Tactic: Set them up to Knock Them Down - Joe Lieberman and the Democrats are Suckers
12/13/04
Is Joe Lieberman blind or is he just a total moron? And what about John Corzine expressing such excitement about a Lieberman appointment as Homeland Security Chief?
Have they been living in a cave?
Since nobody in Washington seems to have even a fraction of a clue, I find it my duty to fill them in.
First, do you really think the administration is considering a Democrat for Homeland Security Chief because they think he is the most qualified? Dear God, you must be kidding me. Do you really think they would put a Democrat in arguably one of the most (perceived) important positions in the nation because they think he would do a better job than any Republican? Have you ever heard of a 'laugh test'? Well... perhaps you've been subject to one then.
In reality, the right perceives Joe "milquetoast" LIEberman as a joke. Believe me, I speak with them constantly, and they can barely control their laughter.
Here's the plan: Bush chooses Lieberman and the senate, including the hapless Democrats, confirm Lieberman as the HSC.
Bush claims bipartisanship...no, even better...Bush claims an even greater mandate because his administration is 'bipartisan' -- virtually beyond reproach.
Then the inevitable happens -- and this is INEVITABLE -- another terrorist attack unfolds within US borders. Now, who do you suppose will take the unmitigated blame for this catastrophe? Bush? HA!
Lieberman is screwed! The meme of Democrats as blundering incompetents, unable to keep the nation safe from practically anything is forever ingrained in the minds of the electorate.
Republicans laugh and terrorize their way to decades of electoral landslides.
Wake up.
Variations on the 'Straw Man'
The Republicans are setting up Lieberman and the Democrats as fall-guys-in-waiting -- A clear variation on the 'Straw man' technique. The 'straw man' is a figurative creation of a literal character. In essence, you 'build up' an image of something that is extremely easy to 'knock down' -- and then proceed to knock it down. This make you look far more powerful and competent than you probably really are.
This is exactly what the Bush administration did in Iraq. They built up Saddam Hussein -- paper tiger extraordinaire -- into an all-powerful, dictatorial overlord, rife with weapons of mass destruction and a trigger finger so itchy, he could just barely refrain from annihilating the entire continental United States.
Thus, when the US military pulled Saddam from his hidey-hole, they weren't just capturing a smelly, bed-wetting, shell of an ex-US-ally and tin-pot dictator. No, they were claiming a monumental victory for global security. It was the capture of the gravest threat to humankind in the history of the universe.
In Joe Lieberman's case, he is serving as an icon for the Democratic Party. The Republican Party is building up the situation as 'reaching out' and 'giving a chance' to the hobbled Democrats -- knowing full well that another attack is both inevitable and unstoppable. At this point, the right-wing wurlitzer would go into hyper-drive, wondering aloud how Democrats could ever have been given the benefit of the doubt. Ohhhhh....never again!
Again, It's not the ‘straw man’ per se, but rather a clever variation to suit the circumstances.
It is so pitiful and painful to watch unfold. We can only hope that Joe has a nanny with a 'questionable immigration status'.
Tactics
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Brilliant analysis! Let's also not forget that removing Lieberman would probably mean one less Democratic Senator...adding to the GOP majority.
Lieberman's a "Democrat" to about the same extent as Zell Miller; i.e., approaching zero. Best points so far are the inevitability of Bush's claim of bipartisanship for such an appointment, and Nancy's note that it could very well mean one less Dem senator -- if that isn't already the case.
This Jew is something,he has dual Israel citizenship.Always pro-Israel,pushed for the Iraq War,A ZIONIST!
For him to want the Job,there must be something for Israel.Whole country is swarming with Mossad killers.Just a thought---good job to protect the spay agents.
Americans are Saps!
Ditto to all previous comments! Has anyone out there given thought to perhaps this whole senario is the will of the Dems in congress as well? I mean, this whole move toward what appears to be the makings of a one party system is taking place in front of our collective faces! Wait until congress decides that the 22nd amendment needs revision and the BushCo just holds onto power indefinitely! It is becoming totally bazarre with each passing day! Bye-bye democracy!
