The GOP wants you to think they can and will steal the election

[troublemaker]

Republicans don't mind public discussion about the Republicans "stealing the election" because it has the ultimate effect of depressing Democratic turn-out. (I am not talking about online chat. I'm talking about mass media)

We see all these corrupt Republican practices, some so blatant that nobody could expect to "get away with it." Don't assume they are always trying to get away with it. They WANT everyone to think the process is corrupt. That's the point. Who stands in line to cast a vote, the side that thinks their vote will be counted or the side that assumes their vote will be discarded?

Just an observation that they are not always as dumb as they seem to be, and they do not mind appearing stupid or corrupt if it serves their larger purposes.

[Jack_Dawson]

1. Dems not voting = Wimpy

There's simply no excuse to not vote this year.

[derby378]

2. And some of us will be patrolling the polling places (n/t)

[Philostopher]

3. I think you're probably right.

They've passed along this 'all politicians lie/never trust the government' thing for so long, people have internalized it, too. That way when they prove untrustworthy liars, people don't hate them for it -- after all, they've been telling us all along that the government can't be trusted and all politicians lie, right?

I don't know that the damage they've done our republic can ever be fixed. They've destroyed people's trust in their representatives, and lowered the bar so far for campaigning and serving, it sometimes seems like it would be impossible to convince the majority of the electorate that they have a right to expect better.

Which, of course, was the whole point to begin with, no doubt. When it doesn't matter if your representative is an asshole with no ethics, who's likely to tell you the sky is green, Republicans make out like thieves.

[troublemaker]

4. That's why Gingrich pushed the supposed "House check scandal"

it took out a lot of Republicans but he pushed it anyway because it lowered esteem for congress

[Philostopher]

9. It's all they've been about for twenty years.

Having Reagan in office softened people up for the empty-suit figurehead who couldn't tie his own shoes. It's been downhill from then on. I think by 2020, they'll be running Jonny Hart comic strip characters for office.

[featherman]

5. Agree...last night Lou Dobbs lead in headline

"But Will Your Vote Count"
GOP loves this. Depresses the vote, discourages voters. There is a young man I know (age 30), registered and favors Kerry, but says he will NOT vote. Hates the Electoral College system and says it means his vote does not count. Very stubborn and unreasonablee about it

[Harlan James]

6. If True It Could Backfire

What Bush despising soul wouldn't want to help stop the thieves? Stuff like that fires people up. It does me!

[bloom]

7. yes - I've thought that, also

I've also noticed the Republicans going around suggesting the Democrats are going to try to steal it - as if it is Democratic owned companies who created the whole BBV thing or have BBV companies saying such things as that they would be delivering Ohio or Florida, etc....

[demokatgurrl]

8. Read Paul Krugman's depressing column today

in the NYTimes. He thinks they'll do it too. I think they will at least try. We can combat it by voting in droves to give Kerry such a big lead they can't steal it. But I really do think they will try.