GOP Focus Is Already Fixed on Endgame

[Rose Siding]

Strategists' grass-roots plans to reelect Bush are well ahead of schedule. The emphasis is not on swing voters, but loyal Republicans.
snip>
"On a grass-roots and regional basis, this campaign is already underway," said Ken Mehlman, the campaign manager, as he ticked off the organizational groundwork that has already been done: local committees named; voter registration drives launched; millions of supporters signed up; websites and e-mail systems humming.

"We are literally nine months ahead of where we were four years ago," said Robert T. Bennett, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party and a veteran of 40 years of GOP work. "This campaign is probably the best organized I've ever seen."

The result, GOP planners hope, will be a juggernaut that not only guarantees Bush's reelection but lays the foundation for a lasting Republican majority in Congress.

In their preparations, Republican strategists enjoy the luxury of an incumbent president and a record-breaking war chest that may top $200 million. They plan to use those advantages to deliver a one-two punch leading up to November: massive television advertising in swing states, and a huge ground war to register Republican voters and get them to the polls.

Although both parties have stressed the importance of turnout, the conventional wisdom of presidential politics holds that victory depends on winning over independent-minded voters in the middle of the political spectrum.

GOP strategists believe new technologies have created a new opportunity: Although not spurning middle-ground voters, they think the margin of victory in pivotal states now lies in maximizing turnout among the party faithful.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2004/la-na-bushcamp1feb01,1,269201.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[UpInArms]

1. if you want some interesting reading

regarding Mehlman at FR, go here

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1069197/posts

[colonel odis]

3. freepers scare the crap out of me

but you can't help but titter as you watch them turning on Fearless Leader.

"carol ann! run to the light! run to the light!"

[librechik]

5. wow, what a beautiful thread! (on FR!)

congrats to whoever posted the actual figures of the ballooning prescription drug benefit. That was devastating.

It's too bad those good Americans have swallowed whole the myths of the Red Scare and its modern day equivalents. Think what we could accomplish together if they hadn't been taught that liberals are fire breathing commies, rather than just your sensible neighbor who believes communities can accomplish things together that individuals cannot. The RW wants to destroy our strength as a team so they can pick our pockets. And they go right along with it, morans.

[baby_bear]

16. Well put, librechik

I just read through the FR thread and had the same gut reaction...either those people don't have a clue who we are,
or they are just naturally mean-spirited. Maybe both? I'd
like to think not, but it's hard to avoid that sense.

s_m

[Mountainman]

8. The freeps are tied to their ideology. They can't look at things any

other way. Their hard stance on conservative ideology and the fact that Bushco does not adhere to it is what in the end will cause them to lose this election. Many freeper types will sit this one out.

[Occulus]

14. I would agree.

I've been telling Republicans I know for about a year that Bush is not a Republican in the traditional, helping-America-fiscally vein they're used to. These are Neoconservatives, an altogether different and very dangerous animal.

These are not Republicans that are in charge. They may wear the label, but they are not Republicans.

Keep saying this; it truly opens eyes. I've seen it happen. Mention Leo Strauss. It tends to help.

Once you have their attention, say something like, "Here, wait.... I'm writing down a couple Google terms for you..." and give them a paper slip with "Project for a New American Century" on it. Then tell them to go to Google and type it exactly as is, with quotes.

Then end the conversation and wait.

[leesa]

21. Good deal. I only wish GOP loyalists would come to the realization

that Republicans have never been good for us fiscally. All they have to do is look at the statistics which show less growth, fewer jobs and more debt under Repub leadership. Instead they rely on the propaganda which says Repubs are fiscally conservative and promote growth. It's easier not to have to think.

[Sterling]

17. Unfortunately so will many liberals.

Kerry will not bring out the base.

[short bus president]

20. He doesn't have to

* will bring out the Democratic base like no other "Republican president" before him.

[Zhade]

30. The entire world prays you are correct.

The only way to ensure the election cannot be stolen again is to have a massive anti-Bush turnout. All the rigged voting machines in the world won't help these fuckers then.

[Zhade]

29. God, it's so beautiful to watch them tear Bush down.

Granted, most of them do it from a warped 'conservative' (not really) mentality fed by decades of lies sold to them by rightwing nutjobs like Rush and the Scaife empire...but once in a while, you can see actual intelligence in a post. Or two.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. It was the night before election

Not a repug was stirring, not even a louse.
All the machines were reprogrammed
The votes were ready to count
But old saint George knew the fix was in
And away he did fly with a jolly belly laugh
I stole the election again and I'm king at last.

[hang a left]

4. Not a chance do they have at winning the next election.

Not a chance in hell. And if they try to steal this one, the country will go nuts...I hope.

