To the KERRY CAMPAIGN: THE BUSH “PATTERN” OF THE DAY

[Gloria]

KERRY CAMPAIGN: THE BUSH “PATTERN” OF THE DAY

There’s plenty to go after Bush with, but so far, there’s been no memorable “sound bite” that gives the Kerry campaign any traction in the minds of the apathetic and lazy public.

Why not create a simple overarching “theme” that can be linked to almost everything that Bush has done or will do? To accomplish this goal, the campaign needs a HOOK. After some thought, the HOOK WORD that seems most useful is the word “PATTERN”. Every day, a theme can be woven around the word PATTERN, easily and starkly.

Why the word PATTERN? Well, it hints at the past, the future, augments the negativity of many words, and if hammered repetitively, becomes a negative on it’s own. The words that can be used can represent “shades of gray” (i.e., deceit and liars), but that’s OK since people respond to different levels of intensity, so the repetition won’t hurt.

This campaign is being fought on Bush’s turf: Fear and avoidance of issues. Fear of terror, fear of taking away your guns, fear of weakness, you name it, it’s all about FEAR. It’s strictly based on stirring voters at the EMOTIONAL level, not the rational, issue-oriented level.

So, it’s necessary to start hammering—NOW—at the underpinnings of Bush’s hold on the American psyche, by injecting doubts about Bush via his own PATTERNS of behavior and the PATTERNS of his policies.

If we don’t do this…we lose.

Word List to use: pick a few key words or use a different one every day. ADD MORE IF YOU HAVE BETTER ONES!
But use them! And off the phrase that’s created, build your argument of the day against BUSH!!

George Bush shows a PATTERN OF…:


1) distraction/diversion
2) deception
3) lies
4) denial
5) avoidance
6) secrecy
7) bait and switch
8) flim flaming
9) arrogance
10) avoiding accountability
11) cronyism
12) polarizing
13) dividing not uniting
14) denying access
15) intimidation
16) fear-mongering
17) exploitation
18) disrespect for American citizens
19) disrespect for the law
20) disregarding the Constitution
21) recklessness
22) radicalism
23) falsification; selling snake oil
24) scapegoating
25) belligerence
26) cover-up
27) cultural warfare
28) politicizing science
29) hypocrisy
30) no credibility or leadership
31) suppressing black votes
32) unfunded mandates (no child left behind)
33) fiscal irresponsibility
34) favoring the wealthy
35) putting corporations ahead of people
36) “catastrophic success”
37) “miscalculation”
38) alienating allies
39) creating enemies
40) using the politics of personal destruction
41) misusing the military
42) dishonoring our military people
43) defrauding the nation
44) evading responsibility
45) tricking the public
45) creating a “sham” government that is run by corporate interests
46) make-believe leadership
47) intentional mistruth
48) fakery (image, goals)
49) destruction
50) ruin whatever he touches


DU'ers add suggestions, and at the end of the day I will send it out to Malloy, Buzzflash, Bartcop, etc. Every day I will post a "Pattern word of the day" and maybe someone lurking from the Kerry campaign will get some ideas....

[WI_DEM]

1. Kerry would win the soundbite war if he would attack Bush on

Bush's comment that it wasn't a "priority" to capture Bin Laden. It's on film--and it would be devastating against Bush in a commercial.

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. *sigh* Once again

I'm like a broken record on this one...

Bush Flim Flam

(BTW - FLIM is an acronym for Forced Level Information Management and FLAM is A lie or hoax; a deception. Nonsense; drivel. )

Says it all, IMO.

[Gloria]

4. It's no. 8 on the list.....

EOM

[Kierkegaard]

3. Kerry couldn't begin to implement

all the things he 'has to do, or will lose' if he had 20 years before the elections to get around to them all. Please, no more magical and undeniable 'cures' for the Kerry ills. Suggestions and ideas are fine, but the assertion that he will lose if he ignores them is getting ridiculous.

He is winning, in case anyone cared to notice.

[Gloria]

5. He doesn't have to do "everything" but he needs an overarching theme

Can you tell me what it is now? What is his "hook?"

And don't tell me "American can do better" is a hook...it's a nothing slogan.

[Kierkegaard]

6. Isn't this quote from your post?

"If we don’t do this…we lose."

There are dozens of posts containing rhetoric like this on DU daily.

Who's right? You? Why would that be? What is your presidential campaign experience? I don't come here and post to have baseless arguments over do-or-die campaign tactics. They are a waste of time, especially when the 'or else' mantra is used so freely.

Don't misunderstand what I am saying: I am all for the free exchange of ideas, but the constant barrage of 'do this or we're dead' threads are becoming tiresome.

Re-read my post if you care to understand my point.

[Gloria]

7. My intention was to push the HOOK idea, overarching theme...

I don't care if they strip naked and dance on top of buildings...
the point is, they need a consistent focus and intensity...ie, HAMMERING.

and, if they don't have it, they WILL lose. The other thread about people not liking Bush, but not feeling really strong about Kerry has a good point. Something has to be done to tip the balance toward Kerry. A concise, clear hammering of Bush is one aspect of this, along with a ratcheting up of the Kerry campaign intensity.

I get absolutely no sense of "putting pressure" on Bush in the few "soundbites" we're allowed to see...therefore, something has to be done in the soundbite dept. "Pattern" might not be it...but it's a suggestion that offer some flexiblity in the way it can be used and can be a building crescendo.

You're right, it's just my idea, based on the average American's exposure to the media. On the other had, the "experts" in Boston let the Swift Boat fiasco make Kerry look weak until he finally shot back. I get the feeling Kerry is being Gored from within, more than from the outside.

[Qutzupalotl]

8. Corruption

clandestine meetings
appointing felons to office
dangerous incompetence
blind adherence to rosy scenarios
unrealistic
shady characters in a shadow government
playing politics with national security
Trying to scare seniors, parents, students and children
He changed the tone all right...for the worse.
The most partisan, corrupt administration in history.
An intelligence failure that goes all the way to the top.

Bush is a dangerous president who set a dangerous precedent: the first use of the Bush Doctrine was a colossal failure of epic proportions.