# Democrats perpetrating "bait and switch"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 31, 2002, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702 "2002-10-31T14:08:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/1 "2002-10-31T14:08:31Z")
One thing about this whole Wellstone-Mondale thing I haven’t seen mentioned is that Mondale, if elected, is not likely to serve for any significant length of time. Indeed, I would expect him to resign within 6 months of taking office. His likely replacement would be another Democrat to avoid controversy, but the fact remains that I believe the Democratic party had no intention of putting their actual senate candidate up for election since he would be less likely to win. Disagree? Check back in June. Democrats love to claim voter disenfranchisement. Anybody want to defend their unwillingness to allow the public to vote on their real candidate? Maybe this accusation is a bit premature, but there will be no doubt next summer. Flame away… ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/2 "2002-10-31T15:16:49Z")
What makes you think he’ll resign? Has he said this publically, or do you just suspect this? ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/3 "2002-10-31T15:19:56Z")
I don’t think Lautenberg will serve the full 6 years. He looks pretty doddering. I don’t know any reason whyt Mondale shouldn’t serve his full term. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/4 "2002-10-31T15:32:13Z")
That’d be a big gamble. If Mondale wins, but then steps down, as I understand it Minnesota’s governor would choose his replacement (for example, Gov. Ventura, who is not running for re-election, has indicated he would appoint an independent rather than a Democrat to fulfill the remaining few weeks of Wellstone’s term to protest the political nature of Wellstone’s memorial service). The Dems would be gambling on winning the governor’s race as well as the Senate race. If the Pubbies win the governor’s race, Mondale’s stepping down could cost the Dems control of the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/5 "2002-10-31T15:57:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuauhtemoc \* > \*\*What makes you think he’ll resign? Has he said this publically, or do you just suspect this? \*\* Actually he has publically stated that he’s going to serve his full term. I just think he’s lying. You’re right, I have no evidence and I probably should take this to the pit. This just popped into my head while reading another thread in this forum and I had it typed and sent before I thought about it much. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/6 "2002-10-31T16:20:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > \*\*I don’t think Lautenberg will serve the full 6 years. He looks pretty doddering. I don’t know any reason whyt Mondale shouldn’t serve his full term. \*\* Doddering? Frank Lautenberg? Funny, I was just thinking recently that he seems as energetic and enthusiastic as many people half his age in the Senate. I don’t know any reason why _he_ shouldn’t serve his full term. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/7 "2002-10-31T16:22:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Lautenberg…looks pretty doddering [GOP wants to make age a factor in the Senate Race](http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--senaterace1022oct22,0,4280658.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire). It’s wonderful. It’s fascinating. It’s a sucker bet, every time. You can put your money on the line, “December will find some GOP Party Line snide remark to retail about the Democrats, no matter what the topic at hand.” I’m waiting for the “Is Winona Ryder guilty?” shoplifting thread, I can hardly wait to see how he works it in. [See the pony do its trick!](http://horseback-riding-tour.com/images/010608_pando_legt_sich_hin_2.jpg) But wait! Who is the mysterious Man in the Orange Shirt? Is it…? Could it be…the Presidential Rancher himself? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/8 "2002-10-31T16:46:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \* > \*\* [GOP wants to make age a factor in the Senate Race](http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--senaterace1022oct22,0,4280658.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire). \*\* I can see how age could be a factor, but I’m sure Lautenberg doesn’t want to make an issue of his opponent’s youth and inexperience. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/9 "2002-10-31T16:57:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > I don’t think Lautenberg will serve the full 6 years. He looks pretty doddering. There is clearly something to what you say, knee-jerk protestations to the contrary. But it is unclear whether it is the result of age. From the [NY Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/31/nyregion/metrocampaigns/31JERS.html) > [@](#): > > Mr. Lautenberg often gave the kind of meandering answers that have earned him a reputation as a poor orator. > [@](#): > > Some political analysts said that given Mr. Lautenberg’s occasionally rambling responses, Republicans were likely to continue pressing the age issue. > > “I think we saw today that Frank Lautenberg has been out of circulation for a while and his debating skills needed a bit of honing,” said David Rebovich, a political science professor at Rider University. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/10 "2002-10-31T17:13:05Z")
Ahem. Strom Thurmond (R-NC) That is all. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/11 "2002-10-31T18:02:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sofa King \* > \*\*Ahem. > > Strom Thurmond (R-NC) > > That is all. \*\* He’s not dead, he’s just resting after a prolonged filibuster. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/12 "2002-10-31T18:09:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by IzzyR \* > **There is clearly something to what you say, knee-jerk protestations to the contrary.** Huh? _What_ about knee-jerk protestations to the contrary? Lautenberg may have a “meandering” debating style. Now would anyone like to tell me what that has to do with whether or not he’ll serve his full term in the Senate? ---
**Author:** ![I\_am\_Sparticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@I\_am\_Sparticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_am_Sparticus)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/13 "2002-10-31T19:18:01Z")
The entire thread is speculative. ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/14 "2002-10-31T19:31:44Z")
**cuauhtemoc** , My comments were about whether he looks “doddering”, not about the bait-and-switch possiblity. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/15 "2002-10-31T20:45:21Z")
You know, it probably is the old bait and switch—first you suck the public in with a chiasmic candidate, with all the options and available at an unbelievably low price, then you kill him and bring in some old used candidate that the party needs to get off the lot. Give it a break for Pete’s sake. You people have been spending way too much time watching political ads on the TV. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/16 "2002-10-31T22:17:08Z")
Well, you know how it is. You have a dead candidate, but one who’s remarkably life like. Nail him to a perch… ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/17 "2002-10-31T23:48:40Z")
Is this leading into the dead parrot sketch? This candidate is deceased, passed over, singing in the choir eternal… ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/18 "2002-11-01T05:05:34Z")
“The Choir Invisible”, **Spavined**. That’s the trouble with kids these days, no respect for the Classics. (curmudgeonly harumph) ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/19 "2002-11-01T14:39:29Z")
Still another example of Minnesooota taking a cheap shot at Ioway. Help, help! I’m being oppressed! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702/20 "2002-11-01T15:28:08Z")
You’re not being oppressed, you simply live in Iowa. The distinction is admittedly subtle. Little Bob, from _The Unforgiven_ “I thought I was dead, too. But then I realized I was just in Nebraska.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-perpetrating-bait-and-switch/134702.md?page=2)