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My wife and I rented an excellent political movie last night, Lee Atwater Boogie man

If you haven't seen it, do so.  It will provide context for a lot of today's political rhetoric (not to mention historical context)

The documentary explores the extraordinary contribution Atwater made to the Republican Party, specifically to Reagan and the first Bush.  It also effectively shows the dichotomy between the charming Atwater and his dirty tricks. 

A few points stick in my mind after watching it.

* Atwater did not invent dirty politics, but he did introduce this style to the Republicans.  They were on the ropes after the great depression, Nixon brought back a resurgence, but almost lost it after Watergate.  Incidentally, I think the film neglects another influence on today's political process, Richard Nixon.  You can read about his (mostly poisonous) contributions to our current political debate in Rick Perlstein's excellent book Nixonland.

* Michael Dukakis is a good man, a bright man, and an honorable one.  I do not know if he is fit to be president though.  The documentary shows clearly his disgust at being smeared, and he was certainly smeared.  But it also showed to me his reluctance to address these smears, which became a tacit admission in the eyes of the public. It's a shame this is the way it is, but it is reality.  President Obama too often sits silently while he is being smeared with blatant accusations. And it has hurt him.  Look at the healthcare reform.  The Atwater clones today know how to inflame and scare the masses.  We can not make our case on mere facts alone.  Facts are for the history book, and relying on facts alone in campaigns will make you merely a footnote in the history books.  See Dukakis, Michael.

*The most fascinating and honest admission came from the late Robert Novak in the film.  Novak was as partisan right wing as anyone, that's beyond dispute.  He admitted on camera that Republicans only care about winning, the Democrats are idealistic..although he chuckled and said he thought their ideas were wrong.  But still, this is the core issue.  Republicans want to win, and will do any thing possible to do so.  The ideas are the most important driver in the Democratic Party, and we sit back and think ideas will carry the day by themselves.   Bill Clinton knew better, and his results are self evident.   We need more willingness to bareknuckle street fight- which the common man can relate to-, instead of being strictly fact based and professorial -which persuades only the elite.

The movie gives great insight as to why the 99% vote against their interest.  They embrace abstracts such as the pledge of allegiance and distrust others outside their world.  The Republicans divide and conquer.

But we have an opportunity to do the same.  We need active class warfare -philosophically, lest some right winger lies and accuses me of calling for violence.  Play up the excesses and callousness of the wealthy.  In these times, there will be many that bristle at this.

And consider this, by throwing their lot behind Ayn Rand, they are not offering up any statistics to show their method works (and I realize statistics DO NOT in any way suggest they do), but they are using the morality position, as Ayn did.  They are saying they are rich because they deserve to be.  That one can be easily defeated by showing how undeserving they are.

Rent this movie.  It will anger you, but hopefully it will enlighten you.