Sigh -- Facts and Truth just aren't enough anymore...

[acroyear]

On the radio today, some commentator was saying how "weak" and "lightweight" the Democratic responces were, particularly because they didn't come from people of "Presidential Stature" compared to Bush (gee, maybe that's because those of Presidential Stature are either already in the campaign and can't give the speech because of election and legal issues, or because they ran for president in the past and are already seen as has-beens like Kennedy).

Well, I realized what is wrong. To that particular commentator's mind, the facts don't matter. The truth doesn't matter. Only emotional appeals matter. Negative campaigns and declarations can't be bothered with the truth; it'll only make it too complex. You can't be harsh against the President without pulling the "not patriotic, doesn't support the troops" label, so you try to just convince by facts and honesty, and then get labeled weak.

So what the hell can we do? Why the hell is this jackass in the White House so unassailable?

Truth is, we need a whip. We need someone willing to be harsh against Bush yet who is NOT a Presidential or Congressional candidate. The Democrats need a spokesperson willing to end their political career for a few years by being harsh against the President and sewing the seeds of distrust and distress, all the while taking the "you're not patriotic because you're saying Bush is Bad" heat so that the real candidates can ride the election without the problems of doing the negative campaign.

Comments

[dglenn.livejournal.com]

Hmm. A few times lately I've been reminded of the function of extremists in social movements, civil rights, etc.; how having some people shouting extreme views makes the moderate crusaders actually look moderate. Without the extremists, the moderates look like extremists because they define one end of the spectrum.

Now I feel foolish for not having seen -- until you pointed it out just now -- that the same applies within conventional mainstream politics such as a session of Congress, or a presidential election campaign.

We need somebody foaming at the mouth -- but somebody with inside-the-Beltway-cred -- to redefine the center by illustrating the extreme. Unfortunately most of the people willing to froth are already perceived as flakes. We need somebody who still has something to lose and is willing to put it on the line.