# OK, Dems, early 2008 pool?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-dems-early-2008-pool/275466>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 18, 2004, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-dems-early-2008-pool/275466 "2004-11-18T14:58:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-dems-early-2008-pool/275466/41 "2004-11-22T21:11:00Z")

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> [@RTFirefly](#):
>
> I think this misses what’s really going on, which I think is [best summarized by Digby](http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2004_11_21_digbysblog_archive.html#110083058061816802):
> 
> > [@](#):
> >
> > The Republicans are selling a vision and a sense of belonging to a certain tribe. We [Democrats] are selling an argument and a program. They are using 21st century tools to manipulate primal human needs and simplify the world. We are using 20th century methods to appeal to reason in a complicated way. They have the better hand.

I’m not sure I understand. Could you give some examples of this?

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**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-dems-early-2008-pool/275466/42 "2004-11-23T00:09:03Z")

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> [@Kyla](#):
>
> I’m not sure I understand. Could you give some examples of this?

Republican “vision”: support the troops, some things are worth fighting for  
Republican reality: Prez went in National guard to avoid Vietnam. VP got student deferment

Republican vision: Family values  
Repubican reality: Reagan was divorced and his kids hated him. Gingrich was married three times. Bill Bennet was addicted to gambling.

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**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-dems-early-2008-pool/275466/43 "2004-11-23T02:54:01Z")

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> [@RTFirefly](#):
>
> I think this misses what’s really going on, which I think is [best summarized by Digby](http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2004_11_21_digbysblog_archive.html#110083058061816802):
> 
> > [@](#):
> >
> > The Republicans are selling a vision and a sense of belonging to a certain tribe. We [Democrats] are selling an argument and a program. They are using 21st century tools to manipulate primal human needs and simplify the world. We are using 20th century methods to appeal to reason in a complicated way. They have the better hand.

Tell me, does this not strike you as condescending in the extreme? “Oh, we have better programs, but when we tried to explain them the sheeple were too stupid to understand, which is why they voted for the dumbass Republicans who simply manipulated the idiots.” Do you not see this as a problem? No matter how right and proper most liberals _think_ they are, a majority of the citizens in America don’t agree with them. Wouldn’t it be better to change the message into something more palatable rather than just shaking one’s head and muttering “idiots” under one’s breath?  
(Czarcasm, is this post acceptable? I think so, but now I’m not sure)

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