It’s Time to Fight Back!

 

I hate to admit it, but it’s time to meet the other side, head-on. A new narrative must be created to convince people that the conservatives, represented by Republicans, are willing to fight for our values and proposals, and do it with every resource we have, and we don’t care whether the Dems like it or not.

Martel, in his recent post persuaded me that we must be creative, determined, and unapologetic about what we have to offer this country. The process will be painful, difficult, and discouraging at the beginning, because people won’t believe us. They won’t. And the Democrats will use everything in their arsenal to fight us. But an adamant truth-telling must begin.

At this point I have to take a deep breath. I’m not even fully convinced of the argument I’m going to make. But if we don’t take these steps, we will completely lose the country to Progressivism. Here are my suggestions:

  1. Conduct extensive research on the Democratic leadership: their investments, misuse of funds, betrayal of their constituencies, poor decisions, corrupt cronies, and lies. Most of this research has probably been done already; we just need to be willing to tell the world.
  2. Publish their dossiers, with full disclosure and source information.
  3. Identify social media that will promote the same agenda and information. Provide them with data sheets to strengthen their arguments.
  4. Stick with data that can be verified, whenever possible; qualify any information as unverified when it hasn’t been.
  5. Tell the Republicans that the train has left the station, and you hope they’re on it.

The blowback will be powerful, from the Left and Right. The Left will try to ignore us, but eventually they will try to fight back, and try to discredit us. The Right had better be prepared to have their backgrounds exposed. I’m sure that many of the long-term Senators and Congressmen have stories and situations to hide; that’s unfortunate, but they’ve probably been riding on the public wagon for too long. It’s time to either clean up their acts or find a new way to make a living. Finally, our politicians need to impose term limits; the political elite will not be spared.

This strategy will also tell the up-and-coming politicians that they’d better keep their noses clean. Don’t bother to run for office if you have something to hide. Put in some time in working in the real world, so that you understand life outside of politics. And if elected, plan to stay clean while you are serving in the US Congress.

This strategy may need to become the new normal for politicians. Although it may initially be harder than ever to find people to run for office, eventually people will realize that if they are principled conservatives, we will back them up and attack those who try to take them down.

Maybe, just maybe, the day will come when the ugly attacks lessen (they will never go away) and we can actually talk about policy once again.

More than ever, political office won’t be a place for sissies.

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  1. Terry Mott Member
    Terry Mott
    @TerryMott

    I suggest this idea needs to be expanded to include the Democrats’ mouthpieces in the press, as well.

    • #31
  2. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Terry Mott (View Comment):
    I suggest this idea needs to be expanded to include the Democrats’ mouthpieces in the press, as well.

    Interesting suggestion! That effort would sure keep us busy!

    • #32
  3. Dean Murphy Member
    Dean Murphy
    @DeanMurphy

    Terry Mott (View Comment):
    I suggest this idea needs to be expanded to include the Democrats’ mouthpieces in the press, as well.

    I agree, the media has become the Democrat Party.

    • #33
  4. DocJay Inactive
    DocJay
    @DocJay

    Lance (View Comment):
    For this kind of effort to sustain and succeed, it generally needs a personality to rally around…a charismatic to take point on the moral and intellectual argument and a leader who demonstrates through example how to charge and seize the field. 2 questions…

    1. Who do feel can effectively serve that role today?

    2. Why aren’t they already doing so?

    The president could appoint someone who isn’t corrupt to do this, few and far between.  I’d even be happy with a new office.  The symbol out front is a D R wood chipper ;-)

    • #34
  5. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Just like I was reluctant to post on this topic, I’m a bit reluctant to make the following comments. But I feel I have an important point to make here that I think some people may have missed.

    I think some folks think I’ve crossed over to “the other side,” whatever that means. Quite honestly, I still don’t like Trump, but I keep most of my criticisms to myself. He gets enough “negative press” from everywhere else. I also wish him well because all of us will benefit if he’s successful. None of this is new for me.

    What is new for me is taking an aggressive approach and I resent having to make these suggestions. I know politics is ugly, I know that people lie and scheme. I also like the fact that Republicans, for the most part are decent people who don’t engage in hyperbole and try to be respectful to their opponents. And it frankly ticks me off that we have to take drastic measures that I personally detest to slap down the Democrats. So what’s changed for me is having to “get into the gutter with them,” in a sense.

