Comments on: Principles: Not What You Do, But What You Say?

by: The Mahablog » Under the Radar

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 20:50:46 +0000

[…] Remember the GOP motto: It’s not what you do, but what you say, that counts. […]

by: The Mahablog » Facts and Fictions, Part I

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 17:20:31 +0000

[…] About a month ago I wrote a post that started with this quote: Win or lose, the GOP talks about three core principles: less government, lower taxes, and a strong military. It doesn’t matter that, when in charge, Republican politicians have been known to grow government, raise taxes, and stretch the military too thin. Party leaders have decided that less government, lower taxes, and a strong military is what they stand for and what they run on. That’s their story and they’re sticking with it for good reason — because more often that not, it has helped them win. [Bill Scher, Wait! Don’t Move to Canada! (Rodale, 2006), p. 13.] […]

by: The Mahablog » Foley Frolics

Sun, 08 Oct 2006 20:10:20 +0000

[…] This assumes that Republicans have “new ideas and solutions.” The GOP has been dragging essentially the same mummified ideas around since Goldwater — hell, some of those ideas date back to Coolidge, if not McKinley — and the GOP had a clear shot at putting those ideas into practice. And (once again) they failed. But as I said here, if Dems get a shot they had better hustle to show voters that they can provide better government than the GOP, because otherwise the GOP will come roaring back in 2008. And Dems will have to deliver something tangible that voters can see with their own eyes, so that the mighty rightie media machine can’t spin it away. […]

by: maha

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:31:23 +0000

Thanks, Swami! I can always count on you!

by: Swami

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:27:14 +0000

Here ya go, Maha…compliments of Babel Fish..It was Greek to me also.

Νίκαια. Έτσι, βασικά, οι δημοκράτες πρέπει ΝΑ ΠΡΟΣΠΟΙΗΘΟΥΝ να μην είναι ενάντια στον τοίχο στα σύνορα, να μην είναι ενάντια στην αύξηση των φόρων, να μην είναι ενάντια στην ελευθεροποίηση των συναλλαγών, να μην είναι ενάντια στη μεταρρύθμιση των εξουσιοδοτήσεων, για να μην είναι ενάντια στην κατασκόπευση στα ξένα τηλεφωνήματα και τα ηλεκτρονικά ταχυδρομεία, και για να μην είναι ενάντια στην απόσυρση από το Ιράκ έτσι μπορούν να κερδίσουν μια εκλογή για να κάνουν ακριβώς τα πράγματα που ΤΟΥΣ ΛΈΝΕ arent μετάβαση να κάνουν; ΝΙΚΑΙΑ! Δημοκρατία στη δράση! Στο απλό απασχολημένο προλεταριάτο έτσι ελίτ, προοδευτική, διανοούμενοι μπορούμε “να καθοδηγήσουμε” τις μάζες στη σωστή κατεύθυνση - τελικά ξέρουμε ποιος καλύτερος για τους δεξιά; Σημαίνω ότι πήγαμε στο Χάρβαρντ, Princeton, το Μπέρκλευ! και Yale! Αγάπη αυτό!

by: maha

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 23:34:26 +0000

Would someone like to translate #14? It makes no sense.

by: Bill

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 23:07:34 +0000

Nice. So, basically, Democrats have to PRETEND to not be against the wall on the border, not be against raising taxes, not be against free trade, not be against reforming entitlements, not to be against spying on foreign telephone calls and emails, and not to be against withdrawing from Iraq so they can win an election to do just the things they SAY they arent going to do?

NICE! Democracy in action! Lie to the simple minded proletariat so we elite, progressive, intellectuals can “guide” the masses in the correct direction — after all we know what’s better for them right? I mean we went to Harvard, Princeton, Berkeley and Yale! Love it!

by: Swami

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 22:04:04 +0000

Very nicely expressed wisdom, Caroline. I like the way you listed Thomas Paine first…To know Thomas Paine is to know what America is supposed to be.

Where freedom isn’t, there is my country.- Thomas Paine…Makes one think, doesn’t it?

by: MNPundit

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 21:39:25 +0000

It’s simple at least in my view:

Create a Nation where the average citizen is willing and able to take a risk on their own intelligence, tallent and luck (entrepreneurial spirit) because they know that even if they fail, the Democrats have created a society that won’t destroy them if they’re not an instant success.

In other words “I want to make a country where people can chase their dreams without being crushed if you miss.”

That’s what involves better medical care, better security, repealing the tax cuts and patriot act, enforcing environmental regs, reducing wealth disparaty etc.

by: Caroline Usher

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 21:39:12 +0000

Thanks for the compliment, Maha (#9). Just one caution: while thinking deeply about who we are let’s not get lost in the weeds of wonkery or endlessly navel-gaze about which value is the most important (not that you were recommending that).

IMNSHO, the keys to this are Narrative and Plot. We are not defining the policy initiatives here, we are defining the backbone of the message, our story, upon which we can hang any number of policy initiatives. We can argue forever about stuff, what we want to do is define a story line that every Democrat can identify with.

So, Keep It Simple, Stupid. Tell stories, create images that convey our message and make people feel good about America. Call people home to our true values. Johnny Appleseed. Liberty Ships. Lending a neighbor your hose when his house is on fire. . . .