Ideas to counter the freepers

[paineinthearse]

It is my observation that every time CSPAN has a guest from the American Enterprise Institute or other similar wingnut oranization is on, the freepers are lined up with softball questions or slams against the left. But there are no hardball callers from the left to counter.

List your ideas for how we can successfully counter the freepers media opportunity manipulation (CSPAN, letters to editor, etc).

[ElectroPrincess]

1. Excellent idea ...

Every time CSPAN hosts one of those warmongering vampires (any representative from the American Enterprise Institute, AEI) I cringe.

These people have NOT drunk the kool-aide, they're just corrupt, if not sociopathically evil. Many of these resident scholars are highly intelligent and if one isn't well read, they package their propaganda into one seemingly attractive package.

Yes, definitely the liberals calling to counter need to SLAM the wing nuts with extreme prejudice.

Newt (what a troll!) started this war and if we stand any shred of hope to regain moderate to progressive political sanity within our government, we need to GET VICIOUS. You better damn well believe the right wing have honed this to a science and we must counter them.

[Lefty48197]

11. That pretty much sums up the solution to all of our problems as Democrats

"...if we stand any shred of hope to regain moderate to progressive political sanity within our government, we need to GET VICIOUS. You better damn well believe the right wing have honed this to a science and we must counter them."

[Ian David]

2. Call on the "Support the President" line and out-freep the Freepers

In other words, become a parody of Freeper-dogma.

Talk about how Bush is appointed by God to bring about The End Times.

Or about how Bush is protecting us from terrorists, and they should all be locked-up in camps along with the homosexuals and liberals.

Talk about how Bush is pro-business because he's fighting to raise the acceptable levels of lead and mercury in the water, and against The Kyoto Accords. Since Jesus is coming soon, it doesn't matter. The only ones that have to worry about pollution or global warming are the damned who will be left-behind.

Be creative.

[Hello_Kitty]

3. Well a good start is mentioning what think tank they are from

When calling into shows and writing LTTEs. These conservative organizations have exerted power from the shadows. So we say things like "Listeners/readers should know that this person is from _____ institution, which is funded by ______ so you may want to take whatever he/she says with a grain of salt because it's really not impartial." Or something like that.

[Lefty48197]

12. Another excellent idea

Find a certain incident, statement, or catch-phrase that we can associate with each of the offending right wing groups. Then we need to widely circulate the most effective of the talking points, and use them over and over again. That will help educate the public as to whom they are being deceived by.

[alphafemale]

4. They are better organized for that sort of thing...but they are easily led

This side has more independent thinkers and is more like cat herding.

It wouldn't take that many people to respond on those call in shows though.

I think AAR and other programs will be a good launching point for an idea like that.

[ElectroPrincess]

6. If the motivation is there, WE CAN DO IT,

WE HAVE THE INTELLIGENCE TO VICIOUSLY COUNTER THE RIGHT.

And the most important point is that we MUST do this or we will be giving up more and more of our personal freedoms.

BTW it's a personal pet peeve, but if I read that analogy referring to "herding cats" one more time I'm gonna puke!

Failure is not an option and we are intelligent and flexible enough to make it worthwhile within or own little political niches.

We have to or we will become a third world country. Anyone who truly loves America, must be willing to dig down deep and counter these crazy right wing corporate ba*tards.

[alphafemale]

7. Of course it can be done.

And we don't lack motivation, but we will always work from a more loosely organized base.

I can't ever imagine us all parroting the same exact talking point all day. We aren't built for group-thought.

[Lefty48197]

13. that's all true alphafemale

but what we need is an activist group of people who will speak out with full force in an organized manner, on a whole variety of issues. We won't ask any Democrat to "toe" any line, but the group efforts can have a huge effect on the national debate, which tends to silence us and make us nonplayers.

[alphafemale]

15. I think people are ready and motivated now.

And it wouldn't take huge numbers to have an impact.

Calling C-Span is a good plan, especially if someone had a little training to make their point (and counter-point if necessary) in an intelligent way.

I'm not sure calling rw a.m. mic monkeys is worth the time.

They've got the mute button and even if you do manage to make a point they will respin what was said after you are off air.

[orpupilofnature57]

5. The truth,slays them every time,Accountability,Altruistic history,deficits

Who made us the most desirable country on the planet,liberal minded people, irrefutable.

[paineinthearse]

8. Are there enough dedicated DU'ers to form a "freeper watch" group?

By dedicated I mean to watch for events and opportunities to be prepared to counter freepers.

If there is, would volunteer to on a daily basis, post the CSPAN Journal schedule for the next morning, with comments about the specific organizations or individuals scheduled. The schedule is usually posted 12 hours in advance, so if you could not call, you would have time to submit questions by email.

Others who are better public speakers could call in on the appropriate line.

My next post in this area will be CSPAN's Monday schedule (annotated).

Others may have other ideas, but I will focus on CSPAN.

[paineinthearse]

9. CSPAN1 - 1/31/05, 7AM - 2PM

COUNTER A FREEPER. The best opportunities to present reasoned, factual, intelligent views are in bold. Opportunities to out/freep a freeper are in italics.

