Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
James Poulos, Ed. ·
Sep 2, 2010 at 5:02am
Jim Geraghty's fabled mentor, "an individual who had been involved in the highest levels of GOP politics for longer than I have been alive," has resurfaced from his secret whereabouts with some oracular warnings and wisdom for November. This bit of advice jumped out:
Republicans ought to be using the words ‘October Surprise’ endlessly. Hold a contest to see who comes up with the most creative suggestion for what the Dems might do.
Well?
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May '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
Vote for us and we'll pay off your mortgage and your credit card debt. A fresh start for America!
Jun '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
I'm with EJHill. Expect the Dems to bribe the voters.
May '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
How about this - anyone who votes a straight Democrat ticket is entered in a raffle to win the contents of William Jefferson's freezer.
Jul '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
Given that they nationalized the student loan industry, I imagine we can expect some goodies there. Perhaps debt forgiveness or a temporary amnesty. Gotta get that youth base jazzed up.
Aug '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
Their only hope - and it's something they've been trying to provoke for a long time - is a Fort Sumter-like clash between "right wing Christian racist nutjobs" and any authority. It won't happen because there are so few of them out there; which drives the 'progressives' crazy.
Their narrative since... forever... is based on a 'threatening and violent right wing'. But all the violence in this country in our lifetimes has been caused by the Left; with a few small exceptions in the south during the civil rights conflict.
May '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
I agree with River that that the only thing that could accomplish the desired effect. would be to get the independents/centrists to stay home. This would involve some sort of FBI/ATF sting that accuses a group associated with the right wing of somehow plotting against the government and makes the Tea party movement/rhetoric look somehow dangerous or extreme.
Jun '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
AP October 22, 2010
The New Black Panther Party announced today that over 20,000 poll-watchers have been enlisted for precincts throughout...
Jul '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
While accepting that the left is capable of anything, I don't see that bribing the electorate counts as an October, or any other, surprise. Since Obama is not on the ballot Himself, he may even view the loss of both houses as a liberating moment. See how hard he works to shore up the foundation of this great country, refusing to return to the failed theories of the previous administration, blah, blah, blah?
On the other, he may not be in control of even a possible October surprise. Given his incompetence in everything except getting himself elected, this should be even more worrying. Instead of an October surprise, we shd worry about a November 2 scam in controlling the voting booths and the ballot counts.
May '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
I expect that River nailed it. They are probably hiring mercenaries right now to attack the October 2 AFL-CIO "Beck-copycat" rally waving TEA Party signs.
Jul '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
Don't rule out amnesty by executive fiat.
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
This is a radical idea, but if I were an in-trouble Democrat (or a leader in that in-trouble party), I might support it: cook up some national security rationale (either foreign or domestic) to justify postponing the election. Buying some time may be their only hope. There would certainly be a severe reaction, but they're already toast with those who would be most upset. Also, if the reaction were angry enough, it might serve, in itself, to have justified the postponement. Indeed, it could be a reason to put elections on hold for the foreseeable future.
Jul '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
In any other times, under any other administration, Pat, I would gently suggest that you lay off the sauce.
But I put nothing beyond this crowd. Particularly Holder.
Jun '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
...starts with a impending cyber attack detected by the NSA, leading to the president hitting the internet "kill switch" ... got to postpone the elections
Jul '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
Brilliant idea, Mr Sajak, but I think cancelling the election is reserved for 2012 when Obama is on the ballot.
Jun '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
I think the most likely is an epidemic of voter obstruction, intimidation, or equipment-failure reports (coming from the left,) all intended to cause authorities to extend voting hours in the places where races are very close. If you can extend voting hours, selectively, you can turn a close race your way using all available means--especially if you know ahead of time, and are prepared to move.
Jul '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
That's exactly how Claire McCaskill won her Senate seat - voting hours in almost-100%-black St. Louis precincts were extended by a Democrat judge.
Jun '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
We've already used swine and bird flu. How about a threatened pandemic of dog or goose flu (other animals could be substituted to give it a bit more jazz)?? Rat flu sounds pretty bad.
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
They're going to do two things:
1. Paint the opposition as extreme and crazy. Remember: Clinton didn't really get his mojo back after the 1994 midterms until the Oklahoma City bombing, which the left sorta/kinda attributed to Republican anti-government rhetoric;
2. Get Out The Vote -- early and often and multiple times, and at all hours.
Jul '10
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
October, 2010, Week 1: As majority stock holders in GM, they have been digging in the secret files and found the long-suppressed formula for the pill that turns sea water into gasoline. Energy independence!
Week 2: Any state with as few as one democrat in their congressional representation will be "deemed" to have complete democrat representation.
Week 3: Simultaneous air drops of UN peace-keeping troops into all states that have a vowel in their names.
Week 4: Rename of the Democrat Party to the Republ1can Party, looking to confuse those elderly Tea Party radicals.
Re: Desperate Dems Call for Desperate Measures
Meanwhile, Pethokoukis contemplates a September Surprise: tax cuts.