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TechnoratiRebranding Republicans
"We're going to give you the change you deserve" --
House Minority Leader John Boehner
That's not a threat; it's a promise -- from the Republican congressional leaders. Really. Led by perpetually tanned House leader John Boehner, Republicans have suddenly discovered that the country wants change -- and they have decided to offer it to us. Washington is broken and they promise to fix it. They rolled out a new slogan -- "the change you deserve" -- to be followed by a new "American Families Program." (The campaign ran into trouble from the start: an alert blog -- Bluestem Prairie -- revealed that the slogan is the registered advertisement for the anti-depressant Effexor XR -- which, come to think of it, might just be what Boehner needs these days).
Republicans for change; now that's a switch. Until last week, congressional Republicans have been systematically, resolutely, and consistently committed to obstruction, not change. It was a clear strategy. No minority ever gets blamed if nothing gets done. After Democrats took over the majority of both Houses in 2006, Republicans set out to obstruct everything they could. Then they would run against a do-nothing Congress, accusing the Democrats of breaking their promises. Sort of like knee-capping the postman and then complaining about the mail being late.
They went about this with Tom DeLay-like discipline. The Senate minority set a new record for filibusters before the first session was over. The president issued a record number of veto threats. House Republicans perfected procedural tricks that would put sand in the gears. As last as last week, they switched their votes on a resolution celebrating mothers on Mother's Day simply to obstruct business on the Senate.
They blocked the resolution to set a date to get the troops out of Iraq. They blocked extending health care to children. They blocked allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices on prescription drugs. They blocked overturning subsidies to big oil and investing them in alternative energy.
But despite their success in gumming up the works, the strategy hasn't been working out too well for them. Congress has grown less popular, but increasing majorities think the solution is to throw out Republicans, not Democrats. 29 Republicans looked at the race and decided to retire. Republicans suffered stunning special election defeats in former House Speaker Dennis Hastert's seat in Illinois (to an anti-war candidate), and in a solidly Republican district in Louisiana (despite running ads painting the Democrat as an Obama clone). Newt Gingrich warned that they faced "real disaster" this fall unless they changed course. "We can't win solely by tying our opponents to Barack Obama and his liberal views," Boehner concluded, "We also have to prove Republicans are agents of change."
"Our brand is still under repair," Boehner noted in a presentation for his Republican colleagues. So he called out the marketing gurus. Over the next week, he promises to roll out a new agenda to go with the new slogan. With the open seats, Republican candidates not scarred by the past can run as agents of change. If John McCain, a 35-year veteran of the beltway, can market himself as a maverick for change, why not the House Republicans?
But Boehner's rollout is likely to run into craters a lot more perilous than the slogan pothole. Every Republican candidate for Congress will have to answer a few basic questions: Are you with Bush and McCain on sustaining the war in Iraq? Do you support Bush and McCain's economic policies -- the tax cuts, the corporate trade deals, the privatization of Social Security, the unraveling of employer based health care?
If you are not with Bush and McCain, why should Republicans support you? If you are with them, why would the eight in ten Americans looking for a fundamentally new direction vote for you?
But no one believes in the magic of marketing more than politicians, eager to re-package themselves like the new Coke. Forget consistency. Forget conservatism. Boehner and his colleagues aren't worried about learning from the failures of the past years. They are worried about survival. And a snappy slogan, a new bumper sticker, and a fresh jingle may be the best hope they have.
Robert L. Borosage is the president of the Institute for America's Future and co-director of its sister organization, the Campaign for America's Future.
Copyright © 2008 HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.
23 Comments so far
Show Allyou guys might enjoy this, change you deserve set to music ;)
http://changeyoudeserve.wordpress.com/category/change-you-deserve/
McSwin, I am waiting for the Dem candidate to bring those quotes up to St. McCain in debate. No doubt he'll adhere to form and lie his ass off, but it should be entertaining to watch him twist himself into knots trying to make excuses.
As someone noted, McCain's not particularly bright and, if not for the Big Media drooling over him, he wouldn't be in this race to begin with -- I've heard they are plumping Johnny's pillow because they feel sorry for him after they way he was mistreated in the 2000 GOP primaries and that they like the fact that he's always 'accessible' and answers their softball questions. What they don't say is that he's in the tank for the huge corporations that sign their paychecks.
