The Coming Democrat Counteroffensive

American Thinker ^ | January 20, 2010 | Steve McCann

[neverdem]

The unexpected election of Scott Brown in Massachusetts, driven equally by opposition to the Obama agenda and an inept Democratic candidate, will fuel optimism that Republicans and conservatives will recapture the Congress. However, with ten months to go before the midterm election, this confidence is misplaced and misguided, and it will play into the hands of the Democrat strategists.

Success in taking over the Congress from the entrenched Democrats will require an understanding of their tactics and a unified strategy on the part of all conservatives, libertarians, and independents who recognize why the election is so pivotal. The Democratic machine will pull out all the stops to maintain control of Congress, particularly in light of the Brown victory.

The 2010 midterm elections will be nationalized, and money spent by the Democrats and their allies will be staggering, as will the level of vitriol and mudslinging. Anything and everything must be expected.

The current Democratic leaders will rely on two assumptions: 1) that the electorate, after decades of peace, prosperity, and lack of civic education, is generally ignorant and apathetic towards the machinations in Washington, D.C.; 2) that gerrymandering, skewed election laws, and political financing regulations -- and most importantly, the fragmented nature of the opposition -- will greatly benefit the Democrats. The Left will be confident in the reelection of their own congressmen in sufficient number to maintain control of the levers of power in Washington.

Either rationale stems from one central point: citizen apathy. However slowly, that indifference is beginning to change, as noted by the polls showing a resurgence of conservatism, particularly as reflected by the tea party movement. But a crusade based on emotion and held together only by opposition to single issues cannot succeed in achieving the monumental change necessary to save the country.

At this point in January 2010, the tenuous, multi-faceted coalition that makes up the grassroots resistance to the radical Obama agenda comprises those opposed to illegal immigration, amnesty, excessive government spending, abortion, gay marriage, taxes, gun control, heath care reform, free trade, foreign entanglements, Wall Street, and those who desire to see every Republican politician hanged. Each group expects the other to agree fully with its signature issue.

It is for that reason that the Left treats the conservative movement with such disdain, knowing full well that this coalition has a potential internal time bomb which can explode prior to any major election. All the Democrats have to do is light the fuse.

Everyone is aghast that the Democrats and the liberal media have employed a base and vile vulgarism not only to describe the activities of those who are sincerely concerned for the country's future, but also to denigrate the individuals, their motives, appearance, and social status. This tactic is used because it works.

It works because it distracts from the real issues by fomenting discussions about what is said and forcing a response to an absurd accusation or portrayal. The pundits, politicians, and leaders on the right feel obligated to respond and deny the allegations, thus giving them more credibility and allowing the Left to find ways to make even more outrageous charges, thus perpetuating the cycle.

The Left must personalize every policy disagreement or election by denigrating their opposition, thus steering all conversation away from what is most important: the future of the United States as either a capitalist or socialist country.

A codicil to this strategy is to abet the potential fragmentation of the conservative alliance by falsely accusing an opposition candidate of being less than committed to a particular policy, thus creating an emphasis on the importance of a single issue for one or the other of the myriad groups within the movement. Many within these aggregations are hypersensitive and on constant alert for any perceived slight from their fellow coalition members.

Many have proffered the theory that the Left resorts to name-calling and hyperbole because they cannot defend their socialist and secular philosophy. While it is true that they must resort to emotion to sell their theories to the masses, the political strategy to achieve power is fragmenting the opposition by questioning their motives, accusing them of hypocrisy or criminal and unethical behavior, and by using election laws to skew close elections against them. As long as this strategy works, the Left does not have to defend its philosophical positions.

The only way to defeat the Left is to stop playing by their rules.

First, it must be understood that the enemy we are fighting, the Liberals or the Left, makes up 20% of the country's population. Moderates are 36%, and conservatives are more than 40%.  Based on that breakdown, one might assume that something like 67% of moderates lean to the conservative view. Thus, 64% of the citizenry are potential voters against what is happening in Congress and the White House.

Why does the conservative coalition allow 20% of the people to dictate how or why campaigns are conducted? Why do conservatives still curry favor from the once-mainstream media, who in a marketing death wish choose to appeal to this same 20%? Why, within this alliance, is there so much suspicion among each faction? And lastly, why is it not understood that only by the in-place organization of the Republican Party, under conservative control, can the current tide in Washington be reversed?

Conservatives must discipline themselves to stop being so thin-skinned about what the media, bloggers, and pundits on the Left say about them. These immature and self-righteous blowhards must be ignored and allowed to talk among themselves without any response from anyone on the right. The only response necessary is to correct or rebut immediately and firmly the mistakes and misrepresentations of the once-mainstream media. 

The Tea Party Movement, instead of reveling in its declared independence, should immediately either join forces with or take over the local Republican Party establishment in its respective county or state.

