Here's how to win votes! THANKS BUSH

[Jeffersons Ghost]

I just won a us another vote thanks to DEAN. Here is what I said:

First, the puppet president could not achieve ANYTHING we have in America today without strong Republican support in the House and Senate.

Second, Republican voters gave you the House, gave you the Senate and even gave you a Republican president and what did you give us?

Third, to claim we are fighting for Iraqi freedom as we give up American freedom, dishonors EVERY service-person who has died to protect American liberty since 1776.

Forth, Bush is still exceedingly popular in his inner circle of super-rich friends that Republicans have served so well over the years.

Fifth, any party that needs a low-income black vote in Alabama, must serve not only the poor but also the upper middle class to ever win.

Sixth, Union workers spend the money they earn like wild-fire but almost ANY ultra-wealthy person you've ever met was such a penny-pinching tight-wad that they lacked the incentive to strengthen the economy. We should have listened to those who kept telling us to BUY AMERICAN, instead of exporting their jobs and stealing their retirement.

Seventh, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the $9 TRILLION debt Republicans ran up proves they are not fiscal conservatives anymore. Even if we elect ALL Democrats for the next two full terms, it will take decades to clean up this mess. Republicans no longer believe in "Less Government" and they prove it by letting BIG bureaucracy control more things in America than EVER before.

You will hear that "Democrats are no better and just as crooked." This one is easy with all the Republican eavesdropping. If the Democrats are dirty, the Republicans would have found out and publicly revealed it, just like when they revealed that CIA agent for political gain.

You will also hear that "Democrats only criticize without offering any solutions." This is exactly what you want to hear because it allows you to present the winning platform of Howard Dean.

BOOM: We are going to give America REAL security!

BOOM: We are going to end the Republican Culture of Corruption!

BOOM: We are going to bring EVERY American good health care!

CHING: We are going to withdraw from Iraq, gradually to keep our troops out of harm's way!

CHING: We are going to balance the budget, just like Clinton did, without raising taxes!

Howard Dean: "It's certainly not true. I can tell you what our agenda is for the '06 elections.
One, we want honesty and openness back in government again. Two, we want a strong national defense, first of all, based on telling the truth to our citizens and our soldiers before we send troops abroad to defend America. Three, we want American jobs that will stay in America using energy independence as a new industry to create millions of construction and manufacturing jobs. Four, we want a health-care system that works for everybody, just like 36 other countries have in the world. And, five, we want a strong public education system so we can have optimism and opportunity back in America. I think that's a pretty good agenda, and I think it's one that can win it for us in '06."

Next they will ask is Howard Dean running again? Even if he doesn't, all Republicans who believe in the old-fashioned fiscally conservative GOP, must make a political statement with their votes in November, if they want their party to return to traditional ideals, which once made it great.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

1. Jeez, I thought we'd ALL be interested in winning a few Nov votes

I guess I was wrong and DU wants more of the same for the next eight years.

[pat_k]

2. Impeach for Victory

When principle demands action, outcome expectations, positive or negative, are irrelevant. But, fortunately for us, Impeaching Bush and Cheney is not just the RIGHT thing to do, it is the WINNING thing to do.

Members of Congress are sworn to support and defend the Constitution. Given the eminent threat posed by Bush's claim to unitary authoritarian power, and their sworn duty, members of Congress are duty bound to initiate to investigate and initiate impeachment proceedings.

To choose inaction is nevertheless a choice; a decision to evade duty and thereby become complicit with any illegal actions their failure permitted.

We expect the members of our armed services to overcome their fear of consequences and act to fulfill their oath to support and defend. We should expect no less from members of Congress. Members of Congress should expect no less of themselves.

Congress is no different.

The oath is an individual oath. They each have a personal decision to make: Duty or Complicity; Censure/Impeachment or Silence.

Impeach to WIN

When principle demands action, outcome expectations, positive or negative, do not enter into the decision to act, but a realistic assessment of the risks and benefits can make it easier to take the necessary action.

Discussions of impeachment typically focus on dire predictions of "backlash" or other negative consequences that have no basis in reality. Rarely, if ever, do we hear that taking up the fight to initiate impeachment proceedings will benefit any leader who does so. This omission is mystifying, particularly because there is solid evidence that fighting for impeachment is a political winner -- BIGTIME.

Being an accomplice to crime is NEVER good politics

Our leaders just need to look at their failure to take a stand against the Iraq war for proof. The public believes that most of them voted for the war because they feared they would be called names ("unpatriotic" or whatever). They are now paying a serious price for giving in to threats of "backlash" then.

There are reports that our leaders are allowing the same fear to deter them from taking up the fight for impeachment. ("We can't demand an impeachment inquiry. If we do they'll call us unpatriotic for attacking a president in a time of war").

If our leaders do not overcome this fear and act, they will be digging themselves into a hole they may never get out of.

When we find out the magnitude of the crimes committed by the Bush administration (and we will, sooner or later) do they really want to pay the political price for being accomplices in those crimes?

Standing on principle always benefits the leader who does so.

