Very well said.
Our side will REALLY start picking up steam when we (including this woman) start framing the reference in terms of winning. Sadly, when she says, "I will not retreat, I will not surrender," she is framing the reference in terms of losing, fear of losing, the consequences of losing.
Non-political example of how the power of words are crucial: "I will not think about shoes! I will not yearn for more shoes!" are words are guaran-damn-teed to make a person think about shoes and entertain the notion of yearning for more shoes, in spite of the express intent NOT to. In language, a negative suggestion/instruction is NECESSARILY counter-productive because that is how language works. When the mind reads/hears a verb or noun, it AUTOMATICALLY visualizes the action or thing the word describes, instructions "not" to do so completely wasted.
Better to say: "I will think about increasing my bank account! I will yearn for wise priorities in spending my money!"
Those are words guaran-damn-teed to make a person STOP thinking about shoes.
In her declaration, "Retreat" and "Surrender" are what register in the mental picture. I like YOUR post, uncitizen, because you talk about what TO do -- "stand firm against this tyrannical government."
Conservatives need to get into the habit of framing their goals in the terms of success -- "retreating" is for losers; ADVANCE is the winner's term. "Surrender" is for losers; KEEP is for winners, PERSIST is for winners, STAND FIRM is for winners.
Language is a whole helluva lot more powerful than most people are aware, because words ALWAYS provoke a mental visualization. Choose words carefully to inspire the visualization you want; when you choose words that inspire the visualization of what you don't want -- it's like saying, "Don't think about shoes." Counteractive.
she needs to be in charge of investigations of the WH
I agree. Words have power so we much choose our words carefully.