Peyton,
Your post sparked a question of mine that I’ve had for some time. Are we giving too much credit to the propagandists in the media to drive a “narrative” designed to influence minds? Do we really believe that at this stage of our nation there is an undecided camp (note: I differentiate between undecided and apathetic) to be won over so we must concern ourselves with message tailoring and whether blame is going to be assigned?
I think at this point people are either convinced or they are not. As long as we hold ourselves hostage to this idea I don’t think we will advance our ideals. If we accept that we are on the side of Truth, then that is a much more powerful thing than any propagandists’ narrative. We seem so preoccupied with perception that we fail to employ action.
It’s a defensive game we’re playing. We seem so consumed with discrediting those who purport to speak for the Tea Party who we might label as agitators or false flag operatives. I don’t discount the power of propaganda, but I think we are too preoccuiped with this notion.
Imagine 50,000 protesting daily in D.C. Now picture a gunman taken down by law enforcement after he allegedly attacks Congress or the Supreme Court. Killed and wounded include women and children tourists, plus one or more Congress Critters or Supreme Court Justices.
The media obtains graphic video and photos to run 24/7.
The deceased gunman is identified as a member of the Tea Party by the government.
The undecided and apathetic become very decided all of a sudden.
Public push polls demand action. Dems and the GOPe will be falling all over themselves competing to give King Barack whatever he wants in the interest of public safety, the war on terrorism, and for the children.
Burning the Reichstag works.
If the GOP were to return to conservatism and take an unapologetic take no prisoners offensive they would be immediately and immensely popular.
This assumes that they in general believe in those principles of course. Which I'm pretty sure they do not.