Great advice from a most unlikely source...Scarborough

[Atman]

On Hardblogger...

===

"Listening to the chatter from my perch on Capitol Hill makes it clear that the Democratic Party is in dire need of guidance. So here is a Republican’s humble suggestion on how to gain traction with the majority of American voters.

Hammer home these three themes over the next ten months.

1. There is a culture of corruption in Republican-run Washington.
2. There are record deficits, record debts and record government waste in Republican-run Washington.
3. Soldiers are dying across the world for reasons that are still not clear three years later.

Keep it simple, stupid. And tell Ted Kennedy to keep his head down in 2006."

===

Wow. I've never, ever agree with Joe. He's a dick. But on this one, I gotta agree with him.

KEEP IT SIMPLE.

[Greeby]

1. 4. When you kill your aide, make sure you move the body

:eyes:

[Atman]

3. Does that make his advice any less sound?

Would you have agreed with the post had Scarborough's name not been attached to it?

Scarborough is scum. But he got elected, and he has a public forum. He's not stupid, he's just an idiot.

[blm]

53. He threw in the Kennedy taunt WITH obvious truisms to get Dems to agree

to throw over Kennedy.

Sorry, but that's a typical maneuver, too. Keep Dems nodding YEs, yes, yes, yes, until they're agreeing with even a ludicrous attack on themselves.

[nadinbrzezinski]

78. So take the part that you can use and ingore the rest

[rodeodance]

23. too much attaching the messenger lately. anyway Joe has good points.

[sandnsea]

2. They write good jingles

Have to give them that. Those are good.

[Pirate Smile]

9. They are great at marketing, they suck at governing.

Their campaigning, marketing, labeling, pr and spin are extremely effective.

We would be stupid to ignore that.

[sandnsea]

11. How can we have Hollywood....

and not be able to put out good spin. It's baffling.

[Pirate Smile]

15. I don't know. I think the difference may be between the artists telling

stories ala Hollywood vs. businesses marketing their products - which is spin and including hiding their flaws, attacking their competitors and getting a good Q rating.

(The Q Score is a way to measure the familiarity and appeal of a brand, company, celebrity, cartoon character or television show. The higher the Q Score, the more well-known and well thought of the item or person being scored is. The Q Score is primarily used by the marketing, advertising and public relations industries. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_rating)

IMO, Republicans trashed the Q ratings of "Democrats" over the past two decades. They have been ruthlessly effective and the media has bought it hook, line and sinker, and they repeat it ad naseuam (sp?) daily.

[sandnsea]

20. Q Score, yes

I tell people every chance I get that all that is really happening is that rural America is voting against the liberal label. In other words, the trashed Q ratings of "Democrat" that you speak of. But Hollywood has to create a brand too. They do it for actors, movie genres, studios, etc. They also tell stories, which is part of what we're supposedly missing. Maybe they rely on cities for their money and really don't know how to appeal to fly-over country, I don't know. But it's frustrating.

[Pirate Smile]

25. The Republicans have done a pretty good job of smearing

Hollywood too and the movie industry hasn't been very effective at fighting that either.

I can't explain it.

It is a purposeful campaign by the Republicans to smear both the Dems and the entertainment industries.

[Don_1967]

58. Rural America

is also divided my state of Ky is red but my county like several others in this state is true blue.

[Greyhound]

69. Er, have you seen most of the movies lately?

Seriously (sort of) the great Democratic spinners are in Hollywood and making enough $ for politics to be academic.

[svenett]

79. They aren't just great, they're unbelievable

I can't agree with you more when you say that their pr and spin tactics are extrememly effective. During the '04 elections, they successfully managed to turn a decorated war veteran's greatest accomplishments against himself and were able to direct attention away from the fact that Bush was a draft dodger who used his family's power and position to hide like a coward. What does our current commander-in-chief know about combat and war and hardship? Obviously, absolutely nothing and it makes me sick.

[Catchawave]

48. I agree! But it's "man bites dog" media moment....

If a Democrat blogged that, would we pay attention? We KNOW Joe is a Republican, and served in Congress as one, which makes his comments even more delicious !

