'Taking On the Chickenhawks' is the

[DemBones DemBones]

title of a column by Ruth Conniff in "The Progressive" and also a description of a strategy Democratic candidates should follow. She discusses the Iraq war veterans who intend to run for office on the Democratic ticket and how they can avoid being "swift-boated."

in this column, Conniff writes:

'Military veterans who speak out strongly against this Administration's wasteful, dishonest, and incompetent war-making policies have the potential to galvanize voters. Witness the excitement stirred up by Representative John Murtha's demand that U.S. troops be withdrawn from their sitting-duck position in Iraq. Murtha's critique of the war let loose an explosion of agreement from a public that has been way ahead of the Democratic Party on this issue for a while.'


<snip>

'It IS possible for Democratic veterans to gain a special edge in the upcoming election. Opposition to the war in Iraq is at 55 percent in the polls. Even voters who chose Bush in the last election are troubled by this President's complicated relationship to the truth, and his cavalier attitude about the safety of U.S. troops. This year's candidates can point to cuts in veteran's benefits, and lack of proper protective gear, and an overall lack of planning in the war, as evidence of the Republicans’ negligence.'


'In a February 9 Pew poll, 50 percent of registered voters said they were planning to vote for Democrats this year, while only 41 percent said they were planning to vote Republican. The time is right for a strong opposition to drive home the message that Americans--including American troops--deserve a better government.'

<snip>

'Even an event like last week's ridiculous Cheney hunting accident is revealing, prompting Senator Chuck Hagel, Republican of Nebraska, to remark that had the Vice President been in the military, he might have learned something about gun safety. Like Murtha, with his reference to Cheney's five draft deferments, Hagel was speaking to a public that understands the sacrifice gap between the troops and the Administration that got us into the mess in Iraq.'

Conniff points out that pollster John Zogby has recently noted that "Democrats are missing a golden opportunity" yet "the Democrats don't seem to be able to catch the wave."

i'm going to send this column to Howard Dean and other leading Democrats, particularly the ones who've been reluctant to criticize the Iraq fiasco. If enough other DUers did the same, it might make a difference. They might, finally, catch the wave.

Read the entire article at

http://progressive.org/mag_rcb022006

and please pass it on!

[wtmusic]

1. "the Democrats don't seem to be able to catch the wave."

Republicans make their own waves. When we get some effin' leaders instead of followers, we'll have half a chance.

[DemBones DemBones]

4. We followers CAN push our supposed leaders to actually lead and

start riding the current waves (there are several besides Iraq.)

After that, they need to learn how to make their own waves. It's long past time for Dems to kick ass,

:kick:

[badgerpup]

2. "...complicated relationship with the truth?"

Jesus H. Christ, the president wouldn't recognize the truth if it passed him on the street,
kicked him in the shins and spit in his face!

'Complicated relationship' my arse...:eyes: :rofl:

[aden_nak]

3. The word "Republican" should never be used without "Chickenhawk".

From here on out. Shore up our language, and then the GOP spends all of THEIR time trying to backtrack without sounding defensive.