So Now the Republicans are the Change?

First it was endangered Republican Senator Gordon Smith and now it's entire House Republican caucus trying to coopt the message of change.

It looks like Republicans will counter the Democratic push for change from the years of the Bush administration with their own pledge to deliver, drum roll please, "the change you deserve." The first element of the party agenda developed over the past few months by the leadership and select party members will focus on family issues.

"Through our "Change You Deserve" message and through our "American Families Agenda," House Republicans will continue our efforts to speak directly to an American public looking for leaders who will offer real solutions for the challenges they confront every day," said the memo prepared for lawmakers.

The party agenda is part of an effort to show that Republicans have ideas beyond simply blocking Democratic initiatives and supporting Mr. Bush on his multiple veto threats, some of which are looming over bills that could be before lawmakers this week.

Maybe they're worried that little Mother's Day stunt backfired. After all, it's not very smart to vote against Mom.

Let's look at their ideas to provide solutions for the challenges Americans face every day. They've killed SCHIP, which would have extended health insurance to children in moderate income families. They're getting help from the Blue Dog Democrats to block a vote on the GI Bill of Rights. Hmmm, that's not very friendly to American families of veterans. Of course, they also want to keep our military mired in a hopeless civil war in Iraq for "as long as it takes." That's not very friendly to the families of service members.

They've blocked consideration of a bill intended to help Americans caught in the mortgage crisis. That seems downright hostile to hurting families. They want to extend amnesty to law-breaking telcos, which is very friendly to the families of AT&T and Verizon executives, but that's a pretty small group that I expect the Republicans had wrapped up already.

Somehow I don't think the Republicans' idea of change is really what America has in mind.

•  They are the diaper change we deserve

  by muledriver on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:03:00 PM PDT

  •  You beat me - but i have a photo!

    

    by Jimmy Crackcorn on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:06:54 PM PDT

    •  how not to change

      

      by Jimmy Crackcorn on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:08:16 PM PDT

    •  Nice Lady demonstrating FISA Bill

      by muledriver on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:47:46 PM PDT

    •  thats rank...

      Please dont post that again.

      by Puffin on Tue May 13, 2008 at 03:09:40 AM PDT

  •  Or, Perhaps,

    a change in underwear? The elastic on this crop is getting mighty worn!

    by CityLightsLover on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:07:09 PM PDT

    •  The only change Gordon Smith's getting in Nov.

      is whatever people drop in his paper cup while begging for it on the corner of 36th and Hawthorne in Portland.

      That dunce is going down with extreme prejudice.

      by Patch Adam on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:42:58 PM PDT

      •  Yeah! Merkley will send Smith back to pea packing

        Jeff Merkley is exactly the kind of progressive leader we need to send Gordon Smith back to packing frozen foods.

        by bdunn on Tue May 13, 2008 at 10:35:31 AM PDT

•  these folks are all hat and no cattle

  like they've always been.

  and the other half of the country is finally realizing it.

  by aarrgghh on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:03:25 PM PDT

  •  Or all hat and no cerebral cortex.

    by Jim P on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:07:48 PM PDT

    •  yeah,

      but still winning just about every presidential election.....

      by damitajo1 on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:18:27 PM PDT

      •  They've been using just the limbric

        system for that. Don't think they've got these mammalian/human impairments.

        And it ain't like the media propaganda machine hasn't been helping them whole bunches for decades.

        by Jim P on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:21:37 PM PDT

      •  asdf

        

        by boofdah on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:25:04 PM PDT

  •  Reminds me of after the Iowa caucus

    Remember when Mitt Romney and the rest were speaking on "change" after Obama's victory?

    by American Phoenix on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:28:49 PM PDT

    •  I remember...

      ...The Daily Show, I think, running a video compilation of most of the Republicant candidates claiming they were the agents of change we need.

      They display such blatant hypocrisy; it's enough to burst the mind.

      by vacantlook on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:48:37 PM PDT

      •  Found it!

        by American Phoenix on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:21:10 PM PDT

        •  The clip of Hillary near the end of that...

          I had never actually seen that before. But I must say, it does a lot to humanize her for me; as that was obviously real and herself-- she's not that good an actor. :)

          by Cofcos on Tue May 13, 2008 at 04:44:47 AM PDT

•  In a country...

  ...where it's legal to sell Velveeta™ as 'cheese', the GOP'll be able to sell a wolverine-fierce attachment to the status quo as 'change'.

