Versus Frank Luntz Welcomes You!!

Versus has heard the call.

Versus is Frank Luntz's Avenging Angel. He and his followers have controlled the dialog for far too long, and they have now become a threat to the soul of the American electorate. This cannot go unchallenged. So Versus is answering the call.

First, you should know a little about the Avenging Angel "Versus", who will eschew first person pronouns like 'I', 'me' or 'my'. Versus' human sponsor and ally, initials D.A., went to college (University of Pennsylvania, a.k.a. 'Penn') with The Luntz and knew him casually then. Even 25+ years ago, The Luntz was doing survey research at Penn, as was D.A.

Yes, D.A. took all the courses that dweeby, red-haired Luntz did, and knows all the techniques he continues to employ to produce answers that make the clients happy. Even then, Frank (what an ironic given name!) single-mindedly pursued a career to get him where he is today: a respected and/or reviled deliverer of political wisdom, carefully packaged to satisfy his GOP bosses and confuse casually interested American voters. From his days with the conservative-funded college 'newspaper' named The Red and Blue (after Penn's school colors) and loping down Locust Walk on campus in Philly, The Luntz groomed himself for his current level of fame and supposed authority. Versus must admit that The Luntz's achievements are quite remarkable given the tremendous disadvantages posed by his appearance, demeanor and arrogant attitude.

But the fact remains that The Luntz is not that good. He's able to trick people with clever catch phrases, false choices, and loaded rhetoric. He's able to produce the 2-page summary, 50-page analysis, 200-page supporting research in his attempts prove the truth of his false conclusions and distorted messages. He is VERY good at that.

Yet, he is not good enough to make what he says the TRUTH. He is getting to be that strong, and hence D.A. has called upon Versus to join the fight. There is one other mythical entity that employs all the same tricks to confuse people and collect the one item of value that entity wants. Hence, Versus the Avenging Angel is here now.

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This blog employs the partnership of Versus' spirit and D.A.'s words, together more than a match for The Luntz and whatever deceitful spirit inspires him. It's not about him personally, of course, as there are many others like him and the GOP talking heads often follow his suggestions and carry his messages. D.A. just didn't know any of them in college.

Nevertheless, The Luntz himself was in the news yesterday with his suggestions on how the GOP should attempt to defeat the Dem's efforts at banking reform. So that makes it as good a place to start as any for this opening post.

Versus thought that The Luntz's suggestion that the GOP attempt to label banking reform as, paraphrasing, "just another big bank bailout" was a swing and a miss. It was certainly not up to his standards. Nobody who hasn't already sold their soul to the GOP talking points will believe that the big banks would try so hard to stop something that would help them.

Versus counters with the recommendation that proponents of banking reform label the effort the "No More Bank Scams Act", and describe it as "policing" banks and credit cards companies to keep them from picking our pockets, like they've been doing for years under the rules the Repubicans set up.

Versus also recommends that NMBSA create an agency called the "Fair Banking Watchdog" of "FBW" which, much like the FBI does with criminal activity, monitors and investigates deceptive, unfair and otherwise loopholed practices. Is there really any difference between what many banks and credit card companies do with their so-called "fees" as compared to organized crime? Versus has decided that in their souls' core, the answer is no. Both just use their lawyers and political allies to avoid the consequences.

Since this blog is about TRUTH -- as both Versus and D.A. would not have it any other way -- citizens of good will need to watch out for Democrats who, like nearly all Republicans, will do the bidding of those who want to continue to pick our pockets. Beware of them using some of these catchphrases, then allowing those loopholes that will thwart the real intent.