Nutroots Excavate
Kos himself is instigating to have Democrats cross over in the Michigan Republican primary to vote for Romney. There is a major - ugly - flaw in his justification for doing so, as Bob Owens points out:
Kos justifies this tactic by pointing out that Michigan Republicans pulled a similar dirty trick in 1972 to vote for segregationist Democrat George Wallace, noting that Republicans' made up a third of Wallace's vote total.
In 1972, Republican voters in Michigan decided to make a little mischief, crossing over to vote in the open Democratic primary and voting for segregationist Democrat George Wallace, seriously embarrassing the state's Democrats. In fact, a third of the voters (PDF) in the Democratic primary were Republican crossover votes.
But that isn't the whole story, and Kos purposefully leaves out the nasty truth: even without a single Republican vote, segregationist Wallace would have still won handily in 1972 Michigan, by more than 111,000 votes.
Go read it all, it's short and sweet. One thing I have not really noted anyone else pointing out that I think should be rather obvious. If Romney does win in Michigan, goes on and wins the nomination then wins in the general, Kos will be a political dead man. Whether or not his helpful suggestion results in any real votes for Romney - he's dead to the Democrats if they lose in November. Period.
The problem with political dirty tricks is that they can backfire so easily.
By Anthony (Los Angeles), Friday, 11 January , 2008 @ 8:32 pm
he’s dead to the Democrats if they lose in November. Period.
And that would be a good thing.
By Mwalimu Daudi, Friday, 11 January , 2008 @ 8:42 pm
What happens if Romney loses in Michigan? It would call into question the real strength of Markos Moulitsas and his brownshirts.
By Uncle Pinky, Friday, 11 January , 2008 @ 9:25 pm
The problem with political dirty tricks is that they can backfire so easily.
Yup. But it is like gambling with other people’s money, the highs are too high and the lows are easily spun as someone else’s fault. Kos has been so wrong so often that he should have been effectively dead long ago, but Orel Roberts should be a hissing and a byword and he isn’t. Matter of fact, he’s extremely comfortable.
Boneheadery doesn’t seem to count in politics or religion, which is one of the reasons that you don’t discuss it in bars. Jeez, Jimmy Carter is still out there and people act as if his opinion was worth something. Worse comes to worst, Kos can build a house for the homeless and be forgiven. Assuming he knows what a hammer (or work) is.
By NortonPete, Friday, 11 January , 2008 @ 10:39 pm
Uncle Pinky,
Insightful definition of boneheadery. I learned something today. Great.
By syn, Saturday, 12 January , 2008 @ 7:57 am
Like anyone in America will notice any of the dirty tricks; even webblogs on the right side are starting to drive the media’s narrative. Disappointing but there is still talk radio.
Thus far, Americans are content to allow The Poll to elect their President.