  The techinque is the same, too.

  Repetition, and brand loyalty.

  by Davis X Machina on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:04:14 PM PDT

  •  I love Velveeta

    and other cheese flavored products.

    by Dave the pro on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:19:42 PM PDT

    •  "Would you like...

      ...genuine artificial imitation butter-flavored topping on your popcorn?"

      (Bonus points to those who know what I reference with this quote. :)  )

      by vacantlook on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:50:00 PM PDT

•  they think people are stupid.

  That must be it.

  by bhagamu on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:04:17 PM PDT

  •  Sadly...

    ...at least 28% of America is.

    by AggieDemocrat on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:25:38 PM PDT

    •  Only 27% are stupid

      Things have worked out great for the wealthiest 1%.

      by skralyx on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:30:31 PM PDT

    •  Including (apparently)...

      this guy (warning: troll alert)

      by boofdah on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:40:31 PM PDT

•  Republicans! Apply Directly to the Forehead!

  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

  by JimTXDem on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:04:33 PM PDT

  •  Curses, you got there first.

    But hey, just think of the fun we can have with this!  I sure want to see an ad about the side effects of voting Republican now...

    by Elsinora on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:09:31 PM PDT

    •  Oh yes, lol

      One of those pharmaceutical ads that spends more time talking about potential side effects.

      "Do Not Vote Republican if your mother was ever pregnant. Voting Republican might cause famine, pestilence, and disease, and you should see a psychiatrist before considering voting Republican."

      by JimTXDem on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:19:10 PM PDT

      •  Unfortunately

        that's so literally true it's not even funny.

        by ThatBritGuy on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:29:16 PM PDT

  •  A, minor, curse upon you!

    For reminding me of that commercial...

    What the hell is that product supposed to do, anyway? I could only guess it's for headaches, but most headaches for me are caused inside the head due to dehydration or pressure. And the muscles that sometimes cause headaches are no where near the forehead...

    I also considered the possibility those commercials are some sort of joke that I don't get...

    by Cofcos on Tue May 13, 2008 at 04:56:25 AM PDT

•  WOW! We can have fun with THAT!

  - Picture: Republican giving small change to a working poor person, or, "If you vote Republican again, you're gonna get what you deserve..." The mind boggles at the possibilities.

  by Rocco Gibralter on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:05:32 PM PDT

  •  I've had eight years of the change Republicans

    think I deserve. Thanks anyway, guys.

    by RickMassimo on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:07:12 PM PDT

  •  How about

    Someone paying with a fifty at a gas pump and getting a couple of pennies back.

    The change you deserve if you vote Republican.

    by UU VIEW on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:18:15 PM PDT

    •  Two dimes, one nickel, three pennies

      DAMN I deserve that...

      by NumberTenOx on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:46:20 PM PDT

      •  Duh, make that one dime

        new math

        by NumberTenOx on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:48:30 PM PDT

•  Point of Interest:

  "The Change You Deserve" is the advertising tagline for an antidepressant called Effexor.

  Seems apt, somehow...

  by Elsinora on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:05:50 PM PDT

  •  Viva Republicans!

    Maybe they should have used Viagra's slogan... they seem to be suffering from electile dysfunction.

    by JimTXDem on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:08:19 PM PDT

    •  LOL!

      Nah, the antidepressant is more apt.  Just replace "Effexor" with "Voting Republican" the listed side effect statements for the drug, and prepare to laugh at loud at gems like these:

      Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not vote Republican.

      by Elsinora on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:11:52 PM PDT

  •  And doubly so...

    New Study: SSRI Antidepressants 'Clinically Insignificant' For Most People

    A new study published today [2/26] is sure to set off another storm in the ongoing debate about the widespread prescription of antidepressants. ...new generation 'SSRI' antidepressants...mostly fall, "below the recommended criteria for clinical significance" (Kirsch et al. 2008). In other words, the most modern drugs prescribed for depression generally don't work.

    by Jim P on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:11:33 PM PDT

    •  The two that I was put on...

      ...Paxil and Wellbutrin did little-to-nothing to help me with my depression and anxiety.  So, I'm not surprised.

      by vacantlook on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:57:14 PM PDT

•  Reformer with Results

  Remember how George Bush became the "Reformer With Results" in 2000 when he was losing to John McCain's "Reform" message?

