It "Will Draw Blood" - GOP thinker David Frum describes perfect attack ad against Ryan

[kpete]

GOP thinker David Frum describes perfect attack ad against Ryan
By John Aravosis on 8/11/2012 09:51:00 AM

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Frum is an interesting character. He's one of the few conservatives pundits who seems to say what he actually believes, rather than just parrotting GOP political spin. He's quite is an interesting, and intelligent (and thus, interesting), guy.

Frum says the Dems' perfect attack ad against Paul Ryan will be a woman saying that Ryan is going to make it much harder for her to get Medicare when she returns:

"You've worked hard all your life. You've paid Medicare taxes for almost 30 years. But under the Republican plan, Medicare won't be there for you. Instead of Medicare as it exists now, under the Republican plan you'll get a voucher that will pay as little as half your Medicare costs when you turn 65—and as little as a quarter in your 80s. And all so that millionaires and billionaires can have a huge tax cut."

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/11/attack-ads.html

Frum ads, "That ad will draw blood and will—as Henry Kissinger used to say—have the additional merit of being true."

http://www.americablog.com/2012/08/gop-thinker-david-frum-describes.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Americablog+%28AMERICAblog%29

[Inuca]

1. Yes, it's definitely going to be interesting n/t

[still_one]

2. There are a lot of things that can be used against this ticket, and for that matter the whole

extremist republican party

[nanabugg]

18. Lump them all together and attack them with their own words...cheap, truthful, and effective. nt

[elleng]

38. I LOVE to see those,

PERFECT and powerful.

[still_one]

59. You are right. /nt

[Phlem]

53. There a lot that

could have been done to the republican party before this. Why can't the Dems be in this mode all the time? Just cause there's a fucking election coming up?!?!?!?!



-p

[roguevalley]

62. given he needs Florida and a few other high number senior states, he just lost.

he lost because he caved to the wingnuts to pick this sad little boob.

[kenfrequed]

3. The albatros

The dead bird round the tax cheat's neck will be the Ryan plan.

If Romney even ducked out on half of his tax responsabilities for the last eight years it will be "the ryan plan: because mittens still thinks he pays too much."

[yardwork]

4. The combination is devastating.

If Romney had paid his fair share of taxes, they could run on the "fairness" ticket and even though it would be a lie it would be a viable strategy. But with Romney proven to be a tax cheat, they don't even have that.

[cantbeserious]

27. All Will Be Deflected By Koch And Rove Propaganda Parroted Via Fox News To Low Information Voters

eom

[aquart]

33. Really? What can they say?

[cantbeserious]

34. Similar Antagonists Were Able To Portray Kerry As A Traitor In 2004

With the money of the Koch's and Karl's Brain they can say anything and a lot of it.

[AlbertCat]

36. Similar Antagonists Were Able To Portray Kerry As A Traitor In 2004

Yeah, but it's way easier to tear someone down than build them up. They have to build the Rmoney/Ayn Ryan ticket up. Good luck with that...

[cantbeserious]

51. It Is The Same Process, Tear Down Obama Piece By Piece

eom

[lunatica]

75. Have you been paying attention?

Obama's team are the one's who are dictating the talking points. Within an hour after Ryan was announced as the VP the Obama team already had a response in the Washington Post.

Ryan is a total unknown to the general pubic right now. He won't be for long though. Not with the Obama team going after him.

[alfredo]

64. Obama has been inoculated by four years false propaganda hurled at him.

The right slings something at Obama and the public sees it and yawns.

[cantbeserious]

66. Well Another Billion Dollars Of Advertising Buy Is Coming His Way

eom

[alfredo]

67. What else can they call him, what lies can they tell that they haven't told before?

Sure they could start infidelity rumors, pay some woman to lie about him, but I don't think that will stick with anyone but the right wings.

[cantbeserious]

68. At This Point It Is Not The Quality Of A New Argument - It Is The Quantity Of The Old Arguments

eom

[alfredo]

71. The law of diminishing returns comes into play. I don't see them getting much traction.

[cantbeserious]

72. One Can Hope - After Seeing TPTB Destroy Kerry In 2004 I Am Not So Sanguine

eom

[alfredo]

73. Kerry was low on funds and couldn't afford to respond. He was too much of a gentleman,

too reserved to get down and dirty like the Swift boaters. Kerry is an example of why Senators rarely get elected President. Bare knuckle combat is not in the culture of the Senate. Obama hadn't been in the Senate long enough to have all fire extinguished.