[Sterling]

18. I wish

Don't get your hopes up though. I am adjusting to the idea of 4 more years of Bush just for my own sanity.

[alittlelark]

28. There will be a good 10-20% who 'go nuts'

And another 20% who get EXTREMELY ANGRY with a short fuse to go nuts. I know I'll be one of the ones goin' ballistic.

[Zhade]

31. If he steals the election again, I predict revolution.

And I am deadly serious.

[alittlelark]

38. I agree.....but perhaps they know that and

will allow the votes to be accurately counted. I'm not counting on it, but I fear for the people of this country if they continue their BBV theft scheme. Perhaps they will cocoon to re-emerge another day?
As a 40 or so mom of 2 young children, I do not relish the idea of being 'on the front lines', but know that I will morally have no choice.

[Atman]

6. This is wicked important

I have been saying this for MONTHS. It's a BBV issue...read this again...

"they think the margin of victory in pivotal states now lies in maximizing turnout among the party faithful."

IOW, as long as the margin of victory remains razor thin, their BBV election-theft plans will work. If it's 51-49, few will be able to bitch about election fraud. The right will say, "If we were going to steal it, wouldn't we have done it by a wider margin?" and the press will report it and Wal Mart Nation will say "duh...okay." But if it is the rout it actually SHOULD be, based upon polls and W's problems, and election theft will be impossible. If he polls at 30% but wins with 60%, it will raise a shitstorm the likes of which this country hasn't seen in 230 years. Therefore...

"the margin of victory in pivotal states now lies in maximizing turnout among the party faithful."

IOW, if we can get that 30% up to 48%-49%, we can steal it much easier with the help of BBV.

[Zhade]

32. Exactly. This is exactly right.

NT!

[Fovea]

36. The double edged sword of Diebold

I know conservatives who fear it more than I do.
The long term paleo con knows any trick they can play on us
can just as quickly and more devistatingly used against them.

If there was even a hint in their thinking that Bush was going
to cheat the vote, I think they would run as far as possible from that election. So every bit of BBV info that hits the mainstream is to the good.

[dusty64]

7. Why does the term "endgame"

make me so uncomfortable? It really seems to conjure up visions of the Extreme Court and rightwing controlled corporate "voting" machines.

[Gin]

9. Sounds like BBV to me.

"GOP strategists believe new technologies have created a new opportunity"

[dusty64]

11. YIKES!

That line went completely by me when I first read it. I can't believe they are so arrogant that they are actually saying it out loud. If this isn't stopped I'm afraid we've had our last real election in this Country.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

19. Yep. Uncharacteristically, p_l highlighted the wrong portion of

that paragraph.

[prolesunited]

13. Sounds too much like

the "final solution" to me. :scared:

[bemildred]

10. Horseshit. Complete, utter horseshit.

Giving up on the "middle-ground voters" are they?

[Mari333]

12. Dont forget they WILL NEVER SHOW THE DEAD AND WOUNDED

soldiers coming back to Dover or to Walter Reed. Unless someone demands it like the families who are speaking out..and the news whores ignore them every day, ignore us like we dont exist.
www.mfso.org
www.bringthemhomenow.com
the nail in the coffin of the *bUsh regime is the coverage of the dead and dying soldiers and families .

[Clyde39]

15. No such thing as issues and policy any more

It's whatever it takes to have power. If saying you're a good Christian and you admire Jesus more than any one will do it , then so be it. If saying you're a uniter, not a divider will do it, then it's done. Beliefs, issues-----what are they?

[young_at_heart]

22. Republicans want YOU.........the more brain-dead the better

Don't think, don't look at issues........just vote Republican because that's what "good" Christian people do!

[Cocoa]

23. RNC damage control

Bush is tanking, so the RNC has to say "pay no attention to the polls" and the pathetic Doyle McManus types it up as a news story. Read this article, you come away with the idea that Bush is unbeatable, which is nonsense.

[onehandle]

24. Hate to say it, but they're right..

That's how they did away with Barnes and Cleland here in Georgia. Massive, well financed grassroots. No machine tampering necessary.

We need to do the same to win.

[colonel odis]

25. i don't know.... a lot of people point to georgia

as an example of how the diebold machines can be hacked and totals changed. i entered "2002 voting machine tamper georgia" on google.

[Zhade]

34. What, you've never heard of the infamous "rob-georgia" Diebold files?

Try a Google on that. You might be shocked to learn that, yes, Virginia, there was election fraud.

[Democat]

35. Right Wing "Grass Roots" means huge corporate money, hired people

When the right wing says "grass roots" these days, they usually mean a bunch of people hired to do the political bidding of some big corporation.

