The biggest news of the week

[Truth2Tell]

The most significant development in American politics this week - IMHO - was the response of Congressional Democrats to President Bush's speech following the expiation of the Orwellian "Protect America Act." In short, and at long last, they finally called him out as a "fear monger".

For the first time in seven long long years the strategy of the leadership of our Party seems to have shifted to offense rather than defense. This is huge. One after another, members of the congressional leadership stepped up to the microphone or released statements to the press in an obviously coordinated and head-on assault on Bush's assertion that we would be "less safe" if he didn't get his way on FISA. Partisans in the press and in Democratic leaning independent groups have followed suit. And man is it about time!

Of course George Bush is a fear monger. It's his stock in trade. We all know it here on DU, and many other Americans know it as well. Yet many continue to be afraid, thanks to the effectiveness of the ever present mongering. And the Democrats have in turn - to date - been afraid of those Americans.

The typical Democratic response - oh these seven long years - to Republican accusations that "America will be less secure" if their will is not done - has been to cower and tremble and assure the people that, "oh yes, we want to protect America from the horrible threats too!" And we promise not to leave you "less safe!" And the right wing media fear machine piles on. And the Democrats capitulate. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Not all Democrats have played this game of course - but it's been the tack of most - and certainly of the leadership. The general pattern has been exemplified by the Democrats eagerness to accept Republican framing on the issue of war funding. Rather than stand up for the truth that cutting funds for the war would force troops home and make them, by definition, "more safe," the Democrats have worked inside the Rovian assertion that cutting funding would put the troops at risk. And who wants to put our troops at risk? Not the Democratic leadership - just ask them. And it hasn't just been the war - on almost every issue of national security or civil liberties significance, the Democratic leadership has dutifully lived inside of a Republican issue frame - engulfed in fear.

But the worm turned yesterday - at long last. The change wasn't about policy - although letting the PAA expire was an unprecedented act of chicken-manship on the part of the Democrats - the real change was in presentation. The democrats did not accept the Republican frame. They stepped outside of it and took it on. From the front. Directly. "Fear Mongering" finally called out. Amen.

Let's hope this is a new leaf we are seeing turn here. I think - I hope - it may be. The progressive and Democratic communities in America are not voiceless. Many have shown us how to defend ourselves with honor all along - from Olberman to Kucinich to Jim Dean. It looks like maybe now the whole team will start to fight. The PR guns at the top of the order will finally let loose on the falsehoods in which we have been wrapped since 9-11. If what I saw yesterday was not an aberration, then this is really big news. The beginning of the end of the era of "Booga Booga."

One can hope.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Let's hope so

maybe the primary victories of progressives has awakened some of the Congressional Dems who realize that the people are angry and are doing something about it. Oh, and everyone here can make sure that one progressive voice stays in Congress by donating to the Kucinich Congressional campaign

http://www.kucinich.us

[lazyriver]

2. Right on. Let's hope it's not an aberration but a sign of things

to come.

[Truth2Tell]

13. fingers crossed. nt

[cbayer]

3. I share your hope. It's a very good sign.

I am hopeful that they are feeling emboldened by our strong democratic candidates.

[Psyop Samurai]

4. Yep... If it is NOT an aberration...

...it will have been the shot heard 'round the world.

[Cant trust em]

5. The democrats keep arguing with the GOP straw men

Everyone on DU knows that the way you defeat this argument is not to deal with the straw man, but to knock the straw man down.

[Truth2Tell]

9. Exactly.

BTW, Glenn Greenwald hits on this issue today also, pretty good as usual:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/

[formercia]

6. False Flag terrorist attack in the works

You can bet the boys won't let Congress get away with this.

[ThomWV]

7. If you phone your Representative and tell him/her they did good they will continue to do good

I called mine and thanked them profusely - told them they had done the right thing. Then I sent E-Mails to follow it up, then I called Pelosi's office and repeated the process.

Sing it from the roof tops when they do something right and maybe it will act as an incentive for them to continue to do the right things.

[UpInArms]

8. It didn't take DUers very long to figure out the "be afraid, be very afraid"

line was just a huge bunch of bullshit. I can't believe it has taken this long to get those spineless wimps with a D behind their name to stand up and say it.

[Truth2Tell]

10. It would be interesting to see that beyond 04! nt

[UpInArms]

11. here's the approval rating - I just don't have a graphic with the terra alerts

[Truth2Tell]

12. Thanks! nt