    Those people who think this isn’t warfare are misguided. This is war. And the only actions from us that the other side will understand is our  seriously wounding them. It’s the only way to survive and move forward. I just felt I needed to say this.

    • #35
  6. OccupantCDN Coolidge
    OccupantCDN
    @OccupantCDN

    Susan Quinn:

    • Conduct extensive research on the Democratic leadership: their investments, misuse of funds, betrayal of their constituencies, poor decisions, corrupt cronies, and lies. Most of this research has probably been done already; we just need to be willing to tell the world.
    • Publish their dossiers, with full disclosure and source information.
    • Identify social media that will promote the same agenda and information. Provide them with data sheets to strengthen their arguments.
    • Stick with data that can be verified, whenever possible; qualify any information as unverified when it hasn’t been.
    • Tell the Republicans that the train has left the station, and you hope they’re on it.

    I disagree with you on 1 point. The right media should not build a narrative. We should insist on the truth in media from the media, narrative be damned.

    1. Agreed, concentrating on the largest sanctuary cites. Maybe the FBI will get interested if enough information becomes public to embarrass them into action. Should also include civil rights and human rights abuses by police forces. (like Homan Sq in Chicago, where more than 7000 people where ‘disappeared’ by the Chicago Police)
    2. The unauthorized biography should make a comeback – but not just as hit pieces, be honest.
    3. I hate talking points, I turn off panel discussions when participants start parroting the same phrases that get emailed out on a daily basis.
    4. This goes back to truth in media – being honest means that you also should attempt to be accurate. Also dont report rumors.
    • #36
  7. Trinity Waters Member
    Trinity Waters
    @

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    Just like I was reluctant to post on this topic, I’m a bit reluctant to make the following comments. But I feel I have an important point to make here that I think some people may have missed.

    I think some folks think I’ve crossed over to “the other side,” whatever that means. Quite honestly, I still don’t like Trump, but I keep most of my criticisms to myself. He gets enough “negative press” from everywhere else. I also wish him well because all of us will benefit if he’s successful. None of this is new for me.

    What is new for me is taking an aggressive approach and I resent having to make these suggestions. I know politics is ugly, I know that people lie and scheme. I also like the fact that Republicans, for the most part are decent people who don’t engage in hyperbole and try to be respectful to their opponents. And it frankly ticks me off that we have to take drastic measures that I personally detest to slap down the Democrats. So what’s changed for me is having to “get into the gutter with them,” in a sense.

    Those people who think this isn’t warfare are misguided. This is war. And the only actions from us that the other side will understand is our seriously wounding them. It’s the only way to survive and move forward. I just felt I needed to say this.

    It doesn’t matter one bit if you like Trump.

    Is he our vehicle to recover our nation?  Possibly.  Would any of the other candidates of either party fight for us like he does?  Probably not.  This isn’t a popularity contest, Susan, so buck up.  Go all in.

    • #37
  8. MJBubba Member
    MJBubba
    @

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    Just like I was reluctant to post on this topic, I’m a bit reluctant to make the following comments. But I feel I have an important point to make here that I think some people may have missed.

    I think some folks think I’ve crossed over to “the other side,” whatever that means. Quite honestly, I still don’t like Trump, but I keep most of my criticisms to myself. He gets enough “negative press” from everywhere else. I also wish him well because all of us will benefit if he’s successful. None of this is new for me.

    What is new for me is taking an aggressive approach and I resent having to make these suggestions. I know politics is ugly, I know that people lie and scheme. I also like the fact that Republicans, for the most part are decent people who don’t engage in hyperbole and try to be respectful to their opponents. And it frankly ticks me off that we have to take drastic measures that I personally detest to slap down the Democrats. So what’s changed for me is having to “get into the gutter with them,” in a sense.

    Those people who think this isn’t warfare are misguided. This is war. And the only actions from us that the other side will understand is our seriously wounding them. It’s the only way to survive and move forward. I just felt I needed to say this.

    That’s the spirit.

    Thank you very much for this post.

    We really do not need for the other side to understand anything.   What we need is to motivate the low-information voters on our side.  They can be motivated, if they feel that we are fighting for them.

    • #38
  9. profdlp Inactive
    profdlp
    @profdlp

    MJBubba (View Comment):
    We really do not need for the other side to understand anything. What we need is to motivate the low-information voters on our side. They can be motivated, if they feel that we are fighting for them.

