New Talking Point: "Democrats WANT a government shutdown." "They will be to blame." (FOX NEWS)

[skip fox]

Fox is running with this and it bodes ill for the country. I have heard it in interviews a dozen times in the half hour or so I have sporadically tuned into Fox over the past day. It's alive and thrashing!

Meaning: House Republicans plan on not voting for an extension. They will allow a government shutdown.

Purpose of Talking Point: To frame the blame-game before the vote in order to avoid the 1994 blacklash.

What We Need: Information to counter their dis-information, to clarify who really is shutting down the government. Maybe counter talking points, but better, simply good informant ion to the effect that the Republicans are voting not to extend the temporary budget, whereas the Democrats are voting to extend it. (It is surprising how many Americans do not know the basic mechanism of the possible extension and will swallow the Republicans' line.)

What We Don't Need: More statements by Howard Dean or Chuck Schumer which can easily be taken out of context by Fox and Fiends.

[kentuck]

1. All spending bills must originate in the House.

Not the Senate. The ball is in Boehner's court.

[gateley]

2. Schumer had it right -- we need a talking point and need to keep repeating it

at nauseam, as the Republicans always do.

Thom Hartmann played a compilation of Rep after Rep saying "we don't want a government shutdown" no matter what else they were saying. That phrase is what will stick in peoples' heads. We are dismal failures at hammering our points home. I honestly don't understand why we don't learn from the Masters.

[Dawson Leery]

3. Democrats need their own talking points on this.

All spending bills originate in the US House which is UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!

[vroomvroom]

4. Good Luck with that. nt

[skip fox]

5. A vote against budget extension is a vote for shutdown!

Maybe as simple as that. Short, informative, and to the point. And you cannot argue with it since it is factual.

(And we don't need to twist anything anyone has said.)

A vote against budget extension is a vote for shutdown!

[skip fox]

6. It's also interesting that Fox has stopped referring to Gingrich and Rove

saying that a government shutdown might be beneficial politically.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Heard that Fox can lie legally. That seems to be the problem!

[Arkana]

8. Teabagger popularity is already at an all time low

and John Boehner's shameless pleading with Blue Dogs and other conservadems to help him out has already cast the teatards in the villain's role.

It's done. Iacta alea est.