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In this morning's Abbreviated Pundit Roundup, DemFromCT links to and quotes from Michael Gerson's column in today's Washington Post and summarizes it thusly:
"I've been wrong about a tremendous number of things, come to think of it. Luckily, I'm a pundit now, so no one keeps track. Anyway, if Obama pulls this stuff off, Republicans are screwed."
Well, DemFromCT said more in that than perhaps he realizes.
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DemFromCT's last sentence is worth repeating, and highlighting:
"Anyway, if Obama pulls this stuff off, Republicans are screwed."
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This sums It All up and it explains why Capitol Hill Republicans will fight Obama like trapped, wild animals: it's "do or die" for the Republican Party. There will be no "Kumbaya" coming from the likes of Mitch McConnell, Jeff Sessions, or John Boehner. None.
So, we know what the other side's going to do. We've "read their book". What will Capitol Hill Democrats, in tandem with the Obama Administration, do?
First of all, what they should do is not react; they should strike first. I know that this goes against All Things Democratic Party on the DNA level, but it should at least be attempted. And what is that "first strike"? For starters it's framing the Economic Stimulus Package in terms of Patriotism and National Security and Rescuing People who are on the knife's edge or tumbling into the abyss of disaster.
Patriotism: putting our great country back to work to once again show the world what bold, optimistic and hard working Americans can do, and will do. The Republicans, if they so wish, can try and drag-down the United States for their own selfish and petty reasons, but our Can Do spirit is stronger than the craven whims of small, pouty men.
National Security: an economically humming America is a strong America. An America in the doldrums and mess left by the Bush Administration is a hobbled and rudderless America, appearing weaker and more vulnerable to those who would wish us harm and emboldening to those who would love to see us fail. The Republicans, if they so wish, can try and drag-down the United States for their own selfish and petty reasons, but our Can Do spirit is stronger than the craven whims of small, pouty men.
Rescuing People: our country as a whole has been walloped by Hurricane Bush and his asleep-at-the-wheel, directionless, incompetency for at least the past 12 months (many of us would say since January 2001). Now the flood waters of economic calamity are steadily rising. The Obama Administration and Capitol Hill Dems are on the way to pull us all off of our "rooftops" and place us back on firm and solid ground. The Republicans, if they so wish, can try and drag-down the United States for their own selfish and petty reasons, but our Can Do spirit is stronger than the craven whims of small, pouty men.
In sum: these themes and memes need to be developed and put forth far and wide . . . now. Democrats need to get ahead of the curve (for once).
Second, when Mitch McConnell, Jeff Sessions, John Cornyn, John Boehner, Wall Street Journal, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh (and all the Hate Radio Rush Wannabes), et mal -- nihilists all -- begin the attacks, Dems should continue to worry at their political jugulars by drowning out their Noise Machine by repeating, with high-volume, strident confidence the themes outlined above.
We're talking Do or Die for the GOP.
Again, If Obama succeeds, then the GOP is done for, for at least a generation. Those are the stakes to the GOP and it will sacrifice this Nation in order to have a shot at regaining power within it. The GOP would rather captain a burning hulk of a nation, adrift and taking on water, than swab the decks on a luxury liner.
It's their way.
As for virtually all other Obama Administrative initiatives, from fighting Global Warming to meaningful and substantive Health Care Reform to Judicial Appointments, etc., well, the plan outlined above, tweaked here or there as needed, is also the one to follow. Of course, with milquetoasts like Reid and ditherers like Pelosi and backstabbers like Feinstein in "leadership" (what a joke) positions on Capitol Hill, the jury's out on whether they'll "take 'Yes' for an answer", when it comes to succeeding and putting a stake in the heart of the GOP.
UPDATE: I never actually did a "Thank you" to DemFromCT for providing that one line that was the catalyst for this. So . . . Thanks.
bg
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