    The left have been the schoolyard bullies for years.  The right is the poor dweeb who loses his lunch money on a regular basis.  The low-information voters are the crowd of kids who gather around during the fight.  Some of them might feel sorry for the dweeb, but they will not dare speak out against the bully.

    • #39
  10. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    anonymous (View Comment):
    The age of authority is dying: the age of individual choice is brushing it away just as we’ve earlier dispensed with kings and prelates, but they will not go gently into their well-deserved oblivion. It’ll take a push, and part of that push must be discrediting, by their own words and actions, those who would enslave us. But there’s one thing they failed to take into account, as they disdained the nerds who created it: a lateral communication network which has rendered their top-down, one-to-many model of communication impotent and obsolete—just like them.

    Thanks so much for your comment and this information, John. I have read Rules for Radicals; it was chilling. I have put David Horowitz’s link into my favorites, and I plan to read your article on “Enemies”; it looks like an intriguing read. Your background in this area is impressive. I’m just beginning to learn which questions to ask. Thanks.

    • #40
  11. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    OccupantCDN (View Comment):
    I disagree with you on 1 point. The right media should not build a narrative. We should insist on the truth in media from the media, narrative be damned.

    Very good points, Occupant. Just to clarify, I meant creative a narrative for our own people, so they would understand the purpose of our actions; that we are not being arbitrary or careless or directionless. I think stressing that there is an overall objective to our side will be important, as the Democrats vehemently protest what we are doing.

    • #41
  12. blood thirsty neocon Inactive
    blood thirsty neocon
    @bloodthirstyneocon

    And exercise our constitutional right to get information from whoever we can legally get it from:  the Russians, the Israeli’s, or whoever runs the Capitol Hill brothel. Losing is unethical.

    • #42
  13. Martel Inactive
    Martel
    @Martel

    Terry Mott (View Comment):
    I suggest this idea needs to be expanded to include the Democrats’ mouthpieces in the press, as well.

    I have an idea on how to do this (which they set themselves up for repeatedly) that I’ll try to make into my next post, probably in a day or two.

    • #43
  14. MJBubba Member
    MJBubba
    @

    profdlp (View Comment):

    MJBubba (View Comment):
    We really do not need for the other side to understand anything. What we need is to motivate the low-information voters on our side. They can be motivated, if they feel that we are fighting for them.

    The left have been the schoolyard bullies for years. The right is the poor dweeb who loses his lunch money on a regular basis. The low-information voters are the crowd of kids who gather around during the fight. Some of them might feel sorry for the dweeb, but they will not dare speak out against the bully.

    They won’t speak up.  Speaking up for President Trump can cost you a job, or broken relationships in your family, etc.

    But what we need for them to do is stop echoing the bully’s lines.  Then we need them to show up and vote for the GOP.

    We have to give them a reason to cast that vote.

    • #44
  15. Martel Inactive
    Martel
    @Martel

    MJBubba (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    Just like I was reluctant to post on this topic, I’m a bit reluctant to make the following comments. But I feel I have an important point to make here that I think some people may have missed.

    I think some folks think I’ve crossed over to “the other side,” whatever that means. Quite honestly, I still don’t like Trump, but I keep most of my criticisms to myself. He gets enough “negative press” from everywhere else. I also wish him well because all of us will benefit if he’s successful. None of this is new for me.

    What is new for me is taking an aggressive approach and I resent having to make these suggestions. I know politics is ugly, I know that people lie and scheme. I also like the fact that Republicans, for the most part are decent people who don’t engage in hyperbole and try to be respectful to their opponents. And it frankly ticks me off that we have to take drastic measures that I personally detest to slap down the Democrats. So what’s changed for me is having to “get into the gutter with them,” in a sense.

    Those people who think this isn’t warfare are misguided. This is war. And the only actions from us that the other side will understand is our seriously wounding them. It’s the only way to survive and move forward. I just felt I needed to say this.

    That’s the spirit.

    Thank you very much for this post.

    We really do not need for the other side to understand anything. What we need is to motivate the low-information voters on our side. They can be motivated, if they feel that we are fighting for them.

    I do believe that there are folks out there who can be converted, both among “independents” and even some of the more decent types on the other side.

    What I don’t believe is that being soft and milquetoast is the way to do it.