Even so, he won't be able to hide behind the BM skirts until November -- eventually, the real McCain -- blinky, sweaty, ill at ease, angry, prone to misstatements, hazy on the facts, flip-flopping like a Sea World exhibit -- will be apparent to all but the Frog Hollow Bush Republicans who have rolled themselves into little fetal-position balls with their hands over their ears screaming, "We're still right, we're still right, we're still right!"
America's going to get a good look at McNothing in the fall and it's going to get ugly. After the landslide that buries him, Maverick Johnny and his wealthy wife Cindy may want a 'change' -- a change of address to Dubai. Perhaps they can get a mega-bucks fortified estate next to their old pal Deadeye Dick, hiding out from warrants for war crimes issued by the International Court.
How about "The Change They Deserve"
Like JAIL TIME
heh ;) that is soooo bad lol
Looks like McCain is already showing symptoms:
"And I believe that the success will be fairly easy" and "There's no doubt in my mind that... we will be welcomed as liberators." [3/24/03]
"I think we could go in with much smaller numbers than we had to do in the past... I don't believe it's going to be nearly the size and scope that it was in 1991." [9/15/02]
"There's not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shias. So I think they can probably get along." [4/23/03]
"Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course."Â [12/8/05 (Exactly one year before violence in Iraq peaked)]
"By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and -women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom." [05/115/08]
McDENIAL or simply McFOOL?
MsSwin [May 15th, 2008 9:26 pm], don't forget about 'anal leakage' -- you know, what Republicans refer to as 'political speech.'
Cuski [May 16th, 2008 1:31 am], I have found it odd that I meet a lot of self-described Republicans who are supporting Ron Paul -- more than any other GOP candidate -- yet the polls and primaries have not reflected this. What's going on?
How about:
'Chump change you can believe in.'
'Change you can believe in, just like last time.'
Or perhaps 'Boner' can 'rebrand' the Republicans with a new Contract on -- ahem -- 'with' America -- in this one they promise you'll be out of your misery sooner and they'll even pay for the bullet.
As a Republican insider said prior to the Mississippi 1st district special election, if the GOP lost this 'safe' seat, people would be jumping out of the windows. The Dem, Travis Childers, prevailed by a healthy margin, surviving every nasty GOP campaign trick. Has anybody checked the streets around the RNC?
Mr. Borosage makes the common mistake of lumping all Republicans together. What he is failing to mention is the 20-25% of delegates at many state GOP conventions who are Ron Paul supporters. They are changing the face of the GOP, much to the discomfort of the establishment.
The median age of a person who watches Bill O' Reilly is 71. Fewer young people are registering Republican than ever before. By contrast, the Ron Paul wing of the GOP is young and enthusiastic, and accounts for the lion's share of the party's new growth. The GOP has one choice. Accept the direction mapped out by Ron Paul, or simply die out.
I believe we will have a Democratic president this year, and I believe that Republicans will lose nearly ever seat in Congress. This will only fuel the legitimacy of the Ron Paul group's argument that the establishment GOP message is out of touch with its roots, and out of touch with America.
"The Change You Deserve"
CLINICAL TRIALS HAVE SHOWN:
The new and improved Republican Platform Prescription XR for America produces side effects including but not limited to generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, nervousness, yawning, and/or sweating.
Studies have shown a propensity for abnormal vision, impotence, nausea (31%) and constipation (10%).
Also revealed were increased instances of depression, decreased libido, agitation, nightmares, delirium, blurred vision and difficulty focusing.
Known to cause loss of appetite, cold feet, postural hypotension and hemorrhoids (see Bend Over For Bush Syndrome).
Most common side effect is flatulence and political irritability.
Less common side effects include acne and/or pustular rash.
Not a controlled substance and has not been studied in clinical trials regarding potential for abuse.
For further information see Effexor XR for additional warnings.
Consult your family doctor if symptoms persist for more than four years.
"They rolled out a new slogan — "the change you deserve."
That is really sinister. If one looks at how the American citizen is treated and regarded - as cannon fodder, childish and irresponsible, capable of only shopping, can we imagine what such a phrase actually means, especially coming from unevolved humans otherwise known as conservatives.
I leave you to ponder it.
i've got it! they'll change into democrats and we'll never even notice the difference! what a country!
Ron Paul for president 2008!
"Our brand is still under repair," Boehner noted in a presentation for his Republican colleagues.
There aren't enough repair-people on the face of this earth who could corrrect or improve the years of damage your "brand" has created and perpetrated upon the citizens of this country!
I wish some decent traditional conservatives would band together, step up, and call these fascists thugs out - then there might be hope for this country. But until the fascist go - all of them - we are screwed, no matter what advertising gimmick is used.