Each person has one political or social issue that is of the highest importance to him.  Regardless of what it is, everyone must now realize that without individual freedom and liberty, plus a limited government -- all of which are now under massive assault by the Obama administration -- it matters little what that issue is. 

In order to overcome the Democrats' misuse of "community organizations" and biased election laws and officials to skew close elections, the members of the conservative coalition must turn out in massive numbers to vote and support one political party.

Everyone must stop the absurd belief that one should vote for the person and not the party. The lesson of the passage of the Health Care Reform Act in Congress should never be forgotten: There is no such thing as a "conservative Democrat" once installed in Congress. There is a major difference between the parties. Conservatives can influence what happens in the Republican Party; they cannot do so in the Democratic Party.

Above all, everyone in the current coalition opposing what is happening in Washington, D.C. must unite behind one theme and put all differences aside. That cause should be this: For future generations, the United States must remain the dominant global economic force able to underwrite being the unrivaled military power in the world. The destructive path the current government in Washington has chosen will relegate our country to long-term economic stagnation and secondary world status.

The upcoming midterm election is one of the most pivotal in history. Despite the current optimism surrounding the outcome of the November 2010 election, the conservative movement will not triumph unless it unites, remains disciplined, and above all, understands and learns from its adversaries.  

The overwhelming and unexpected victory in Massachusetts should not be allowed to lead to complacency or overconfidence. The Democrats and the Obama administration will be more determined than ever to hold on to the power necessary to transform the United States into their image.

[ari-freedom]

don’t forget freddie/fannie
http://www.hud.gov/news/speeches/presremarks.cfm
“And so, therefore, I’ve called — yesterday, I called upon the private sector to help us and help the home buyers. We need more capital in the private markets for first-time, low-income buyers. And I’m proud to report that Fannie Mae has heard the call and, as I understand, it’s about $440 billion over a period of time. They’ve used their influence to create that much capital available for the type of home buyer we’re talking about here. It’s in their charter; it now needs to be implemented. Freddie Mac is interested in helping. I appreciate both of those agencies providing the underpinnings of good capital.”

[Brugmansian]

Yeah...this one wasn’t very effective. Unlike the libertarian who bled just enough votes from Ensign in 1998 to ensure Harry Reid would stay in office.

[highlander_UW]

The Left will be confident in the reelection of their own congressmen in sufficient number to maintain control of the levers of power in Washington.

Of course, because everyone knows that liberals can't be voted out in their well established blue state fortresses. /s

Liberals don't grasp what's going on and yet, ironically, they will claim everyone else is too stupid to know what's good for them and only the "intellectual elite" liberals can think for us.

[rrrod]

Worth noting. Tne conservative tidal wave is actually without a party to speak of and the RATS will do anything.
ANYTHING! So keep your powder dry America.

[RobRoy]

Status quo republicans are no better than democrats. Something new will be required. Something significantly more conservative.

And the financial/cultural catastrophe that 2010 will almost certainly be will help bring them in.

[RobRoy]

The internet has neutered them. Dan Rather may be able to counsel them.

[vlad335]

The author makes a number of essential points. One of the chief among them is to discount the stated viewpoint of any nitwit or Leftist mole who says there’s no difference between the Republican and Democrat Parties.

This is a very common tactic now used by the left to delute the massive corruption thats in our face today. They like to pose as conservative moles on forums and spout, "Throw all the bums out!" Truth is that if the GOP even attempted a fraction of what the Dems are doing the MSN would be shreiking 24/7

There is a great amount of truth in the article posed above. Namely how easily liberals can divide up conservatives on certain pet issues. I see it all the time on a local political forum I participate in. The favorite issues of moles there are gays, guns, immigration, and abortion. (The latter to go after Brown) Sad to say these tactics are highly effective in discrediting republicans who don't line up 100% with these issues but would never the less shrink government and keep it out of our lives.

Inversely my Father in Law is a diehard democrat who is an avid gun collector and a union coal miner all his life. Over 50 guns in his house but he would crawl over broken glass to vote for the dems. It's well known how the left feels about coal and firearms but he will hear none of it. That is what we are up against.

If we are not careful, they will defeat us again. Not by ideas and debate but from within.

[lmr]

The Tea Party movement is a non-hierarchical confederation of many local grassroots groups. It has some basic principles and beliefs that the GOP must gravitate towards or face the prospect of an eventual third party movement.

While I will agree that it's not in the best interest of the Tea-Parties to join RINOs on their terms, I disagree with the notion that somehow RINOS will ask the tea-parties to take over the Republican Party or change their governing philosophy to suit grass-roots Conservatives.

No third parties. A third party would take at least 20 years to build and we don't have the time. It would only fracture the Center-Right coalition and give us nothing but leftist government for the foreseeable future. It would play right into rat hands. That is why those trolls who constantly say that there is no difference between Republicans and Democrats must be repudiated and marginalized. A 3rd Party would destroy any kind of coalition we could create to save our nation. We don't have the luxury of time right now against the Cloward-Piven Alinksy-ites.