As President Clinton says, people will always choose "strong and wrong" over "weak and right." It's certainly no secret that of what legitimate support Bush gets, much of it is simply based on a, carefully crafted, "strong leader" perception.

Should the Democratic Party finally recognize that they have a duty to take up the fight for impeachment, even if it turns out to be a "charge of the light brigade," it would not be surprising to see them garner an additional 5-7% of the white male vote, simply for showing the fortitude that demographic respects.

The most serious problem members of the Democratic Party face is the perception that they are weak

Contrary to what many Democratic strategists believe, the perception of weakness has NOTHING to do with stance on national security. It is rooted in:

1. The reticence that centrists seem to have when it comes to accusation and punishment. (Something the right clearly revels in.) Instead of going after wrong-doers, Democratic leaders seek to "investigate" or "make sure it doesn't happen again" (and the Republicans chuckle, "Gee, for a minute there, I though they were actually going to do something.")
   
   


2. The tendency to refrain from fighting the good fights for "practical" or "strategic" reasons. Members of the Democratic Party may believe they are "picking fights wisely," but to observers, it appears they spend all their time predicting defeat and "saving their energy" for fights they can win. Outsiders looking in do not see "wise selection," they see cowardice. When the rare "winnable fight" does materialize, it is often for some incremental step or practical end that inspires no one.
   
   

Bottom line: You can't fight terrorism if you can't fight Bush. How can members of the Democratic Party expect Americans to believe they can stand up to terrorists, if they can't stand up to the man who terrorized Americans into war with threats of "mushroom clouds in 45 minutes"?

Refuting the perception of weakness boosts general support for the Party

Fighting on principle, win or lose, shows strength and conviction -- Strength and conviction are qualities that the Democratic Party desperately needs to demonstrate.

There is no fight more critical than exposing the crimes against our constitutional democracy that have been committed by the fascists in this administration. Every candidate who takes up the fight for impeachment challenges the perception of "weak Democrats" and by so doing gives the entire party a boost.

There is no evidence to support the belief in electoral backlash

Many are attempting to invoke the electorate's response to Clinton's impeachment to support their claims that the electorate will have a similar negative response to an effort to impeach Bush. Such claims are absurd on there face.

40% - 50% have vehmently opposed Bush from day one and the opposition is steadily growing. There is no conceivable scenario in which the support for impeaching Bush and Cheney would drop below 40%.

The 30% who steadfastly supported the impeachment of Clinton will oppose to the impeachment of Bush. Opposition to the impeachment of Bush and Cheney may never drop below 30%, but revelations in the course of investigation could drive that number down.

There is no evidence to suggest the 30% not yet accounted for would oppose impeachment, but evidence to the contrary can be found in polls. Even though leaders from both parties keeping are mum on impeachment, more than half the country believes Bush should be impeached if he knew his threat of mushroom clouds in 45 minutes was a lie.

In the failed impeachment of Bill Clinton, the negative reaction was rooted in the belief that the questions about President Clinton's sex life should not have been asked in the first place.

There are serious charges against Bush and Cheney, and serious questions that are unanswered. It is difficult to imagine a scenario in which the findings of an impeachment inquiry would lead the electorate to conclude that the charges should never have been investigated in the first place.

The strength of the opposition to Bush provides a secure floor

Since the beginning -- the theft of the 2000 election -- at least half of the electorate has been appalled and enraged by the horrors Bush has committed in our name.

The anger is spreading as more and more people are facing some hard, and alarming, facts about this administration. The trend is one way. The people who have opposed Bush all along are not turning around, and those who are turning against Bush now are unlikely to "unlearn" what they have learned.

But, with no leader giving voice to the anger, countless people are seething in silence. It is impossible to know the true numbers, but there is every indication that if our leaders stand up and give voice to the opposition, they would unleash the anger and see an unprecedented surge of support.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

3. what a great well-thought message Pat, thanks

We must win in November to impeach the war criminals in DC.

[pat_k]

4. Now is the time -- Co-sponsoring Censure is the start

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=869375&mesg_id=877886

[Jeffersons Ghost]

6. I agree! Russ will stand alone like a true Patriot as long as necessary

but he needs a little support to drive his point home.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

12. I enjoyed the thread you wrote and offered here Pat, thanks

I also gave it another kick!

[NJmaverick]

5. Not a bad idea, but some suggestions

The points need to be cleaned up and clarified abit.

1) The Republican president could not have committed his crimes and wrong doings with out the strong support of the Republican House and Senate.

2) The Republicans control the House, Senate, White House and the Supreme Court, and what have they done for America?

3) To claim the war in Iraq is part of the "war on terror" dishonors those killed in this illegal, immoral and just plain wrong conflict.

4) Who still supports George Bush and why?

5) I don't get this point- not sure it's needed

6) Who has America's best interests at heart? Those hard working men and women (union and non-union) that keep the Country going and spend their money in this country or the wealthy that hoard there money and ship jobs over sees and illegal slave labour (illegal immigrants) into this Country?

7) Beyond the shadow of a doubt, the $9 TRILLION debt Republicans ran up proves they are not fiscal conservatives anymore. Our children, grand children and great grand children will suffer from their fiscal irresponsibility.

