#rsrh Teh Funnies in the Democracy Corps ‘ALERT.’

Entertaining reading; you can almost imagine the authors morosely chugging vodka while writing it.  In no particular order, Teh Funnies:

• The weakest messages assert we should “go forward, not back.”  Voters are not moved by Democratic messages that say ‘go forward, not back,’ mention President Bush, compare then and now, or even that hint the economy is “showing signs of progress.” Somebody tell the President.  Or… actually, don’t.  It’s better this way.
• Democracy Corps is recommending that all those incumbent Democrats out there who have signed off on TARP, the stimulus, cap and trade, and Obamacare run as… wait for it, wait for it… independents.
• They talk about two months to change the message when what they’ve got is five weeks.
• Speaking of TARP, the stimulus, cap and trade, and Obamacare… guess what Democracy Corps is rather self-consciously avoiding referencing, and wants Democrats to avoid referencing, too?  Go ahead, guess: that’s right!  Anything done in the last couple of years (or longer, when it comes to TARP).  Essentially, the idea is to just not bring up the 111th Congress.
• Heck, they don’t even bother bringing up the Lily Ledbetter Act any more.  Which is a shame, because watching progressives try to get anybody else enthusiastic about that accomplishment is one of life’s little pleasures.
• Don’t feel bad; nobody else really remembers – or cares – what the Lily Ledbetter Act was about, either.
• Oh, this is the best part: Show that you are independent and determined to change Washington – with a focus on refusing perks, limiting lobbyists, and stopping corporate special breaks, subsidies and self-regulation. You will not get heard on your message unless you are trying to change business as usual. Translation: the Democratic party is just well and truly [expletive deleted] this cycle, isn’t it?

Left unspoken is how the heck they expect any of this to work in districts where a Democratic Member of Congress ‘represents’ an electorate that went for McCain/Palin in 2008.  The answer is of course that they don’t: the idea here is to encourage at least some Democratic operatives enough to keep them from just giving up now and moving to Tahiti early to avoid the rush.  The real fun part?  It’s just plausible enough advice – taken in isolation, and out of context – that the folks at Democracy Corps can tell the Democratic party “I told you so” in November.  Which won’t do the Democratic party any good; but it will do some for the Democracy Corps folks…

Moe Lane