Beating the Torture Prez

Ian Welsh at The Agonist says it much better than I could. How to beat the Republican Grand Old Torture Party at the winning hearts and minds campaign. Do I think the Democrats will do what Ian suggests, Hell No! This is the Democratic go along to get along party after all. A few may complain and whine a bit. The rest will try to be as inconspicuous as possible-not a squeeck as they give that simpering dilletante dubya our constitution to wipe his butt with. If they love my country they'll do what Ian's telling them to do.
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Winning the Torture Fight

Look. Here's the scenario the Dems are scared of. They filibuster the torture act. Rove already has some 9/11 families lined up. They come out with ads saying "Democrats are weak on national security. They don't want to protect us. They don't understand the world changed on 9/11. They're weak"
This is beatable.
Strength is what strength does.
The message is simple
"America stands against torture. Anyone who wants us to torture is anti-American"
And you haul out your own passel of 9/11 families.
Doesn't anyone know how to play the bloody game? These people telegraph their moves by months to years. We know they have 9/11 families as their backstop.
Run our own ads -
1) Our 9/11 survivors (yeah, they don't all support torture by a long shot) saying "my husband didn't die so he could be used an excuse for George Bush to hang people from chains"
2) Run an add saying "America isn't about raping children to break their mothers who are listening to their screams. But George Bush wants to protect torturers from being tried in court. A Democratic America doesn't torture. Choose your America in November."
This isn't a fight that can't be won, but you've to actually be willing to fight and
get down in the mud.
Make people choose. And if they want to get into an argument about the details of what torture has happened, let's have that fight.
"No no, when we hit our wives, we're careful not to hit them where it leaves
visible bruises." Really, let's make the election about it. Grind it into the
Republicans faces.
Stop running from this fight.