Call:
Washington Journal: Democrats [phone]
Washington Journal: Republicans [phone]
Washington Journal: Others [phone]

Submit questions by email - go to
http://www.c-span.org/community/submitwj.asp

===================================================
07:00 am
0:45 (est.) LIVE
Call-In
Washington Journal
C-SPAN, Washington Journal
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07:45 am
0:45 (est.) LIVE
Call-In
Iraqi Constitutional Process
C-SPAN, Washington Journal
Jonathan Morrow , U.S. Institute of Peace
The beginning and end of this live program may be earlier or later than the scheduled times.

http://www.usip.org/aboutus/index.html
The United States Institute of Peace is an independent, nonpartisan federal institution created by Congress to promote the prevention, management, and peaceful resolution of international conflicts. Established in 1984, the Institute meets its congressional mandate through an array of programs, including research grants, fellowships, professional training, education programs from high school through graduate school, conferences and workshops, library services, and publications. The Institute's Board of Directors is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate.

http://www.usip.org/specialists/bios/current/morrow.html
Jonathan Morrow

Program Officer
Rule of Law Program


Areas of Specialization
Iraq | East Timor | Afghanistan | Constitutional Development | Transitional Governance | State-Building | International Law | Postconflict Reconstruction | Rule of Law

Foreign Language: Tetum

Phone: Office [phone]


Background

Jonathan Morrow is a program officer in the Institute's Rule of Law Program, focusing on constitution-making in Iraq. In March 2004, before joining the Institute, he worked for Iraqi participants in the negotiations for the Transitional Administrative Law for Iraq. Prior to that, he advised the Asia Foundation and the government of Afghanistan on law reform and constitutional implementation. From 1999 to 2002, Morrow was a legal adviser in the Office of the Special Representative to the Secretary General in the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor, developing a legislative regime, electoral laws for the successful 2001 Constituent Assembly election, and a constituent process. Following East Timor's independence in May 2002, he was a consultant to the UN Mission of Support in East Timor, and later to the World Bank, advising the East Timorese government on state-state and state-corporate matters related to areas of disputed sovereign rights. In that role, he worked within the prime minister's office, managing treaty negotiations that formed the legal framework for East Timor's financial independence. He earned his doctorate in the Faculty of Arts at Monash University, Melbourne, and has arts and law degrees from the University of Sydney. Morrow is a practitioner of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
----------------------------------------------------------
08:30 am
0:30 (est.) LIVE
Call-In
Open Phones
C-SPAN, Washington Journal
The beginning and end of this live program may be earlier or later than the scheduled times.
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09:00 am
0:30 (est.) LIVE
Call-In
Democratic Party Future
C-SPAN, Washington Journal
Simon Rosenberg , New Democrat Network
The beginning and end of this live program may be earlier or later than the scheduled times.

http://www.newdem.org/
NDN is a powerful, national network of leaders committed to modernizing progressive politics and building a durable Democratic majority. Please join our effort to forge a modern, unified strategy that will help our party win again and help restore the promise of America.

This is a front group for Simon Rosenberg for DNC chair - hotlinks directly to www.simonforchair.org/
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09:30 am
0:30 (est.) LIVE
Call-In
Private Pension Protections
C-SPAN, Washington Journal
Bradley Belt , Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.
The beginning and end of this live program may be earlier or later than the scheduled times.

http://www.pbgc.gov/
PBGC was created by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to encourage the growth of defined benefit pension plans, provide timely and uninterrupted payment of pension benefits, and keep pension insurance premiums at a minimum. Defined benefit pension plans promise to pay a specified monthly benefit at retirement, commonly based on salary and years on the job. PBGC is headed by an Executive Director who reports to a Board of Directors consisting of the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce and Treasury, with the Secretary of Labor as Chairman.
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10:00 am
0:30 (est.) LIVE
Congressional News Conference
Democratic Party Agenda
National Press Club
Harry Reid , D-NV
Nancy Pelosi , D-CA
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02:15 pm
1:00 (est.) LIVE
Foreign Legislature
Canadian Question Period
Canadian House of Commons
Paul Martin , Canada
The beginning and end of this live program may be earlier or later than the scheduled times.

[Lefty48197]

10. We need an email alert system to notify activist Democrats of upcoming

appearances by the Right wingers in question. Funny you should mention the AEI, Charles Murray, author of the highly discredited "The Bell Curve" is going to be appearing on the show, "Book TV" on Sunday, February 6, at noon on CSPAN2.
If the CSPAN phone lines need unfreeping, then we need to maintain an active list of Democrats who will call in, a list of upcoming guests and topics, and also links to educate our callers about the topics in advance.

[paineinthearse]

14. Reply to this sub-thread if you pledge to become active

State what your pledge to do on a regular basis.

PitA: Every evening I will post the next morning's CSPAN Journal schedule and add background information to the best of my ability.

You? (talking points, additional background material, send email, call, etc etc etc).

If we get enough pledges, we could petition the admins to create a CSPAN alert forum.

[paineinthearse]

16. PM me if you are interested in forming an activist group

I can set-up a Yahoo group for members only in about 5 minutes. PM me with your email address and I will send you an invitiation. Inside there we can share information, ideas and hang files/talking points.

[paineinthearse]

17. Freeper calls Kennedy a dry drunk

Sent to CSPAN Journal:

Producers:

At approximately 8AM today, your host allowed an obviously belligerant caller, in asking a question to guest Avidar Cover, to make a slanderous charge of "dry drunk" about Sentator Ted Kennedy.

Please explain:

What is your policy on slander?
Why was the caller allowed to continue?
Would you allow a similar charge of President Bush?

(my name)

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[paineinthearse]

21. Note the reason for the post

CSPAN allowed a slanderous remark on air.

I never received a reply to my question/complaint.

[paineinthearse]

18. In honor of Ann Coulter on CSPAN 2/18 8AM

Ideas for questions or comments?

[paineinthearse]

19. New CSPAN WATCH group forming

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3164636&mesg_id=3164636