addressed. There has been zero over-sight into what our government has been doing for far too long. Please help make this happen.

[ourbluenation]

4. thats great - but I'm talking about individual discussions with righties.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. Right, but you can tie a crime into an alternative vision. For

instance, We believe in clean water. Did you know that Senator X voted against bills to clean up our lakes and rivers 10 times.....

The repugs have made it easy for us. Every Bush crime can be translated to a republican crime since they have all supported him in every freaking thing. The problem, though, IMHO, is that many dems supported his agenda as well.

[Ioo]

6. I agree, Hang this administration around the Republicans Necks

There are many points that we have laid at Bush's feet, when they are Republican issues, let them have it.

[ourbluenation]

8. but ALWAYS provide the alternative approach we are advocating...

that's all I'm saying. These dislodged voters are looking for some common sense and I think we have it. They won't here it if we keep yammering on and on about *.

[rniel]

7. A few big targets

Bill Frist - Let's martha stewart his ass

Tom Delay - Belongs in jail NOW!!

Rush Limbaugh - Belonged in jail a long time ago!!

[ourbluenation]

9. Pointing out hypocrasy is not gunna be enough. They are looking...

for something to believe in, not something to NOT believe in. This is just wrong thinking to keep screaming about these idiots. IT IS NOT ENOUGH. Provide alternatives.

[mopinko]

10. we need to look at the last 50 years

since dwight eisenhower said this-
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.
This world in arms in not spending money alone.
It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.
The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities.
It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population.
It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals.
It is some 50 miles of concrete highway.
We pay for a single fighter with a half million bushels of wheat.
We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people.
This, I repeat, is the best way of life to be found on the road the world has been taking.
This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.


and we need to bring back the church commission, and shine the light of day on every function of this government. too many crimes are being committed in our name around the world.

[Stinky The Clown]

11. I think we might want to narrow this just a bit

I agree with the point of your post, and in fact have posted the same point a few times myself.

It just seems to me that we need to be careful about how we frame it. A blanket indictment of all Republicans may not be as wise as a more targeted indictment of right wing ideologues who have undermined the Republican party. That said, I'm of a mind that we nee to hit every elected Republican wherever we can. At the end of the day, the federal government is controlled by the majority parfty, and that needs to be the Democrats.

I know there remain 'moderate' Republicans. Most of the northeastern Republicans fall into this category. I live in Maryland and most of the Republicans (citizens, not politicos) I encounter are of this flavor. I firmly believe that if we can get out a message like the one you describe, we can get some of them to vote on our side. (No, this is NOT about 'moving right' or even 'moving center'.)

It seems to me that the best strategy is tie the RW congress to buscho's failed policies - not necessarily to idiot son himself. And there are surely enough poster boys for the excesses of the last five years to fill many campaign posters.

[Gloria]

12. Yup, glad to see someone else saying this....it's the bigger picture now..

the corruption, cronyism with the overarching theme that the GOP doesn't work for average Americans, it works for ITSELF and its cronies!!

They are NOT patriotic, and all that other crap. They have no VALUES.

They only believe in gov. when they can use it to their own ends...One could argue that they have destroyed the government over the last 5 years as it applied to serving the American people....

There are plenty of specific examples ready to be used....

[ourbluenation]

14. but again - it's all about "they" which believe me I understand...

But why are you a democrat? (not you personally, but the general "you"). I know I'm a democrat for many more reasons than just not being a republican. Where is our collective soul? It has not gone unnoticed by these dislodged voters that we appear have no voice rising above the rif raf stating what we stand for. It's all about "rethugs are bad".

I'd love to quit talking about the freaking republican freak show, and talk about why I vote the way I do. And believe me, I vote democrat because I believe in the party platform, not because I don't believe in the republican platform.

I really think this is the way we will make converts if we are to take back congress in 06 and the whitehouse in 08.

From my conversations with moderate righties and fence sitters, they were looking for a reason to not vote for Bush and all they kept hearing was "becasue he sucks" from the left. Let's not make that same mistake again.

[kentuck]

13. Bingo !

Say it loud!

[ginnyinWI]

15. I agree--the focus should be "the administration"

because it includes the majority party in Congress too. Paint them as all part of the problem. I noticed that Kerry has begun to do this, if his Brown U. speech is any indication. Otherwise it is like beating a dead horse--or a dead duck, if you will!

[SeekerofTruth]

16. Um, that's what oxycotin Rush said we need to do

Not that I'm disagreeing with you. It's just scary agreeing with Rush. (I feel dizzy and disoriented)

But, we can't move forward and bring party ideals to the table if we talk about Bush 24/7. We won't be running against him, we'll be running against the republican party.

Let's talk about how Repugs are the spendthrifts and how we would bring government spending under control.

How they are warmongers and how we would work on peaceful solutions, before using the military.

I could go on, but will it happen?

[Name removed]

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