How to Lose an Election

American Thinker ^ | Sept 27, 2010 | Paul Shlichta

[Rashputin]

I always admired Thomas E. Dewey for publicly admitting that he had managed to "snatch defeat from the jaws of victory" in the 1948 election [1]. Let us hope that we don't have to make the same confession this November.

This year, the omens are favorable, with voters and donations seeming to shift toward the Republicans. However, just in case the conservative-Tea Party-Republican majority of America wants two more years of Democratic domination, here is a well-proven formula for losing an election -- one that we seem to be following at the moment:

1. Divide and be conquered. 2. Let your opponent set the agenda. 3. Ignore your opponent's dirty tricks. 4. Don't bother to get out the vote. 5. After the election, overestimate your victory.

Let's consider these five easy steps and apply them to the current election.

[Rashputin]

I hope everyone is on guard and working like the devil to make their local Republican a winner this year, otherwise, it's going to go from bad to worse not long after the elections. It's past time to bicker over who might have been the best candidate in a particular race to work hard to make sure the worst candidate, the democrat, isn't elected and doesn't steal the election.

[ozzymandus]

Don’t forget to guard against RAT vote fraud. The Republican candidate for KS Attorney General said he would make vote fraud a priority, and the local leftist newspaper attacked him for it, claiming there is no vote fraud in KS (there certainly is, especially in the liberal east).

[counterpunch]

6. Put John Boehner on the Sunday talk shows refusing to end earmarks.
 

[screaminsunshine]

We are already worse and trying to get back to bad. However I do not put too much faith in Republicans to do the right thing.

[CapnJack]

Here in NH, if yard signs are any indication, the signs for dems are 10-to-1 over rep signs.

It seems like no one cares about the election here in NH.

I fear that there will be no change in the House seats from NH to Congress and there will be 2 dem Senators.

I am not seeing or hearing any big “throw the bums out” talk from anyone about this coming election.

[wendy1946]

One thing to keep in mind, demoKKKrats entertain zero thoughts about winning any sort of a contest in the marketplace of ideas. They are a pure old-fashioned political machine and always seek to win via technique, gaming, tricks, and intimidation and the like. They claim to represent the common man and yet most of their funding comes from public employees' unions, particularly the NEA, and the trial lawyers' organizations, i.e. from groups whose interests are diametrically opposed to those of the common man.

They are the most major reason why the common man cannot afford decent medicine or decent education for his children.

[who knows what evil?]

There is fraud in every single decent-sized city in the United States...

[Wonder Warthog]

"1. Divide and be conquered."

Dude, it isn't the "Tea Party" that is dividing the effort, it is the "sore-loser" RINOs who are refusing to accept their rejection in various primaries. It's interesting how "party discipline" only seems to apply to the non-RINO constituency.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

I found this article in Barrons this weekend to be a bit disturbing:

“Democrats currently hold 255 House seats versus 178 for the GOP, with two vacancies. A minimum of 218 seats is required for control. Democrats hold the Senate 59 to 41; a minimum of 51 seats is needed for control of the Senate.

Based on an analysis of campaign-contribution data, Barron’s predicted in July that the Democrats would retain the House in November 220 to 215, a margin so slim that it would result in virtual gridlock. We are sticking to that forecast. Our methodology—mostly favoring candidates who raise the most funds, especially in their home districts—is often highly predictive.”

So Barrons continues to think the Dems will hold the House based on superior campaign donations being raised in their home districts. Well, I guess all that stimulus money has gone to someone’s benefit.

[Roccus]

There is fraud in every single decent-sized city in the United States...

It goes farther down than just "decent-sized cit[ies]". The entire voting system is beyond corrupt.......yet still I vote....(sigh)

[wintertime]

it is the "sore-loser" RINOs....

I wonder how many of those "sore-Loser RINOs" now have millions in Cayman Island bank accounts? ( Thanks! Soros)

It's interesting how "party discipline" only seems to apply to the non-RINO constituency.

Dems are thugs!

These Democrat primary losers know full well that they or their family's could easily end up with a bullet in their heads. Remember the long list of mysterious deaths surrounding the Clintons? Remember Lieutenant Quales who was shot in the head outside his church the night before he was to testify regarding Obama's natural born status?

[algernonpj]

"1. Divide and be conquered."

Dude, it isn't the "Tea Party" that is dividing the effort, it is the "sore-loser" RINOs who are refusing to accept their rejection in various primaries. It's interesting how "party discipline" only seems to apply to the non-RINO constituency.

Some of the best pieces of propaganda going are that third parties can't win and if a candidate has an R after their name they are better than one with a D. Barring few exceptions, the only difference between the Rats and the Rinos is widow dressing. The leaders of both major parties, who dole out campaign money, have been quite effectively bought and paid for. Their focus is power for the party, not representing the people who elected them.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Remember the long list of mysterious deaths surrounding the Clintons?"

Yes.

"Remember Lieutenant Quales who was shot in the head outside his church the night before he was to testify regarding Obama's natural born status?"

THIS one I wasn't aware of, and I've followed the "birther" story for a while (and agree with their premise...there is WAY too much obfuscation surrounding Obama for him to be "legit"). Got a good synopsis link to the back story?? I could Google it, I guess.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Some of the best pieces of propaganda going are that third parties can't win and if a candidate has an R after their name they are better than one with a D."

Well, in general, the "third parties can't win" has proven largely true. That part isn't propaganda, but fact (note, I am, have been all my voting life, and continue to be, an "independent"....aka "no party" voter...so I have no "ax to grind" w.r.t. party membership). The second part is probably true for a small majority of Republican office holders, but it isn't by much, and, given actions of the RINOs in this election, the fraction appears to be smaller than I thought.

"Barring few exceptions, the only difference between the Rats and the Rinos is widow dressing."

HERE, we agree completely.

[algernonpj]

Well, in general, the "third parties can't win" has proven largely true. That part isn't propaganda, ...

I see it as propaganda because it has become a self fulfilling prophesy, in other words because people believe it is true they shy away from voting third party and thereby make it true.

FYI Another independent here. I'm so proud of my town; we elected an independent mayor four years ago. It was close. The Dems and their patronage had such a lock on things, no challenger had ever seriously run against our 'mayor for life'.

Fortunately for us, he instituted an immediate hiring freeze and began consolidating departments. This time around a lot more people seem to appreciate the fact that our mayor does not 'owe' a major state party and their corporate sponsors.

[Article10]

I agree, here in NH, especially Rockingham County, it is hard to get excited about Ayotte, a RINO and Stephens an uber RINO. NH is a lost cause in my opinion. The GOP should be the Grand Old Rino Party.

Massification is terminal here.

Glad to be leaving this State and the US for awhile.