I'd like to think MSNBC is becoming more liberal friendly with the truth, rather than the spin. I worry about Keith because of that, he's already been warned :(

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2707

...which links to the transcript

[Greyhound]

4. You could knock me over with a bucky-ball. Joe Scarborough?

Really? Him? Wow! :wow: We should keep this one kicked, and here's the 2nd nomination.

[rodeodance]

75. yes, whow and kick

[Doctor_J]

5. I tend to agree

We need to keep Big Dog, Clark, Dean, Warner, Schweitzer, Obama, Ford, Boxer, Stabenow, Granholm on view, an dkeep the lightning rods on low-profile, at least on a national level.

Also, hammer home the Republican drug benefit debacle and Republican job loss record.

[karynnj]

26. Dean and Boxer are also lightening rods, as is Bill Clinton

I don't think we should accept the RW characterizations of people. We need to consider how we use them though - Kennedy sceaming is good for the base only. Kennedy speaking from the heart on education. welfare, or health care explaining that how we handle these things defines how good our country is - is heart warming and inspiring.

You also left out Kerry. Even if you think he should remain a Massachusetts Senator for life, he is an outstanding spokesperson and he rarely gets into trouble. He is so obviously not his RW stereotype that it is good to let people see him. (If they lie about Kerry, maybe they lie about ...)

[napi21]

6. He's right. He was also on some evening program on CNN or

MSNBC on Monday and said "If I was a Dem political consultant, I could tell them how to get rid of DeLay AND about 30 other Pub congressmen. The Dems don't know how to HIT BACK HARD!"

It's really frightening that I agree with Joe TWICE! And it's the ONLY times I've EVER agreed with him!

[Pirate Smile]

13. We almost need to hire some of the sinister little sh@#s to pick

their brains.

We just tend not to think in those ways and we need to in order to beat them.

I would be curious what the marketing executives, NOT the political consultants would recommend. Just curious.

[Catchawave]

7. I agree with Joe !

Thanks for posting this Atman !

[Orion The Hunter]

8. Yeah I am not a Joe S. fan....

...but he is right on point with his commentary.

[rodeodance]

76. Keeping the message simple -----it works for the Repugs.

[katinmn]

10. Joe's right this time. Whoever is calling the shots is dead wrong.

The Dems look like giant wussies. The whole world has been talking about it for months. Pick up any international newspaper and you will find articles about Dem's lack of courage.

No one is opposing this run-amok administration.

Why don't they get it?? Because they must think alike!

[jasmeel]

12. Ted Kennedy's the only one brave enough to say these things!!

Other than that I agree.

[tuvor]

14. What's Joe's motive?

Yeah, I'm suspicious. What's in it for him?

[VP505]

63. I wonder if

maybe Joe is getting a little tired of defending the corruption and incompetence.

[NewJeffCT]

64. Scarborough can be honest on occasion

After the first debate with Kerry, he said something like, "I don't know how anybody can say the President was anything but terrible" or something like that... which was refreshing, rather than hearing the normal partisan spin.

[svenett]

80. RE: Scarborough can be honest on occasion

You're absolutely right. On more than one occasion I have heard Scarborough step over the partisan line. Also, associates of mine who are staunch Republicans have stated they have felt their trust and support for Bush wane in the past few months - which I think should be a rallying cry for Democrats to step up and redouble our efforts.

[janx]

16. This is new?

Dems have been making these points for months and months now.

[FearofFutility]

31. That was my reaction. I guess they are so effective at drowning

out the dems, that some of us even think it's new.

[janx]

37. It seems pretty ridiculous to me that Joe is simply

repeating what the Dems have been saying.

[FearofFutility]

49. And acting like they haven't been saying it!

[svenett]

81. Then why are...

there so many posts on this forum that say, "Wow, that's a good idea". If Dems have been saying this for months and months, then I think they need to say it more clearly and concise the way that Scarborough put it. Democrats tip-toe around trying to have their message heard but not step on any toes, but then the message gets lost. For the American people to understand, let's start getting right to the point.

[quaoar]

17. Scarborough is an ass, but he's right

You could even condense it to a bumper sticker:

Republican-run Washington:
Corruption, Debt, Quagmire

[Beer Snob-50]

18. Dems have been saying these three things

but when they do they get twisted and turned by those in the MSM as well as those in power.

