Al Gore won the 2000 election only by the slightest of margins, thanks to an Axis of Incompetence that developed over the last decade and now imposes a decisive influence on elections and has wreaked untold destruction on our democracy: the dangerous combination of incompetent voters whose decisions are shaped by an incompetent mainstream media. [...]
The Bush-Rove strategy is to make sure foreign policy continues to dominate, blame the regime's economic failings on "the war," and make certain there is always a war to blame. The key to their success is to keep the public anxious and in a state of confusing fear-based wishful thinking with genuine trust and confidence in Bush's leadership.
Democrats must scare them more, not through Rovian dishonesty, misinformation, corruption, and exploitation of tragedy - but with the truth, effectively packaged and aggressively marketed. They must make the case that Bush's idiotic rhetoric does not represent "moral clarity" but immaturity, simplicity, and incompetence, and that his failed leadership due to deficient character and qualification has placed the nation in greater danger than ever of both economic ruin and further terrorist attacks. [...]
As president Clinton summed it up, if you're strong, you can be wrong and win — even if your opposition is right. What Democrats need more than anything else is precisely the opposite of what Sean Hannity and Bob Novak (as well as a few so-called "liberal" journalists who would rather lose than fight) advise. They need aggressive and smart candidates, aggressive and smart pundits, and an aggressive and smart marketing department.
Unfortunately being right isn't good enough. Now the challenge is to be persuasive.
The necessary effort, shy of a charismatic candidate like Bill Clinton, will require strategic planning, tactical genius, and popular implementation. In short, all the tools the right wing uses to cover up their lack of popular policies.
Postscript: Not long after finishing this post, I found Digby's excellent thoughts on the matter.
