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Barack's 6 words to ride to the White House

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"They broke it. I'll fix it."


These words were spoken by Chrystia Freeland on Chris Matthews' show on Monday 9/15. She was proposing a campaign slogan for Barack.

Anyone else think this is the new "It's the economy, stupid?"

The great thing about this is that it is punchy and covers the bases: (1) There's a big problem in the economy, (2) McCain is part of the problem, (3) I'm part of the solution.

This slogan is so good that I think McCain's only viable response would be to start using the same exactly line in his own speech, to muddy the waters.

Obama is in a position to seriously bodyslam McCain this week.


Comments (50)

Clearly meets the gold standard of political catch phrases, maybe even platinum.

NC Steve says "If you'd published this before all of the daily polls showing Obama's pulled ahead again were posted, it would have made you look like an ordinary fool. However, by posting it after all of those polls came out, you've shown, once and for all, that you are an extraordinary fool."

Gallup says " The Sept. 13-15 Gallup Poll Daily tracking update shows John McCain (47%) and Barack Obama (46%) locked in a close contest when registered voters are asked for whom they would vote if the election were held today."

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How about "They broke it - We'll fix it" in keeping with his "we, us, it's not about me its about you" theme.

I think that "we" is important. We need to start thinking in terms of a new "Greatest American generation", one that's capable of solving the challenges ahead of it. The previous one defeated Hitler and Tojo and eventually the USSR. Now we need a new generation capable of defeating climate crisis, dependence on fossil fuels, and fundamentalism in all its pernicious forms.

This slogan would be a lot more convincing if Barack Obama or "we" had ever fixed anything.

Some guy said: "This slogan would be a lot more convincing if Barack Obama or "we" had ever fixed anything."

Speak for yourself; I fix stuff all the freakin' time. Maybe you've never fixed anything, but unless you know Obama personally, you cannot say he has never fixed anything.

The world is full of people like you who don't contribute anything but additional noise to problems. Go away. We don't need you.

McCain sure fixed it for Charles Keating.

McCain couldn't fix it if he wanted. He doesn't even know what it is.

Mccain is trying to fix the troopergate investigation for Palin. It's nice he had the keating experience as background.

I solve problems for a living. The only problem I can't solve is how to deprogram half a nation of zombies so that they stop responding to coded signals and begin to think critically like they were born to do.

Hmm, maybe a little RED pill...

Garbage In, Garbage Out

Unfortunately, many of our fellow citizens have become accustomed to eating garbage figuratively. At some point it will become eating garbage literally.

Good point, we it should be

Saying that adds a fourth punch, the "It is US(america) vs THEM (corrupt washington). That is a populist punch that can hit home. EVERYONE REC THIS POST. O could definitely hit hom with this line.

Bingo. Solid Gold. The speech writes itself.

What'd they break? The Economy... the Bank..... America's good name.... Our TRUST.... the Law... Mother Nature's Back....

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Seconded... someone past me a posterboard.

Or, how about, "You broke it. Thanks, but no thanks. We'll fix it."

I know it's too long, but I couldn't resist.

However the question people will ask it, HOW?!?!?!? That is what his speech today was for.

Great line...lets get it out there!!

Another nice one-liner, for energy policy:
America needs an oil change.

What are you saying: That Obama is going to service people's cars?!?

This is the problem with clever one liners.

Agree they should change "I" to "we", but I like it!

Rec'd

Um, not trying to stir up trouble... it's a good line and all, but Hillary Clinton kind of beat you to the punch - although she was talking about herself: "It took one Clinton to clean up after the first George Bush, it'll take another Clinton to clean up after this one."

Obama can't really appropriate that one.

It also didn't really work for her. Maybe she should have shortened it to: George broke it; I'll fix it.


I get so mad when John McCain gets away with statements like,

"I know how to win wars." "I know how to fix Wall Street."

He knows neither, but it gives his followers belief, just as when Sarah Palin comes out with her "Thanks but no thanks" BS.

One liners are nice and all, but our nation is truly standing on a precipice that has a lot of people crossing their fingers and hoping for the best.

What we need to know is that some really smart people are on the case ready and able to fix it. That's Obama. His speech today was gold. Substantive and tough.

I agree with you about the speech, but in this day and age you need both.

Fair enough, but one quality of Obama's campaign that I admire is that he keeps reminding us that slogans are not enough and he has repeatedly taken opportunities to discuss hard issues in detail.

As a nation we cannot respond to really serious challenges with bromides and 8 word elevator pitches. That's what we have for the past 8 years and it's frickin' killing us. What am I saying, it has already killed plenty of people.

