I'm gonna let Harry Truman say one thing about Dean.

[trumad]

Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive. And don't ever apologize for anything.....
Harry Truman

[wicket]

1. Excellent!

:thumbsup:

[Ravenseye]

2. I think the question though is in HOW to carry the battle to them

Everyone agrees with Truman on this point. It's basic strategy. Heck even Bush's rationale now for the war is 'battle the terrorists over there, so we dont 'have to fight them here'.

It's the same thing.

I think what people are questioning is whether Dean saying the things he is helps the liberal side. I know that my conservative relatives who aren't beyond all hope, are turned off by him. Dean is great at working up the base, but not all that good at winning converts. Heck I think Hilary Clinton has a better chance sometimes.

on edit - What I'm saying is that it's all well and good to preach to the choir, but we need to get more people in the pews and the things Dean is saying aren't likely to do that. Attack but don't attack crazily.

[trumad]

3. Oh..like what Dems have said in the last 4 years has worked.

It's a knew strategy..It's called growsomeballsitis.

[Ravenseye]

8. lol

Very true. They still haven't grown them in general. Just look at the cavorting the moderate dems are doing with the republicans.

My point though is that yes, we need to go on the offensive. It's just that how we do it is important as well. We can't just go out there swinging our arms like a madman. We need precision hits that hurt, that stick.

The stuff Dean says may sell to the choir, but it's not bringing over voters and unless we get voters we're not going anywhere. People will listen to the truth, but say idiotic things like 'republicans never worked an honest day in their life' or some such, and moderate republicans who might otherwise be willing to switch over just plain won't.

Attack, yes. Attack effectively.

[MsUnderstood]

9. I agree with you ravenseye

If dean wants to attack, do it on things that matter. Don't stereotype the republican voters, talk about the GOP Polititicans.

Maybe that is what he means to do, but he needs to use those words in his rhetoric.

Republicans is not synonymous with Republican Politicians.

[Ravenseye]

11. Exactly - Separate the leaders from the masses

There are a large number of republican voters who once were democrats. Play to them. They were sympathetic once. Show them that they're supporting a side they don't actually agree with. A solid 10% of republicans are actually on the liberal side for the majority of issues, but they just see people like Dean doing things like he's been doing, and just shut off.

Attack the war, the downing street memo, the environmental policies, the lack of funding of no child left behind.

Dont' give them a soundbite to use against you, because i'm sure he IS talking about all this stuff, just nobody is listening. Get the grassroots going and let them do the first contact stuff, but get them goign without giving the other side ammunition.

[n2doc]

10. Amen! N/T

[Pirate Smile]

4. "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a Republican. But I

repeat myself." Harry Truman

[tblue37]

7. I believe that was something Will Rogers said.

[Pirate Smile]

13. One site attributed it to Truman but I've been looking for confirmation

and can't find it but here is another good one:

"Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive. And don't ever apologize for anything."
~ Harry Truman

[tblue37]

14. Actuallt, I am thinking now that it might have been MarkTwain,

and that the actual quote might be "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself."

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. Yep. And, he's still right.

[Pirate Smile]

16. Now that one keeps coming up but the other quote was listed on

two sites as from Truman but looking through other Truman quotes I can't find it so :shrug:

[PsN2Wind]

5. Or Trumans reply to "Give em hell Harry"

"I don't give them Hell. I tell the truth and they think it's Hell."

[Gold Metal Flake]

6. I approve of this post.

And I thank you.

[Larkspur]

12. Truman is one of Dean's favorite Presidents

and I'm sure Howard is molding his attacks on Republicans after Truman's mold, not Lieber-bush's.