As the tidal wave of bad news washes over the current administration and seemingly the entire Republican party, I can't help wondering what the media narrative would be if this were happening to us.
Few on this site would argue that Democratic strategists have lagged miles behind the Roveian branding tactics and I have no doubt that if the situation were reversed that their talking points would lead with a simple statement that encapsulates all the current problems and paints with such a broad stroke that it is easy to remember and hard for all in the party to escape from (Cut and Run; Flip-Flopper). It would then be blasted across all media with a relentlessness that makes the drip of the "water torture" seem preferable.
Well it works, and now it's our turn, and so I am issuing....
TODAY'S TALKING POINT:
The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED.
This is what I want to here coming from the mouths of Democrats across the country:
The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED to protect our children.
The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED to tell us the truth.
The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED to take responsibility or admit they have made any mistakes.
The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED to lead.
The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED to fire people who fail in their jobs.
The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED to put ethics over power.
The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED not to bomb Iran.
The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED to do the right thing.
I want to hear:
Wes Clark saying: The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED to plan a war.
Barack Obama: The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED to protect our Constitution.
John Edwards: The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED to heal our country.
Hillary Clinton: The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED to teach our children.
Howard Dean: The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED to do almost anything right.
On Rush I want to hear callers saying: "But isn't it clearer now than ever that the Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED to protect out way of life?"
Al Franken: The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED to know what the heck trust means.
I want to hear Brian Williams and Lou Dobbs saying: The question on everyone's lips these days seems to be: "Can the Republicans be trusted to run this country?"
I want to read an article in The New York Times that says: This election may turn on one of the most basic of issues... trust.
I want Zogby and Survey USA to start polling "Who do you trust more?"
And in the one area of media that we have the most say in - The Blogs - I want all of you to stand up like Howard Beale and repeat it ad nauseum:
The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED.
Finally, a special note to Keith Olbermann... please do another of your special commentaries on why The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED.
So start talking, keep saying it and they will not be able to escape the truth:
The Republicans CAN'T BE TRUSTED.