What are Republican candidates -- actually, let's call them neo-con candidates because there are still a few Republicans left out there who are actually God-fearing decent human beings (it could happen) -- saying to the American electorate this year? I think it is important for us to know this stuff if Progressives are ever going to win any elections in 2006.

To quote a recent ad from a neo-con favorite of Rush Limbaugh who is running for Congress in North Carolina, "Americans are under attack from Islamic extremists in every corner of the world. Homosexuals are mocking holy matrimony, and the lesbians and feminists are attacking everything sacred. Liberal judges have completely rewritten the Constitution. You can burn the American flag and kill a million babies a year, but you can't post the Ten Commandments or say 'God' in public." Then the ad ends with the theme song from "Leave it to Beaver!"

You know and I know that this nonsense is just typical neo-con smoke-blowing hypocrisy and not anywhere NEAR telling the real truth. But to a voter who only watches Fox News, this sleazy appeal-to-their-baser-instincts hokum may sound true enough to win over their vote.

Progressives cannot afford to ignore the neo-cons' appeal to the more primitive soap-opera-level feelings and fears of American voters. And maybe we need to sink down to the neo-con-men's level and appeal to America's more basic instincts too.

If we were to use the neo-con's talk-down-to-the-voters claptrap style, our ads would probably go something like this:

"George Bush thinks that he has the right to lie to Americans by claiming that he is guided by God!" our candidate will claim. "This loathsome blasphemy by someone our children look up to mocks the very name of all we hold holy. Are we going to stand by while this evil man tries to lure unwary American believers into his diabolical web of hate, greed and lust? No! As long as there is even one American left in our country who can still read the Bible, we will NOT tolerate nor endure the Jesus-bashing going on in the mind and heart of George W. Bush."

And the ad's background music? How about "The Old Rugged Cross." Or perhaps the theme from "Dark Shadows" would be more appropriate. Or "The Star-Spangled Banner" is always good.

Hey, this style works for the neo-cons -- and they lie. Maybe it will work for us too -- when we're telling the truth.