[cantbeserious]

74. The Republicans Have More Money Than The Democrats

eom

[lunatica]

76. But far less smarts

Or do you think they've 'allowed' the Democrats to thoroughly hobble Romney? Ya think it's all a ploy? And that soon they'll put a stop to it just because they have more money? LOL!

[cantbeserious]

77. For Low Information Voters - Repetition Trumps Smarts - Money = Repetition

eom

[lunatica]

78. That's why the Obama team keeps repeating the same ad

Like it or not the Obama team has the upper hand.

[cantbeserious]

79. Yes - Good For Them - They Do Not Have Enough Money To Repeat Ads Like The Opposition

It all boils down to statistics for the low information voters in about 6 swing states.

Rinse, wash, repeat.

Comparatively

Obama Team - 50 cycles
Rmoney Team - 100 cycles

That is what the billions of Sheldon Adelson and the Koch brothers buys the opposition all thanks to Citizens United and SCOTUS.

For the rest of us, the die is cast and we will never see these ads if we are not in a swing state.

[kcass1954]

41. It doesn't matter what they say, because people like my father

don't get news from anywhere but Faux. He abandoned CNN long ago because they're "off the charts on liberal reporting, and Faux is the only news you can trust."

[stockholmer]

58. show you father how shite Fox actually pushes an agenda that is against his own vision of what is a

'conservative' agenda. Number one, start out with an expose of how 'socialist' (not a bad thing for me, but I am sure the term 'socialst' makes your father chew nails and spit blood) the USA as run by the Rethugs actually is. It is called corporate socialism, and if you approach your father not from the antithesis of his beliefs (aka a so-called 'liberal' perspective), but instead show him how the system is actually betraying his core values, and how shite Fox is part of the scam, then perhaps you can make some headway.

[Brother Buzz]

5. There will be Blood - Biden is set for the VP debate

I drink your milkshake. I drink it all up.

[Raster]

10. The debate between Joe and Ryan will be a thing of beauty.

Something to Tivo and share. I can hardly wait.

[tallahasseedem]

12. I'm already planning a party!

I can't wait!!!

[CTyankee]

14. when is it? I'll be sure to mark my calendar...

it should be great...

[Brother Buzz]

29. I would guess they will begin negotiating the particulars after the conventions

Biden and Ryan are both still presumptive candidates

[pinto]

6. Kick (nt)

[Dawgs]

7. Exactly why this pick will hurt with anyone over the age of 40.

People in the 40-55 age group are already thinking about retirement. Ryan's plan will give them vouchercare, causing many of them to pay out of pocket when they get older.

I think this pick shows just how desperate Romney has become in this race.

[Freddie]

8. Anyone 40 + also sees how much their parents depend on Medicare

My folks are 90-ish and we'd all be living in a cardboard box if it were'nt for Medicare. They'd have spend all their savings, would spend all their SS and pension and all my earnings on their multiple medical issues, plus I'd have to quit my job to care for them.

[klook]

13. +1

Medicare is the ultimate safety net, and we're all going to need it when our turn comes to be an elderly American.

Ryan's plan is sociopathic.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

15. YUP!

My mother lived to be 90, largely due to Medicare helping with heart surgery. My 91 year-old dad survived lymphoma in his 80's, and I vividly recall Mom hauling out all their Medicare statements and saying, "Thank God for Medicare." When you live it, you believe it.

[Patiod]

25. I just used that with a Tea Bagger acquaintance on FB

I said "my 88-you dad is scared to death, and I'm guessing your mom will be, too" (she takes care of her elderly mom)

I'll be interested to see how she responds.

[Frustratedlady]

54. You might also bring up that if Ryan gets his way...

and the parent uses up their assets for nursing home care, they will come after the children to pay the balance.

Even if the children don't care what happens to their parents (and, there are those in that boat), the government won't care...

[Dawgs]

40. According to Ryan, Medicare won't be touched for those over 55.

That's why I said, 'people from 40-55'.

I think Ryan and others defending it think anyone under 55 will be happy paying a lot more out of pocket for healthcare when they retire.

[justgamma]

70. Where will mom & dad or grandma & grandpa

go when they can't afford insurance? To their sons & daughters, who I'm sure have extra money laying around.

