Several people have made comments about Iraq turning into another Vietnam. That may yet happen but I think a more apt analogy is that Iraq will turn into another Afghanistan circa 1986 (which, by the way, is much, much worse).

Iraq (2003-) is to the US as Afghanistan (1979-1989) was to the USSR.

After Abu Ghraib, sheeple having been bleating about how the Iraqi prisoner abuse is not part of America.  How America is better than that.  How our society and our military just don't operate like that.  George says its "not the America I know" and Rummy says its "un-American."

Furthermore, this post is partly inspired by MeteorBlades recent poll in which almost 60% of the Kos visitors said that Abu Ghraib did not represent America but represented this administration.

Let me introduce you to another side of America...

Spin-Counterspin: Kerry naming names

Spin
Kerry should tell the names of the leaders who said they hoped he is the next POTUS.

Counterspin
Turn this into an issue of principle and go back on attack.  Bush may not keep his promises but John Kerry keeps his promises and will not betray a confidence.  Kerry owes Bush no duty to tell him who thinks he is doing a bad job.  He owes a duty to someone who has confided in him.

Two ways to spin:

Directly
I absolutely will not.  It is important that other leaders know that when I am President, I will protect their confidence.  The Bush administration has punished domestic disagreement (Joe Wilson, the Medicare actuary, Paul O'Neill) and international disagreement (Chile, France and Germany).  The Republican attack machine can whine all they want, I will not betray a confidence.

By analogy
If you and a coworker are up for a promotion.  Many of your other coworkers mention that they hope you get the job.  It would be unwise if you told your rival - especially if he has shown a propensity for punitive measures.  It would unfair to the coworkers who confided in you.  I will not betray a confidence.

I've not heard any Dem talkers present this Line of Argument.  I think it would be an effective response and would like to see it in the ether.

Spin

Bush based his decisions on same intelligence Clinton and other world leaders used when they passed Resolution 1441.

Counterspin

• Bush is ignoring four months of extremely intrusive inspections from December through March 2003.

• Kerry can claim his vote to authorize Bush to go to the UN with a united America and a strong hand helped Bush get the inspectors back into Iraq.

• Then Bush abused and ignored the results of the inspections.  Kerry has the right to change his mind because, as a result of the inspections, knowledge and intelligence changed.
  

End of Argument.  If necessary, point out the multiple times Bush said things like "If he [Saddam] had allowed inspectors in, we could have avoided the war." which he inexplicably said while sitting right next to Koffi Annan.

We can't count on the media to spread the message.  We need true grassroots undermining of the Bush administration policies.  Agreed?  Okay.  Here's something I've been doing for about a year now and is based on ideas of culture jamming.

Basically this... if you come across a good op-ed article, op-ad, blog entry, flyer, magazine article, etc... print it out and make a few copies.  Make lots of copies.  And distribute them where people will get a chance to look at them.

For example... I like to print out the TomPaine op-ads.  They are professionally done and in PDF format, ready for printing.  I leave them in public restrooms.  Or put them under windshield wipers at the grocery store.  When I go to the doctor or dentist, I leave them in the waiting room.  I leave them in oil-change shops.

Another favorite... I ordered the Buzzflash Are you better off? postcards and posted them the bulletin boards of apartment complexes and left them on tables in the office breakroom and at laundromats - anywhere a "target" would likely hang around to kill a few minutes.

You get the idea.

Bottom line - think of where you have a target, idle audience and give them something to read and something to think about.  It is true grassroots, guerilla marketing.  And it can be very effective.