That's the crux right there. And they own that game right now. Clinton could do that pretty well, but in the current climate, intellect and erudition equals snobbishness or elitism. Kerry had to dumb his shit way down, and it didn't matter. I knew he was doomed when he referred to Bush's "Orwellian" double-speak in a debate. Same reason why country music is so big.

I have this saved somewhere in my files. And she is right.

Druucifer -- polls can tell you anything and nothing, but it is kind of telling you believe the ones that illustrate what you like, and disbelieve the ones that illustrate what you don't like.

eh, you got me on that, good point. i would think there's been more extensive polling on abortion that has asked the question in a lot of different ways (which in my mind tends to make it a little more valid) than there has been on evolution, if only because abortion has remained a hot button issue for years while evolution comes and goes. and the abortion question that tends to get asked ("should abortion be legal", "should roe v. wade be overturned", etc.) is a little more germane to a policy debate than "do you believe in evolution" (as opposed to say "should evolution be taught in schools," "should intelligent design be taught," etc.) and the fact that schoolboards that try to take evolution out of science classes or take some symbolic pro-creationist stance tend to get booted out of office at the first available opportunity gives the idea that teaching creationism in schools is not a popular policy a little more creedence.

That's true. But I can GUARANTEE that "Intelligent Design" has been polled and focused group like almost no other issue. Because the way they present it is so simplistic, it is hard to argue against. And they love that shit. They want the Democrats to have a nuanced response instead of a gut response, because they have whittled the debate to THOUGHT = STUPIDITY, and so if you think about anything, you are a wishy-washy, no core values LIBRUL!!

(LIKE ME)

very very true. damnit, having somebody on the board who actually works in politics makes it hard to pass off my semi-informed rants as wisdom. curse you loogar!

sensei for Obner president.

I just want to say that Sensei has inspired me. I would like to have children in the future but maintaining my fertility gives a rapist perfect opportunity to impregnant me. So as to avoid risking the life of an unborn child created in an act of violence and hate I think I will have my tubes tied and forgo children altogether.

thank you, I have seen the light. It was that simple!

Being profane, slanderous, and inflammatory surely wins the hearts and minds of the American people. It sure helped the Dems win in '04.

In all candor, what are the Dems saying and doing to make the people of the USA feel proud to be American?

I rest my case.

If I'm being misleading, I'm not. I want Dems back in power.

But they have to get beyond the forty-year-old playbook they've been using.
And they call themselves "progressives"? They need to change their modus operendai.

By saying can 'do things better and smarter' than the current administration, but don't say how they'll do it 'better and smarter' doesn't cut it. Kerry said that all through '04, and where did that get him?

Hillary should stop trying to pretend to be a 'moderate' just to win the red states. She's as Marxist/Socialist as they come. People with two brain cells to rub together can see through that act.

Time to wake up Dems.

You want to win for a change?

Can dems seriously win in the arena of ideas?

Can they win without being inflammatory and mischaracterizing Republicans?

Is that what a government is supposed to do for us? Make us proud? What is that, a Toby Keith song? I've never been less proud to be an Ameican.

And while we're Bible-thumpin' around here:

"By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well advised is wisdom."
- Proverbs 13:10

But that's probably bullshit anyway.

nice, i've always found it ironic how Christianity and patriotism seem to go hand in hand when patriotism is inherently anti-christian in multiple ways.

If Dems aren't sympathetic to the terrorists, why do they want to undermine the president and his war on terror.

Tell me this, doing away with the Patriot Act doesn't make things easier for the terrorists.

What's "smarter" and "better" about that?

now this i agree with.
kerry said, "i have a better plan" about a million times but never explained it.

I used to care and everything.

Damn if Bush hasn't whacked out my enthusiasm for whipping up a decent venomous argument.

But, as LooGAR says, thought = stupid. When reason and accountability are scoffed at and when the democratic process is viewed as a hindrance to the execution of democracy, I just give up.

Which I'll continue to do until the next election.

That's the black/white mindset again. Questioning your president does not align you with your enemies. And the Patriot Act was overwhelmingly approved in the shaky wake of 9/11. Tweaking portions and deliberating on the extent of the president's power does not constitute "doing away with it." It's a useful way to appeal to the masses, but do you actually believe that nonsense?