    Weakness is repulsive. If we always seem apologetic, people start assuming we have a lot to apologize for.  If one side is screaming it’s head off as the other side remains eternally calm, sometimes the loudmouths seem “passionate” and the calm ones seem indifferent.  If you don’t really seem to care about defending yourself, people often think you’ve nothing to defend.  Seeming confident about your views is sadly often more convincing than actually knowing what the hell you’re talking about.  People prefer leaders over the rudderless, even if they don’t agree with where they’re being led.

    You don’t grovel for the middle in desperate hopes of pleasing them, you bring them to you by having a strong core and selling that core as well as possible.

    While making the other guys look like idiots, of course.

    • #45
  16. blood thirsty neocon Inactive
    blood thirsty neocon
    @bloodthirstyneocon

    So are we finally willing to admit that one of Trump’s strengths is his willingness to fight? Better late than never. Can we now stop carping about tweets?

    • #46
  17. wilber forge Inactive
    wilber forge
    @wilberforge

    Is interesting to see something that speaks to the Nuts and Bolts of the insanity and created confusion of the current  affairs.

    For all the high minded ideals found here, perhaps some have forgotten what it really means to achieve goals without getting something on their shoes. Blunt, but true.

    • #47
  18. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    wilber forge (View Comment):
    Is interesting to see something that speaks to the Nuts and Bolts of the insanity and created confusion of the current affairs.

    For all the high minded ideals found here, perhaps some have forgotten what it really means to achieve goals without getting something on their shoes. Blunt, but true.

    Scott Adams talks a lot about how much more effective “systems” are versus achieving goals.

    So rather than a goal of vanquishing the left (best I could come up with off the cuff) we have a system of consistently giving no quarter.

    I found myself in a FB discussion this week with one guy I kinda know and a whole lot I don’t. It was a steady drumbeat of racism, how racist America is, how racist cops are blah blah blah.

    I challenged them calmly with facts and my own experiences. Again and again. And got called names and was sworn at. I might have not made any headway changing minds but at least I ruined their pity party.

    Did get an apology from one commenter, though

    • #48
  19. Suspira Member
    Suspira
    @Suspira

    Trinity Waters (View Comment):
    Welcome aboard the MAGA train

    I can’t see how Trump could be the point man for this. He couldn’t stand up to this kind of scrutiny.

    • #49
  20. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Suspira (View Comment):

    Trinity Waters (View Comment):
    Welcome aboard the MAGA train

    I can’t see how Trump could be the point man for this. He couldn’t stand up to this kind of scrutiny.

    I agree, Suspira. In fact, someone recommended in an earlier comment that it should be someone from outside D.C.

    • #50
  21. Arizona Patriot Member
    Arizona Patriot
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Susan, I agree that the Conservative side needs to fight, but I disagree about your suggestions regarding how to fight.  Good opposition research is necessary, but is not the major battle.  The major battle is for the culture.

    President Trump is actually the one doing this effectively.  He takes on the deceptive Left-wing media.  He slaughters the sacred cows of political correctness.  He goes to Saudi Arabia and tells them that they need to help stamp out Islamic terrorism, allow religious freedom and recognize women’s rights.  He goes to Poland and sings the praises of Western Civilization.  He takes on illegal immigration and Muslim immigration and doesn’t care if they call him a racist.

    I was strongly opposed to Trump initially, but he’s very effective and seems to be getting more Conservative every day.  He’s even talking about God and faith in a way that, to me, comes across as genuine.  I did not expect him to be nearly as good as he’s proving to be.

    My suggestion is more loyalty to the President.  This doesn’t mean mindless devotion, or blindness to flaws.  It means focusing on the positive, and resisting the temptation to harp on the flaws.

    My favorite commentator, Andrew Klavan, does this masterfully.  He doesn’t deny the problems, but he doesn’t dwell on them.  He acknowledges the negative, then moves on and discusses the positive at length.

    • #51
  22. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Arizona Patriot (View Comment):
    President Trump is actually the one doing this effectively. He takes on the deceptive Left-wing media. He slaughters the sacred cows of political correctness. He goes to Saudi Arabia and tells them that they need to help stamp out Islamic terrorism, allow religious freedom and recognize women’s rights. He goes to Poland and sings the praises of Western Civilization. He takes on illegal immigration and Muslim immigration and doesn’t care if they call him a racist.

