Metaphor alert: Anybody here play bridge?

[PCIntern]

Forget Obama's poker game or McCain's impulsive craps table appearances...the real game which is played is bridge. During the 'auction' each side makes bids depending upon what they perceive as their own strengths and weaknesses and takes into account those of the other side. Once the auction is settled it is time to begin the 'play'. the play consists of laying down cards to win 'tricks' - the order of play and of the notion of winning and losing tricks at a given instant is just a small part of the great strategy of the play. In many cases, a trump suit is decided upon, that is the suit whose cards take all the other suits' cards no matter what their value. Thus the Ace of Trumps is the ultimate winning card...no other card can beat it.

Often the Ace is used to get into the play...that the other side starts to run, and the Ace blocks the winning of the opponent and allows the holder to attempt to use their cards to win more tricks. Of course there are nuances beyond comprehension but explication is unnecessary here.

This long-winded point is, that there occurs a point in a campaign when you must disrupt the workings of the other side and send them back on their heels, put them on the defensive. We have all seen the movies where the assault is coming and the commander of the defensive forces says, "Wait...wait...wait...wait..." and then just when it seems lost, the 'hero' strikes a blow for good and righteousness. We may be near this time...the inertial of the electorate is like that of an ocean liner, it turns slowly but inexorably...how many times have we heard that if the 1968 election were held a week later, Humphrey would have won. well, it wasn't.

It may be time to drop that Ace.

[BadgerKid]

1. Set your ducks in a row

and run. The Obama camp seems to be building momentum.

BTW, you remember "bridge night" on The Cosby Show?

[BumRushDaShow]

3. I thought they played Pinochele?

which Philadelphians like Cosby are known to play... And when Cosby-as-Huxtable did a "head-rub" (collecting all the "books" or all the point cards against the opponent), he'd literally stick the card to his head to taunt his opponent like a good little Philadelphian is wont to do!

:rofl:

[BadgerKid]

5. Yes, you're right.

Very funny episode!

[BumRushDaShow]

2. IMHO it's still a chess game.

He hasn't changed. In chess, one thinks through a strategy that may require a sacrifice at the beginning, but will eventually lead to victory many moves in the future. It often involves bold or provocative moves at the front-end to prompt inpatient and inexperienced opponents to "take the bait" and react on emotion for short-term gain, which inturn solidifies a checkmate against them in the end.

Of course this requires knowledge of every possibile move that an opponent might make (and in this modern political environment, that includes cheating by the opponent), while weighing the long term consequences or benefits in order to quickly adapt to keep the final outcome on-target.

[PCIntern]

4. I understand but...

for example, for Dukakis, Willie Horton was the extreme issue which knocked him out effectively.

That's the Ace played 'to win'...