It would be funny if it wasn't scary.

[SquireJons]

26. Is There a Spin Doctor in the House?!?

Don't get your panties in a wad over this article. To me, it's actually a good sign.

Here's the spin:

"Strategists' grass-roots plans to reelect Bush are well ahead of schedule."

And here's the reality:

"The emphasis is not on swing voters, but loyal Republicans."

Now, why would they have to worry about loyal Republicans in a re-election year? Because they are worried about their base. I think many Republicans are uncomfortable with the shrub administration, which has abandoned most of the traditional Republican planks and led this country into one disaster after another. The fear isn't that Republicans will vote Democrat, that won't happen. But many will simply not vote at all. And this is great news, because not only will we retake the White House, but Congress as well, if the Republican turn out is small. At this point, the RNC has bigger fish to fry than going after the swing votes. And if Iowa and New Hampshire and any indication, the Democratic base is highly motivated this year, no matter who wins the nomination.

[calimary]

37. It is VERY revealing indeed. Check what GOP writer Andrew Sullivan said:

Wednesday, January 28th, 2004

BUSH IS IN DEEP TROUBLE: I'd say something else. The huge turn-out in New Hampshire; the electability factor for Kerry; the passion of the Dean people: all this shows how thoroughly energized the Democrats are to win back the White House. Bush is in the Rove-Cheney cocoon right now. From the SOTU, it looks like he's going to run on 9/11. Bad, backward-looking idea. His coalition is fracturing; his reach out to Hispanics seems to have hurt him more with the base than won him new votes; his spending has independents deeply concerned; Iraq is still a wild card; prescription drugs pandering hasn't swayed any seniors; the religious right wants him to attack gay couples in the Constitution - which will lose him the center. More worrying: I'm not sure he even knows he's in trouble.

http://www.andrewsullivan.com

"The emphasis is not on swing voters, but loyal Republicans"??????

They ARE worried. I'm surprised they're even admitting that. I wouldn't let that cat out of the bag if I were strategizing for them. Their base should be the last thing they're worried about. It should be rock-solid so they don't even have to deal with it, and instead, focus ALL their time on romancing swing voters and other undecideds. They should be branching out, from a healthy, secure base, and they should be over here, trying to woo wavering Democrats and other people to add to their base. If they're focusing on strengthening their base, they're betraying how shaky the ground is underneath 'em. THIS is testimony to support the claim that bush's support is "a mile wide and an inch deep." Lately, that support is kinda looking like it's a couple of millimeters deep.

The other thing that's working against them, and working FOR us - is the pile-on resulting inevitably from the David Kay admissions and the growing fiasco surrounding the bogus claims of WMDs. Kay spoke. People were "shocked." People started talking about it and asking questions. It got picked up by the media and they're still running with it. It's news and people are talking about it from both directions and they can't help it. It's thrown some nice red meat to the Democrats who are starting to make use of it. It's provoking question in the general population because, for the first time, they're seeing more conclusive stuff about this than last year when it could still be debated (David Kay said NO WMDs NOW, OR THEN - pretty flat-out statements - very little wiggle room, and as they try to make some, it's really starting to look fishy).

AND... this is campaign season. The Dems are making use of this in forums that the news media can't ignore or neglect or give short shrift to. They HAVE to cover the primaries. That means they HAVE TO cover the campaign speeches with all the bush-bashing and the crowds cheering and responding with such incredible enthusiasm, and growing in numbers, and there are many candidates more or less saying the same thing and since they're all still viable in one form or other, they ALL HAVE to be covered. The media has no choice here. It's news and they can't avoid it. The media HAS to cover the man-on-the-street Dem reaction, with single voters being Q&A'ed about why they're at the Howard Dean rally or why they're interested in what Kerry just said or why they're wearing all those Clark button or WHATEVER.

Before, anything a Dem said was completely sneered at, and then disregarded. There'd be some Capitol Hill press conference with some Daschle or Kennedy or Feinstein or somebody saying something and then you'd immediately get the react, and the spin, which was usually mostly republi-CON pundits and spokespeople and party people. Note, you'd never see another Dem brought on to enlarge upon this. And if a republi-CON had a similar press conference, you'd also get - guess what - more republi-CON spin and react and talking heads and pundits and other like-minded folks coming on to comment on what had just been said. THEY CAN'T DO THAT NOW. THEY HAVE TO cover the Democrats and let 'em have their say. They have to. Our guys are the ones making news.

AND what you have THEN...

