George Lakoff on Bush not staying the course about staying the course.

Frame negation, metaphorical thought, lingusitic strategy...whatever. Sometimes it's best to just go to the video.

More Lakoff: And if the president loses, does that mean the Democrats will win? Perhaps. But if they do, it will be because of Republican missteps and not because they’ve acted with strategic brilliance. Their “new direction” slogan offers no values and no positive vision. It is taken from a standard poll question, “Do you like the direction the nation is headed in?”

This is a shame. The Democrats are giving up a golden opportunity to accurately frame their values and deepest principles (even on national security), to forge a public identity that fits those values — and perhaps to win more close races by being positive and having a vision worth voting for.

Right now, though, no language articulating a Democratic vision seems in the offing. If the Democrats don’t find a more assertive strategy, their gains will be short-lived. They, too, will learn the pitfalls of staying the course.

Comments

[Doug H]

A question for you with a better understanding of the functioning of political parties:

Why have the Democrats been unable to pull together a cohesive message?

Is it the Democratic leadership in their committee not being able to agree? Is it a shortcoming of Howard Dean? The election committee? As someone who is unhappy with the policies of the Bush administration and the Republican party, I am really disappointed in the Democratic party's lack of ability to slam dunk this election cycle.

[Lex]

I have no insight into the thinking of either national party, but I have to wonder if the Democrats' reluctance to lay out a clearer agenda (other than Nancy Pelosi's very recent "First 100 Hours" list) bespeaks a reluctance to be held accountable for promises of specific, measurable achievements.

Inasmuch as the Dems look likely to take over the House, at least, at this point, I sure hope that's not it, because if there's one thing Washington needs right now, it's accountability ... from everyone, for everyone.