# Midterm Election Strategy: Isn't Firing Up the Base Supposed To Be the Key? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 17, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/midterm-election-strategy-isnt-firing-up-the-base-supposed-to-be-the-key/348805 "2006-03-17T20:47:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/midterm-election-strategy-isnt-firing-up-the-base-supposed-to-be-the-key/348805/41 "2006-03-21T02:24:43Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I have a friend (prone to conspiracy theories) who is convinced it’s all a sham and Kerry didn’t even want to win – in fact, he was handpicked by the Powers That Be to lose. If by some outrageous fluke, I was nominated my first thought would probably be “holy shit what did I get myself into”. But then, after the initial shock wore off, I would at least put up some sort of a fight - solid talking points, REAL debates, catchy slogans, match any mudslinging with some mud of my own, all the “tricks of the trade”. I damn sure wouldn’t let anyone swiftboat me for very long, withoug firing some broadsides of my own. I also would try like hell to not let the other side choose how the arguments will be framed. I don’t know about any Powers That Be. Tell your friend to keep wearing that tin foil hat 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/midterm-election-strategy-isnt-firing-up-the-base-supposed-to-be-the-key/348805/42 "2006-03-21T13:44:09Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > If by some outrageous fluke, I was nominated my first thought would probably be “holy shit what did I get myself into”. But then, after the initial shock wore off, I would at least put up some sort of a fight - solid talking points, REAL debates, catchy slogans, match any mudslinging with some mud of my own, all the “tricks of the trade”. I damn sure wouldn’t let anyone swiftboat me for very long, withoug firing some broadsides of my own. I also would try like hell to not let the other side choose how the arguments will be framed. No doubt. But **you** (I presume) owe no loyalty to the Skull & Bones. 😉 . ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/midterm-election-strategy-isnt-firing-up-the-base-supposed-to-be-the-key/348805/43 "2006-03-21T17:57:22Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > If by some outrageous fluke, I was nominated my first thought would probably be “holy shit what did I get myself into”. But then, after the initial shock wore off, I would at least put up some sort of a fight - solid talking points, REAL debates, catchy slogans, match any mudslinging with some mud of my own, all the “tricks of the trade”. I damn sure wouldn’t let anyone swiftboat me for very long, withoug firing some broadsides of my own. I also would try like hell to not let the other side choose how the arguments will be framed. > > I don’t know about any Powers That Be. Tell your friend to keep wearing that tin foil hat 😃 The trouble with Kerry is that prior to the Presidential election, he hasn’t had to run real hardball campaign in years. His seat in MA has been safe almost from the moment he took Paul Tsongas’ place in it. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/midterm-election-strategy-isnt-firing-up-the-base-supposed-to-be-the-key/348805/44 "2006-03-21T20:28:01Z")
I imagine that there isn’t a week that’s gone by since the 2004 elections where Kerry reads the headlines and thinks “Good thing I didn’t get stuck cleaning up George’s mess.” ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/midterm-election-strategy-isnt-firing-up-the-base-supposed-to-be-the-key/348805/45 "2006-03-21T22:34:34Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > No doubt. But **you** (I presume) owe no loyalty to the Skull & Bones. 😉 . None at all, but I doubt they would want a commoner like myself anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Airblairxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/midterm-election-strategy-isnt-firing-up-the-base-supposed-to-be-the-key/348805/46 "2006-03-22T01:20:09Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > As much as you guys beat the drum about Diebold and allege that they fixed elections, what are you going to do when the Democrats take seats in this election? Will it be perfectly legit then, or will you demand recounts in close elections because the machines were “fixed”? > > Gooses/ganders and all that, y’know? Assuming that Diebold doesn’t switch political sides and starts showering Democrats with campaign financing, then in fact it will be perfectly legitimate and Democrats (and their supporters) will have absolutely NOTHING to answer for. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/midterm-election-strategy-isnt-firing-up-the-base-supposed-to-be-the-key/348805.md?page=2)