[EVDebs]

19. Bush = Nixon. It's 1973 and Deja Vu all over again. Learn from history..

Britain Says U.S. Planned to Seize Oil in '73 Crisis
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0102-01.htm

The idiots are playing from a script written decades ago. The DOD is doing 'Operation Northwoods', also known as 9-11-01, not on Cuba and Fidel but on another twit, Saddam and Iraq, the 'domestic spying' scandal that is coming up will dwarf the old Church/Rockefeller/Pike commission hearings.

In only a few short months, and without a statute of limitations on these bastages, the turnout in Nov '06 should result in a Democratic House. The new broom will sweep clean !

Just tell the truth on 'em as Harry Truman said. With most Iraqis fearing a continued US presence, let alone a PERMANENT presence, how does BushCo explain the Quaker domestic spying in FL when the Quakers have a website asking this question:

If the U.S. is ultimately leaving Iraq, why is the military building 'permanent' bases?
http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/bases.htm

Folks, this is why the Quakers were singled out for domestic spying...they told the truth.

[Straight Shooter]

21. Maybe deep down, Scarborough recognizes the danger to the U.S.

I wonder what kind of flaming responses he'll get from his Repub viewers. :7

[sandnsea]

27. It's a game to him

I notice that with alot of pundits and even consultants. It's all a power game to them, the actual consequences to people aren't real to alot of these people. They're all about their own careers which are dependent on results. You'd think Democratic consultants and strategists would be eating at the soup kitchen.

[rodeodance]

22. I posted the same ealier

Wed Feb-01-06 02:38 AM
Original message
3 ways


Hammer over and over to the electorate;

1 on the culture of Repub.Corruption in Washington/Congress (Repugs did this to Dems and won.
2. on the culture of excessive waste/spending. Repugs did this to Dems and and won
And 3:
Ask the Administration:--Why are our troups dying all over the world and we have a Presisient who can not explanin why. We do not have an articulate President (Blair explains well).

Presended by Joe Scarbourgh-on Tweety after the SOTU speech:
How Dems can win an election.

[rodeodance]

24. send this to all your senators--tell them start speaking up -KEEP IT Simpl

e---it works.

[Catchawave]

46. I'll pass on the Virginia Senators, but

then again, I love my country more than politics, so maybe Warner and Allen will actually represent me and DO SOMETHING! :rofl: <-----for Warner and Allen going against the GOP's Boy King

[Norwood]

28. Scarborough is a dick but hes right on the money on this one n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

29. But we have been hitting those themes on a daily basis.

But the media only cares that we make announcements from Switzerlander, that we're chewing gum, or that we aptly call the Congress a plantation.

[land of the free]

34. good advice, and it should work IF

the Democratic party can keep focused on those three things.

I think Scarborough is a prick, but he's a very smart guy. He's giving good advice to us.

Ok, I must add one more point we should hit:
Our huge, bloated government has allowed several American cities to cease to exist. Bush's government was asleep at the wheel for Katrina, and months later, they still have not done enough. Many thousands of people died (more than 9/11) in a preventable disaster. Thousands are still homeless. Thousands are jobless. Bush created DHS, and it is inefficient, grossly mismanaged, and people are HURTING as a result. Bush did not protect us Americans before the storm hit, did not work to rescue Americans during the disaster, and is not helping those in need now.

They're spending money flying Bush around to promote his agenda while people's family members are still missing. It's just plain revolting.

You can take video of hundreds of miles of nonstop devastation down there. It is just plain heartbreaking. BUSH'S GOVERNMENT IS NOT THERE FOR YOU WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST.

[DeepModem Mom]

30. k&r

[JudyM]

32. K&R . n/t

[Yollam]

33. Joe is a smart guy.

And his libertarian streak makes him a lot less whored-out and annoying than Tweety.

I didn't like him at first but he grew on me. I hate to like him, I guess.

[DinahMoeHum]

35. Well, f**k me and make me write big checks. . .K & R'd

Even a blind pig like Scarborough finds a truffle every now and then.


