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Written on Thursday, May 14th, 2009 at 5:46am by Alan Bedenko | 30 Comments

Democrat Socialist Party

The RNC is supposedly going to meet in an extraordinary session to officially re-brand the Democratic Party as the “Democrat Socialist Party”.

First of all, party ID for the Republicans has gone down to 25%, while Democrats boast 36%, and people calling themselves “independent” are at 37-ish%. So, it’s perfectly reasonable for the Republicans to invoke inflammatory, insulting language to demonize over 1/3 of the electorate.

Secondly, these people might have a problem with it.

When “Allahpundit” thinks it’s stupid, it’s probably pretty stupid:

More than anything, this reeks of impotence, operating almost as a concession that the right’s argument on the merits that the left is evolving towards socialism isn’t working to shift public opinion. So now they’re going to up the ante by trying the hard sell: Just repeat “socialism” as much as possible to try to drive it into people’s skulls, never minding the fact that that term’s already lost some of its taboo and might well lose more as it goes further mainstream. Or at least, I hope that’s the GOP strategy here. The alternative, that they’re simply sticking their fingers in their ears and repeating “socialist” over and over out of spite like a five-year-old, is too depressing to contemplate.

This is quite clearly the very best idea that the very best Republican minds can muster. I applaud their impotence.

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30 Comments

  1. Pete at BS says:
    May 14, 2009 at 6:00 am

    Who could possibly think this is a good idea, instead of ….you know….standing for something on their own? I am still often amazed at how generally smart people, when put together in one roon, can come up with the most idiotic of ideas.

    Go getum, GOPers, I guess.

  2. al l says:
    May 14, 2009 at 7:27 am

    careful silly, perhaps calling Barack Obama a Socialist will make socialism cool. its already picking up followers. see: http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/9655

    next up in the republican playbook: calling Democrats godless atheists.

  3. buffaloobserver says:
    May 14, 2009 at 8:58 am

    These are the same people that emphasize HUSSEIN when they pronounce the name of Barak HUSSEIN Obama as if anyone with an ounce of intellegence cares about their implication. How pathetic ! Yet local Rush Limbaugh wannabees Beach and Baurele eat this stuff up.

  4. The Humanist says:
    May 14, 2009 at 9:06 am

    I am very happy to stand aside and let the GOP keep digging.

    Assclownery at its finest.

  5. mamacrat says:
    May 14, 2009 at 9:37 am

    I love how the word socialist scares some people. It’s like when I tell my kids about the monster in their closets. Such nonsense. But man, it works.

  6. shim says:
    May 14, 2009 at 9:40 am

    As one of the few die hard Republicans in the group I think our party has bigger issues to deal with right now than rebranding the Democrats….

  7. Jon Splett says:
    May 14, 2009 at 10:45 am

    The rebranding is way more offensive to socialists than it is to democrats.

    I don’t want to be associated with a corporate party that thinks it’s a good idea to bail out the banks then NOT take control of them…

  8. Mike In WNY says:
    May 14, 2009 at 10:57 am

    Another stupid issue to keep Americans focused on anything but what is really wrong with this country. Both parties play this game and the sheeple fall for it.

  9. STEEL says:
    May 14, 2009 at 1:21 pm

    Then does the Republican party them become the Republic Nazi party?

  10. shim says:
    May 14, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    Besides…I think the Republicans rather than wasting time trying to rebrand the Democrats should just sit back and let Pelosi and co. keep talking. Eventually they’ll brand the party themselves….Similar to what the Republicans did in the ’90’s under Gingrich….the Dems are blowing it! 2010 is just around the corner.

  11. The Humanist says:
    May 14, 2009 at 3:10 pm

    @ shim – The Democrats have branded themselves – “We’re The Party That Didn’t Fuck Everything Up to Kingdom Come”

    As for Pelosi & Co. talking? The voters seemed pretty receptive in 2006 and 2008…as for 2010, announcing yourself as “The Party of No” is not going to win the GOP any new voters beyond the lizard-brain 28% that thought Bush was doing a heckuva job.

  12. shim says:
    May 14, 2009 at 3:23 pm

    Humanist…try as you might…this isn’t about Bush! It’s about Democrats blowing their big majority in Congress. The more Pelosi, Dodd, Frank, Reid and company keep talking the more the country is going to realize what partisan liberal hacks they are! Dodd’s in trouble in Connecticut as the result of his recanting what he knew about AIG bonuses (remember first he demonized AIG execs and then admitted he was part of creating the loophole that got them their bonuses) and Pelosi’s pitiful performance today showed what an incompetant lying hack she is. All I’m saying is rather than waste their time name calling and trying to rebrand the Democrats, Republicans leaders should keep quiet and sit back and let them hang themselves….it’s happening right in front of our eyes already!

  13. The Humanist says:
    May 14, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    @ Ward – if it isn’t about Bush, why is Dick Cheney on every news program? And not a single prominent Republican offering even a mild rebuke? Oh yeah….the GOP is led by Deadeye Dick The Torturer and Rush Limbaugh, Pedophilic Drug-Addicted Sex Tourist. And Michael Steele.

