Are failing to make headway, because we're pissing on too many fires?

[TheMadMonk]

While replying in another thread about safety regulations, I got to thinking about how the Neocons took over and how we are finding it so difficult to take it back.

The Neocons laid their foundations slowly and carefully one seat/department at a time, preparing for the moment when they could "Go for the lot".

And now we are in the unenviable position of attempting to make everything right. And I'm beginning to think that the way we are going about it is very wrong. O.K. we think we have identified all the major perfidities and the players involves. And it pretty much matches our expectations and predictions of 3, 4, 5 and even six years ago. Yes they are nearly all corrupt. Yes there is bad shit going down right across the board. O.K. Points acknowledged. Now what?

There are fires all around us and we run around like headless chickens pissing on which ever fire is nearest at any given time. And after six years and more of work what have we achieved? Not much except get each other's shoes wet. It's been what? Nearly four years now since George pulled the plug on Osama, moved on Sadam and cried "GAME ON" to America. And it's taken us most of that time simply to get the public to begin to wake up.

We need to take a page or two from the Republican play book. Pick a target. Any target. The lower hanging the fruit the better. And concentrate all resources on regaining control, or at the very least in the hands of an honest opponent. Find the corruption and expose it. Exhume the bodies. Take names, but settle for a handful of lieutenants and patsies.

Now rinse and repeat with the next target. Forget about trying to hang them all collectively right now. That will happen soon enough. For now, simply concentrate on keeping in motion. One dirty secretary and department at a time.

The public is lazy and ignorant (sometimes willfully so) but it is not completely stupid, and one thing that it really excels at is picking a winer (and of course a loser).

Justice would of course be a lovely plum to pluck and one that would make plucking all the others so much easier. But it might not be the best first choice. There are other, easier targets, and if Justice interferes, well its turn will come and its record will speak for itself.

Just as the Neocons had their Pearl Harbour in 9/11 we can create our own moment of "public hysteria" by simply methodically piling one brick om top of another. Eventually even the willfully blind will start tripping over it as they go about their daily business. And hell we already have the beginnings of that awareness happening, let's get some actual victories under our belts to keep the momentum happening.

O.K. when we concentrate our attack they will probably consolidate their defense. Good! A long term goal it to catch the rats, but for now it's good enough that they simply sign the register for us. Their turn will come. For now switch targets and leave just enough investigation happening to keep them engaged. Their game for so long was to make ground wherever the opportunity presented itself, and hold it whilst making gains elsewhere. Now it should be ours.

It's OUR turn now to have THEM running around like headless chooks, looking ineffectual, ridiculous and above all guilty.

And we have two advantages they didn't: Virtually every target is ripe for the picking; and We can operate right out in the open whereas they had to remain at least somewhat under the radar.

But for now at least we have to concentrate on not being too greedy. We spread ourselves too thin trying to cover everything. And we open ourselves up to charges of going on "fishing expeditions".

The EPA and FDA are probably the two best departments to take on early in the piece. They both (the EPA especially) have such potential for the spiking of a lot of spokes by tightening controls and simply returning to the regulations already on the books. And responses to those spikings will help point us to where to push next.

Overall, I suspect that regulatory authorities are the most fertile ground where to dig. Enforcement, even if true justice is not properly served should be our primary goal. Beside dirty judges are just as entitled as anyone else to a place on our shit list. Their turn will come. So long as offenders are made to "do the right thing" we might just have to live with their getting away with a wrist slapping.

Finally when choosing a target, there should be at least one very clear and advantageous benefit to the general public that can be trotted out come polling time.

(edit for fat finger syndrome in title.)

[Mythsaje]

1. Good thinking.

We need some sound strategies and I think that's a good one.

[KT2000]

2. Yes - an overall plan

would be nice.
Someone in charge - Pelosi and Reid - need to direct the efforts.

The thing that is missing and missing from most Democratic endeavors is a strong narrative. Throwing more information at the public is not going to get anywhere - people are saturated.

The Dems need to express outrage - explain what has happened to our country and convince people that we are strong people who can clean up this mess - together.

The repubs have a wonderful story they sell and people buy into it. They paint repubs as superior people and people feel good about that.

[OneBlueSky]

3. all those fires prove that there's virtually nothing that BushCo hasn't fucked up . . .

elections, the war, the federal budget, the environment, you name it . . . never has an administration done so much to screw up so many -- and in only six short years . . .

Impeach the NOW! . . . if we wait, it will be too late . . .

[formercia]

4. Not too many fires

just not enough Beer.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. I could not agree more

We DO need to concentrate on one or just a very few issues. You've said it far better than I did in this thread from just a few days ago: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1549451

Is it the war? The economy? Health care? FISA? Energy? Each of these, and other, uber topics is rife with scores .... hundreds ..... of bad acts and bad actors, any of which, if investigated to their logical conclusion, would result in criminal charges.

But instead, we have our side going a hundred miles an hour in a hundred different directions. The leadership is pressured to do this or do that. In an effort to be responsive to 'the base' they follow this trail and that, each attempt not what 'the base' wants, but what the loudest sub-base du jour seems to want.

I agree with you. Pick something - **any**thing - and go with it. Success will lead to more success.

Right now, we are the very picture of the headless chicken, reacting to Chicken Little.

[ms liberty]

6. excellent points...K&R n/t

[lonestarnot]

7. But what about all the fleas that are carrying the plague?

[TheMadMonk]

8. Kick.