  Thus the Change meme.  

  These guys think that marketing is all that matters.

  For awhile it worked.

  by NCJan on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:06:03 PM PDT

•  I'll take some change

  I'll take change from the last eight years, please. In large denominations.

  by MeMeMeMeMe on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:06:10 PM PDT

•  They provide so much comedic material n/t

  by niteskolar on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:06:26 PM PDT

•  Wow. I thought they were the experienced ones.

  I just can't keep up with the stupid.

  Which doesn't actually disappoint me all that greatly.

  by RickMassimo on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:06:27 PM PDT

•  "The Change You Deserve" actually refers

  to what the Repubs think American people deserve to be paid for their hard work: nickels and pennies.*

  (* Does not apply to corporate CEOs.)

  by chumley on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:06:34 PM PDT

  •  Spare change, as in sparse. n/t

    by Meteor Blades on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:07:46 PM PDT

•  I see their ad now

  Change. Everyone wants it. And it's always been that way. And that's what we'll change. So everything will just stay...the Same. And that's the real difference.

  by Jim P on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:07:06 PM PDT

  •  The more things change... n/t

    by AaronInSanDiego on Tue May 13, 2008 at 12:54:39 AM PDT

•  well, they sort of are the party of change

  i lost count how often mccain has changed his position, how many times his toadies have had to go out and offer a changed interpretation of mccain's own words.

  it breaks my heart how many times a day i'm asked for change.

  big change is coming in november; in part, we have republican 'leadership' to thank.

  by homo neurotic on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:07:32 PM PDT

  •  There's a great theme for the

    counter to "Change". Just the record read, while McCain's head, on a fish's body, is all flopping and flipping like he's just been landed.

    by Jim P on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:15:06 PM PDT

•  LOL. "Yes We Will" Worked Wonders For HRC

  Talk about trying to piggy back on Obamas successful message

  by DFutureIsNow on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:09:36 PM PDT

•  All Obama has to do...

  is ask why Republicans want to bail out irresponsible big lenders but not the small borrowers they screwed over.

  Repeat.

  That ought to be worth a few points in the polls, I'd think.

  by AustinCynic on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:10:02 PM PDT

  •  All Obama Has to Do...

    Of course the Republican's support to corporate America is obvious.

    But let's put Obama in perspective- he recently praised Ronald Reagan as someone who opened up communication in this country as he knew how to talk to people. Obama went on to say Reagan was a welcome change from the excesses of the '60"s.

    Boy, I don't agree at all. and it is a pretty distressing sign that Obama is going to bring any of the fundamental change we need.

    The most terrible court ruling came down last week with the acquittal of the cops who gunned down the unarmed Sean Bell with 50 shots on the morning before his wedding. It is an outrageous decision. But Obama quickly made a public statement that he respected the decision. A thousand people quickly filled the streets to say this decision makes a mockery of justice.

    We need independent movements for justice and peace that will put massive pressure of the politicians of both parties. For example an important rally will take place in San Francisco  on Sunday, May 18 for wrongly convicted journalist Mumia Abu Jamal. Activists should go and build a movement to free Mumia.

    by First Light on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:26:36 PM PDT

    •  Ronald Reagan

      WAS someone who knew how to get his message across, whether you agree with the message or not.  

      I've been pretty excited to actually have a nominee that can get a liberal message across, ever since I heard obama's speech at the convention.  it was (sadly) the first time I've heard a living politician in this country actually articulate liberal beliefs in a compelling way that I thought a majority in this country would embrace.

      we don't need a technician or an activist for a president.  we need someone who can use the bully pulpit to lead this country in a progressive direction.  reagan understood how that worked, and led us in a different direction.  surprisingly few presidents have understood how to draw power from the people.  obama's comments on reagan indicate to me that he gets it.

      by jrcjr on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:20:56 PM PDT

•  rethuglican't change ??? as in spare change???

  wow, what about the bearings???
  the successful war???
  the permanently needed tax breaks for the upper crust???
  they will try to talk it, but they won't be able to walk it.
  bring up gay marriage, pro-choice, or immigration, just to see their heads explode.

  by pickandshovel on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:10:52 PM PDT

•  ouch.

  Coming from republicans, The Change We Deserve elicits the vision of bending over, rubber gloves, and maybe, for the wealthy, a dab of vaseline.

