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there is a right-wing system of think tanks feeding their political network with talking point memos each day, and I specifically recall Heritage Foundation and AEI mentioned as having the boiler rooms doing that work. One of Bush's people admitted that they received the memos (I think by email) every day, and they were also sent to Repug CongressCritters and key editors at Faux News, Limbaugh, etc.
This allows their leadership and the right-wing machine to keep all the rubes (including the Repug press) singing off the same page, and that's why we hear the same arguments repeated over and over, almost verbatim. That seems to apply both to policy ideas and to attack strategies against Democrats.
They realized they would have to do that because after all the populist know-nothing Repugs that were elected during the Nixon and Reagan revolts, those guys would be saying off-the-cuff bullshit to the press and the party would look like a train wreck.
Not sure whose bright idea this was, but it must have came about via some summit meetings between some very powerful people, probably going back to the Nixon years and the thinking of Lee Atwater. In reality, it has become the glue that holds the "vast right-wing conspiracy" together mentioned in the 90s by Bill Clinton.
Sorry, but when I hear that phrase, I always think of the Repug system of passing talking points around in their big bullshit bubble, LOL. I would hope that DU is and always will be a forum open to all ideas friendly to Democrats across the spectrum.
One big problem in our society today is the "us vs them" and defensive posture mindset that has become pervasive in so many everyday folks. The right-wing media complex has done this horrible thing to us. When in this mode, one has to compartmentalize everyone into sub-groups and everyone has to wear a damned label, LOL.
What we need is more old-fashioned "ladies and gentlemen" open-minded debate. Any idea - good or bad - is just that and nothing else, and no one owns any idea or thought.
One of my personal hang-ups is that I struggle when there's a discussion that's completely one-sided. I have an irresistible habit of tossing an opposing view (or two) into the ring to make it interesting. That does not mean that I support that view, it's just that I feel a discussion should include a wide range of thinking to be meaningful. That process does piss some folks off, though.
Years ago, some sources wrongly attributed it to Bill, although it was discussed in some interviews with him. Apparently, it arose from the results of a 1995 research paper on the multiple conspiracies surrounding the Clintons, and then Hillary used it first in an interview.
I found this statement interesting from the Wiki:
(snip)
It (the paper) described how online conservative media outlets such as The American Spectator spread conspiracy theories about the suicide of Vince Foster, the Whitewater controversy, and other events. According to the memo, these conspiracies spread from conservative think tanks to British tabloids, and then to the mainstream press.
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That would suggest that Rupert Murdoch had his fingers in our political process via his tabloids even prior to Faux News coming to air.
Stop it!
It reminds me of the time that someone around here got upset because I used the waving smilie
at the end of my posts. At the time, that person (I forget who) said that the waving smilie was offensive and dismissive, and they were insulted by it. Weird, huh?
When you defend your arguments with "well, others feel the same way" ... that tells me you're coming-in from a position of weakness (if that's the BEST defense you can come up with to explain, justify or validate your ideas.)
It reminds me of Homer's reply to Marge when she says:
Marge: "Welcome Home, Homie! How was work?"
Homer: "And just WHAT do you mean by that? I wasn't at Moe's if that's what you're thinking!"
Oh, Homer! I love that show! He cracks me up every time!
Rather than criticize the people who are actually doing it.
Not just campaigning. If you feel you have so much to contribute that you should be one of the leaders, since those in that position now are "too close to the corporations" or "don't have a positive program" or "don't talk about class or things like that" the solution is that you do it and rise in the party. They are not going to read DU posts and realize the error of their ways. They think they need to do the things they do - that is why they do them.
... and who find subtle backhanded ways to do so themselves. It's all claptrap and they repeat it continuously with all the depth and understanding of a parrot.
You know, though... as frustrating as it can be, I'm glad to see that others are seeing the same thing that I do, and that others are finding ways to call it out and label it for what it actually is.
This was already explained to you in another thread. Why start a new thread to continue an ongoing bickerfest? Besides, it looks like you already lost that little side argument anyway... so what good purpose does it serve to resurrect it here?
We're smarter than you think we are. I should let you know that people who play this "who me" and "I don't understand" game, will always lose. All I'm trying to say is that people are fed up with the backhanded attacks and smears on Democrats.
