I wrote a response to this author and it seems a pertinent rejoinder to what what I've seen and heard here and in the world...

The article... http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/06/02/25_timidity.html

My response....

The counter-argument is that if Bush is a true fascist, which I believe to be the case, then it might be helpful to look at what happened to the opposition groups in Nazi Germany as Hitler took power. Basically, Hitler was brought in as Chancellor (Prime Minister) heading a center-right/Nazi coalition government, with Paul von Hindenburg as President. The folks on the center-right reached out to the Nazis because it allowed them to keep the communists out of a coalition with the left. The center-right folks thought that they could invite Hitler into power and that he would become more moderate once faced with the real necessities and burdens of governing. They thought they could tame him.

They were wrong, but how they were wrong is what's so useful to understand when discussing the Dems and the media. The center-right people, led by von Papen, assumed that Hitler was an essentially reasonable man who resorted to firebrand rhetoric in order to build his following. Once his place was secure, he would be a good partner who would play by the rules. Instead, he was a radical who learned how to act nice in order to get power... and he made his own rules. They held out hope for him until the day he murdered their leaders.

Moderates and people who are firmly entrenched in the system assume that everyone plays by the rules. They get discombobulated when people change them. They get complacent and seldom see the danger before its too late. Instead of worrying about what they feel would be best for America, nowadays the Republicans approach every issue from the perspective of how to use it to screw the Dems. Once the Dems are screwed, the Republicans can simply do what they want without a messy debate (Abuse the Dems, then abuse the power). This is new to American politics. Destroy the opposition first, then rule by fiat.

So far, the Republicans have done a masterful job of twisting everything into a lose-lose proposition for the Dems. When the Dems act bipartisan, the Republicans falsely attack them for "playing partisan politics" and then mock them for being ineffectual at it. When the Dems get serious, the Republicans call them ill-mannered, crazy, or simply lie about what they are saying (try listening to Rush Limbaugh sometime... you'd be amazed at the crazy ideas us lefties come up with!). That's why the Dems are so mixed up that they can't make an effective argument... they are constantly under attack as the bozos of government. They aren't traitors to a cause, they are merely lost and battered because they don't understand what's happening. The same is true of the press... the more the administration attacked it, the more subservient the press got... for a while... but they're still afraid of getting attacked again.

The most effective way to deal with Dems and the media isn't to fight them, it's to make them subordinate to your cause, the way the Republicans have. They are up for grabs, so why not grab them? The Republicans play with new rules that we are somewhat unfamiliar with, but they don't own the rules. Anyone can play their game. Even better, the Republicans lie, so you can discredit them while using their tactics against them. You can't expect out old-dog Dems and media to learn new tricks, though. You have to go to the public and make your case. You lead, the Dems and the media will gladly follow.

The most important thing, though, is that you have to know YOUR audience. You need to pick enough issues to keep the majority satisfied, but few enough to keep you message short, sharp, compelling, and HONEST. You can use the press the exact same way the Republicans have and you can strong-arm moderate Dems (and, perhaps moderate Republicans too) the same way the Republicans have their moderates. The power is yours!!

Peace
John T. Korab