You can't eat propaganda, it doesn't pour into your fuel tank, and it's poor shelter from the elements - and propaganda is all the fascists offer.
Like all the other rhetorical progressives this is myopic. Dems promised an end to the occupation of Iraq in the election of 2006. They only had to cut off funding, instead Bush says jump and Party leaders ask "How high?"
Since Dems took both Houses they appointed two extreme conservatives to the Supreme Court rather than filibuster the nominations: Roberts and Alito. They took Impeachment off the table; they took investigations off the table; they went along with torture; instead of a LIVING WAGE they gave us a MINIMUM WAGE with significant tax cuts for big business. In fact, the Bill benefits corporations more than it does the poor; they rubber stamped Bush's evesdropping bill without warrant from the courts. At every turn the single party entity has given the disenfranchised the shaft. The two front runners, Obama and Clinton advocate the WORST possible solution to Climate Change: Nuclear and Bio Fuels. Bio Fuels create as much problems as Fossil Fuels and reduce airable land for food crops thus making food prices soar and increasing starvation world wide.
And this clown is taking about obstruction?
Wake Up!
Complaining about the Democratic Congress after these last two years of Republican Obsructionism.
"Like knee-capping the postman then complaining that nothing gets done."
Dig this writer.
Here on CD for two years I've heard the Democrats called and blamed for everything. except by DD.
Well CD: now you can vote for Nader or whoever then blame people you helped keep out of office-Dems-for any and all things for eight more war-filled years.
And you can toast your virtue intact, your purity of heart, while McCain Bombs Iran.
Boehner is only "kidding" to the extent that everyone but the far right are enough votes to thwart him (them).
The change they would like is to dismantle nearly all regulation of corporations, pull the remaining teeth of the IRS for corporations, pack the Supreme Court for two (not just one) generations, unentitle your entitlements, enlist the churches in political lobbying forever and relieve employers of health care--- dumping it on you. That's what they think you "deserve" for not being rich yet in their free-enterprise paradise.
And, "branding" is how they sell us everything else, so "branding" is how they'll try this too. Don't laugh, they're serious and still expect to be hooting it up at the country clubs as soon as you progressives go goofy (again)and vote for Nader or McKinney instead of AGAINST them with Democrats as you should.
About the phrase "the change you deserve" --
One of the memorably astute-but-cynical remarks I heard right after the Supreme Court appointed Bush president was, "NOW the American people are finally going to get what they deserve."
Conservative: Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
New Conservative Slogan: "the change you deserve."
Good thing there's no confusion there.
Robert is right. If you watch C-Span, and Congress is actually in session, you would think that a suntan contest was in progress, especially when a panel of CEO's is being worshipped.
I believe "the change you deserve" is actually a direct threat. The Republicans have concluded, from two elections close enough for the Bushcrooks to steal, that Americans are masochists and will jump at the chance to experience more pain. Undoubtedly "the change you deserve" means an economic depression, more wars to be paid for by Social Security and Medicare funds with those programs going broke of course, troublemakers engaging in "free speech" being thrown in detention camps never to be heard from again, increased joblessness and loss of health benefits along with rapid inflation and soaring energy costs, an acceleration of global warming past all tipping points, and the quality of life descending rapidly for over 95 percent of the population. They know we want it.
They lost the First Congressional District in Mississippi yesterday -- the change isn't the one they want.
I think Boehner is going to get the change he and the GOP deserve.
"We're going to give you the change you deserve"
After screwing up the country for 8 years, allowing corporations to run roughshod over everyone, eliminating the middle class, busting Unions, allowing shoddy goods to be imported, attempting to ruin the environment, running up a multi trillion dollar debt, invading other countries, I could go on but the list is just too long, now the republicans was us to believe that they can give us what they think we want?
They've got a lot of gall, a really lot of gall, to even think they know what I, or anyone other than the rich or many corporations, want!!!
But in case anyone cares here's a short list:
I want the military-industrial complex dismantaled, I want a balanced budget, I want health care for everyone, I want a living wage for all, I want HONEST politicans, I want the government out of my bedroom, (and out of my house), I want the U.S. to stop acting like it owns the world, and can take what it want when it wants by force, I want the government to actually be environmentaly responsible.
When the republicans can offer me ANY, not all but ANY of the above list I'd support them. Until then they can go piss off.
Some slogans for the reups;
Kinder Gentler totalitarians.
They're good for your boss.
Who needs demo's, we supply repo's.