...is a LOT of Democratic talking points getting out to the people. A LOT of Democratic buzz phrases and policy points and criticisms of bush and his policies, and examples given, and denouncements given with specifics, and people hear that and start to think to themselves - "hey, uh, gee, I kind of agree with that..." or "hey, wait a minute, I never thought of that, that's a good point." When a Kerry or Dean or Edwards or Kucinich or somebody says WHAT economic recovery, and describe how people are still out of work and still uninsured and more jobs are going overseas, that is ANOTHER strike against the media machine's rosey portrayal of this wonderful mystery recovery that some much-heralded statistics are claiming, but THAT ISN'T BACKED UP OR PROVEN TRUE IN REAL LIFE. And the average listener will notice this.

And through primary season, they'll be seeing and hearing alot of these messages that tell the truth about bush and they're seeing a lot of people cheering and screaming and holding up lots of colorful signs and the size of the crowds and their enthusiasm, and the REAL pile-on begins. That's when you start getting some wavering people caught up in the excitement, especially those who are shallow enough to want to vote for the perceived winner. EVERYBODY loves a winner. NOBODY wants to be attached to the loser and have Loser-Stench all over themselves. Bandwagons are built on this. You start looking like a winner and gathering momentum and making more noise and more people just naturally gravitate. You develop more gravity like a planet and more little bitty moons and asteroids are gonna start being caught up in that gravity.

It's a beautiful thing. OUR MESSAGE is getting out. IT HAS TO BE PAID ATTENTION TO, because this is primary season, and they have center stage and that's where the media HAS to be, like it or not. There are only so many minutes in an hour news block, and there are numerous candidates saying more or less the same thing about the same single target, and there's just not enough time to parse them all and bring on all the republi-CON spinners to take on all of them. SO, IN ONE RESPECT, WE'RE ACTUALLY KIND OF RUNNING UNOPPOSED. Our message is getting out, whether the media or anybody else likes it or not. And when it gets out, and it's repeated over the days and weeks and months, and John Kerry or whoever it is starts building momentum and having more good news and more wins and more big follower numbers and endorsements and backing and delegate support and people speaking on his behalf and talking him up, it's really gonna snowball.

Not to mention that there's nothing but shit in bush's record, PLENTY of material for ANY of our guys to work with, and plenty on which the public can agree... WITH US. Some of this, they'll be hearing for the first time, and they'll be realizing we're correct and it's something serious to think about, and something serious to motivate them to RETHINK their views of bush.

This is a very good thing.

Let 'em try to shore up their base. Good to have 'em preoccupied that way. We'll get everybody else. And that "everybody else" is a LOT bigger, combined, than the republi-CON base.

on edit - YEOW! SORRY this is SO long!!

[frank frankly]

40. i see it, too!!! great post

very fun to read, calimary!

:hi:

I watched the sunday pundit shows today--WOW! The media is being forced to cover this stuff and of course it is explosive.

[SquireJons]

43. Shush...

Don't give the RNC any idea's. Remember, there are spy's everywhere and Carl Rove is a political genius. Not.

The reason they are letting the cat out of the bag is because they subtly (so far, but it's gaining momentum) want to let the base know that they are loved, needed and listened to.

The problem is that the base knows that this administration has bounded off on it's own. Republicans were just as responsible for building the alliances over the last 60 years as were the Democrats. The base knows that the bush administration is radical, even by republikkkan standards. Not to mention the 27% annual increase in spending.

I'm unconvinced that the administration butt kissing act is going to be enough. These peoples' conviction's are strong, and they won't forget the last 3 years. I think this strategy will backfire on them. Instead of energizing their base, they will be advertising to R's that there are others among them that have serious doubts. This will help convince many to stay home on election day.

[BruinAlum]

27. No emphasis on swing voters?

Very telling. That to me is a good sign that they know they are in trouble with swing voters/Independents

[daleo]

33. I hope "emphasis on the base" means they are in trouble and know it

But it does fit in with a vote rigging scenario too.

[wabeewoman]

39. Did you notice the tagline:

I'm voting for gridlock? Very telling.

[calimary]

45. ANYONE who's talking "voting for gridlock" is talking PLAN B.

Also known as CONSOLATION PRIZE. They're admitting, by this statement, that they're expecting to lose the White House, so better to cut their losses and - at least hamstring the Democratic president it seems they're resigned to facing. It's like - if I HAVE to move out, fine. But I'm trashing the place.

[wuushew]

41. Who are they looking to turnout? the 4 million fundies that stayed home?

If the SOTUA was any indication 2004 could be even worse in tone then 1992.

[Rainbows]

42. Loyal Republicans won't be enough ....

Any one seen the voter turnout in Iowa Or New Hampshire lately? With the Kerry fix diluting the hope for change snuffing progressives, we shall see.

[Bandit]

44. GOP strategists believe new technologies have created a new opportunity

Black Box Voting anyone?