3 points to solidify Democratic popularity

ILLUSTRATED: 1)link smart regulation to economic growth, 2) link assault weapons to Mexican narco-terrorism, and 3) expose the GOP as economic royalists for their hypocrisy on contracts.

Regulation: I'll bet that 70% of Americans agree with the statement "government should regulate business and finance so that it can sustain itself, but not suppress it." Use the metaphor of a tide (the economy) that rises and falls, but you need a system of levies to regulate the water and keep it consistent and safe. The American people see this through our frame, that government is an actor in capitalism.

Assault weapons- Mexico's border towns have violence at an extreme level, stretching civil control to the breaking point. The nexus between narco-terrorism in Mexico and American assault weapons is undeniable. Perhaps after the 2010 elections Congress should try to repeal it. It will allow Democrats from conservative districts to avoid the issue in 2010, but put 2012 GOP presidential hopefuls on the spot.

Abrogating contracts- The classist hypocrisy is very obvious here. Labor contracts for manufacturing workers are called "legacy costs" by conservatives. But bonuses for executives who run their banks into the ground are sacrosanct contracts. As are mortgages that are too high for ordinary people.

AIG, a crucial turning point in American political history

ILLUSTRATED: The GOP is discussing the AIG issue from a progressive point of view.

In 2005, George Lakoff's theory of "Framing" was the flavor of the year among Democratic activists. His theory stresses the importance of the vantage point from which issues are discussed. The famous example is "tax relief", which implies taxes are oppressive, a bad thing. As opposed to taxes being the dues of citizenship, the funding of a public trust.

This week, the second week of March 2009, I see as a turning point in the dialog of American politics. Words are thoughts, thus the thinking of the country is changing.
This week, the dominant story in the news is the bipartisan outrage of bonuses paid to AIG, the insurance company which was central to the meltdown of 2008. As of this week $170 billion had been paid in bailout money.

By complaining about these bonuses, Republicans are 1) suggesting the bonuses be taxed, 2) criticizing the Obama Administration for not attaching strings to the bailout, and 3)suggesting that these companies should be regulated.

In other words, Republicans are debating this issue in a progressive frame. Democrats now have the political cover to argue for sensible regulations, and sensible taxes on the very wealthy.

Rushing the Limbaugh Fraternity

ILLUSTRATED: A political party must stand for ideas, and not be based on a charismatic figure. Especially a figure not even in the arena.

With today's humiliating and pathetic apology by RNC Chairman Michael Steele to Rush Limbaugh, it has become clear that Limbaugh is a cult of personality that trumps any policy proposal. In developing democracies, parties are usually ethnic or based around one person. In advanced democracies, parties are based on ideas.

GOP candidates cannot cross Limbaugh. Essentially there will be a Rush Limbaugh Primary in every open House and Senate race in 2010 and 2012. As for the 2012 GOP Primary, I envision every candidate visiting Rush's studio. They have to pledge ("Rush") to become accepted by him, like a fraternity.

The Republican party is truly in a pathetic state. Limbaugh is a right wing centripetal force that will force GOP candidates so far right, they will be un-electable. They need 1) contemporary policy ideas and 2) candidates with the courage to say them. Let's just say Obama, Pelosi, and Reid are sitting pretty.