My niece gave me a cold yesterday while we were playing with stuffed animals and numbered legos, and I'm so sorry as I meant to blog heavily today and just don't have the energy. But I was thinking of writing more about "why we fail," or perhaps better put, "how we can win" or even "learn from your enemies/those who have beaten you/to fight again another day and win this time." Joe noticed a good one.

The telemarketing campaign, run by a nonprofit organization called "Faith, Family and Freedom" begins its pitch by asking the callee if they were opposed to same sex marriage. If the callee responds positively, they are then transferred to a United American Technologies representative who will explain to them how the more common telephone service providers, such as AT&T, MCI and Verizon are supporters of gay marriage and child pornography, and that United American Technologies is "the only carrier that is taking an active stand against same sex marriages and hardcore child pornography".

"Faith, Family and Freedom" is a 527 organization created by Lance Cargill, the Republican floor leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. A percentage of the profits from each caller who switched to UAT would be directed back to the 527 to pay for conservative political campaigns.

...and a whole lot more, prolly including some hookers and limos, but I digress.

I'm sorry, but progressives just aren't devious enough. We spend so much energy arguing about the wrong things, and failing to understand that Victory means sometimes you have to play hardball, not just with each other, but with those who are actually opposing your policies. The Right has long since adopted such practice, and found funding sources for it even back before it was fashionable/mandatory to do so to maintain good standing in the Republican Party. These days, it's a corrupt, blatantly obvious give-and-take gravy train for Republican players, who've learned never to let "the law" or even "the spirit of the law" stand in the way of a good old-fashioned, for-profit and damn the hypocrisy, propaganda campaign.

Propaganda works. There, I said it. But if I'm going to make propaganda, it's going to be about saving lives, helping people, ending war, and other "silly" things that have no realistic chance of happening. But you know, there's also no realistic chance that Jeebus will return with a flaming sword and smite all but 144,000 righteous Jews, but millions seem to believe otherwise. Millions more than perhaps would believe so, but for the judicious application of a little propaganda grease money.

We're trying, here in the blogosphere. But our Leaderz need to be willing to organize more, take the next step, get Hard, what have you. I don't exactly marvel at the technique of the group in Joe's post, so much as I envy and respect it. Where are the "Anarchist Atheist Brigades" and the rich, naughty gays, nonwhites and non-monotheists who want to fund such 'fringe' efforts? And where are the 'leading voices' of today's progressive "front" demanding that our rich friends cough it up? What about strategy? In this example, the goal is to enrich some people who are associated with a particular 527. But the technique does even more than that, keeping a right flank upon the telcos at a crucial time when they need the support of legislators who can prevent telco exposure for illegal activities. "Don't ask for too much, AT&T, we can demonize you any time." Devious, "Rovian," and interesting, isn't it?

We progressives been on the Moral High Groud in the Wilderness for so long, I'm bored and ready for a better party theme, if I can say that with not-wholly-ironic shallowness. And no, I'm not advocating that progressive Devious People organize a 527 to mislead good-hearted progressives to give money to a ponzi scheme. But I will ask: what is the Progressive Alternative? The Mirror Universe kind, in which we "fool" people to do/give to something right? Is there a way we can apply this technique in the "service of good?" Even if it means being a little bit naughty/bad to accomplish that goal?

Again, forgive the fuzzy thoughts borne of a headcold and long hours of "this bird is yellow!" My niece learned some French words today, and that's almost worth the price of this runny nose.