Harold Meyerson's Washington Post
Washington Post article has some insight's on Rove's 06 campaign game plan. This paragraph has a nice ring to it.
Karl Rove and his minions have plumb run out of issues to campaign on. They can't run on the war. They can't run on the economy, where the positive numbers on growth are offset by the largely stagnant numbers on median incomes and the public's growing dread of outsourcing. Immigration may play in various congressional districts, but it's too dicey an issue to nationalize. Even social conservatives may be growing weary of outlawing gay marriage every other November. Nobody's buying the ownership society. Competence? Ethics? You kidding?
So how is this limiting Rove's options for the 06 Campaign and what could it mean for the Democratic Party chances to obtain a majority? Follow me below the fold:
As discussed often on this blog, the Republicans can mount an October surprise attack on Iran. Here is Mr. Meyerson's take on that idea.
They can mount an October surprise attack on Iran, but that would require someone making a convincing public case that Iran poses an imminent threat to us and that preemptive war is the only solution. And who, in the wake of the deceptions with which they justified their war in Iraq, has the credibility to do that? Bush? Cheney? Rumsfeld? These guys have turned themselves into Lucy holding the football, while the American people no longer afford them a Charlie Brown benefit of the doubt.
The other avenue available to them which is being pursued is to convince the American people that it would be bad for them and the country to hold this administration accountable for their past and current actions. Once again, fear is being used to rally not only the base but the entire country to support them. The premise that if the Democratic Party had subpoena power this would unleash an unthinkable disaster. Dear God, somehow this would be as bad if not worst for the country than anything they have ever seen before. Mr. Meyerson questions that strategy too.
As a strategy, this has its shortcomings. It's not clear how many independents, or even conservatives, will warm to a campaign that focuses on forestalling congressional oversight -- not with gas prices soaring and the American military bogged down in a war with an increasingly undefinable mission. Moreover, the Democrats are now, finally, having some success at defining themselves.
How can the Democratic Party effectively use the Republican Party's strategy to win the majority in 06?
I think they need to go after their game plan straight on. They need to tell Americans clearly and repeatedly exactly what the Republicans are doing and why they are doing it.
The Republicans are bankrupt of ideas. In every area they have proven that their way is disastrous for America and it's people. They cannot run on their record so the only fall back position they have is the one they have used in the past. They are trying to use Fear to convince you to overlook their disastrous record.
They want you to fear terrorists rather than implement effective methods to pursue them.
They want you to fear Iran rather than replace saber rattling with effective methods to negotiate a solution.
They want you to fear Congress will exercise their oversight duties rather than admit that they are afraid that Americans will see how they mismanaged and squandered their money on corporate welfare and payoffs to their cronies.
This premise that Republicans are promoting fear because they have no alternative can be broken down into individual segments that discuss Democratic solutions. To be successful, the Democratic spokespersons all need to stay on this theme consistently and repeat it over and over whenever they have a media opportunity.
I would also like them to work into conversations the idea that because they have no workable solutions to the problems that face Americans, Republicans need catchy phrases and sound bites. Sound bites will not improve the lives of Americans only solutions will. The Democratic Party has workable solutions.