New Dem mantra / strategy for 2006: "STOP TERROR POLITICS"

[npincus]

Dems need to put the GOP on defense about using Terror and Terrorism to manipulate the public, elect members from their party, and do anything they damn well please, legal or not (as in NSA spying or selling the public on the Iraq War).

We MUST neutralize this as an issue for the pukes to campaign on in 2006. Michael Brown pointed out in the hearings yesterday that natural disasters had become a HSA "step child" in favor or focusing all attention and resources on terrorism. If Dems can make the Repuke's unrelenting focus on terrorism a NEGATIVE (which surely the Federal response to Katrina illustrates)that has damaged and weakened our country, then Dems have a chance to kick some Repuke ass.

"Stop Terror Politics" should be our mantra, and something that all the diverse members of our party can get behind. The timing is right; Americans ARE catching on, and with lots of ham-handed WH help.. as in Chimpy's hasty revelations about LA thwarted terror operations by wild-eyed shoe-bomb toting terrorists... I think Americans are ready to hear this. With the pile-up of B*sh scandals, they are ready to wrap their minds around the fact that they've been used and manipulated by WH fear-tactics.

I for one, cannot stand another political season of candidates jockeying for who is the toughest in the absurdly titled "War on Terror". "Stop Terror Politics" ought to be a talking point for our party.

[VonDoomPhd]

1. Excellent meme.

I'm gonna pass that one along to my candidate.

[freefall]

2. I agree that we must counterattack on their use of terror politics but

we keep hearing complaints that we don't have a program or positive plan that all we do is complain about the Repukes programs and actions. So, I think we need a slogan that uses positive terms instead of negative. We can't use stop, or against or anything like that in our short snappy 20 second sound bite or we still come off sounding like naysayers. We need to sound like a positive force for change.

How about Build a Strong Country.

Strengthen the US at Home.

or something along those lines. Those are pretty lame I know but you get the idea.

On Monday evening I joined 200 fellow Democrats in my county and our Congressman for a pot luck dinner. He said that the slogan the Dem officios have come up with was something like "Together, America we can be strong." You could tell he was disappointed that is fell flat with our crowd. One of my biggest objections is the we are NOT America.

Surely we at DU can come up with something better than that. Just remember it must not give the opposition an excuse to say we are naysayers without positive ideas for change.

[Armstead]

4. Together America we can be strong?

Yeeewww. That's a convoluted and meaningless phrase.

I guess it's a bit of that pseudo "bipartisanship" the GOP wants us to get sucked into.

[npincus]

8. I know what you are saying

but my point is that we have to call them on what they have been doing as in: "cease and desist!" which won't happen, I believe until Americans see the emperor really IS naked. That calls for a very public, united SMACKDOWN, a rebuke, not kindness and sunshine.

I'm all for positivity and hope (that's what Clinton ran on) but until this "All-Terror-All the Time" strategy that has put OUR party on the defensive and elected Republicans has GOT to be DISCREDITED first. If there is a better way to put it, I'm all for hat. But I don't think niceness and sunshine will do the trick.

Maybe it's a 2-phase strategy: Attack first, and when that begins to resonate, present the hopeful, optimistic slogan.

I am convninced we will be campaigning on this phony "War on Terror" until we lance the boil.

[Senator Obama]

16. Homeland first...

Clearly we can attack the weaknesses in homeland security that were exposed by Katrina. We have border issues. Why not speak up on these. The cost of the Iraq war..not making America safer. Hey..Homeland first. Money to the states to improve their readiness and offset the costs of some of the mandated terrorism measures. Stengthen ports, borders, nuclear facilities, etc.

Obama

[freefall]

22. I like that "Homeland First" it is positive yet it makes the point that

the homeland certainly hasn't been first under *.

[Armstead]

3. Stop Terrorizing politics

That's really what they're doing. Trying to terrorize the democratic political process.

[IndianaGreen]

5. "Save the Republic" should be our mantra, followed by "Impeachment"

As Feingold said, "rolling over now is not the answer."

As Democrats, if we can't stand up for basic values like liberty and freedom, what do we stand for? We cannot fold in the face of fear and intimidation by the White House. (Especially if we hope to have any chance of winning future elections.) Rolling over now is not the answer.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/10/115433/566

[Southsideirish]

6. I hate to used the word "terror" as I feel it plays into their hands.

[Armstead]

7. "Don't be a wimp by letting Osama steal our democracy"

Okay, maybe not politically viable wording. But that is what it boils down to.

Do we surrender our liberties, values and privacy to combat a real but exagerated threat?

Or do we show some backbone and remain an open society and democracy, while using our brains to secure our nation?

[Senator Obama]

17. How about...

Impeach Osama...

Seems he's been running the country since 9/11..:-).

Obama

[Nitrogenica]

9. Republicans, STOP using this playbook!!!

http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/index.html#index

Lets debate REAL ISSUES!!

[FrenchieCat]

10. I would love that banner with Cheney's pic on it instead

and the year 2006 on it!

[LeFleur1]

11. Don't Get Fooled Again. Vote Democrat 2006-2008

That's excellent.

How about:

Republicans Have Been the Majority for Five Years. Do you like it?

Protect Our Constitution. Vote for Democrats.

Halt Corruption in Government. Vote for Democrats.

Don't Cut Down the National Forests to Pay Bush Bills.

Take the Lawlessness Out of Government. Vote for Democrats.

Fight For Our Freedoms. Vote for Democrats.

Defeat Rubber Stamp Congress. Vote for Democrats.

Protect U.S. Covert Agents. Vote for Democrats.

Got sense? Vote for Democrats.

This Is Your Chance to Get Out of Hell. Vote for Democrats.

Do God's Work. Vote for Democrats.

Okay...:) I really like brainstorming as you can see.

[Nitrogenica]

13. Great Ideas, all.

[npincus]

15. LOVE it

"Tired of Fear" says it all, and is a great lead-in to an optimistic message

[machiado]

12. Kick

I like it!

[Senator Obama]

14. I like this...Good, VERY good...

We have the worlds largest hammer, but that doesn't mean we treat every foreign relations challenge like a nail. Let there be no doubt that the United States negotiates and settles disputes in a peaceful fashion with all parties of goodwill. Futher let there be no doubt that the United States is resolute and will spare no means at its disposal to defend the freedom and security of our nation.
Obama

[Nitrogenica]

18. The Republicans have definately become the party of division.

They are, by doing that, absolutely anti-Americans. They hate their friends, neightbors, co-workers and families, fueled by the partisan politics used by Republicans to divide us.

Who is going to again unite our Country? Uniting us and making us stronger seems to me to be the most important and positive message our party could offer.

Just look at the new ad campaign that features troops and claims a connection between Iraq and Al-Qaeda, then disses the media. Does this ad unite our Country, or continue to divide it?

Terrorists, actually, are probably very happy that our great Country is divided, I'm sure. America divided is America weakened, and we are debatably weaker than we have ever been.

http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/index.html#index

That's how they choose to win elections.

WE can win elections using TRUTH! I believe in my heart truth will always win eventually. Has the time come, or will we continue to wait and watch as they destroy us?

If we don't do something, the truth will come out after we have destroyed ourselves.

[marions ghost]

19. yes I like this

N/T

[sandnsea]

20. Stop the Global Politics of Terror

Turn it just a bit, and it means stopping both Republican and other extremists who use terror as a means of controlling political outcomes.

[npincus]

21. How about: "Got Fear Fatigue? Vote Democrat."

Something about "fear fatigue" resonates- with me, probably a lot of people.

"Democrats a problem-solvers-- not fear-mongers." and so on.