Bart, you wrote,
> "There's a report by a respected think tank (I forget the name, but it their acronym is PIPA (?) "
Right-o Bart (www.bartcop.com):
You're thinking of http://www.pipa.org/,
The Program on International Policy Attitudes
(I couldn't remember the name, only the acronym
also!). They're out of the University of Maryland.
People gotta understand that this pest ain't going
away on its own--we gotta build OUR echo-chamber,
Air America, you, www.buzzflash.com, www.dailyhowler.com,
Krugman, Conason, Palast, Media Matters, all of 'em.
We were able to do some amazing stuff (fact-checking,
debunking, swamping the post-debate polls, etc.)
and (somewhat) hold the "mainstream" (aka compliant,
corporate, conservative) media's feet to the fire.
Just not often or fast or loud enough...THIS
TIME.
AND we're starting from a 51/48 split, as opposed to the 60+/40- that the 1964 Republicans faced.
Oh, hell, now I'm into the full analysis of "what went wrong"....
1. I think Kerry was a fine choice as a candidate. We NEEDED his war record.
BUT,
2. I think you are correct that he didn't fight
back as early, as fast, and as hard as needed, which was why you
and I preferred Clark initially. Unbelieveable
WEEKS went by before a semi-effective response to the Swift Boat Liars.
The responses--to Purple Heart Band-Aids, #1
Liberal, Flip-flopper, et al--were too timid, too tepid, when they needed
to be as in-your-face as the accusation.
And ALWAYS REMEMBER: any accusation not responded to is an accusation ASSUMED TRUE.
His style was too verbose (maybe it's just me,
but it appears only Democratic candidates (including Big Dog)
get hoarse and have to rest their voices on the
campaign trail), as you've repeatedly pointed out, and his
campaign language was (often) not plain-spoken
enough.
3. He gave away/failed to use advantages he had.
A. Yes, I voted for the war--based on the cherry-picked
intelligence GWB showed us.
I've only had ONE position on the war in Iraq--I
TRUSTED GWB to get it right.
Nope, gave those away....
B. Yes, I voted FOR the version of the $87 billion
Iraq appropriation that reduced MILLIONAIRES' tax cuts
to pay for it so our grandkids wouldn't have
to.
Then, I voted AGAINST the version that GWB wanted
that put the bill on our grandkids' backs.
Nope, couldn't say that...
C. Does GWB think the innocent Iraqi civilians
killed by coalition troops go to heaven? I think they do.
No, couldn't ask or say that....
D. Who was FIRED ("held accountable"):
...As a result of the 9/11 attacks?
...Over the rank of Sargeant at Abu Ghraib?
...For writing the memos of how to circumvent
(sorry: "get around") the Geneva Conventions?
...For OUTING a CIA agent, a crime labeled treasonous
by GHWB?
Or, who sent the anthrax?
No couldn't ask those....
E. Debate structure--Bart's already covered that'n....
F. "Play Nice" at Boston DemoCon (which I attended)--you've already covered that'n as well....
WHEN WILL DEMOCRATS LEARN? We're gonna get
creamed IF YOU "PLAY BALL" OR NOT!!
If you don't believe it, ask FORMER Senator Cleland.
Fight = WIN!!
G. "The EVIDENCE that justifies invading Iraq
virtually alone is the SAME evidence that will guarantee
other countries will substantially join us."
H. Plenty more that will come to me and others soon...
4. Democrats gave away/failed to use advantages we had.
A. Should NEVER have confirmed Ashcroft as AG--we
SHOULD have set a tone right there: nope,
that one is <Monty Python mode> RIGHT OUT!
Just like Dole did to (elected) Bill Clinton in
1993 [for y'all that don't remember, the Clinton economic package
--high-income tax increases, middle- and lower-income
tax cuts and a small gasoline tax hike (4.3 cents/gallon)
to reduce the deficit--passed without ONE SINGLE
REPUBLICAN VOTE in either house of Congress. Some honeymoon, eh?].
