[chimera]

In a perfect world. where the left plays by the rules we are asked to follow, you'd be correct. I'm guessing the Founders would agree with much of what you're saying (although some of them got mean and nasty, for their time), believing that an enlightened electorate would heed such advice. But the left doesn't play by the rules. We play the gentlemen/women, making sane, reasoned, logical, polite arguments, appealing to intellect and fairness. For our trouble, the leftists kick us in the nuts. And while we're rolling around on the ground in agony, trying to catch our breath, we can't speak sanely against chants, riots, and assault. Then the left plays the race card and freebies from da gummint, and then no one wants to listen.

What to do? I've been involved in politics, in one way or another, since the 1960 elections. I can confidently say that things have gone totally off the rails here. Reasoned, rational debate no longer seems to be operative. As loathe as I am to say it, we should at least defend ourselves and our candidates against the rising tide of leftist mob rule. If that involves some measure of harsh rhetoric (based in truth) or even physicality, well, I don't know what choice we have, given the odds against us.

[discostu]

It’s got nothing to do with perfect world or the rules. Again look at how women have fled from the left since Palin. They alienated women with that stuff, even women that don’t agree with big chunks of the GOP platform. When you attack somebody in a way that’s oriented towards their demographic checkboxes other people who check those boxes tend to feel attacked. That’s bad.

If you’ve been involved since 1960 then you know the point. Kennedy’s campaign head was the guy that figured out switching a voter was a two step process: first you get them not to vote for the other guy, then you get them to vote for you. And you only have to do the first part. If you go hitting your opponent in a way that makes women feel attacked you’re doing the first part FOR THEM. Don’t do it!

Harsh rhetoric is fine. I have not said ANYTHING against harsh rhetoric, and I don’t know why you guys keep reading it that way. Just don’t be misogynistic @$#holes. The OP says bring plastic legs to her events. NO! That’s STUPID. That’s going to make women feel attacked. That’s going to lose voters.

Attack the hell out of her for her POLICIES. For her POSITIONS. For her POLITICS. Don’t do ANYTHING that hits her for being a black woman.