Posted on 06/25/2006 5:43:15 AM PDT by yoe
It sounds as if the Democrats are getting their political message together — by moving towards a message that is less-defensive. One that raises a key concern independent voters have had about the present incarnation of the Republican Party.
First, note this from New York Senator Hillary Clinton: One day after suffering a pair of defeats on the Senate floor, Democratic leaders argued yesterday that their internal divisions over Iraq will help push the country toward a change in policy and accused Republicans of blindly following President Bush on a path that has been disastrous for the nation.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) said Democrats emerged from this week's Senate debate more united than critics contend around a policy aimed at forcing the new Iraqi government to take responsibility for suppressing the insurgency. Party unity is important, she said, but not as valuable as an open debate about how best to change course.
"We're not blindly united like the other side is, where they are like the three monkeys — 'hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil,' " she told reporters after a speech to the Democratic group NDN. "They're not going to say anything negative about the president, the vice president, the secretary of defense or anybody else. I think that's irresponsible. It's negligent."
Clinton's comments reflected Democratic efforts to regroup on Iraq after being thrown on the defensive by Republican charges that they favor a "cut and run" policy of retreat and after seeing competing approaches to the withdrawal of U.S. forces lose badly on the Senate floor.
Is it a concidence that THIS POST by Clinton-confidante, political strategist Paul Begala (who never minces words), appeared earlier on Talking Points Memo Cafe website? Its advice to Democrats reads, in part: The fact is the American people want a new direction in Iraq, and the Democrats offer several. The Republicans, on the other hand, offer nothing more than a four-word strategy: more of the same.
Democrats should seize this moment to attack the rubber-stamp Republicans for their lemming-like devotion to a failed strategy and a set of incompetent and dishonest leaders. Republicans have a faith-based Iraq policy. They have faith in Donald Rumsfeld, they have faith in Dick Cheney, they have faith in George W. Bush. We don’t. They are liars and nincompoops – and the lives of tens of thousands of our best are in their hands.
Every time the GOP says “cut and run,” Democrats should say, “rubber stamp.” Every time they say we’re weak, we should say real strength is standing up to your president and your party when American lives are on the line. When they attack our patriotism, we should challenge them to sign their kids up for the military: “Since when did the sons and daughters of working people corner the market on patriotism, Senator? If this war is so wonderful, so noble, so vital, why the hell is your son throwing up on his date at Ivy League frat parties?”
In short, Democrats can and will win the debate over the war in Iraq not by playing defense (pleading “We’re NOT for cut and run!”) but on offense: the Republican Congress has blindly backed a failed strategy that has left 2,500 Americans dead, 20,000 wounded, and put us $2 trillion in the hole.
Being part of a party that has three or four different new approaches to Iraq beats the hell out of being part of a party that marches in lockstep off a cliff. We've used the word "lockstep" often in our posts on this site. You have to differentiate between GOPers who display an independence of thought (often Libertarians) and those who will jettison previous principles, assertions, and values to get in-line with whatever the new White House line is. It's a BIG concern to independent and centrist voters.
So Begala's post apparently hit on something that Clinton and the Demmies decided was compelling enough to use — unless they have been on the same wavelength all along.
At least when you vote GOP, you know exactly what you're getting vis-a-vis the WOT. With Democrats, it's a toss of the dice.
Did she say this with a straight face?
wasn't she the original monkey who "heard no evil, saw no evil...etc" when a certain ex-Pres of US told us he "did not have sex with that woman, Ms Lewinsky...?". she'd better drop this line of campaigning.
Well...I agree with her here. Dems routinely hear and see evil, then ignore it until it attacks our country. They also routinely speak it with the assistance of the MSM.
A friend of mine who emails me all the time, who is very conservative, but who kept insisting on voting democrat, told me last week that she has switched parties. She said Republicans vote straight "R" across the ballot and democrats don't. So she seems to like the Republican way of voting, that Hillary condemns. Good ole Hildabeast, open mouth - insert foot! LOL
Do I smell rotten eggs?
The Democrat Unity and their plans matches what happens when you throw a watermelon off a 50 story building.
Hillary is now called "WIDE LOAD" !!
"Clinton's comments reflected Democratic efforts to regroup on Iraq after being thrown on the defensive by Republican charges that they favor a "cut and run" policy of retreat and after seeing competing approaches to the withdrawal of U.S. forces lose badly on the Senate floor."
Well Saddam has heard her and other democrats and he says they want HIM back in power. I think they must, they never put him down, they put Bush down.
"If this war is so wonderful, so noble, so vital, why the hell is your son throwing up on his date at Ivy League frat parties?”"
Ahhh, what does this mean? Surely this mental masturbator is not referring to our president. If so, what is his point?
Merriam-Webster: "Spin" --- "We're not blindly united like the other side is..."
"Being part of a party that has three or four different new approaches to Iraq beats the hell out of being part of a party that marches in lockstep off a cliff. "
Hmmmmm, ah name one?
If a DEM accuses you of something they do it themselves. Remove the plank from your eye Hillary.
LOL!!!!!!!! That's a good one!!!!!
Bob Hope
Maybe that we should counter Hillary by pointing out that Republicans don't blindly swallow the president.
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
"If this war is so wonderful, so noble, so vital, why the hell is your son throwing up on his date at Ivy League frat parties?”"
aren't the ivies the pillars, shrines, and altars of the LIBERAL elite?
Meanwhile "W" is quietly drawing the troops down and packing up equipment to ship back. One thing that really irks me is that these goons always rain on our parade. They screw up our election night parties with their fatuous challenges, and they whine through our victory abroad.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.