# Insurgents are stupid **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 29, 2006, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurgents-are-stupid/362603 "2006-06-29T04:12:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurgents-are-stupid/362603/21 "2006-06-30T18:23:20Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > Does anyone actually think that cowbush and the insurgents are going to make a deal? Of course not; who’s gonna protect the oil interests? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurgents-are-stupid/362603/22 "2006-06-30T20:57:29Z")
> [@John Carter of Mars](#): > > No, the Dems screwed our country when they failed to nominate a candidate that people could vote for. > The most unpopular incumbent in recent history, one that would have been easy to unseat, and and the Dems couldn’t _get 'er done._ 😉 > Please try to do better next time. I think this is total bullshit. Giant flip-flops and Swiftboating work against anyone. In 2004 you had a pretty large segment of historically Republican voters who knew Bush was a horrible President, and that another four years would be bad for the country. Yet they still want to vote Republican to protect their pet issues (large tax breaks for wealthy, abortion restriction, gay marriage restriction, etc.) So Rove says “look at the giant flip-flop!” It doesn’t matter if flip-flopping is an accurate label for the opposing candidate or not, or whether or not Bush flip-flopped. If you repeat this enough, it seems true, and you eliminate the need for those historically Republican voters to look at the issue objectively. “Well, I know Bush is a shitty President,” they say to themselves, “but I can’t vote Kerry, he’s a flip-flopper!” These people, deep down inside, wanted to vote for Bush, all that was needed was a flimsy reason for them to justify it to themselves. Those same flimsy reasons would have worked against anyone the Dems could have put up, because it doesn’t matter whether or not they were true. Now, in such a close election, I’ll concede that a different candidate could have possibly squeezed out a few more votes in the right states and won the election. But the overall issues would be the same no matter who the Democrats put up, and I think it’s ridiculous to say there was something inherently unelectable about Kerry. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurgents-are-stupid/362603/23 "2006-07-01T14:19:35Z")
> [@HowieReynolds](#): > > I think this is total bullshit. Giant flip-flops and Swiftboating work against anyone.\ I really didn’t intend to participate in a political thread in The Pit, but anyways… I think y’all overestimate the effect of Rove’s _evil genius_, and underestimate the ability of the middle 60% or so of the voting public to make an informed decision. Just because somebody doesn’t vote for the candidate of _your_ choice doesn’t mean they are stupid or gullible. It was a close election anyway. Bush was a sitting duck, a big fat mark with a target painted squarely in the middle of his back. Any reasonable candidate, running a reasonable campaign, should have beaten him. Didn’t happen, because an electable candidate wasn’t offered to oppose him. > [@](#): > > Now, in such a close election, I’ll concede that a different candidate could have possibly squeezed out a few more votes in the right states and won the election. \ I think that was my original point. ---
**Author:** ![ululate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/59ef9b/32.png) [@ululate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ululate)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurgents-are-stupid/362603/24 "2006-07-01T14:23:04Z")
> [@HowieReynolds](#): > > “Well, I know Bush is a shitty President,” they say to themselves, “but I can’t vote Kerry, he’s a flip-flopper!” I believe the exact turn of phrase was _“Well, I know Bush is a shitty President, but Kerry would also be a shitty President.”_ Which isn’t exactly the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurgents-are-stupid/362603/25 "2006-07-01T14:34:37Z")
> [@HowieReynolds](#): > > Yet they still want to vote Republican to protect their pet issues Many folks have to make that choice. I’m pro abortion and anti gun control for example. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurgents-are-stupid/362603.md?page=1)