This year's October Surprise (political)

Message

Sir_Galahad · #1 Post by **Sir_Galahad** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:05 am

I have been reading a number of online sites that float the idea that we are in for a huge October Surprise this year. Many suggest, and rightly so, that Joe Biden is suffering from a bad case of foot in mouth disease. And, as such, the Obama campaign is going to jettison the senator after the VP debate. And, who better to replace him with - Hillary! They suggest that Obama is going to bite the bullet and try to secure his election by putting her on the ballot. Do you think there is that possibility? I do.

gsabc · #2 Post by **gsabc** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:09 am

Ain't gonna happen. Any potential positives of changing to Hillary would be more than offset by the negatives of changing at all. Short of finding Biden and Barney Frank together in a love nest, Joe is the Dem's VP candidate.

NellyLunatic1980 · #3 Post by **NellyLunatic1980** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:22 am

An October surprise that is more likely to happen than what SirG suggested: McCain drops out of the race due to illness. Palin becomes the new presidential candidate. Romney becomes Palin's running mate.

Sir_Galahad · #4 Post by **Sir_Galahad** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:22 am

NellyLunatic1980 wrote:An October surprise that is more likely to happen than what SirG suggested: McCain drops out of the race due to illness. Palin becomes the new presidential candidate. Romney becomes Palin's running mate.

I like your suggestion.

Bob Juch · #5 Post by **Bob Juch** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:26 am

Obama is now ahead by 9 points. Why change anything?

Rexer25 · #6 Post by **Rexer25** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:27 am

NellyLunatic1980 wrote:An October surprise that is more likely to happen than what SirG suggested: McCain drops out of the race due to illness. Palin becomes the new presidential candidate. Romney becomes Palin's running mate.

Is there any evidence for this, or is it an internet rumor? Of course, if it's on the internet, it has to be true...

themanintheseersuckersuit · #7 Post by **themanintheseersuckersuit** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:27 am

Bob Juch wrote:Obama is now ahead by 9 points. Why change anything?

Bob is right

danielh41 · #8 Post by **danielh41** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:29 am

Sir_Galahad wrote:I have been reading a number of online sites that float the idea that we are in for a huge October Surprise this year. Many suggest, and rightly so, that Joe Biden is suffering from a bad case of foot in mouth disease. And, as such, the Obama campaign is going to jettison the senator after the VP debate. And, who better to replace him with - Hillary! They suggest that Obama is going to bite the bullet and try to secure his election by putting her on the ballot. Do you think there is that possibility? I do.

How would that work for those who voted early. If people voted for Obama/Biden, wouldn't replacing Biden with Clinton void their votes? Or would it void the votes of everyone who voted with a ballot listing Obama/Biden no matter who they voted for?

NellyLunatic1980 · #9 Post by **NellyLunatic1980** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:39 am

Sir_Galahad wrote:
NellyLunatic1980 wrote:An October surprise that is more likely to happen than what SirG suggested: McCain drops out of the race due to illness. Palin becomes the new presidential candidate. Romney becomes Palin's running mate.
I like your suggestion.

Conservatives want Palin to be president anyway. I say they should just go for it. The Republican ticket will probably lose either way, so why not lose with their favorite at the top of the ticket?

I'm never one to give ideas to Republicans, but you'd have to admit that it would be a brilliant move.

Sir_Galahad · #10 Post by **Sir_Galahad** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:54 am

Bob Juch wrote:Obama is now ahead by 9 points. Why change anything?

It all depends on who / what you read. If you continue to drink the Kool-Aid of The Times and MSNBC, that's what you will hear.

Flybrick · #11 Post by **Flybrick** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:03 am

NellyLunatic1980 wrote: Conservatives want Palin to be president anyway. I say they should just go for it.

As a conservative, I want to thank you for voicing my views about who I want to be President.

To the ridiculous topic at hand, if Hillary were to replace Biden, I think two things would happen:

1. You would energize the Republicans like nothing else. There would be a flood of Republicans who might've sit this one out due to their lackluster support of McCain. I'm in that category.

If Hillary were on the ticket, I would vote early and often to prevent her from gaining access to the White House. (Regards to SSS. I like having him on the anti-Obama stump, but I simply cannot abide Hillary.)

2. It would show the Democratic Party with Obama at the center as indecisive and willing to change its convictions at the drop of a poll number (which as noted, you have anyway. Why screw with it?). I think that sort of blatant switch would lose many of the undecided/independents that are so coveted.

Related but separate: What is the procedure if a candidate were to die/drop out after the nomination and early voting has occurred?

Any Constitutional/Election law experts know?

Finally, may I suggest to Nelly that he enjoy a super-sized helping of his avator's beverage? You aren't funny, you aren't insightful, and you do no credit to your candidate.

NellyLunatic1980 · #12 Post by **NellyLunatic1980** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:17 am

Flybrick wrote:Finally, may I suggest to Nelly that he enjoy a super-sized helping of his avator's beverage? You aren't funny, you aren't insightful, and you do no credit to your candidate.

Bite me.

Twice.

And Pea four times.

minimetoo26 · #13 Post by **minimetoo26** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:20 am

I think Nelly is funny. But I'm warped that way...

nitrah55 · #14 Post by **nitrah55** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:42 am

Flybrick wrote:
NellyLunatic1980 wrote: Conservatives want Palin to be president anyway. I say they should just go for it.
Related but separate: What is the procedure if a candidate were to die/drop out after the nomination and early voting has occurred?

Any Constitutional/Election law experts know?

I refer you to, of all things, a novel by Jeff Greenfield, "The People's Choice." In it, the president-elect dies, and the book deals with the chaos that would ensue. It's not the same scenario as you describe, but the possibilites are there. The two main points are:

1. You've got 51 different rules for elections.
2. Almost none of them anticipate anyone kicking the bucket.

For instance, there are states where electors are required to vote for the top vote getters, presumably even if they're dead.

Someone, somewhere, out there in the internet must have information about this.

ne1410s · #15 Post by **ne1410s** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:19 pm

October surprise:

Nixon/Ford strategy--declare victory in Iraq and leave. Even teenagers get paid for baby sitting.

WWTBAM Bored

This year's October Surprise (political)

This year's October Surprise (political)

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