The lesson from California: Beat the shit out of the GOP

[Zenlitened]

State the facts. State them simply. State them over and over again.

There is nothing unusual about a Republican attacking working people. The wild card was the response of union leaders, who reacted uncharacteristically for liberals by launching a withering counterattack (against Schwarzenegger). The unions understood that corporate news programs would never broadcast facts, so they did it themselves. For months, California television was blanketed with commercials in which gentle nurses and wholesome teachers and earnest firefighters and clean-cut cops politely explained that Arnold is a serial liar who has broken his promise to represent the common citizen.

There was no attempt to travel the high road – just a merciless lowering of public discourse via truthful personal attacks. Keeping in mind that many swing voters find it entirely plausible that the Professor crafted an intercontinental radio transmitter out of discarded coconut shells, the message was kept simple: Arnold lies. As a result of the relentless flogging, Schwarzenegger’s once-lofty approval ratings fell by half.

The California experience provides an invaluable lesson for Democrats nationwide that relates to the contemptible cowardice of “keeping our powder dry”. There is but one surefire way to vanquish conservatives, and that is to beat the shit out of them.

Full editorial at:
http://www.makethemaccountable.com/podvin/more/051109_FeelTheBurn.htm

And a Major tip o' the hat to DUer Zidzi, for posting this in another thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1915717&mesg_id=1915741

[mattclearing]

1. I like this strategy.

More proof that you don't have to lower yourself to win...just state the facts (The Republican in question is a crazy, lying sack of shit), and that should be enough.

[Al-CIAda]

2. Yes sir. eom

:nuke:

[tularetom]

3. Hopefully somebody in the

alphabet soup of national Dem organizations (DNC, DCCC etc) will see that what many of us have been saying has now been validated. I watched this unfold and hoped it would turn out this way but I really wasn't sure until I saw ahnuld on TV a week before the election giving his "I've fucked up and I'm sorry. Please give me another chance" spiel. He ain't gone yet but he's pretty well neutered and I think if they started right now on congressional races by next summer the idea would be firmly planted in most peoples brain - republican = liar.

[Arugula Latte]

4. Pummel them mercilessly

then, when they're on the ground begging for mercy, kick them in the nuts repeatedly.

Sorry, the last five years of Bushco has made me very angry and ballistic!

[Hapameli]

5. Everyone was talking about voting the next day! It was awesome, people

are finally awake!!!! Everyone I talk to nowdays seems to know who the blame lies on. Happy days!

[Sandpiper]

6. Looks like "class warfare" won the day

Wealthy, privileged, Republicans want to enrich themselves and put the screws to the working class.

This isn't playing politics, it's the unvarnished truth. Maybe Ahnuld going down in flames will help our elected Dems to see that.

And let's erase the false distinction between "working class" and "middle class." Unless you are wealthy enough to quit your job tomorrow and live off your own assets, you're a member of the working class.

[Mountainman]

7. Now that the gropenator is turning left let's remind ourselves who owns

him.

There is a power vacuum opening up nationally and in CA. All that's needed us for Dems to present an agenda that addresses the nation's problems.

We can point out what the repukes have done wrong along with offering an alternative plus make the case that the Dem policies are more in line with the goodness that religions teach then the repuke policies of anti abortion and anti gay rights.

[Cha]

8. I was just going to say

"I love that article!" Thanks,Zenlitened but I saw it from someone else last night and just wanted to spread it around today. It's what all the Dems need to do. I hope the dlc is watching!

Here's another one that shows fighting Spirit from California!

"The Woman Behind Arnold's Defeat"

snip~

"Their activism started last November, after Schwarzenegger suspended key portions of the state's nurse-to-patient ratio to help hospital chains. "That really angered us," says DeMoro. But the nurses protested tentatively, almost timidly, until one pivotal day last December.

While the governor addressed a state convention of 10,000 women, a few nurses unfurled a protest banner that read "Hands Off Patient Ratios." Schwarzenegger grinned for the TV cameras, then said: "Pay no attention...to the special interests. I am always kicking their butts."

DeMoro was outraged. "For the Governor to denigrate nurses -- a historically female profession -- while speaking to an audience of women is an affront to women everywhere," she told CNN. Because Schwarzenegger had shut them out of the health-care debate, the nurses decided to take their case to the streets."

Fascinating..
http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=2b2fda7241241ba88cab43b821c1e251

[Zenlitened]

9. That's another great article, thanks!

There are people who actually maintain that anger is something negative, something we should avoid or expunge from ourselves.

I say GET ANGRY.

Anger is a normal human emotion and it's only good or bad depending on what we do with it.

In this case, the nurses and their allies used their anger as a motivating force. They tapped into it and fought the good fight. And they won.

Turning anger... into happiness in victory.

:D