Arg. I've got too much to do, so I'm off. Good day to you, sir. [/tips hat]

Now remember, I am not a republican.

But for goodness sake, do you honestly believe that the democrats have a more positive record of "accountability"?

Thought and reason go hand in hand. Yet the democratic party is just as guilty of acting irrationally and contradictory to any set of principles that will benefit the country besides self-serving agendas.

And to allign oneself with the idea that Democrats are well-read and intelligent and republicans are country boys and idiots is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. Just because you have read James Joyce doesn't mean you understood him. Just because you may understand James Joyce doesn't mean you are wise. Intelligence is defined by what in this country today? The amount of education you have? Or how good your grades are? "An excellent education" is drastiaclly different than wisdom. And I don't think wisdom is the same as intelligence. Wisdom is the ability to practically apply logic and reason and thought into everyday life. I really don't see how or when the democrats ever fit that bill in the past 20 years. THe whole political system is a shitstorm of celebrity, money laundering, and deceit. I don't trust a single one of them.

And don't blame Bush for your apathy. He certainly didn't change his tune a whole lot when he was running for office. Blame the voters. And don't you worry your little heart because the democrats have their chance in '08 to prove how awesome and totally radical they are and can fuck up the country for the following 4 years.

the republicans have failed, pure and simple. even though the dems are not ideal for someone like me, I gotta stick with em.

tax and spend is a lot better than drop tax and spend more.

i reiterate, shut the f up, retard.

I think "sensei" is a Democrat in the same way that Zell Miller is a Democrat. Maybe a little less angry but certainly equivalent in the "bat shit crazy" department.

I'm not a Democrat. You certainly garnered a lot of supposition there.
I'm not apathetic. I'm flabbergasted, horrified and beaten down by a highly effective and ballsy administration that's managed to scoff off nearly all attempts to have itself checked and that's succeeded in using terror and tragedy to secure far too much power.

When I say I used to care, I'm being facetious. I care very much. But bitching and moaning has done no good whatsoever.

As for the Republican party, Bush is not eternal. There are more Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe out there and the party will not always be the way it is now.

Anyway, I do care. My post was a flippant way of saying Bush has won again and again and again, when again and again and again I believe him to be a lying sack of puss.

... Is this guy serious? Are you guys actually taking the bait and responding here?


why?

Sir, you are transparent, both in the flimsy structure of your arguments, and in the attempt to portray yourself as one who would want Democrats to win.

What Democrats must do is become democrats. Not shy away from "the greatest good for the greatest number." Point out that our fate has fallen into the hands of robber barons and plutocrats. Present clear information about the reduced economic circumstance of most Americans, 48 million Americans without healthcare, the great personal cost of globallized market techno-capitalism. They need to not pull punches. They need to make Americans vote in their own self interest.

They also need to appeal to the American mythos of fair play and compassion. Helping those who get a raw deal. They need to make these arguments from a moral perspective, reclaiming morality from the box-store evangelicals and the Opus Dei catholics. When Obama said "we in the blue states worship an awesome God..." that began a journey that will end with a Democratic president in 2008. The goofy governor of Virginia won the Stat of the Union competition for any of the 6 percent of Americans who sway the country from progressive to rightist presidents.

I've got the idea that Hillary isn't the person to make these arguments... I think Gore has the moral cojones, and actually the moral commitment to move his party back into power.

It's about morality. That is what will work for Democrats, and that is what matters.

I don't know who this Tom Dimaco is, but but who says great minds don't think alike?!

"just pisses me off when elements of the republican machine try to act as though they have the market cornered on down-home, folksy wisdom when in reality they (sometimes) advocate rather extreme, unpopular policies."

"Unpopular" and "extreme"? Who's in power and who's not?!

The Democratic base has some of the most vitriolic and radical kooks there is.

They've hijacked the DNC, essentially.

Let's see if their "popular" and "moderate" views will win the upcoming elections.

Since when is the DNC as pure as the wind-driven snow.

Obviously not many of you care that the DNC has become a joke.
They couldn't even capitalize on all that was going against Bush up through the '04 election.

Just wait and see, you'll see someone to break away from the Dems in '08 and run as a third party canidate (did Ralph Nader ever pose a serious threat to the Republicans?).

let's talk about it.