GOP Dirty Trick Predictions 2006

By: Todd Smyth
Published On: 3/15/2006 2:00:00 AM

Based on the trends in Virginia and national elections, these are my predictions for James Webb's race for Senate this year:

  * Third party Republicans will begin swiftboating during the Democratic primary to avoid connection to George Allen.  And then refer to it during the general as something brought up during the Democratic primary.  Webb was already warned they will go after him if he got in the race.
  * They will arrange for an independent candidate to enter the race after the primary and help his/her campaign in Dem strongholds to siphon off votes. (yard signs, 4 color brochures, etc.)
  * Webb will get the typical treatment of coordinated push polling, phony robo calls, whisper campaigns, direct mail, email and flyering in church parking lots.
  * Karl Rove will be sighted at campaign fundraisers in Virginia.
  * Republicans will openly break campaign laws and get very intense one week before the primary election and then again one week before the general.  They know there's not enough time for a media back lash and they will just pay the fines like they did in the 2005 Governor's race.

Be prepared!

Comments



I'll add a predictio (K - 4/4/2006 11:33:41 PM)
I'll add a prediction:

*Push polls and other means will portray Webb as gay-friendly

(When all else fails, Republicans ALWAYS bring up the gay menace!)



Let's not discount t (Rebecca - 4/4/2006 11:33:41 PM)
Let's not discount the possibility that the Repubs may give money to Miller in the primary in hopes he will be the weaker candidate. We can't put anything past them.


Predictions, continu (John K. (John) - 4/4/2006 11:33:41 PM)
Predictions, continued:

*Soon after the election it will come out that the NSA, FBI, CIA, DOD and the KFC Corporation had been listening in on Webb and his campaign for months because they were 'terrorist sympathizers' and wanted us to 'cut and run' (in the case of KFC, he said disparaging things about chickens).  Yes, that sounds vaguely like the kind of excuse the public might buy...fear! terrorists! boogyman!

*During the campaign, Allen will come out in favor of Bush's plan to invade Iran using robotic chicken developed by the DOD.

*Allen will claim that Webb/Miller is racist because he doesn't trust Kim Jong and North Koreans when President Bush tries to sell TSA airport security to the North Korean government.

*Allen will make at least 10 dumb football analogies.  Webb/Miller will say something halfway or very intellegent and the Washington Times will claim that they are elitists because they can finish a complete sentence, that makes sense, without using any of the following words 'ball', 'coach', 'my dad', 'first down', or 'choking the chicken'. :)



The best dirty trick (I.Publius - 4/4/2006 11:33:42 PM)
The best dirty trick of all would be if Allen ran his campaign promising (over and over and over again) not to raise taxes... then, a week after his term begins, he proposes a massive tax increase.

But only someone who was a liar to their very core could do something like that, right?



this post isn't help (novamiddleman - 4/4/2006 11:33:42 PM)
this post isn't helping your cause

Regards, middle of the road republican



It took Republicans (Todd Smyth - 4/4/2006 11:33:42 PM)
It took Republicans a long time to make liberal a dirty word.  I think many have moved away from it and the change is happening.  I think what Jim Webb is doing in VA will help.


James Webb comes acr (F. T. Rea - 4/4/2006 11:33:42 PM)
James Webb comes across as his own man.

Just the thought of such a creature scares the hell out of hacks on both sides of the aisle. In a copycat age marked by bland conformity, an authentic maverick with charisma could have sizzle to break the mold and get his power directly from the voters. That, instead of having to cut deals with party insiders and petty poohbahs. 

No doubt, all sorts of strange bedfellows will find one another, plots will hatch and attacks will come from every angle. It's no wonder Webb had to think long and hard about running. Now we'll see just how good of a fighter he still is.



How can we kill the (Rebecca - 4/4/2006 11:33:42 PM)
How can we kill the liberal label? If we can find a way to destroy the labels they use then we can breakdown their defences. Is it possible?

We need some language experts to help us with our message. Then maybe we can go on the offensive and head them off at the pass.



I respect middle-of- (Rebecca - 4/4/2006 11:33:42 PM)
I respect middle-of-the-road Republicans. I don't respect the gamesters, and there are plenty on both sides of the aisle.


It is my understandi (Teddy - 4/4/2006 11:33:42 PM)
It is my understanding that Mr. Webb is building his campaign from the ground up, not the top down. That means it will be up to the famous netroots and grassroots that are the foundation of his campaign to smother the dirty tricks by talking neighbor to neighbor, on a personal level--- in addition to the broader media response. And won't he have some pretty famous helpers along the way, not just Murtha?

I say, as a former Republican that Mr. Webb, as a former Republican, knows what to expect, and I hope the oppo research has been done so we have counter-offensives ready to roll as soon as needed--- no more dawdling from now on.



George Allen has a r (Duke - 4/4/2006 11:33:42 PM)
George Allen has a reputation for playing fast and loose with the truth in his campaigns.

When he ran for Congress, his campaign featured a photo of his opponent at an anti-war rally burning an American flag. The only problem was, it never happened. They superimposed (I would say photoshopped, but I don't think Photoshop existed then) her head into a photo.

Then, in another, most recent, campaign, there was some more alteration of photos by the Allen team to create "reality as they wish it had been". Allen was paddling a canoe but wasn't actually in the same canoe as somebody else who they wished he had been with. No problem - I think Photoshop actually existed then. They just altered the photo and used it in their campaign.

Make no mistake about it, Allen will fight dirty. But, I think we can count on Jim Webb to "shove his soft teeth down his whiny throat".



Going for Webb -- Bu (PM - 4/4/2006 11:33:42 PM)
Going for Webb -- Bush's lousy approval rating.  Pew's poll just came out and Bush is down to 33%! I think below 32 is freezing.  Webb can run not only against Allen, but also Bush.


33% is significant i (Todd Smyth - 4/4/2006 11:33:42 PM)
33% is significant in biology and evolution.  When 2/3 of a species or pack moves in a new direction there is significant change.

I agree with Teddy on the responsibility of the grassroots.  I think we all are prepping Webb for the inevitable.  Even Colbert did it.  We also have to prepare the grassroots so we don't get knocked off balance.