  Not a vision I'm comfortable with, at all.

  by britta on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:12:07 PM PDT

•  That sounds about right.

  They've been taking our dollars for years and only giving us back the change they think we deserve.

  by electricgrendel on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:12:24 PM PDT

•  Other possible slogans

  Aricept has a medication with the slogan "A first step in Alzheimers."  I think that would do well as a GOP slogan: "Republicans: a first step in Alzheimer's."  You can put a picture of Reagan next to McCain.

  by juliewolf on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:12:40 PM PDT

•  "The Change you Deserve"

  Sound like something Bill O'Reilly would say when he is all dressed up in his chaps and nazi spike helmet.

  by greendem on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:12:41 PM PDT

•  Oh the GOP is "change" alright

  as in a diaper that needs to be for the good of the country.

  Bye-bye Second Gilded Age.

  by LeftHandedMan on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:12:51 PM PDT

  •  Dang

    Beaten by, like, 20 other Kossacks with equally cheesy diaper gags.

    I feel shame.

    The Daily Kos needs a penalty box.

    by LeftHandedMan on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:13:45 PM PDT

    •  "Roughing the Snark"

      "Snarktending"

      by LeftHandedMan on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:14:27 PM PDT

      •  I like "Jumping the Snark" myself. n/t

        by Elsinora on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:44:14 PM PDT

•  The blocking the vote

  on the GI bill of rights has got to rank up there with the biggest hypocritical attitude of all time.

  Almost as bad as the VA trying to close the New York VA hospital.

  From a NY Times article from 2003...

  http://query.nytimes.com/...

  ''I need this hospital,'' Mr. Dixson, who is 90, said as he waited for his weekly shot in the arm, which helps his blood circulation. The next closest V.A. hospitals are in the Bronx and Brooklyn. ''I don't want them to close down. That's a long ways away, the Bronx. Brooklyn's a long way, too.''

  For now, he and 30,000 other veterans who use the hospital, at East 23rd Street and First Avenue, should not worry, federal officials say, because there is no plan -- not yet, anyway -- to close it. But the hospital, one of hundreds run by the Department of Veterans Affairs nationwide, is on a list of those the Bush administration has recommended studying to determine the impact that closing or service reductions would have on patients.

  The talk of possibly closing the hospital has prompted many of New York's most powerful elected officials, including both its United States senators and several City Council members, to begin a campaign to keep it open. Yesterday -- Veterans Day -- those officials and several veterans' groups accused President Bush of seeking budget savings at the expense of war veterans at a time when American soldiers are being wounded and killed every day in Iraq.

  ''The Manhattan V.A. should be kept open,'' Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a telephone interview yesterday. She accused the administration of seeking to cut money for veterans' health care when ''the long-term care needs of aging veterans is still an unmet obligation.''

  ''Veterans are living longer, and we're making more veterans every day,'' she added, ''with our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere.''

  Umm...okay Senator Clinton.  Now about that Iraq war vote again...

  by PoconoPCDoctor on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:15:20 PM PDT

•  Actually, I like their new slogan...

  and it can be used in a counter movement...the change we deserve is a change in party leadership, both in the White House and with more strength in the House and Senate.  

  by LtdEdishn on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:16:04 PM PDT

•  Reminds me of their "Reformer With Results"

  (GWB in 2000)
  At least they're doing their part to bring a little more irony into the world.

  by SunWolf78 on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:16:27 PM PDT

•  What horrible thing did we do

  to deserve that kind of "change"?

  by UU VIEW on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:16:27 PM PDT

•  optimism

  I am very optimistic about the top of our ticket, but we must work to get 60 Dem Senators--otherwise, we'll get filibustered to death.  Please remember to contribute to our Senate candidates.

  by melvynny on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:17:45 PM PDT

•  The Change You Deserve

  So sit down and shut up!

  by Dave the pro on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:17:52 PM PDT

•  "Change You Deserve" is trademarked

  It's the Effexor-XR marketing slogan.  

  by VelvetElvis on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:20:27 PM PDT

  •  link

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

    by VelvetElvis on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:27:56 PM PDT

•  Change you Deserve!

  

  Can anyone with image editing skills put an elephant on there?

  by bhagamu on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:21:19 PM PDT

  •  You mean like this one? (It's round enough!)

    

    by boofdah on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:27:17 PM PDT

  •  one image

    and the best retort to the whole gop campaign to be found...

    by jrcjr on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:23:29 PM PDT

•  Attack Ad: Four More Years Of Proud Leadship...