[LibDemAlways]

11. Seniors of all political stripes love their Medicare. Up until

recently, Repukes never openly talked about doing away with it, knowing it would be political suicide. Amazing that Mitt would embrace this guy and together they'd open the poison pill packet.

[riderinthestorm]

9. K&R. Frum's been really interesting to read these past couple years.

He seems to be confronting some really ugly truths about his party. In some ways he reminds me of Andrew Sullivan - as they're getting older they seem to be losing their hard-Rethug-edge and mellowing into an old school conservative, the kind you used to be able to have a conversation with...

[Whisp]

26. for sure. He was nasty during the Bush years

defending that pile of steaming shit and I threw many things at my tv listening to him (soft things).

but he seems to have grown up, or something.

[russspeakeasy]

48. Bullshit...Do not trust any of these bastards.

[Bette Noir]

60. He developed a twitch toward the end of the Bush administration.

He still said the words, but it was clear that he didn't believe them.

[Whisp]

61. I do remember a time near the end when he didn't look well

when he was on panel discussions.
He looked sick, really.

maybe that was it?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. Romney and Ryan's war on seniors

and the have nots

?w=468&h=344

[SheilaT]

22. I am getting a bit tired of the simple

misspellings on major media scrolls.

Soilders? Really?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

32. I guess

they are getting a bit soiled but I know what you mean

[heaven05]

35. education

I think it says a lot about education in this country. Been a pet peeve for many years because of all the SIMPLE misspelling. God, doesn't anyone use a dictionary anymore or hell there's spell check also. no excuse. just lazy.

[CTyankee]

43. Is that like the "Free Soilers"?

[muriel_volestrangler]

44. That's not the 'major media' - it's a photoshop

from a blog: http://theobamacrat.com/2012/08/11/lyin-mitt-romney-has-picked-paul-ryan-as-veepee-republicant-source-tells-apnbc/

[SheilaT]

46. So would "Soilders" be deliberate

or another one of the dumb misspellings that are constantly out there?

[muriel_volestrangler]

50. I can't tell

They don't make anything of it in the blog post, so I suspect it's accidental.

[Renew Deal]

17. Thanks Dave

[Grown2Hate]

19. He's always one of my favorite guests on Bill Maher. I may agree with PRACTICALLY nothing he ever

has to say, but at least I can understand his points. However misguided some of his beliefs, at least there is a factual basis for them that he can articulate. I don't feel like he's grasping at (or blindly throwing out) talking points when he speaks. Still kind of a smarmy dick though.

[riverbendviewgal]

20. America needs to be jolted again that it is the only industrialized country

that has no universal health care.

Michael Moore's SICKO does present this very well.

Also other media outlets have done documentaries on other countries health care system..


I would also rec Obama campaign to do a video ad on Poland and Israel's health care....

Romney seemed to like those countries' health care.

[AllyCat]

21. I was thinking it's not an attack ad because it's true.

This campaign has a whole bunch of material to bring about this new type of ad. Sigh...

[progressivebydesign]

23. his plan ALSO raises the retirement age, again. n/t

[B Calm]

24. I think the toast is done!

[babylonsister]

30. That too should be a BFD, repeated often. That'll piss people off. nt

[Major Hogwash]

28. Yeah, Paul Ryan is just like Governor Walker, except on a national scale of destruction.

I have no idea how a total idiot like Ryan gets into Congress to begin with, but he ended his political career by running with Dimwit Romney.

Ryan will never get the taint off of him now.

[nenagh]

31. Interesting, because David Frum knows Ontario health care...

He was born in Toronto & graduated from University of Toronto... He grew up with Canadian Health Care..

He understands health care for seniors, as few on the Right do.

[theinquisitivechad]

37. Yes, EXCEPT. . .

They (Romney/Ryan) have already tried to co-opt the Medicare message. Did you see the speech this morning? At one point, Romney actually said (paraphrase): "We'll ensure that you have Medicaid and will assure your Social Security benefits." It was SO off-message, you could see conservatives in the crowd actually looking at each other like, "WTF?!?!"

Absorbing that message (if it continues and wasn't a Romney trip-up like introducing Ryan as "The next President of the United States) is going to further confuse their campaign talking points.

What I think would be the perfect Ryan attack aid would be profiling how his family grew up using the social safety net (apparently his family had trouble in the early days? something with his father dying?) and how he's now trying to refute that entire idea. He's an Ayn Rand-ian to the death. There are even clips of him touting her BS. So why not play those, and then show how he gets special tax breaks on his WI mansion? How he's completely fine with hand-to-mouth off the government dole?

