Are Republicans smarter than Democrats?

[pathansen]

Republicans always seem to understand the simple rule: "NEVER PUBLICLY ATTACK MEMBERS OF YOUR OWN PARTY."
Yet the Democrats never seem to learn the fact that whenever we publicly attack our own candidates, this is, of course, helping the Republican candidates to win.
Yes, some Republicans are now opposing Bush since he's not running again and its finally safe to do so but they were generally smart enough to keep their mouths shut in the previous election.

About the only candidate both Republican AND Democratic candidates are attacking now seems to be Hillary. And I have heard many more attacks here at this forum against Clinton than against Guiliani or any other Republican candidate.

So, do we really want another Republican in the White House?

[IndianaJones]

1. lmao. nt.

[Richard Steele]

2. Ah, the "Criticizing Hillary = Republican victory" argument. How refreshingly original...

NOT.

Does it ever occur to you that we HAVE OTHER CHOICES; that
Hillary hasn't been nominated yet?

Does it even occur to you that some of us prefer she not
get the nomination because we genuinely believe SHE WON'T WIN?

[pathansen]

12. I was not talking only about Hillary

It's happened with our Democratic leaders in Congress. They don't have a strong enough majority to
do much and their lives could very well be in danger. Remember the Antrax scare?
The same thing occurred with Kerry in the 2004 campaign.

If Democrats overdo attacking their own party, its like committing suicide.
We need to focus more on their strengths instead of just their weaknesses.

[WinkyDink]

3. Maybe, but only in a "cunning psychopath" kind of way.

[Quantess]

18. My thoughts exactly.

Republican politicians are expert propagandists and swiftboaters, which unfortunately appeals to some voters.

[porphyrian]

4. No, and that's not a rule, it's a tactic.

Republicans are stuck with that tactic because they only have one strategy. It is our strength that we are not bound to anything that predictable.

[pathansen]

20. I was talking about the "United We Stand . . . Divided We Fall" belief

[JMDEM]

5. One of the earmarks of a cult is...

That you cannot question the leaders. Think about that.

[pathansen]

17. That's not what I said at all!!

Of course we should be able to question our leaders.
But, everytime I visit this so called "Democratic" website, Democrats keep attacking our Democratic leaders even more than any Republican except for Bush.
We need to focus more on their positive attributes instead of always being so negative.
You must realize that their lives are in danger.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. So, what's stopping you?

Go right ahead and focus more on their "positive attributes".

Here's one, "They're not as bad as the Republicans."

[Benhurst]

6. No. I think "ruthless" is the word you are searching for.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. Definitely More Ruthless...

Better at playing "hardball" ...

[stillcool]

7. At this late date...

the only strategic republican position I know is to cheat, lie, and steal. In that frame work, it is not at all surprising that all subscribing members must read off the same script, regardless of how illogical, distorted, and divorced from reality the rationale is. Yesterday I passed anti-war demonstrations in two very small towns...which speaks volumes to me, about the feasibility of conning the electorate by any candidates twisted view of reality. More and more the democratic candidate...sans Dennis Kuccinich.. are doing riffs off the same script, but adding some basic concessions to the survival of the little people. Some choice eh?

[Bitwit1234]

8. I like your post. It takes someone with intelligence to understand

that. This has been one of the reasons the republicans have won two elections. The democrats refuse to attack them, they'd rather go after their own.

I got so frustrating with all this infighting I said I was going to post negative stuff about Obama. But I couldn't do it. Obama is not a bad candidate he can't help it if people of this ilk support him. Ones who would rather bash their own party rather than go after the republicans.

I'm not even going to give fuel to their swiftboating, by replying to the bash Hillary posts any more.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

9. It IS a smart tactic if all you want is a win. The issue is that democrats vote

Over the specific platforms of each candidate (or at least that is my assertion. I'm afraid that I have no facts to support this other than the possible majority of this board). Because of this, they are more likely to fight to get people closest to their beliefs instead of just any old democrat.

[pathansen]

21. I agree with you except I think the criticism can be overdone.

It sounds like we may have some freeps invading this forum to damage our leading candidate.

[JMDEM]

10. What the hell do the Republicans have to argue about anyway?

I guess Rudy claims to be pro-choice.

Outside of that???

Maybe some squabbles over immigration policy?

[Bluzmann57]

11. How about the fact that Giuliani is bald and Romney isn't?

You're right, their views on everything are nearly the same, so why bother with any of them? They are mostly the same guy, just different bodies.

[Individualist]

13. Democrats are smarter because the majority don't conform to cult behavior

[pathansen]

24. I wasn't talking about blindly following a leader

I just don't want any Democrats making the same mistake Nader did in 2000.
Remember Ralph Nader repeatedly attacking Gore cause he foolishly didn't think Gore was green enough.
So we ended up with 8 years of Bush!

[charlie]

25. Erm, Nader was a different party

Attacking Gore was his job. What was he supposed to say, Vote for me, but the other guy is just as good too?

The only way Democrats could "pull a Nader" is if they attacked the nominee after the convention. As a party, the Democrats have had some feckless electoral moments, but they couldn't be so batshit insane as to do that.

[pathansen]

26. Why did Nader attack the wrong man?

Its true that Nader was not a Democrat but both he and Gore were both strong Environmentalists.
When he attacked Gore, this helped Bush get elected.
How smart was that?

[Swamp Rat]

14. Why don't you post this AFTER the primaries.

Right now we NEED to criticize our own candidates. That is precisely what we do DURING THE PRIMARIES. At the end, we should have the best and strongest candidate.

"Yet the Democrats never seem to learn the fact that whenever we publicly attack our own candidates, this is, of course, helping the Republican candidates to win." - No, this does not at all help republicans to win. VOTING REPUBLICAN helps them win.

"About the only candidate both Republican AND Democratic candidates are attacking now seems to be Hillary." - Not true. ALL the candidates are questioned and attacked for one reason or another. Nevertheless, I hope Hillary will be ripped to shreds by her competitors as I do NOT want her to be our candidate. The M$M seems to have chosen her for us, but EVERYONE I KNOW does not want her to be our nominee.

If you do not want to see Hillary attacked, then come back here AFTER the primaries.

In the meantime, I plan on working my ass off to make sure she never sees the inside of the White House ever again.

[Perry Logan]

15. Of course, Republicans are as dumb as shit. But Democrats often get betrayed by their instincts.

It seems to be part of the liberal nature that we reflexively beat one another up. It's not a characteristic of every liberal. But it's a pretty strong streak with us.

I'm aware I could never plead innocent of the charge. At least I'm proving my own point--and like most people at DU, I believe in the value of self-criticism.

In this respect, our Republican cousins have a big political advantage over us. They are stupid and delusional; but they have a much stronger herd instinct than we.

[WilliamPitt]

22. No

But their base is far more dedicated, focused and organized than we are. It's a product of what their main issue is. "Issue," singular, just one (1). Ending abortion, period, end of file. If a politician isn't down with that, it's no sale. A politician who is down with that, however, gets lots of cash and volunteers and voter lists and canvasing analyses and phone banks and shoe leather and a shit-ton of votes.

We, on the other hand, care a lot about a lot of things, but a lot of us don't stay focused, and a lot of us don't do the list-making/canvassing/etc. stuff that wins elections, and because we have a lot of issues we care about, we tend to bail on politicians who don't align with even one of our issues.

I despise and fear the GOP base...but they are the most effective voting bloc in the land. You have to admire their tenacity, at least.

[charlie]

23. Never saw Bob Dole, did you?

He couldn't go 10 minutes without flaying an opponent with withering snark. He was wickedly good at it, too.