  And show a picture of McCain hugging Bush.  Make the ad look like an authentic Republican advertisement.  Just show Bush Cheney McCain and say Republicans Want Four More Years Of Proud Leadership.

  Underneath say something like : Republican Pride To Continue The Proud Leadership Of Bush / Cheney.

  The Republicans DO NOT WANT to tie the election to Bush in any way shape or form.  The Democrats should do exactly that.  Make it all about extending the Bush presidency for another term.

  by puffy66 on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:21:27 PM PDT

  •  I could see a 'W' ad

    Have a big W on the screen, overlaid with fighting in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, high gas prices, falling stock market, etc., then pan out the 'W' to read 'John W. McCain', and maybe show him holding the cake with Bush at the airport.

    No narration is necessary.

    by skralyx on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:34:40 PM PDT

    •  Followed by a good McCain impersonator:

      'I'm John W. McCain, and I sure hope you didn't see this message.'

      by skralyx on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:38:57 PM PDT

    •  Don't Let Them Hide Bush Under The Rug...

      Everytime I hear the right wing talking heads I am reminded of the perfect comeback line.  

      What ever your response always start it out with "You have to realize that < fill in the name > is in love with President Bush.... supports Bush and is sorry to see Bush/Cheney leave the white house.  

      Keep it up...

      The Republican Party is in love with President Bush.  He is the like the Republican Messiah who is incapable of making a mistake and should be King Of America forever in the hearts and minds of the party faithful.

      And watch them squirm...

      Then start your rebuttal. Then they are on the defensive - change the discussion to Bush at every opportunity.

      Because Bush and his term is the one topic the Republicans WISH TO AVOID -- at all costs.  

      by puffy66 on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:55:58 PM PDT

•  Take them at their (literal) word

  Republican actually tell the truth much of the time and we are too foolish not to realize it. When they say, for example, the will "fix" social security they really mean it--but "fix" as meaning "rig."  When they brag about "trickle down economics" they actually mean it--literally--most of us will get only a trickle.''

  Change you Deserve is just a plain hoot. If you vote Republican and expect something new and better you will indeed get the "change you deserve."

  by katjam on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:22:26 PM PDT

•  Americans will get "Change they deserve" with McC

  Which is more of the same special interest government with more deficits and debt from trillion dollar wars for oil, more oil use, more oil drilling to benefit oil producers, more pollution, more lost mfg. base as high tech energy and medical jobs flee US, less health care, more expensive health care, more income inequality, more religion in government, more loss of civil rights, more loss of democracy.

  That's the "change you deserve" if you vote for four more years of Republicans failed policies.

  by Tuscany on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:24:05 PM PDT

•  Change from...

  ...what, exactly?

  This isn't change, it's the same shit as usual.

  Then again, it's brought to you by the same people who created the Department for Ironic Naming of Bills, Laws, Treaties and Edicts (cf. "Clear Skies Initiative", "No Child Left Behind", "Healthy Forests", etc.)

  by AggieDemocrat on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:24:50 PM PDT

•  It's a great slogan.

  It's memorable. It's full of words to which people respond affirmatively. It talks about them. Whoever suggested it should have received a bonus.

  It doesn't have to comport with reality to be good.

  Republicans don't really believe in politics, the art of running a polis. They are businessmen. They have commerce as their overarching model of the world, the buying and selling of things; consequently everything becomes an exercise in marketing.

  In this world, sales are the summum bonum, not the quality of the thing sold, not even the satisfaction of the customers. An administration is a durable good. If they can't be persuaded to buy again right away, so be it. Four years is a long time, and the customers will either forget, or a new slogan will be found.

  by Davis X Machina on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:25:16 PM PDT

  •  a penny,

    however, if properly placed, can do a lot to  this marketing strategy.

    but primarily because it derails the slogan, not (only) because it exposes the lie.

    by jrcjr on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:26:47 PM PDT

•  Some change

  From this:

  

  To this:

  

  by corwin on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:28:40 PM PDT

  •  Actually...

    ...McTurd is a little of both!

    by JeffW on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:40:38 PM PDT

•  When the Republicans give you change

  it is because you've been forced to panhandle because you've lost your home, your family and your job.

  by captainlaser on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:29:17 PM PDT

•  oh you guys are too funny

  Looks like all the good PR folks are abandoning the Republicans, so they are stuck with the cheap generic-brand catchphrases... (zing! pun intended)

  by modesta on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:30:04 PM PDT

•  Isnt their change what got us to this point?

