OK, so there I am, driving through one the most godawful thunderstorms I've seen in years on my way back from a blissful two days in the mountains; dirty, tired, and (did I say blissfully?) ignorant of the news of the last few days. The pounding rain and frequent thunder make it difficult to hear the nuances in the latest Dream Theater album on the stereo, so I switch over to NPR with a little trepidation.

Seconds later I'M the one drowning out the news and the storm. Welcome back to Bushworld, I guess, where the right wing sucker punches ALWAYS go unchallenged.

Lemme explain:

   As you all heard (before I did, likely), the bodies of the two soldiers kidnapped Friday were found, tortured to death. Predictably. Preventably. Pointlessly.

Like you, I choke on my outrage and revulsion for this latest inhumanity, letting only a few tears through as I negotiate a barely visible road in the downpour.
  The next story is on the Senate "debate" on Iraq, and I'm treated to the repetition of Bullshit Talking Point Slogan #umpteen gazillion by Frist and at least one other wingnut, their new favorite, Cut and Run(tm).

Oooh, how that movie title slogan just eases me past my anger and outrage (and any attempt at rational thought) and makes me grab a flag. Quick, send more soldiers into the meat grinder!! America will NEVER Cut And Run!! We are winners, not losers!! These colors don't run!! Go GOP!!

Presto----Change-o. It's all about those weakling Democrats. Again. Republicans once again on their favorite home turf, bashing anybody who doesn't like the idea of the PERMANENT OCCUPATION of Iraq as a chicken.

In America, being a chicken is the ultimate sin. We have voted for criminals over "chickens" in every election where this bullshit frame came up; Nixon vs McGovern, 1972, BushI vs Dukakis, 1988, and Bush the Little vs Kerry, 2004. And here comes another election where the DLC will wonder what happened.

What happened is we got bludgeoned with a slogan and responded with "well, that might not be the most accurate portrayal of our ...(yawn)...and many of us believe that...(yawn again)..."

Democrats in Congress, a little clarity:
There IS no war in Iraq.
No, there isn't.
Wars are declared by Congress.
You never did that.
Authorization of the use of force is NOT the same thing. Look it up. (It's in the Constitution, BTW).
So stop calling it a war, you idiots.

It is an occupation.

How do you win an occupation?
You end it. You go home.
Really. Anything else is EMPIRE.

Cut and Run? After three years and three months? And no end in sight, by Dear Looter's own admission?

Uh-uh. Here's another movie title for you.

Stay Forever.

Republicans want to Stay Forever in Iraq.
Dear Looter has told us he will do whatever it takes.
Since he is lying when he says that (reinstituting the draft is a nonstarter, as is any form of economic sacrifice by the elite - another term I would like to see used by Democrats), there is only one remaining option.

Stay Forever.

That is the Republican plan for Iraq.
NOT "stay the course". That frame says we are going somewhere. It also is associated with the late great, and soon-to-be-canonized Ronnie Raygun.
REALLY bad frame choice.

Stay Forever. In the Permanent Occupation of Iraq. Coming for an endless run at a theater near you. Someday starring your first grader, or your (gasp) unborn child.

With "Cut and Run"(tm), the frame is victory vs surrender. Bravery vs chickenhood. Us vs Them.

UN.WIN.ABLE.

Stay Forever.
Democracy vs Empire.
Blood for Oil.
Quagmire.

Can the Repugs refute this frame? Only with the same lies they've always used:
Stand up/Stand down-How much has the US troop commitment shrunk since we first heard THAT slogan? NONE.
Purple Fingers - How much has the level of violence subsided since we first heard THAT slogan? NONE.
Last Throes - The fact the Darth trotted this one out again is proof positive thay have NOTHING to show for the blood, treasure, and American credibility lost in this criminal enterprise.

And to quote a repugnant, but effective political hit man, when they're explaining, you're winning.

A vote for any Republican at the national level is a vote to Stay Forever in Iraq.

Now, was that so frickin' hard?

http://www.senate.gov
http://www.house.gov

Send 'em a note.
That's not frickin' hard, either.