The republicans seem to have lost in the battle

[AlinPA]

in painting those who disagree with Bush* policies as unpatriotic (I believe they lost that during the Democratic primary). They are still using the "fear" very effectively. It may even be wearing thin with talk about overdoing "9/11".

They then moved with their hate and intolerance with their ban on "gay marriage". Now they have moved into the gutter with character assassination. The swift boat ad is their second step into the gutter (notice the media still calls the swift boat lies "debate").

This is about as far as they can go, and namecalling is their latest method, e.g., "girlie men". The band aid thing shows how low they have fallen.

I think we can beat these gutter dwellers with a tough, positive, passionate and ideas-based campaign.

Notice I said tough.

That means calling them on these things like the swift boat lies, the band aids insults, the hate, and their hypocrisy.