  If they are change I want to go back to stability.

  by B P Pgh on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:30:36 PM PDT

•  Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

  by corwin on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:34:56 PM PDT

  •  Americans will get the change they deserve...

    You can vote for who you like, but how does change happen?

    The terrible Vietnam war (started by the liberal Democrat John F. Kennedy) was ended when the anti-war movement started routinely bringing out literally hundreds of thousands of protesters into the streets demanding the troops be brought home now. The message of the protesters spread to the US Army where the troops decided the war wasn't for them. It forced the conservative Republican President Nixon to withdraw from Vietnam.

    We need to emulate that successful '60's anti-war movement to keep the pressure building on whoever is in the White House next. An important national anti-war conference is going to be held in Cleveland June 28 and 29. It is the most broadly sponsored meeting of peace activists to meet since the invasion of Iraq began. It will debate proposals for future anti-war actions and democratically decide based on one-person-one-vote.  It has the most potential  to unify the anti-war movement's divisions. Everyone who can attend should try to go. For more info- natassembly.org

    by First Light on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:53:35 PM PDT

•  They can't have it both ways...

  You can't run on a conservative platform and claim to advocate change. Talk about insulting the intelligence of the American voter.

  by CineJay on Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:55:34 PM PDT

•  The Change You Deserve

  Is a registered trade mark of the anti-anxiety/anti-depressant Effexor

  by ggrzw on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:01:13 PM PDT

  •  Apt...

    ...as the Republicans make people anxious and depressed!

    by JeffW on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:42:18 PM PDT

•  Republicans change?

  McCain thinks he's still fighting the VietNam War.

  by redtex on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:16:18 PM PDT

•  The housing bill

  Deserves to be blocked and vetoed.

  No way in hell do I think renters should be paying to bailout people who got themselves in over their head.

  No reason why those poor homeowners can go back to renting while prices drop back to a reasonable level.

  No bailouts for debtors or lenders!

  by The Scientific Liberal on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:20:56 PM PDT

•  Talk is cheap...

  ...and that's mostly what the Republicans can afford these days. So they lie...

  by JeffW on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:34:09 PM PDT

•  Effexor Tag Line

  Here is an article discussing marketing for the drug Effexor.

  http://www.themarketingyoudeserve.com/

  I check on this after reading an article at the Huffington Post.

  Apparently, it's true.  "The Change You Need" is the marketing tag line for Effexor.  The change Republicans think we need is..... a better anti depressant.

  Can't make this stuff up.

  mrick  

  by Mrick on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:42:15 PM PDT

•  I read their "new" phrase is already copyrighted

  by some drug company.

  by Eman on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:46:33 PM PDT

•  "Change Yoo Deserve"

  I'll pass.

  by apostrophe on Mon May 12, 2008 at 08:51:15 PM PDT

•  The Smith ad basically laughed at in OR

  The media out here pretty much couldn't stop laughing at how pathetic it was.  The fact that he feels he needs to go negative now tells you how week he is.

  by skywaker9 on Mon May 12, 2008 at 09:16:49 PM PDT

•  Change you can feel

  in your rectum.  No thanks.

  by Man in the Middle on Mon May 12, 2008 at 09:32:19 PM PDT

•  As Huffington pointed out,

  the Repubs have co-opted the slogan from an anti-anxiety drug Effexor.

  by RagingDem on Mon May 12, 2008 at 10:08:00 PM PDT

•  Change from what?

  It's a real strange dance that the Republicans are going, trying to distance themselves from Bush at the same time.

  by A Citizen on Mon May 12, 2008 at 10:39:33 PM PDT

•  The slogan is actually not that far off...

  it's just that Republicans think we deserve a change that involves torture and unedning war.

  by Demosthenes112358 on Mon May 12, 2008 at 10:42:37 PM PDT

•  I hate that Repubs...

  have taken a perfectly nice word like "family" and made me suspicious whenever any one of them uses it.

  by Puffin on Tue May 13, 2008 at 03:09:08 AM PDT

•  The Fate You Deserve

  if you vote Republican is more like it.

  by bogmanoc on Tue May 13, 2008 at 05:47:54 AM PDT