I'm sure this is wishful thinking, but we had all better grow up pretty fast.

Earlier this year there was a post here about possible Obama slogans, and the one I liked best was:
"Lets fix all the stuff the Republicans broke".

Freeland's version is close enough for me.

"They broke it, we'll fix it."


Yes it does have a nice ring to it.

Like that a lot. In addition, I'd like to see all the Obama-Biden commercials end with a silent screen with just the words, "Yes, we can."

cool. 'WE' would be a good change. We know who 'THEY' are and we know who 'WE'are. Nuttin too itt.

Kerry rambled on and on and on and on.......
He lost people. Drill Drill Drill works quite well for Grampy. Slogans work. PERIOD. It gives those folks that don't want to spend a lot of time thinking an opportunity to get the drift and go back to watching cars go round and round and round and round and drink beer without getting dizzy.

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It needs three more words.

"They broke it. We'll fix it. And here's how."

Good call.

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I like these words:

"SENATOR MCCAIN, WHAT ECONOMY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

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It should be "Republicans broke it. Democrats will fix it."

And everytime that he speaks McCain's name it needs to be "Republican John McCain."

McCain is running as though he is not a Republican. We need to constantly remind people who he is.

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I love it!!!! How do we get Obama to use it now?

1. Pensions
2. Better Care of Vets
3. Wasteful military spending is for losers. Let's kill the right people.
4. Colin Powell
5. Middle class people losing houses
6. People losing everything because of medical bills

The ad that won Obama this election:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1185304443/bctid1799203760

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Gotalife,are you actually pulling for Obama, or pulling our chains? I've not been here much lately,been pounding the pavement for O and busy renovating my home. Did I miss your joining us in The Fight? If so, welcome to the team,if you fight for Obama as tenaciously as you did for Hilllary, you'll be a big asset! We Are The Cange We Seek.

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That's CHANGE, not Cange, of course. (too much coffee)

Thanks, Goat Life -- that was the best object lesson of Barack Obama's mind in action since his "Dreams from My Father" book, but a whole lot shorter.

I'm going to start posting the link everywhere I go.

Welcome to the Team.

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A Recipe for Economic Failure

Just as Cindy McCain has stolen her Cookie recipe from Hershey's, John McCain is stealing his economic plan right from the George W. Bush playbook. He is ill at ease when speaking about his plan for the economy because he knows he has been a direct supporter of the deregulation that caused the failures in our economy. Deregulation has allowed the Wall Street crowd to behave as chipmunk’s hording up all their acorns and leaving the scraps for the average American. His one moment of honestly was when John McCain admitted "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should". Where does he get his economic vision from? McCain says "some of my best friends have opinions about economic policy". And who are these best friends? Seven of them run his campaign, and they are lobbyists for big oil, pharmaceutical, foreign dictators, and failed Wall Street giants. Doing more of the same again and again and telling people that they can expect different results does not make you a maverick. At best, it makes you insane. At worst, a liar.

McCain is not telling the truth, about the economy, or Barack Obama. Barack Obama’s middle class tax cut gives 95% of working Americans a tax cut of up to $1,000. He will crack down on predatory lenders, punish corporations who send American jobs overseas, reform requirements on all regulated financial institutions and streamline our regulatory agencies. "This time - this election - is our chance to stand up and say: enough is enough!" (Barack Obama, 2008)

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I like the slogan too. But I think there's another two word phrase that can help Obama just as much or more: "Executive Privilege."
Ads linking "Executive Privilege" with McPalin could really hurt them. Just like Bush has been hiding behind Executive Privilege to avoid Congressional oversight, Palin is refusing to answer TrooperGate questions. What other "privileges" are they enjoying that differentiate them from everyday Americans?
And aside from the technical meaning of Executive Privilege, it would be easy to create a picture of the "Privileged Executives" McCain and other deregulators pandered to when they got rid of the regulations intended to prevent the current financial meltdown.

Six more words: AIG, Merrill Lynch, Lehman, Fannie Freddie. Lobbyists for all of the above are on McCain's campaign staff.

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Gotalife, AKA Lalopendejo, is a troll. Ignore.

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How about this slogan? "There are lies, damned lies, and Republican talking points."

How 'bout: There are lies, damned lies, and the Republican disinformation factory?

I think that keeping it republican and democrat separate doesn't fit the message well. How about: "They broke it, you and I can fix it"

That's my 1.2 cents (would have been more but I own part of AIG now)

How about, "I AM NOT GEORGE FUCKING BUSH!"

That pretty much covers all the bases as well. All the ones that matter anyway.

"Those fucking assholes broke it ... again! Now, we're going to have to fix it ... again. Goddamnit!"

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