"Blame Game", "Flip-Flop", "Sore Loserman", "Tin-Foil Hat"...

[wakemewhenitsover]

Why do Republican talking points read like playground taunts?

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. Because they are a bunch of bullies

and all they know how to do is to intimidate people with their put downs.

[baby_mouse]

2. Because they aren't smart enough to argue logically

So they have to argue with emotions.

[Selatius]

3. They're easy to remember

The most efficient, effective propaganda is easy to disseminate. Catch phrases and slogans play to the lowest common denominator and are easily absorbed. Contrast that to messages from Democrats that are often more detailed and more nuanced. It's more difficult to articulate a message in a short timespan with Democrats than it is with Republicans.

Above all, repetition of these phrases is key. A lie told often enough warps the perceptions of those who receive it. It becomes truth if one believes in the notion that "perception is reality." Control of the news media is key. The bulk of the information sources in the US is controlled by a few business interests. Their goal is the bottom-line, not necessarily the interests of the people.

[wakemewhenitsover]

9. Are Dems morally opposed to catch-phrase propaganda?

If it's so effective, where's ours?

[Selatius]

20. Because that kind of propaganda is black-white, good/bad in nature

There is no room for gray. In life, we know the world is not cut and dry in nature, not black and white and not just good and bad. Often times, there are gray areas. This kind of propaganda ignores it, and my previous post, if you would believe, is some of the lessons I personally gleamed from the propaganda campaigns of the 3rd Reich in Germany. It was quite effective although crude by modern day standards. Better examples are found today.

For instance, words such as "pro-life" sounds clear-cut in and of itself, but it ignores the reality that many who do claim to be "pro-life" are also "pro-death penalty" and are not above supporting offensive wars, as opposed to purely defensive wars.

However, I would say that if Democrats want to compete with Republicans as far as meme wars go, it would seem the answer is to start doing the same, but Democrats simply failed to develop a foundation, a network of think tanks and institutes to support such a large-scale propaganda campaign.

It took Republicans over three decades of observing, planning, and building to establish their foothold on power, but it wouldn't have been possible had they not also established a base, an operational network of institutes and foundations that pump out valuable information Republicans can use in their PR campaign. The fact that the corporate news media simply echoes their propaganda without much critical analysis has also greatly helped.

It's truly an excellent example of social engineering.

[wakemewhenitsover]

24. This is fascinating. Perhaps you should start a thread...

...regarding the insidious effects of Republican social engineering. There are obviously lessons to be learned. Could such communication techniques be emulated in a conscious, moral way?

[mattclearing]

27. I disagree with your third sentence.

"Safe, legal and rare." "Ask not what your country can do for you." "The buck stops here."

Dems can communicate their message just as easily, but they have to try.

It also helps to have instinctively good communicators.

[wakemewhenitsover]

28. What is a Dem catchphrase from 2000 or 2004? There are none.

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. The media likes "catchy" terms

How many times did we hear/read "flip flop" in the runup to the last election?

These people may be evil, but they ain't no lightweights in the political arena.

[rman]

10. The media's owners like catchy terms,

because it helps depoliticize the populace.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Time to play the "Accountability Game" in it, everyone wins... cuz

the truth is the key to winning.

[cami715]

6. Very limited vocabularies and very small minds

[B Calm]

7. How bout.. There's DIRT Under Every Bush

[I Have A Dream]

29. I *like* it! :o> n/t

[Bluebear]

8. The GOP mind responds to these juvenile catchphrases.

They are wired differently from us.

[Warren Stupidity]

11. because they are trained and effective in propaganda techniques

while our side is busy discussing issues and fairly examining all opinions, they are busy throwing globs of mud, any mud, seeing what sticks, and then piling on to what seems like it is working.

Stop rationally evaluating their bullshit as if it is valid opinion. Resist the psyops/disinformation war they are conducting.

[wakemewhenitsover]

15. Or maybe we need to become mud-wrestlers?

[ThoughtCriminal]

12. Two Words

"Target Audience"

[Donailin]

13. you forgot a few

"working hard," "making progress," "solving problems," "we're problem solvers"

I have a a couple for them: "September 24th" "Impeach Bush" "fictitious president" "stolen election" "Crooks and liars" etc

[wakemewhenitsover]

16. But they don't rhyme...

[zbdent]

14. They must boil their "solutions" down to what could be read on a

bumper sticker on a speeding SUV . . . the level of the comprehension and attention span of the general population . . .

[Claymore]

17. ...

They're a bunch of evil Nazis, that's why.

[SammyWinstonJack]

18. Because they're bullies?

Childish taunts from a group with no real solutions or real ideas for a better society.

[Left_Winger]

19. It is the limit of their intellect

[FreedomAngel82]

21. Because they're bullies?

[SoCalDem]

22. Because life and death issues and campaigns are a GAME

It's all a big "jokey-joke"...Haa-haa aren't they cute?

[alcibiades_mystery]

23. Because they're extremely media savvy and understand the slogan

Say it enough, and it develops a crowd effect. And everybody here insulting the intelligence of this procedure should check the history of the last 4 years to see how very effective it is. You also forgot "up or down vote," another precious gem from the sloganeering collection.

[wakemewhenitsover]

26. How is "up or down vote" used?

[stevedeshazer]

25. The "two-word culture"

Also known as "least common denominator".

[Mein Bush]

30. How about... "Let's kick Bush in the tush!"

Translation: He loses both the house and the senate majorities in '06.

[Flying Dream Blues]

31. You forgot Poland! ... Upordownvote ... Culture of Life...nt

[wakemewhenitsover]

32. Up or down vote? Don't know that one. Fill me in?

[Hardrada]

33. Culture of Life, Family Values, Man of God

CEO administration, Dead or Alive, Old Europe

[wakemewhenitsover]

34. Krugman on catchphrases. Really interesting...

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/09/opinion/09krugman.html?hp