    AP, It looks like you are broadening the focus from conservatism to perhaps culture and conservatism? I think that’s a very good idea. Our politics come out of the culture, after all. That’s food for thought. Thanks

    • #52
  23. Arizona Patriot Member
    Arizona Patriot
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Arizona Patriot (View Comment):
    President Trump is actually the one doing this effectively. He takes on the deceptive Left-wing media. He slaughters the sacred cows of political correctness. He goes to Saudi Arabia and tells them that they need to help stamp out Islamic terrorism, allow religious freedom and recognize women’s rights. He goes to Poland and sings the praises of Western Civilization. He takes on illegal immigration and Muslim immigration and doesn’t care if they call him a racist.

    AP, It looks like you are broadening the focus from conservatism to perhaps culture and conservatism? I think that’s a very good idea. Our politics come out of the culture, after all. That’s food for thought. Thanks

    Yeah, the real battle is cultural.  Andrew Breitbart was great about this — his famous quote is something like “politics is downstream from culture,” though the phrase might not have been originally his.  Andrew Klavan often says the same thing.

    I’m pretty sure that you can agree even if you’re not named Andrew.

    The big point is this.  Facts don’t actually matter very much, in terms of persuasion, because we generally think in terms of a narrative.  If facts fit our internal narrative, we like it and remember those facts.  If facts don’t fit our narrative, we dismiss them, which can be done in several ways.  We can question the source.  We can consider the facts to be unrepresentative outliers.  We can just ignore the facts.

    Jonathan Haidt is very persuasive on this point.  When a fact fits our preconceptions, we ask “can I believe it?”  If it’s remotely plausible, we believe it.  When a fact does not fit our preconceptions, we ask “must I believe it?”  We then go looking for reasons to reject the fact, and — surprise, surprise — we generally find one, or more than one.

    This works on both the left and the right politically, and on both believers and unbelievers spiritually.

    The Left is more successful in the culture war because they do a better job of indoctrinating people with their narrative.  This is even true of the new Planet of the Apes movie.

    • #53
  24. Archie Campbell Member
    Archie Campbell
    @ArchieCampbell

    Susan Quinn: This strategy will also tell the up-and-coming politicians that they’d better keep their noses clean. Don’t bother to run for office if you have something to hide.

    The problem with this is that some people have things to hide that are not criminal or unethical, but rather concern other people who should not be exposed by proxy. Not because those they protect are criminal or unethical, but because they are vulnerable and not public figures. Or which concern themselves, but in the parlance of my family, are no one else’s go***mn business (remember when that was a safe  assumption about one’s life?)  Your strategy will just up the ante on doxing everyone, which will push many, many otherwise good people to eschew public service. At least until we get to the point that no one can have any secrets at all, which I don’t want to contemplate.

    • #54
  25. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Arizona Patriot (View Comment):
    Jonathan Haidt is very persuasive on this point. When a fact fits our preconceptions, we ask “can I believe it?” If it’s remotely plausible, we believe it. When a fact does not fit our preconceptions, we ask “must I believe it?” We then go looking for reasons to reject the fact, and — surprise, surprise — we generally find one, or more than one.

    As I was reading your comment, I said to myself, he’s going to refer to Jonathan Haidt–good job! I agree. I’ve seen @skipsul refer to this as confirmation bias, too. I’ve seen people argue with Haidt about this idea–they’re usually from the Left–but it’s true.

    • #55
  26. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Archie Campbell (View Comment):
    Your strategy will just up the ante on doxing everyone, which will push many, many otherwise good people to eschew public service. At least until we get to the point that no one can have any secrets at all, which I don’t want to contemplate.

    Point taken, Archie. I thought about that, too. People are already reluctant to run. But maybe what needs to be included is a condemnation of the Left for publicizing meaningless (but potentially hurtful) information. I know, I know, like they’ll pay attention. Just another unintended consequence to be concerned about.

    • #56
  27. Archie Campbell Member
    Archie Campbell
    @ArchieCampbell

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    But maybe what needs to be included is a condemnation of the Left for publicizing meaningless (but potentially hurtful) information.

    To be fair to the Left (which hurts me), the Right has done a fair bit of this itself.

    • #57
  28. Boss Mongo Member
    Boss Mongo
    @BossMongo

    Concur.  Wholeheartedly.

    • #58
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