The attacks on Ali Velshi's monologue yesterday - "Where's the Party?" are out of line.

[AverageOldGuy]

21. Today's Democrats: A band of hungry, pissed off lions led by a gaggle of sheep.

Two comments and some suggestions, or something.

ONE. Look at Newt Gingrich. Hate him all you want, he was successful in painting Democrats as socialists, communists, baby killers, while portraying Republicans as saviors of the US.

TWO. Why don’t Congressional Democrats use the tactics that helped Republicans?


ONE: The words we use.

In 1990 Gingrich – a Congressional back-seater of no particular consequence, sent to all Republicans running for office a memo titled “ Language: A Key Mechanism of Control.” This memo had two lists of words – one list was positive, friendly, helpful words, the other was negative, frightening, accusatory words. He urged Republicans to use the positive words when referring to themselves or other Republicans, use the negative words when referring to Democrats. They did exactly that and still do to this day. Democrats have never done such a thing.

Read about it here: https://archive.org/details/286852-stolberg/mode/2up

Why in God’s name have we not done the same thing?

TWO: Speaking out.

In both House and Senate, everything that happens, every word that is spoken, every document that is introduced is recorded in the Congressional Record. There’s a process known as “extending remarks.” If a Member is speaking on the floor, his/her time is limited, so, the speaker can ask that his/her remarks be extended then submit a written document that is recorded in the Congressional Record.

HOWEVER – Members can also speak on the floor for as long as they want after the House or Senate has adjourned for the day. Gingrich had his people gather on the empty House floor after adjournment daily, in a small group of 5 – 6 people, each of them would then speak for as long as they wanted. The others would sit around the speaker, making it appear that the House or Senate was in session and listening when, in fact, everyone except the speaker and his/her friends had gone home. The CSPAN cameras focused on the speaker, not on the empty chamber. The person speaking would then use the video back home to show himself/herself standing up against the evil, wicked Democrats when, in fact, it was all a farce. BUT GODDAM IT, IT WORKED!!!! CSPAN video was also used by the news media to portray the speaker as doing something great while, in fact, he/she was speaking to an empty chamber.

Which leads to some questions:

1. Where is the list of words Democrats should use when speaking of Republicans and their policies and Democrats and our policies?

2. And when – or IF – we develop such a list, who will crack the whip and force us to use the list?

3. Nothing is stopping Democratic members of Congress from standing on the Capitol steps, with the cameras rolling, denouncing Trump and his ass-kissing lackeys in Congress. There should be one such event EVERY GODDAM DAY – the cameras love it.

4. Why don’t we see Democrats on the floor at night extending remarks?

5. Why are there no Democrats leading marches on the White House – I’m 80, I have trouble walking, I’m 35 minutes from Capitol Hill by train and I can board the train 3 minutes from my apartment, I’ll be there every day - - - but there is no one to lead us.

Seems to me the Democratic Party today is a band of hungry lions led by cowardly sheep.