we've got the power -- we are a MOVEMENT -- here's why (and how)

nashville_brook

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jan-04-05 01:41 PM
Original message

we've got the power -- we are a MOVEMENT -- here's why (and how)

Regardless of what happens in the next couple of days, the toothpaste is out of the tube.

The lack of legitimacy and transparency in the presidential election is spawning a grass roots movement the same way the denial of facilities at UC Berkeley for civil rights activities spawned the Free Speech movement.

We are demanding the proof of the legitimacy of the democratic process. It’s our right as citizens. The probability that another election was stolen has radicalized casual political observers at a time when a whole slew of powerful organizing resources have became available. We sit at our computers and do our *work,* listening to internet streams and satellite radio. We check the message boards. We update our blogs. We plan actions. We network and bitch. Hot damn, ya’ll, we can reach out and activate people remotely -- from the wilderness of Alaska to kitchen tables in Kansas, to board rooms in D.C.

The Election Fraud Movement demands proof of Bush’s legitimacy. That’s all. It’s like getting carded. Remember the first few times you got carded after you turned 21? How you got a little offended. It’s like that. Who knew it was an act of radicalism to demand proper identification? After a few election cycles people will get used to it and even get offended if you DON’T ask for ID.

Not a bad fire to keep burning. Election Fraud reminds everyone that the Republicans are big, smelly hypocrites if Florida 2000, the Ukraine and the Washington governor’s race warrant outrage and Ohio, Florida and New Mexico don’t.

There’s been a lot of ink about a splintering of the Democratic party -- I see the opposite. I see community that is like a like an all-day virtual salon (albeit, with teenagers running in and out from time to time). DU and many other bloggety-haunts, combined with a dew-clawed broadcast scene (including satellite and internet offerings), provides us a base of operations, and some real rising stars. We have a target. We must freeze the target; personalize the target; and polarize the target.

Otherwise unabashedly drunk with power, the Bushitler Brigade is running scared on Election Fraud because they see we’ve established a beach head and planted a flag. There is no way to defend that buying and selling of the vote. There is no way to defend the war in Iraq. There is no way to defend the Theo-Con takeover of our government. We have the the rhetoric. We have the power... the numbers.... and now we have the tools.

And it keeps getting better, with them making one boner after another since November, starting with Bush’s bizarre Napoleon moment -- having “political capital” he intended to spend (because that’s what he does). He’s such an easy target you almost feel sorry for him. Sometimes it’s okay to point and laugh at retards -- especially when the booger-flicking moron has his Cheetos-smeared fingers on the “button.” It makes you angry wondering who is in charge here?

Oh yeah, we are. It’s our country. We are taking it back. Make them prove they are legitimate. Make them prove they aren’t hiding something. To all those who would respond with thread after thread of “give up, it’s hopeless... they own the system... blah blah blah,” why not take some of that energy and pick up the phone and get involved. Dial (877)762-8762 and ask for a senator -- any senator. Think of it as political Crank Yankers. Just do it. It's fun. Maybe you are like me and hate the phone -- write an email.

It won’t be over tomorrow or Thursday are even next weekend. This is only the beginning.

Here's our strengths:
We are bigger than we appear. For every poster here, there's 10, maybe 100 lurkers.

We have the experience. For every political neophyte, there's a mentor right here at your fingertips.

The opposition cannot and will not live up to their own rules leaving the open to ridicule.

The opposition is fat and happy and ANY challenge to their authority easily removes them from their comfort zone, again providing for an opportunity for ridicule. They are so off message right now, flip-flopping on the tsumani; bleeding staff; and putting ot fires as the worm turns in Iraq.

Ridicule is your most effective weapon. Want to do something constructive? Write and send that acidic email or post you've been working on. Make a poster. Bumperstickers.

There's the ability to keep the pressure on way beyond the this week and next. Issues of legitimacy are long-lived. Constant pressure sustains action.

Push a negative hard enough and it will become a positive. We were robbed -- keep pushing it. It's our sharpest weapon.

Cultivate your base of operations. We need places to hang and exchange information. Help keep DU home base. Use the new tools at your disposal. Listen to Sirius. Radio Power. Blogroll. Pick up the phone. Email. See how fun this can be?

The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative. We've got plenty of those. Investigate. Re-vote. Standardize. De-privatize. It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

Who is your BOOGIEMAN? Personalize this. We have established an abstract Boogieman (illegitimacy). Now we have to put a name and face to it. Who's the bastard? You know when you've identified your Boogieman when the opponent sends out their proxies to attack (Coulter, et al.).

Pick the target (legitimacy). Freeze the target (by any means necessary). Personalize the target (Blackwell). Polarize the target (make the Republicans either embrace him or reject him). An enemy properly goaded is our greatest asset.