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What's worse, we 'liberals' and Progressives fall for it every time. Over recent decades, conservatives have learned that to get meaningful change in America you have to challenge everything at once as the populous, the media, and the lib/prog. establishments always tends to focus on one battle at a time.
For example, while we are fighting to the death over collective bargaining, governors around the country will be stripping regulations and cutting taxes. For them, literally every conservative issue but the kitchen sink gets thrown at the opposition. The operative lesson here is 'yes' some of it sticks. Essentially, the Republicans will accept incremental change as long as their full-agenda is being pushed at all times.
Contrast that to Obama's approach (which has mirrored the democratic positioning of the past). The administration has tended to focus on at most one or two big items at a time. For example stimulus and health care. Meanwhile, conservatives have time to mount full-blown opposition and the stage is set.
I have yet to see Democrats be able to adapt effectively to these tactics. While collective bargaining is a hugely important point, to surrender everything else in light of tax cuts in Wisconsin is unacceptable. We have ceded 3/4 of the ring just simply because we feel we can fight better in a corner (I know mixing metaphors, but I swear Dems. are thinking like boxers here).
And, even if we manage to win this round... and the people manage to block the destruction of collective bargaining. What then? Allow Republicans to continue destroying states and the country on 50 other points and in 30+ other states and the Federal level? We have to think beyond that.
What can we do to tackle a Republican full court press? Allow me to extend the metaphor for a minute because I actually think it works.
How to beat a Full Court Press:
1. Stay calm. You can't let everyone and everything coming at you at one time rattle you. Maintain your cool.
2. Think attack. You can't beat the press unless you are willing to aggressively attack across the whole court.
3. Take every point you can get. Don't setup for the 3 pt. shot. Just get the ball as quickly down the courts as possible and score.
4. Avoid the trap. Don't get pushed into a corner.
5. Be ready to reverse the court. You must be willing to take quick weakside passes.
How would this type of strategy play out in the upcoming gov. shutdown battle? First stay calm. Just let the Republicans push the matter. It is going to happen even if it is 'intended' to be a short-term PR stunt for their base. Next, when it happens all out attack. Mobilize the full Democratic/Progressive apparatus to hit the issue. Time for some town-hall meetings of out own!
Hit them on every point and offer progressive alternatives to the BS. Take all the political points you can get (even penalty shots). If it turns into a game of chicken, we have a 50/50 chance of losing. We can't get painted into that corner. Finally, we need to be willing to pass to the other side of the court and attack their weak areas. Don't let the spirit of Madison die out. Keep all of the issues in people's minds and tie them like an albatross to the neck of the Republican party.
*Disclaimer- Anyway, I have the flu and it was making perfect sense as I was writing it... However, I reserve the right to read it tomorrow and flame myself. :)
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