With the Cheney-Bush Junta you are considered for a post not because of qualifications but in spite of them. I have said for a long time in my columns and elsewhere that Joe Lieberman makes a perfect stooge for the Republicans. He vies for "top honors" with the mad uncle in the attic, Zell "Let's Fight a Duel" Miller and the loyal bag man for Trump senior and junior, Ed Koch. It looks like Karl Rove might agree with us on Lieberman if he is actually offered HS or any other job.
Bill Hare
Ah, good to see old-fashioned anti-semitism even in the comments at Political Strategy. Somehow I don't imagine the real Frank Zappa would be too pleased.
Good post, Tom, and nancy is absolutely right as well. We should be careful though about lumping Lieberman in with that Benedict Arnold Zell Miller: as much of a dick Lieberman is when he talks, his voting record is much better than Miller's (or most Republicans), and at least he didn't campaign for Bush!
Whew!
I like the way you think. Brilliant, but scary!
Thank God the Greedy Obstructionist Pact isn't as sharp as this tactic might assume. King G. would never "get it."
My money is on Asa Hutchinson. He wants the job, and * likes him.
King G doesn't have to "get it!"
King Karl is, and has been, pulling his strings.
However, this election isn't over until every "NATIONAL VOTE" is counted!!!
Joe Lieberman gives me the 'willies'.
One of the biggest reasons we are having to deal with this whole Middle East/terrorism dilemma is our politicians' unwillingness to initiate and follow a balanced policy regarding Israel and Palestine. All roads to solving problems involving Muslim fundamentalism must pass through Jerusalem. Thoughts of accusations of anti-semitism strike fear in the hearts of political leaders in both parties in the U.S. People like Lieberman, Wolfowitz, and other Jews in DoD and most evangelical Christians actually stand in the way of an enlightened Middle East policy which would reduce Muslim angst and the terrorism which goes with it.
Mike's right. Despite the many other good points brought up, that's the most important, I think.
Remember how Joe Lieberman failed to pounce when his old buddy Dick Cheney said that his Halliburton largesse was obatained without any benefit from U.S. Government? Oh, and how about Good Old Joe generously extending a hand to the Republican vote grabbers with that veteran vote in Florida? Let us forget that they violated the law with late postmarks, the standard that had applied up to then. Remember what they called it? Republican Thanksgiving Stuffing! Thank you, Joe, for your efforts!
Thomas Darrow
Mike, okay, you make some good points. But politicians are afriad of accusations of anti-semitism precisely because people tend to drag the Jewishness of Lieberman, Wolfowitz, and others into the conversation. Wolfowitz is a blowhard, an asshole, and a danger to our national security utterly independent of his being Jewish.
Jews have been and remain one of the most loyal Democratic consistencies. Over 3/4 of Jews voted for John Kerry.
Lieberman is just another religious fundamentalist. Supports school vouchers and faith based initiatives. More Republican than Democrat. He calls himself a New Democrat. Let's bring back the OLD Democrats.
You have to make a distinction between most Jews and Zionists like Wolfowitz. He, and others, are involved in a criminal game with Israel against the Muslim powers in the Middle East. Many of the PNAC people are Zionists, and they have evrything to lose without Israeli domination. It's a tragic, twisted knot.
Miss Leader,
You're, of course, correct about the loyal Democratic support of a sizeable majority of a large Jewish constituency in the U.S. But it is precisely that loyal support that prompts John Kerry or any other national office-seeker to always take Israel's side when the Palestinian issue is involved. They dearly fear losing that support. Dean called for a "balanced" Middle East policy during the primary season and was subjected to withering criticism from all sides including accusations of anti-semitism. Lieberman was one of those who attacked him. Jews are far too quick to hold up the anti-semitism card. Politicians should be able to negatively criticize Israeli policy without being branded as anti-semites. One would like to think that having experienced so much ethnic discrimination and intolerance over the centuries that Jewish leaders would practice more forebearance themselves in the debate concerning one of the most contentious foreign policy issues of our time.
Mike Brown
Waco, TX