    God help ye.

    and FYI….Pelosi and Reid are far from liberal hacks…they’re just plain hacks mostly, especially Reid. But the GOP has been waging a PR jihad against Pelosi ever since she became Speaker and she’s still standing. Ever get the feeling you’re in an echo chamber?

  14. Pete at BS says:
    May 14, 2009 at 4:32 pm

    Instead of rebranding the Dems, or instead of sitting back and letting the Dems talk, maybe the GOP should………………….um……..do something constructive? Naw. That might prove that they aren’t completely rudderless.

  15. Ward says:
    May 14, 2009 at 4:37 pm

    “Oi don’t loike the sound of these ‘ere Bemocrat Bocialists.”

    BTW, Humanist — I see you replied to me when I didn’t post anything. Do you experience these episodes often? What are the voices in your head saying to you right now?

  16. Larry Castellani says:
    May 14, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    Hmmm…. Maybe it’s time to have a meaningful discussion about what socialism really is?

  17. Greg says:
    May 14, 2009 at 8:56 pm

    Republicans don’t have to worry about the Democrats so much as the Moderate Independents without an animal as their symbol. They have their own opinions and cannot be called any names because they have no visible consistent beliefs. Republicans would have to single out certain socialist independents but, that would take too much effort and would most likely bolster those Independents and thought of having no association to any party would be better.

    There should be three parties, Conservatives, Moderate Party, and Liberal Democrats. The political spectrum would be clearer but, I’m sure the Moderate party would constantly win lol.

  18. shim says:
    May 14, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    Ward…in defense of Humanist I believe he was responding to me. Like a typical liberal when he has no argument he resorted to name calling rants. However instead of just obstructing the message as they usually do this time it also caused him to forget who he was responding to. He did get one thing right in his message though…he admitted that Pelosi and Reid are a couple of hacks. Maybe there is hope for him yet…..

  19. Mike In WNY says:
    May 14, 2009 at 11:07 pm

    @The Humanist,

    if it isn’t about Bush, why is Dick Cheney on every news program?

    Good Point! Even Obama appears to be taking marching orders from Cheney, at least on the non-release of the prisoner photos. Cheney speaks, Obama listens.

  20. Ben McD says:
    May 15, 2009 at 12:12 am

    I’m just glad to see that socialism has the negative connotation it deserves.

  21. barney says:
    May 15, 2009 at 4:32 am

    Of course those who speak out against Socialism will never take a dime of Medicare or Social Security. Everyone should fend for themselves, right?
    Whats mine is mine and screw the rest.

  22. Russell says:
    May 15, 2009 at 7:17 am

    You’re right barney, because I’m sure they never put one dime into Medicare or Social Security, right?

  23. barney says:
    May 15, 2009 at 9:06 am

    Russell – there are many people who receive more than they put in for Soc Sec and Medicare, that is Socialism.
    The US has had some socialist programs for years, get used to it.
    If you want them gone, then just tell the Seniors they will have to pay their own way now.

  24. Russell says:
    May 15, 2009 at 11:34 am

    I didn’t say the US hasn’t had socialist-type programs and no one was talking about getting rid of them. I was just making it clear that those you referenced in your comment did pay into the system. If they accept money from it, it’s not like they didn’t pay into it.

    Once again, do not misrepresent what I say or put words into my mouth. Why is that so difficult for so many people on here?

  25. Chris from OP says:
    May 15, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    Ahhh the “Republic Can’t Tell a Noun from an Adjective Party” at its finest….. Is our children learning? Yes they is. F’ing sound like Bizarro everytime they use their mouths for anything but teabagging.

  26. PJ says:
    May 15, 2009 at 6:31 pm

    It’s about time the Grand Old Party updated its own name:

    Lost Its Mind Party (LIMP)
    Grand Irrelevant Party
    Rushpublicans (They might even like that name)
    Gave us Waterboarding Party
    Not the Party of Lincoln anymore Party
    Would embarass Eisenhauer Party
    We’re Right but not right Party.

    I don’t mean to paint all Republicans with a broad brush. I know many sane respectible GOP but the desperation of CheneyHannityColterIngrahmRushpublicans will do more harm to the GOP than it will to the Democrat-Socialists.

  27. Jon Splett says:
    May 15, 2009 at 11:38 pm

    @Ben – Yea, because faith in global capitalism is at an all time high right now…no PR problems there…

  28. Pete at BS says:
    May 16, 2009 at 5:46 am

    Sadly, it’s the global capitalists that made their bed, there. Doing business without any conscience at all will do that when the house of cards comes crashing down.

  29. b-lofreezing. says:
    May 16, 2009 at 6:26 am

    Notice how nobody bothered renaming the GOP ? People want to wait til it’s done eviscerating itself and see what’s left before bothering to call it anything. Cheney is going to run his mouth right into a federal cell with Karl Rove. Let the games continue…

  30. Ringo says:
    May 20, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    Off we go following the man with the magic flute. mindlessly following him to a land
    where the rich will become poor, the middle class will become poor and the poor will remain poor and none shall recover from this transfer of funds from peoples hands to government control for a hundred years.