by Teh Nutroots | Here's the question that Democrats need to revive for the 2008 campaign:
We're seven and a half years on into a Republican administration. How are you better off?
As all Republican politicians---and their Wall Street masters--- know, a large part of the Republican base consists of gullible people with little grasp of how government works and specifically of how it works for their benefit or too their detriment. They might well be intelligent, but any who are obviously don't believe that any intelligence is required to run the country.
They don't need to convince people that McCain is going to fix problems because the hazy-minded opponents of "big government" don't understand how the problems in government arise in the first place, let alone how to fix them. They just don't care about the issues, even when---if they took time to understand----they'd realize that the Dems have plans for fixing problems that would make their lives easier and better.
BTW, this isn't Obama or Democrats generally being "elitist"---just me. I am an unapologetic elitist, if "elitist" means wanting people in government to be more intelligent than the average person in the street. As an elitist, I say: let's get the smart people working on the pressing issues of the 21st Century so I don't have to. Yeah!
McCain doesn't seem to have many smart people (except on the issue of negative campaigning) or to have realized we're in the 21st Century.
Also: I've lived long enough to notice that Republicans don't like presidents who will actually get things done.
Hence:
"You wouldn’t know that this is such a critical election by watching the convention last night. I know we had our week and so, you know, the Republicans deserve theirs. But it’s been amazing to me to watch. Over the last two nights, if you sit there and you watch it, you’re hearing a lot about John McCain – and he’s got a compelling biography as a POW. You’re hearing an awful lot about me, most of which is not true. What you’re not hearing is a lot about you."
He's right, but of course the Republican "base" won't be listening. They aren't going to vote for the guy who is talking about problems that can be fixed, or at least mitigated. For some, this will boil down to the fact that they don't want to live next door to him. For others, it will boil down to the fact that they believe in the magic of "free" trade, tax cuts, bellicose posturing in the international regime, Christian "values," and all th rest."I mean, you haven’t heard one word about how they’re going to make the health care system work so that if a union’s negotiating with a company, it’s not all just a discussion about higher premiums, and you can actually start talking about higher wages and benefits.
You haven’t heard one word about how we’re going to create more apprenticeship programs like the ones that we have here or give other people a chance to train in new trades. You haven’t heard a word about getting serious about green and alternative energy, the kind of work that is resulting in all the expansion and additional hiring here. You haven’t heard a word about how we’re going to strengthen unions so that working people get a decent stake.
You haven’t heard a word about how we’re going to improve math and science education so that we can hire more engineers to create more products in green technology. You haven’t heard a word about how we’re going to deal with any aspect of the economy that is affecting you and your pocketbook day-to-day. Haven’t heard a word about it. I’m not exaggerating. Literally, two nights, they have not said a word about it. They’ve had a lot to say about me, but they haven’t had anything to say about you. And the thing that I’m insisting on in this election is that we can’t keep playing the same political games we always play." (MoJo)
If they haven't noticed where all that took us during Bush's eight years we need to work harder to bring this to their attention.
In the meantime, the attacks are energizing Dems. Obama's had an infusion of $8 mil. (MoJo) Keep 'em coming, McCain.
More at Memeorandum....
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