Just my two cents Which may or may not be worth two cents.

[russspeakeasy]

49. Too bad his dad didn't die before conception.

[Hamlette]

39. More Frum on the pick: Romney's "job just got harder."

"Romney has transformed a campaign about jobs and growth into a campaign about entitlements and Medicare. Romney will now have to spend the next months explaining how and why shrinking Medicare after 2023 will create prosperity in 2013. Economic conditions are so tough—the Obama reelection proposition is so weak—that Romney may win anyway. But wow, the job just got harder."

This is an analysis I would love to hear debated. How will cutting Medicare in 2023 solve our problems today?

And if you are watching Up, with Chris Hayes and Rachel Maddow, Ezra Klein etc this morning, they are hammering Ryan on his tax cuts for the rich. How does making this painful decision to cut the social safety net (Medicaid and welfare cuts in the Ryan plan) sound when you give all the money to the rich by way of tax cuts?

They had a Ryan health care expert on the show. First he slammed Obama for cutting Medicare (getting rid of Medicare Advantage to save $500B I suppose) then later in the show the same guy said Obama doesn't have a plan to deal with the cost of Medicare and Chris Hayes, bless his heart, caught him and called him out. "You said a couple of minutes ago that Obama's plan stinks because it too cut Medicare and then say Obama doesn't have a plan." The show is often uneven. I think for me its because it spends time talking about things I should know about but don't hold my interest. Like PBS Newshour. (More red meat for me too!) but when they get on politics they are great.

The other thing about Frum is I can tolerate him because he doesn't spend all his time slamming dems. He actually argues his position (which is wrong).

[Liberal_in_LA]

42. that would make a good ad

[nichomachus]

45. On the other hand

Friend of mine just got this from his parents, both of whom are on Social Security and Medicare. Last year, his mom racked up $200,000 in medical bills, which was all covered by Medicare. (sorry for the all caps but I just cut and pasted.)

GOT TO WATCH TV.
ROMNEY JUST PICKED HIS RUNNING MATE PAUL RYAN (WISCONSIN)
THIS MEANS  "HOPE FOR OUR GREAT NATION"
PLEASE SAY A PRAYER THAT THIS WORKS, WE NEED A STRONG TEAM, THAT WILL TURN OUR COUNTRY AROUND.
PLEASE WATCH CAREFULLY, & MAKE RIGHT CHOICE IN NOV.
WE ARE HEADED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, & NEED SOMEONE WHO LOVES OUR WONDERFUL COUNTRY.
GOD BLESS AMERICA & ROMNEY & RYAN.
 I FEEL ALIVE AGAIN.
LOVE YOU ALL,
MOM & DAD

[Proud Liberal Dem]

47. Has he crossed over yet?

Seems like he is giving us some good advice.

[JI7]

52. it is interesting that Older Voters are one of the more reliable voters and also tend to vote GOP

more and yet Romney picked someone who might turn off them.

[BootinUp]

55. Its either already been made or is in production. nt

[rurallib]

56. I had just composed an LTTE in my head saying exactly that

I have been paying on Medicare since day1 and now some punk wants to steal what I have worked for? FUCK HIM!

no, no, no my friend Paul. You are about to get the spanking you deserve to wipe that arrogant sneer off your face.

[indepat]

57. Anyone who will ever need Medicare and/or social security and even contemplates voting for a

Romney/Ryan ticket is a self-destructing God-damned fool. EOS

[randome]

63. But please, if any Democratic strategists are reading this, don't make it JUST about Ryan!

It's the REPUBLICAN position! It is REPUBLICANS who want to shoot holes in the social safety net.

Winning the presidency is not enough. We need gains in both the House and the Senate!

[BlueStreak]

65. Romney/Ryan is what they call a TARGET RICH ENVIRONMENT

The challenge isn't finding something that will work. The challenge is to decide which weapon to use at which moment.

Kick 'em in the nuts.

Oh, wait, did I say nuts? I meant kidneys.

No check that. I meant a head butt.

Basically now Romney is open to all attacks with no real defenses. Of course he has the advantage of being completely unprincipled and an unlimited spending budget. But enough blows to vital organs will take him down -- and take the Wisconsin Weasel with him.

[KurtNYC]

69. because it is true.

It isn't over-the-top. It just says what Ryan has proposed.