do issues still matter -- really?

most of us on du are policy wonks to some extent or another. at least we're more interested in politics than the average person who doesn't check in....

but these days, with the republican media-controlled politics winning despite being on the losing side of virtually every issue, with the exception of the few issues that they can win purely on image (morals, strong on defense) it would appear that the truth doesn't matter much.

or at least, the truth is not nearly enough.


so, while we all love issues and think THIS issue or THAT issue will get us those key extra votes, should we be more focused on MARKETING and IMAGE? it's not that we need to be right on the issues -- we're already there. we need to be right on the message, on the image.


so whether it's "our turn" or "issues matter" or "the truth matters" or "we need a grown-up in charge" or "restore democracy" or whatever, should THAT be our focus?

otherwise we will continue to get defeated on this crap. if their guy is blond, the media will tell us that america needs a blond in charge now. if their guy is from a city, they will tell america that a city guy is just the ticket. if our guy gets a haircut, they will tell us that terrorists get haircuts.

we MUST learn to address the image thing!

Issues don't matter nor image or marketing when the neocons control the voting machines.

I feel like we have gotten off track, when we talk about our beliefs, our ideas, our goals as a party, we WIN, but then militant among us start pushing the extremist of our agenda, and scare everyone off.

Instead of trying to get EVERYTHING at once, we should focus on our issues, make small steps forward, elect leaders of strong morals, and over the next 12 to 16 years win it all.

I remember the story, two bulls on a hill top, young bull looks down in the valley and says "see them cows, let's rush down and have our way with one of them cows", the old bull look over and says "let's walk in slow and have our way with ALL of them".

We cannot have the image of liberal and win. We need a candidate who appeals to the middle and care carry that image. Kerry, despite the opinion of many on this board, did not appeal to the country as a moderate.

even that's too "policy". remember that they didn't really even hammer kerry for being a liberal, certainly not like they hammered dukakis.

i just don't think that stuff really matters given the way the media behave these days.

we can have a liberal or a moderate or a conservative, just so long as they have the right personal image.

tough guy, cowboy, average guy, businessman, general, working stiff, whatever, THAT's what matters these days.