That’s OK,** Bricker**, I trust you.
Hey, I liked Bubba (somewhat), but he certainly did back down. Look at his health care plan and some of the other things he tried to do in his first term. He saw they weren’t going to fly and changed direction in midstream…and stole the Republicans thunder by repackaging their own programs and making them his (you could practically hear the Republican heads explodin in D.C 
). And…it won him a second term IMO. Something that Democrats seem to be having a pretty hard doing the first time around lately (and before him).
Personally (FWIW…probably not much) I think there are a lot of lessons to be learned by the Democrats from ole Bubba…but they aren’t learning any of them unfortunately (again, IMO). Obviously YMMV and its your party…my own party can’t seem to even get 1% of the popular vote so what the hell do I know? Maybe the American people really don’t want a move back to the center, but instead want a leap to the left.
-XT
They certainly didn’t give any indication of that in November 2004 . . . but then, it wasn’t one of the options they were offered.
No, it wasn’t…all that was offered was a choice of evils. Left of center or right of center. As I said…maybe folks really do want to go left. Maybe they want to go right. Myself…I just wish there was a party of the center between the wings, but thats just me. Obviously I’m not the majority of American’s here. 
-XT
Indeed. Check out this old thread (now locked): http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=269169
I respect Biden and Edwards too much to actually call them rats, but Dean could well be the sinking ship here.
Sometimes the rats panic needlessly and the ship sails on.
I’d be most comfortable at a flat $200, I think. Shall we agree that our bet’s doubled, other terms remaining the same?
I would like to point out, gentlemen, that a generous donation from the winner to the Mother’s March Against Congnitive Dissonance would be a selfless gesture of civic virtue. And would doubtless be widely regarded with a degree of approval that neither of you has previously enjoyed.
So you don’t want to debate rhetorical tone, but now instead wish to debate political maneuvering? All in the service of whether Howard Dean is screwing up as DNC chair? Please pick a goalpost and stick with it.
Uh-oh! We all remember that reluctance to bet equals a lack of certainty, right? Surely it follows that the amount of certainty is proportionally equal to the amount a person is willing to bet?
I suspect that Dean has already been told to S.T.F.U. behind closed doors after his latest remark. It remains to be seen if Biden and Edwards are the only Democrats to publically distance themselves from him.
Okay, I’ll make the same bet with you. Deal?
It was pointed sarcasm, throwing the ridiculous equivalence between wagering and strength of personal belief back at Bricker, who initially proposed the relationship.
I still, as a matter of personal principle, find the idea of wagering on elections unpalatable. I have tried and failed to explain this here before, so I have to accept that it will not be understood. I also don’t care if others choose to do so. Go ahead and rock out with your cock out for all it bears on me.
Believe me, however, I have been tempted several times to violate that principle, what with the Brickey Shuffle still going strong seven months later. If I break, you’ll be the second on my list.
Why don’t you folks bet on when Dean’s head explodes from shooting his mouth off. It’s becoming a daily event now. How much more racially/religiously insensitive can the man get. Today’s quote: Republicans are “a pretty monolithic party. They all behave the same. They all look the same. It’s pretty much a white Christian party.”
What’s wrong with that? It’s true isn’t it?
The problem with rhetoric like this is that it’s embarassingly easy to counter, and thus make Dean look like a fool.
There will be lots of minority Republicans making similar comments in the next few days, and it’ll make great press. Expect some sort of mealy-mouthed apology from Dean, as these comments really aren’t defensible.
This is my whole problem with betting as a way of backing up one’s statements. To a wealthy person, $200 is chump change. To a poor person, it’s the grocery money. It gives a great advantage to the wealthy. A dumb trap to fall into.
I do not believe there are in face a lot of minority Republicans. Those that exist will probably make the right noises to suit their white mas … er, compatriots.