Do Georgia Dems actually WANT to lose?

[bunkerbuster1]

Ok, that's a mean-spirited question at face value--FWIW the GA Dems I've met definitely don't want to lose. Having said that, I have read this story:

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/politics/14363252.htm

The two Democratic candidates for governor on Monday called on an independent group to cancel plans to run a broadcast advertisement attacking Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Secretary of State Cathy Cox and Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor each signed a letter to Ralph Knowles, chairman of Georgians for Truth, saying the planned ad targeting Perdue "will likely backfire against Democratic efforts in this critical election."

"While both of us understand that electoral politics can be a 'rough and tumble' business, we do not approve of organizations that are set up and funded specifically to attack a particular candidate," the letter said.

"We believe the public good is advanced when the candidates themselves are responsible for political advertising, and are answerable to the voters for its contents."

There was no immediate comment from Knowles on plans for an advertisement criticizing Perdue.

I recognize that Cox & Taylor might just be providing cover for the attack ads to run, so they can say they officially disavow them. But a gazillion questions remain.

WHY? Why not go after Sonny with both guns blazing? What's with this "keep our powder dry" bullshit?

How bad can the Georgians for Truth attack ad be, anyway? Unless it's featuring a bunch of Klansmen criticizing Sonny for waffling on the state flag, why not just let 'r rip?

Some answers would be nice.

[MGKrebs]

1. My two cents:

I would rather have someone else do the negative work so the candidates don't have to (much).

Also, since they probably can't legally coordinate with these people, there is a possibility that the ads will conflict with their own ads. Or at least be confusing to potential voters.

Just guessing.

[napi21]

2. I'd love to see the ads! I have no idea what they were intending

to say, or how good or bad they might be. I see no problem playing the dirty politics that were started by the Pubs to begin with. I happen to think that's the only way you CAN fight them..fire with fire on their own terms.

I actually am questioning if it isnt cya tactics on Cox and Taylor's parts.

Besides, how did those two candidates een find out what these ads were if they weren't coordinating? If they were, it could backfire BIG TIME!

[RubyDuby in GA]

3. Why not just let 'r rip?

I wholeheartedly agree. I am sick and tired of waffling and backpedaling from our candidates - on every level. It is time to stop being painted as weak on everything. Come out with some guns blazing. There is certainly plenty of ammunition to go around. I'm tired of having to support a pissy ass, whiny woe is me candidate every damn election cycle nowadays. The GAGOP is making a killing because they are the ones seen as stronger people. And as much as I hate to criticize my friends in the metro area, with all due respect, you guys have no clue what it's like to deal with the redneck idiot people of the hinterlands. Reasoning doesn't work. Catchy slogans and displays of strength do work. It's a sad fact, but it is true. These people don't think things out - if they did, Gore would still be our president. These people go with gut reactions and their gut is telling them that the mamby pamby Democrats can't get their shit together long enough to find their asses with both hands - and I see their point. I swear that I am telling the truth when I say that just saying "don't they realize that they are voting against their own best interests?" isn't a valid question anymore. No they don't, because they aren't smart enough to realize that. Come to my county. Go to any of the local restaurants at lunch time to see what I'm talking about. Go to the local county rec ball field on any given night and see what I'm talking about. Live my life for one week and see what I'm talking about. Then you'll see why I am dead serious when I ask my husband if he prefers Oregon or Vermont for when we move to get away from the ignorance that surrounds us every day.

[bunkerbuster1]

4. "no clue what it's like to deal with the redneck idiot people..."

I hear ya, I hear ya. And you don't have to go far outside the Perimeter to have to deal with the ignorance.

There is a presumption among vast swaths of Georgians these days that if you're white, middle aged and male that you are a Gooper-voter and probably fond of those delightful AM 750 WSB radio personalities, or perhaps "the Kimmer" on AM 640--racist/sexist/homophobe assholes, virtually all.

The ONLY thing that the rubes understand is a simple smackdown. They will NEVER respect Cox and Taylor's reticence to use whatever resources are at their disposal--even if it's a ShitFloater-type outside hit squad.

[RubyDuby in GA]

5. I know. I'm barely outside the Perimeter

I think that's what is so infuriating. The amount of willful ignorance just kills me. I constantly feel like I'm butting my head up against a brick wall when I'm trying to reason with these people. And I do try. They don't want to know the process. And it honestly seems that they don't care that they're being lied to and screwed by these people. For them, being a Republican is like being in a club. It's a brand identity.

[bunkerbuster1]

6. "Brand identity," or just the Winning Team

I think there's a lot of bandwagoneering going on that passes for political thought/discussion.

And that can work in our favor, in that the Gooper-voters are pretty mallable. If only we are willing to take a mallet to their noggins and beat some sense in...

[RubyDuby in GA]

7. Beating some sense in....

And with our "quality leadership" that will happen in about a billion years.

I posted this on the Blog for Democracy, it was about robo calling for a Lt. Gov candidate, but you can get the gist of what I mean about average Dem voters:

I always gauge what the average disaffected Dem is thinking by what my mother thinks. She would rather die than vote for a Republican, but she could basically care less about the whole political process (my dad on the other hand is a force to be reckoned with...). With that in mind, I will tell you that my mother will make a note of who is doing the robocalling and then she will refuse to vote for them. She absolutely hates it. She's also got the fastest finger in the South for hitting the mute button when political ads come on tv (especially leading up to the elections), so imagine my shock when she asked me about this whole attack ad thing. I was talking to her on the phone and it aired while I was talking to her (she actually liked it). I was telling her about the dust up that was occurring because of it and she said that it's one that she would actually pay attention to. She's glad that someone/anyone is finally standing up and saying what is on everyone's minds.

I think she might be representative of a vast majority of people. Democrats who always vote Dem, not because they want to anymore, but because they always have or they can't bring themselves to vote for a Republican. This group is sick to death of having to hold their noses and vote for someone who it too much of a chickenshit (her word) to tell it just like it is. I believe her exact words were "all we've got supposedly representing us are chickenhawks and chickenshits". Pretty profound for Betty Lou.

So, back to my original point, the robocalling isn’t necessarily the best road to take to get your message across to your typical/average voter.


You can check it out at www.blogfordemocracy.org

[Terran1212]

8. Reason? In Georgia?

: p

[LiberalPartisan]

9. And they say liberals are held captive by their feelings

When these folks cannot be specific as to why they support their candidates or certain policies - they just 'know what's right'. It's like saying 'I know I'm an idiot - quit bothering me with.'