B. Should have DEMANDED a paper trail and open-sourced
computer code for electronic voting in the
Help America Vote Act (HAVA). Bonus Points
for killing or graduating the Electoral College.
Nope, wait 'til about 2 weeks out for that.
(I think THIS (paper trail, robust and transparent
e-voting) should be Democrats' first fight with a re-anointed GWB.
Senate filibuster until we get it.)
C. Post 9/11: HIGHLIGHT that, pre-9/11 R's
cut intelligence and counter-terrorism in favor of Star Wars/SDI
while D's supported the opposite. "The
Republicans are trying to lock the barn door after the horse is already
out!"
Naw, can't remind everyone of that...
D. Oklahoma and other state Legislative Dems:
Hmmmm, we COULD do this on primary election day and let the bigots
shoot their collective wad there, but no.
I KNOW: Let's COMMIT POLITICAL SUICIDE by
having our BIGGEST POLITICAL ENEMIES come out to vote
on their BIGGEST POLITICAL ISSUE (anti-gay marriage
amendments) on the BIGGEST ELECTION DAY OF OUR LIFETIMES!
Oklahoma Dems denied themselves of their first
female speaker of the state house that way.
E. Let's send the MOST UNPREPARED spokespeople
we have out on the talk show trail!
See countless editions of Bob Somerby's Daily
Howler, e.g. http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh110304.shtml or
http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh080404.shtml
F. Plenty more that will come to me and others soon...
5. American (Corporate, Compliant) Media is in
the bag for Conservatives.
(5-a. And Democrats (appear to) fail to realize
#5.)
Everytime Dems have to debunk some BS charge,
we oughta follow a simple recipe:
A. Say it's a BS charge.
B. Say WHY (with EVIDENCE that) it's a BS charge...in
3 sentences or (preferably) fewer.
C. Flip it around with an attack on the BS charger.
D. Bemoan that the BS charge is distracting from
discussing how to (fill in the blank--grow the economy,
fight the war on terror, reduce unwanted pregnancy,
educate our people, protect the environment,
make us respected in the world...you get the
idea).
E. Take a parting shot at the media for NOT doing
THEIR job and debunking the BS charge in the first place
(or at least asking for evidence).
F. Say, "This is another example of why millions of Americans don't trust (Republican Candidate) or the Corporate-Owned Media."
6. The Compliant, Corporate, Conservative Media
tells only the stories it likes ("scripts") and loves to focus on trivia,
ignoring important stories (esp, if they're <SNL's
Will Forte GWB mode> "hard work").
For an example, see http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh050704.shtml
Well, that's a pretty good list for now. I'm sure you and your loyal fans will improve it.
I believe this was the most important election
of our lifetimes.
I have said repeatedly that those who thought
the R's wanted to repeal The New Deal and The Great Society weren't even
in the right century.
These people want to repeal The Enlightenment
and go back to "this is true because the authority (Bush/God/interchangeable)
sez so".
I honestly believe Bush's election spells the DEATH of the American Democratic Experiment.
Anyone who disagrees will have to convince me
that after four MORE years of...
tax-shifting from wealthy to lower- and middle-class
people,
Enroning the economy (esp. Social Security and
Medicare, for which GWB now claims a mandate),
increasing pollution,
more war (including profiteering, enemy-creation,
and brave/dead Americans),
wastefully and ineffectively fighting the War
on Terra,
Diebold electioneering R&D,
PATRIOT Act sequel(s),
gov't money for private (conservative) religion,
Supreme (and other) Court stacking, and
$50+/barrel crude oil,
etc.,
...we'll be BETTER able to fight this monster.
I don't think taking any of this to heart will
help. I think it's too late.
But I DON'T think it can hurt. And MAYBE
it's not too late....
All the best, Bart, to you, your family, and your fans,
Eddy
STILL a Pillar
P.S. Studs Terkel was right, hope DOES die last....