:wow:

[dfrailey]

36. I have to say it

Joe is actually one person whose opinions I generally respect, even when I don't agree. He actually thinks about his positions, and has (mostly) valid arguments to support them. Plus he is equally hard on both parties. I think he is one of the few truly honest men in congress.

[pauldp]

38. Thanks Joe!

We'll take that and run with it, and hopefully make you regret you ever said it!

:hi:

[Qanisqineq]

39. I do not like Joe Scarborough

I don't watch his MSNBC show because I can't stand the way he acts on there. Ugh.

BUT I have heard him say things I agree with in the past - mostly about the democratic party or how to go after Bush in '04. Maybe it is his demeanor when I have heard him say these things. He wasn't on his own show, he was talking with other commentators, and he sounded sane, calm, and downright friendly. He wasn't vile or arrogant like other conservative commentators act or the way he acts on 'Scarborough Country'. (As a disclaimer, I rarely see him so maybe it is just these few times that he's acted this way.)

edited b/c my "bold" wouldn't shut off.

[OG Yankee Patriot]

40. We Don't Matter If We Don't Get Elected

Given the way the DNC has completely bungled the last 2 presidential elections, it's no wonder we are being patronized by the likes of Scarboro.
Howard Dean is right - spend ZERO on the big-ticket political consultants. Getting elected isn't about Q scores and focus groups and polls, it's about pounding away at the SIMPLE messages over and over:
1. Democrats SUPPORT the right to bear arms and the STATE'S rights to regulate ownership;
2. Democrats SUPPORT the rights of Christians and local school boards in deciding curricula;
3. Democrats SUPPORT fiscal responsibility and LOWER TAXES.
4. Democrats SUPPORT protecting our borders and AMERICAN JOBS.

Our being smarter and better than "them" doesn't mean squat until we get ELECTED. It's not rocket science, people. The DNC doesn't get it, and until they do we are spectators rather than participants.

[DaveofCali]

41. In Business Marketing, KISS is the rule of law

Democrats need to learn KISS and master effective business communications skills before they can become successful. That and in Marketing, you come up with a simple message and then hammer it into people's minds using coordinated multichannel campaigns. Republicans know this and Democrats don't.

Just think about an essay, an essay is not about the body paragraphs, its about the thesis.

[oc2002]

42. Is it JUST a Coincidence that the Dems are in dissary? or by DESIGN?

Its not an accident that the dems are in dissary. That is what the ownership class has mandated. There are plants in key positions in the democratic party whose job is to keep the party in chaos.

maybe all of these need to be given a pink slip or replaced at the DNC?
Senate Democratic Leader: Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
House Democratic Leader: Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
DGA Chairman: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson
DSCC Chairman: Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)
DCCC Chairman: Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL)
DLCC Chairwoman: State Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald (D-CO)
also.
# Lottie Shackelford, Vice Chair
# Linda Chavez-Thompson, Vice Chair
# Rep. Mike Honda, Vice Chair
# Susan Turnbull, Vice Chair
# Mark Brewer, Vice Chair, Chairman ASDC
# Andrew Tobias, Treasurer
# Alice Travis Germond, Secretary
# Maureen White, National Finance Chair

[DaveofCali]

47. one has to suspect that

given how cunning Republicans are. Many countries try to install or recruit double agents into other countries, why wouldn't the Republicans do the same with Democrats?

[Atman]

54. I want to get rid of any name I remember from my youth, for starters.

Christ, I'm nearly 47, and half the peoople we're arguing about are the same dinosaurs I was reading about during my misspent youth.

There's one new rule...If I can remember you from the seventies -- and believe me, remembering anything from the seventies is a reach if you lived 'em right -- then he/she is too old to be in Congress. BZZZZT! OUT!

Fresh blood, fresh ideas. Research has proven that as we age, we tend to fall back on the old ideas we already know and stop innovating. Kind of a primal survival thing...you learn what is safe and what keeps you alive, and you stick with it. FUCK THAT! New ideas. New people. No stories about the good old days, I want visions for the good new days.

Throw ALL the bums out.

[PleadTheFirst]

43. As much as I hate the guy...

that makes a hell of a lot of sense.