The rest I like, especially offering Dean's alternative.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

7. why soft sell, aren't there enough leaders in DC doing exactly that?

As for the one where you say "To claim the war in Iraq is part of the 'war on terror' dishonors those killed in this illegal, immoral and just plain wrong conflict."

I'm a Vietnam Vet and I was told we were fighting to preserve the freedoms our fore-fathers died to defend. Swift-boating, like GIVING UP THE 4th AMENDMENT, dishonors us all! I'm winning votes in ALABAMA with a passionate appeal. "If it ain't broken don't fix it," is what my grand-pappy used to say.

on edit: you'd understand number 5 if you lived in Alabama or anywhere that racism thrives. Many racists who hate everything about Bush will vote republican because they hate African Americans more.

[NJmaverick]

9. I wanted to see a more main stream and tighter message

To me it seems like a streatch to tie the Iraq war, war vets and the spygate scandal into one common idea. In many ways they all deserve their own study. So why not say you are a vet that is offended by the stealing of our rights and freedoms? Why not say as a Vet you are offended at the Swift-Boating of fellow vets by chicken hawks?

For number 5 it just doesn't fit in with a laundry list of Republican wrongs. If you want to hit on the racism of the Republican party you might hit on Katrina or some of their other policies. The way you put that point just doesn't make any sense to me, with out further explanation.

Passion is good, and I wish you luck in your campaign. I was just offering some thoughtful ideas that could maybe guide that passion.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

14. oh i know... your good intentions are obvious and thanks

My approach either wins hearts and minds or insults and bruises for me, here in Alabama... but my Vet status is usually my long suit in discussions or debates.

Sometimes simply saying you're a Democrat out registering voters is enough...

One day, as I was signing up unregistered voters in a Housing Project, I knocked on the wrong door. Some fat unshaven white guy answered and when I told him who I was with and why I was there, he pushed me to the ground, ripping my jacket and hurting my elbow.

I just picked my democratic butt up off the ground and went to the next door, with the elbow of my jacket torn out. I've been threatened countless times by the low income whites that our Party serves, even though they don't realize it.

How do you win hearts and minds for the Democrat Party?

[pat_k]

11. *** Peace Protects! *** ***Impeach for Peace and Honor***

To redeem ourselves and restore our honor in the eyes of the world, Americans must unequivocally reject the actions that Bush, Cheney, and their co-conspirators committed in our name. The only way we can get all the crucial players -- Iraq, the Arab league, Russia, France, Britain, etc. -- to the table is to restore legitimate leadership to the United States.

Bush, Rumsfeld, Gonzales, John Yoo and other high-officials conspired to violate, and are continuing to violate, Title 18 section 2441. War crimes. Through actions and words, parties to the crimes acknowledge their consciousness of guilt. They look for cover in their fantastical "theory" of a dictatorial "unitary executive" in America, but their words and actions make it crystal clear that they do not expect those fantasies to hold. (see summary of Jane Mayer's report on Mora's memo, The criminally insane fascist fantasies of John Yoo).

We adopted the relevant international laws in the Federal Criminal Code under Title 18 section 2441, to restore or moral authority theirviolations of international law must be answered in the International Court of Justice at the Hague.

Democrats are lousy at slogans, but here are two we can promote:

Peace Protects

Impeach for Peace and Honor

[Jeffersons Ghost]

18. thanks again Pat: very much

The more ideas people offer here as talking points the better.

Any fool can attack a plan or idea. Pat, however, presents information that will help us win! November is closer than you think. How many voters did you convert today fellow DUers? What can we do tomorrow to insure a legacy of freedom and prosperity for our children?

[pat_k]

19. Thanks for the feedback! (nt)

[Maraya1969]

8. I think you and Nomad should get together and start another thread

with his/her easier to understand and REMEMBER.

I love the 7 trillion dollar debt in NOT fiscally conservative!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

10. It's no longer $7 TRILLION

It's nearly $9 TRILLION now.

[Maraya1969]

13. 9 TRILLION? What comes after a trillion?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

15. hmmm, I don't know, maybe a GAZZILION

We'll ALL know the answer to your question if we don't get these crooks out of office soon.

[TankLV]

20. Don't forget the "3 Brazilions" that were killed recently.

That's a LOT of people!

[AJH032]

16. but Clinton did raise taxes

See the omnibus budget reconciliation act of 1993 (OBRA 93). Raises the top bracket income tax rate, corporate tax rate, eliminates medicare tax cap, raises social security cap. It also cut out some spending programs, primarily military.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

17. I wrote those points as Dean said them live on CNN last week

He used Clinton as the ONLY president in recent history -- A DEMOCRAT -- who balanced the budget. He said by closing loop-holes opened up by Bush, which only benefit gigantic cooperations and ultra-rich tax dodgers, Democrats will balance the budget. Sorry it was unclear and I'm surprised no one mentioned it on the earlier thread. It got a lot of votes... What i'm doing here is laying out the platform Dean says we will win with in upcoming elections. Like Dean, I'm sick of all the liars who say the Democrats offer no ideas or solutions. He is putting these ideas out there whenever he can. Don't you think we should too?