David Frum’s summarizes what he believes is each side’s message in 2012
I have a longstanding theory that every campaign has a secret message, a 1-sentence summary of its offer to voters, for good or ill. These messages lurk beneath the formal slogans. They constitute the reality of the campaign.
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The Democratic message is shaping up as: “The Republicans/the Fed/the Europeans wrecked the recovery, and we weren’t smart enough or tough enough to stop them. Vote us.”
The Republican message: “Obama could not fix the mess we made. Vote us.”.
It’s usually presumptuous to believe that one can explain complex matters by twittering them down to bite-sized statements. While they may satisfy the least informed in society, there is usually more to a story than could be fully told by a single statement. That said, they do serve a purpose. If accurate, they can peel away the rhetoric and layers of spin to reveal an underlying truth.
In the case of Frum’s interpretation of Republican’s “secret message”, it’s bang on although I don’t think there’s anything secretive about it. To anyone but a hardcore, Kool-Aid drinking Fox believer, the right-wing’s intent has been obvious since day one of Obama’s presidency. After Bush’s unnecessary trillion dollar war and the sinking of the economy with irresponsible tax cuts to the rich, and further deregulation of the financial sector, Republicans game plan was to put the blame on Obama. Furthermore, they ensured that economic recovery would be slow and painful by blocking as best they could every measure taken by the Obama administration to stimulate the economy and create jobs. There was nothing subtle or secretive in their tactics. They understood early on that a one term Obama presidency could only be possible if they were able to hinder a thriving, growing economy from becoming a reality.
This is clear.
As for Frum’s Democratic message, much of it is true but it ignores the simple fact that when a political party with a formidable spin machine at their disposal can use a mere 41 senators to block any legislation put forth by the party in power, getting anything out of Congress is near impossible. Unbridled obstructionism and a total unwillingness to compromise are powerful tools. Republicans have used them well…to the detriment of an entire nation.
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Ir frightens me to my core to think what a Romney administration will do to finish off what is remaining in our society.
I agree totally with Sydney, I wish Obama had been able to accomplish more and perhaps, if he had had an ounce of cooperation from the republicans, he would have. He is still our best option and Mittens, if he were elected, would be a disaster from which we would possibly never recover.
I so agree. Charlie, if memory serves, you live in TN? Just got this email from BlackBoxVoting.org:
Permission to excerpt or reprint granted, with link to:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/8/82106.html
The mysterious disappearance of voting histories for 488 registered voters in Shelby County, discovered by Black Box Voting, attracted much attention and has been referred to the US Dept. of Justice for investigation by US Rep. Steve Cohen.
Two important new developments:
1) An internal analysis conducted by the Tennessee Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee’s voter protection team has found that more than 11,000 voters statewide, who are still active on the voter file, have had parts of their voting history disappear.
2) In new investigative research by BLACK BOX VOTING, examining what actually happens to voters wrongfully classified as “inactive”, it was found that 35 percent of these were actually purged (cancelled from the voter rolls).
…more at the link.
Thanks for the information Diana, yes I live in Nashville, Tennessee and it is interesting to note that Shelby County (Memphis) has a population that is 52.1% black according to the 2010 census. I wonder how many of them are democrats and how many republicans?
It should not come as a surprise that the GOP is a Fascist organization and are using Fascist tried and true ideas to purge voters or to control voting machines to alter results,and to keep the populous dumb down they also use their huge wealth to propagandize the media to keep the truth out of the news.The Supremes and some members of congress are either to stupid to realize that they are Fascist and not American Patriots or else they don’t care and just want to share in the spoils. “But Don’t Worry Darlings Things Will Get Worse”
What a sad state of affairs — I don’t even see much enthusiasm from the Republicans for their nominee, and as for the President — its a little hard to move forward when the obstructionists keep the brakes on, all the while blaming him for the economic stall. Romney scares the hell out of me — he has everything a person could possibly want except power and prestige. He doesn’t really care about you and me and getting this country moving again, the way I see it he’s in this for his own personal agenda. Meanwhile our economic recovery continues to flounder.
This would be their chance to finish off what they started 30 years ago. They would be in the position to completely dismantle any aspect of public service and privatize it for profit. Schools, police, fire dept. social security, Medicare, Medicaid. Then deregulating the financial industry and the EPA and they will just about have their job done. A few little tweaks, disband the minimum wage laws, child labor laws, make higher education out of reach so that the only option will be military service ( after all that is what Sheldon adelson is paying for….war with Iran). Then they can repeal the law that regean put in place requiring hospitals to treat everyone regardless of ability to pay. I believe that Karl rove once stated his goal was one party rule……forever.
Sounds like a horror movie….coming to a theater near you.