[rniel]

44. heard he's a real killer with the ladies

ha ha

[Coexist]

55. BA-dum-bum!

[Coexist]

45. Dammit - he needs to stop all this making sense

because I don't like him at all.

But WILL THE IDIOT STRATEGISTS IN DC PLEASE READ THAT LIST???!

[FearofFutility]

50. I'm so confused

Does this sound new to you? To me, it sounds exactly like what Dems have been saying. Have I lost my mind?

[Coexist]

51. not really...

Culture of Corruption is good - but to many people who don't follow politics, it means all politicians are corrupt - Washington is corrupt. I just think it may be too broad a brush for those who don't care to keep track.

People are sick of Washington politics - sick of this unwinnable war. Pounding home Republican-Run Washington would leave no doubt as to whom is the guilty party.

[JerseygirlCT]

52. Yeah, he's right. nt

[LittleClarkie]

56. Is he a paleoconservative?

Why would he give such good advice to the likes of us, unless he's sick of the neocons too.

[Greyhound]

70. he was a raygun repuke. Broken watch, blind pig, whatever. n/t

[centristo]

57. i think there are republicans out there

who secretly want the Democrats to rise up and trash the far-right religious wing of this administration. All the fiscal-conservatives are feeling like idiots for putting Bush in office twice. He hasn't done governed the way they thought he would at all.

[Don_1967]

59. Without a doubt the fundies have hijacked the Republican party

and they have no ideal how to get it back.

[petepillow]

60. A-frickin-men!

This is the game that the Pukes have been playing for years, and they don't even rely on the truth (something we can EASILY rely on.) Simplicity for the simple minded American, simplicity for the voter who doesn't see the big picture, simplicity for the undecided, simplicity for the repukes who talk around the issues all day with their keywords ('freedom' anyone?)

Why is such a simple concept as Simplicity so fucking hard for the dem platform to adopt?

Til it happens i'll be here holding my breath and tearing my hair out.

-pete

[Patsy Stone]

61. Not so surprising

Joe is an old-time Republican. He's not a fan of this government. Just because you're a republican doesn't mean you're a NeoCon.

Last night on the wrap-up with Tweety both he and Tucker were taking the administration's need to conquer the world and ignore the home front to task.

Remember kids, there used to be small government, privacy-centric, xenophobic Republicans.

[RazzleDazzle]

62. Link please

Saying "on hardblogger" doesn't cut it. Thanks.

[senseandsensibility]

65. Okay, but why does Kennedy have to keep his head down?

I agree with the three simple themes, but Kennedy could stick to them as well as any of the other Dems.

[Atman]

67. Only because he is one of those "lightning rod" dems

Like Hillary and Howard Dean. Just the mention of his name is enough to rile up the republicans. I think that is what Joe was saying. Kennedy's personality/history will always overshadow any good he's done, at least in the eyes of the media and the repubicans.

[mzmolly]

66. He's an honest person IMHO. I don't think he killed anyone, and I agree

with him from time to time as well. ;)

[FearofFutility]

68. Upon further reflection

It's so damn frustrating that the dems have to further simplify their message. It's just so damn obvious that the Republican-run Washington is corrupt, have amassed record deficits and debts and have lied about the reason for going to war. The Dems have been saying these things for quite some time. What do people need?! A sledge hammer?! Or is it a spoon? "See George. See George lie. See George lie again. (and so forth)" Is the average American that stupid?!

[Atman]

71. "Is the average American that stupid?!"

How else do you explain all the votes Bush got.

The real ones, I mean?

[leftstreet]

72. Maybe just looking for candidates who represent their interests?

It's getting harder and harder to find them.

[Voltaire99]

73. Dems who heed advice from right wing scum...

...really are lost.

It's all fine and good to state the obvious: Bushism is a disaster. How do you handle the tricky part, though? The one that goes...

...and we voted for most of it.

Ha! You'll need someone slightly more Solomonic than Scarborough to help you with that one!

[rodeodance]

74. The advice is good and wish a it could be accomplished.

[sampsonblk]

77. Scarborough is right this time

I don't kow what came over him this week. He's been giving a lot of advice Dems should listen to.