infrastructure | Messaging Matters

Sexing up that boring word ‘infrastructure’

Written on May 11, 2018 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging, Democratic vs. Republican Presidents, Good Government, Messaging Maxims

Millau Viaduct, France

The word “infrastructure” puts people to sleep. It’s up there with “tax tables” in the attention-getting zone. However, few things are more important to America than having modern, well-maintained roads, bridges, airports, rail systems, electrical grids and Internet backbones. As Donald Trump and the Republicans have dropped the ball in this area, Democrats have a great issue to run on in the 2018 and 2020 elections. First, however, the Democrats could inject a little sex into the dry terminology on this issue.

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Tags: 2018 Elections, 2020 Elections, Congress, Democrats, Donald Trump, electric, highways, infrastructure, Internet, Net Neutrality, rail, Republicans, roads

Suggestion for Democrats: gloves off, no cooperation with Republicans

Written on December 28, 2017 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging, Democratic vs. Republican Presidents

Soft and fuzzy Democrats

Republicans in the U.S. Senate have waged at least a nine-year war against the Democrats. The first eight years included obstruction of President Barack Obama at every turn, as the GOP plotted on Obama’s inauguration night. This Republican obstruction culminated in the unprecedented move of refusing to hold a confirmation hearing and vote on President Obama’s U.S. Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, even though the Republicans had 10 months to do so. Now that a Republican is in the White House, Donald Trump, GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and their partisan cohorts suddenly want the Democrats to bend in order to pass so-called “bipartisan” legislation that is written by Republicans, typically with no opportunity for Democratic input. The Democrats should not bend over and take this treatment. Instead, Democrats should fight, filibuster, and otherwise refuse to cooperate with Republicans every chance they get.

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Tags: Affordable Care Act, Barack Obama, David Vitter, Democratic Party, Donald Trump, GOP Tax Scam, infrastructure, Merrick Garland, Mitch McConnell, public option, Republican Party, Senate, Single-payer, Supreme Court

Fighting for Amtrak, transportation and good government

Written on May 19, 2015 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging, Good Government, Republican Messaging

High speed trains in London

The recent Amtrak derailment in Pennsylvania has once again exposed America’s embarrassing train transportation system. Parts of this system are up to 150 years old, and it’s falling apart. Yet, when Democrats, including President Barack Obama, propose to modernize our train system and build high-speed trains, Republicans oppose these plans.

Predictably, after the Amtrak accident, in addition to the horrible optics of simultaneous Republican budget cuts, we are hearing the usual Republican talking points about America’s train transportation system. Here are the main GOP talking points, along with some possible responses:

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Tags: 9/11, Amtrak, conservatives, Democrats, infrastructure, liberals, Postal Service, Republicans, Shock Doctrine, Trains, transporation

Good roads come from good government

Written on August 5, 2014 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging, Good Government, Republican Messaging

Route 66 in Flagstaff, AZ, where the highways meet.

Route 66, America’s “mother road,” was built in large part by the federal government. This includes funding going back to the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916 and the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1921. In the 1930s, Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt put thousands of unemployed young men to work completing Route 66. Likewise, America’s Interstate Highway System was constructed pursuant to the 1956 National Interstate and Defense Highways Act envisioned and signed by Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower. All of this federal highway construction has brought about tremendous benefits for Americans, from commercial to recreational, and it could not have been done without politicians from all sides participating in Good Government for patriotic reasons.

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Tags: Democratic Party, Eisenhower, Franklin Roosevelt, highways, infrastructure, Insterstate Highway system, Republican Party, Ronald Reagan, Route 66

What we’d like to hear at the Congressional town hall meetings

Written on July 29, 2014 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging

Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) at 2010 town hall meeting

Congress is about to take a paid vacation for the entire month of August. During this time, many members of Congress hold town hall meetings where they take questions from their constituents. Here are some questions we would love our Republican friends to ask their Republican members of Congress:

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Tags: Congress, contraception, impeachment, infrastructure, Obama lawsuit, recess, Republican Party, town hall

Republicans are the party of “EXCEPT”

Written on June 10, 2014 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging, Republican Messaging

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Republicans “support the troops” EXCEPT Bowe Bergdahl.

Republicans are “pro-life” EXCEPT once a baby is born, then he’s on his own.

Republicans believe in “law and order” EXCEPT when it comes to keeping guns away from violent criminals, terrorists and the mentally ill.

Republicans believe in the “sanctity of marriage” EXCEPT between gay couples.

Republicans believe in “family values” EXCEPT when GOP officials are caught cheating on their spouses or frequenting prostitutes.

Republicans believe in “smaller government” and “lower spending” EXCEPT when a Republican is in the White House.

Republicans are “pro-business” EXCEPT when it comes to helping business by repairing America’s crumbling roads and bridges.

Republicans “believe in the Constitution” EXCEPT when federal law requires grazing fees on federal land.

Republicans are “tough on crime” EXCEPT when it comes to white-collar crime by bankers.

Republicans “fight terrorism” EXCEPT when it’s right-wing domestic terrorism.

Republicans believe in “free speech” EXCEPT when it comes to revealing genetically-modified foods, donors to right-wing dark money groups, or information women need when they’re pregnant.

Photo by Pargon, used under Creative Commons license. http://is.gd/G4VJ4w

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Tags: abortion, Constitution, crime, First Amendment, free speech, gay marriage, gun control, infrastructure, marriage, pro-life, support the troops, terrorism

Messaging Maxim #7: You get the legislation or you get the issue

Written on April 30, 2014 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging, Messaging Maxims

Thor’s hammer, San Diego Comic-Con 2011

Once again, Republicans in Congress have shot down a good proposal from the Democrats, this time a federal minimum wage hike. Instead of being dejected or just complaining about the “party of ‘no,'” Democrats should recognize that they have an important weapon, and it’s the hammer of having an issue on which to run.

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Tags: Congress, gun control, immigration reform President Obama, infrastructure, jobs, legislation, Republican Party

President Obama on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Written on August 7, 2013 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCrE8e-9wto

Last night, President Barack Obama gave an impressive interview to Jay Leno on the Tonight Show. Obama was perhaps as confident and comfortable as he’s ever appeared as President. Why does this matter? Because, in politics, optics matter. Style as well as substance matters. The Tonight Show still gets strong ratings, and viewership across the country soars when President Obama sits down with Jay Leno. So let’s check out what Obama said and how he said it:

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Tags: Edward Snowden, infrastructure, Interstate Highway System, Jay Leno, John McCain, media, President Obama, Russia, Tonight Show, Trayvon Martin, Vladimir Putin

The Democrats’ three-word slogan for 2014

Written on August 2, 2013 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging, Republican Messaging

The run-up to the 2014 Congressional elections is in full swing. You can be sure that Republicans are sharpening their talking points for the upcoming campaigns. We’ll likely be hearing all about a supposed lackluster economy, tepid employment picture, and that demonic “Obamacare.” Now is the time, therefore, for Democrats and progressives to hone their arguments and talking points to counter those of the Republicans and, better yet, to drive the conversation from the get-go. Here are the three words to use against the Republicans:

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Tags: 2014 elections, abortion, climate change, Congress, Democratic Party, economy, gun control, gun violence, infrastructure, jobs, Obamacare, Republican Party, Senate

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