What Grass-Roots Conservatives need to do is forcibly take over the Republican Party, as the author suggested, and then pull the moderates into our tent. This is the only coalition that can win and give us a government that is tolerable, at least more so than the OBAMA-nation that we have now. If our tea-parties translate into populist vote for Conservatives in Primaries, this is good, but in any event, our tea-parties have to take it to the next organizational level and that means getting pushy with our influence in the Republican Party.

[Swing_Thought]

The libertarian strategy Tuesday was to attempt to siphon off enough votes from Brown to ensure a Coakley win.

No, that was the Libertarian party strategy, not the libertarian strategy. The Libertarian party is a joke, and libertarians are not monolithic.

The author is correct to point out that the winning coalition is one that includes libertarians. Conservatives committed to free market principles will find that they can attract libertarian voters.

[Brugmansian]

What have libertarians ever done to help the GOP? They ever act as a magnet to draw the party to free market principles? They ever mobilize to get behind such a free market Republican? I’ve never seen anything of note. All I’ve seen is whining about the GOP and supporting LP candidates who bleed votes from the GOP.

[Swing_Thought]

I’m just sayin’ there’s a difference between Libertarian and libertarian. All LPers might be libertarian, but not all libertarians are LPers. Many libertarians support GOPers, but only when there is enough common ground.

Reagan, for example, was popular with many libertarians because he was a defender of the free market. McCain wasn’t popular with libertarians because he never met a problem he didn’t think more government could fix.

The winning coalition is to run GOPers more like Reagan, less like McCain.

[iopscusa]

The ‘Libertarian’ the Southern Avenger is of the Libert’s that always beats on R’s while letting the radical D’s go unscathed.....I call these types ‘Leftytarian’.

[RonDog]

Ping!

We need to fit some of the ideas from this thread into the "RINO Free America" campaign, IMHO.

[Candor7]

We will not be free again as a nation YES FREE!, until we are rid of every last Obama Kool Aid drinking natoionalist socialist Utopian. in Congress.

Until then, we will have to keep guarding our liberties and the US COnstitution. The FIGHT has JUST begun!

The SCOTT that was heard around the world.

Tell Howard DEAN, Vermonts Village Idiot, we are coming for you Obamoids! We will use the ballot box, Howard, and you can thank your lucky stars for that!You would not like the traditional American remedies for tyranny Howie.LOL.

[RoadTest]

“a crusade based on emotion and held together only by opposition to single issues cannot succeed”

The issues moving yesterday’s election were many, not single: the health care takeover, government presumptuousness, over-taxing, destroying the national economy, disgust with Massachusetts socialized medicine, revulsion toward Coakley - maybe even revolt against Barack Hussein Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid - nothing single here.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Everyone is aghast that the Democrats and the liberal media have employed a base and vile vulgarism not only to describe the activities of those who are sincerely concerned for the country's future, but also to denigrate the individuals, their motives, appearance, and social status. This tactic is used because it works.

It didn't work for Coakley. Politics may be evolving.

[kabar]

What Grass-Roots Conservatives need to do is forcibly take over the Republican Party, as the author suggested, and then pull the moderates into our tent.

Forcibly? Easier said than done. The best way to do it is to get involved in the primary process and in the local party hierarchy. You don't forcibly take over a political party.

If our tea-parties translate into populist vote for Conservatives in Primaries, this is good, but in any event, our tea-parties have to take it to the next organizational level and that means getting pushy with our influence in the Republican Party.

You are confusing the Tea Parties with conservatism. There is plenty of common ground, but many in the Tea Party movement are not social conservatives. There are libertarians, independents, and even some Dems. This is a broad based movement that has no real national leadership. It is a grassroots movement that wants to reduce the role of government in our lives and to promote fiscal responsibility so that our children are not saddled with enormous debt. The US is the world's largest debtor nation and we are bankrupt. It is up to the Reps to embrace many of the Tea Party principles so that they represent a true alternative to the Dems and not just be Dem lite.

[bert]

Great thought.

Taken to conclusion, based on attitudes posted on Free Republic, sanctimonious conservatives will flee the Tea Party movement because it is impure.

[kabar]

Precisely. Unfortunately, people are confusing the Tea Party movement with conservatism. The Tea Party is based on some conservative principles, but it is so broad that many members would not “qualify” to be Reps or conservatives. Basically, people are unhappy about the direction of the country and the disconnect between the people and its representatives. The clarion call is, “Do you hear us now?”

[JustPiper]

I think The People have been REAwakened. I want to stay optimistic that they will see through the smoke & mirrors. They have been arses for a year, people want them gone & are hungry now. Pray hard it stays that way! Reid will be gone. My only worry is the progressives in CA. But the rest of the nation wants a Change. They want to show the power does NOT lie within in this admin. I feel the Tea Party is just getting started, so hang on & go for the ride -g-