I have been reading but staying out of the internicine war re: Operation Hilarity. I happen to agree with those who think its a bad idea but that is not what is prompting this diary. This is what is prompting the diary:
Once again, no rules are being broken, no ethics are being violated. Democracy is about voting for the candidate you want to win (or at least the lesser of two evils), so what's wrong about accepting the GOP's invitation—when offered—to help chose their candidate?
That paragraph appears in the latest diary from Kos re: why Operation Hilarity is not only a fine idea but the very best idea for those on this site who want democrats to
really win as opposed to the rest of us "pearl clutchers" who want a win but just don't have the stomach for a fight.
I will only speak on my own behalf here: I have as much stomach for a fight as those who think Operation Hilarity is a good idea. What I question is your ability to categorically assert, as if it were a given, that Santorum will, of a necessity, flame out quicker or more categorically than Romney.
One of the reasons for this belief is the definitive beating he took in his run for Senate in his home state. These are different times and not everyone is paying attention to the same things. That we view him as the a crazy religious zealot does not mean that everyone else does. In fact, some people may think that it speaks well of him that he is so committed to his personal faith that he is willing to suffer the slings and arrows of public opinion to stay true to himself. I don't really believe that the average American thinks anyone is going to try and strip them of their contraceptive rights and, let's face it, every Republican candidate for anything in the last few years has been a high advocate for the rights of zygotes. You can bet his position will get toned down in the general.
Next, it has been put forth that he just doesn't have the money or ground game to compete in the general. Maybe not now but if he becomes the only game in town, you better believe the money boys are going to get behind him real fast. They'll get a ground game going too. He'll be competitive that way. Maybe nowhere as good as Obama but, from what I've seen of Romney, maybe every bit as good as Mitt.
The next point is that he is nowhere near Obama's league and will get wiped off the face of the debate stage. No doubt. To that I say: Bush/Gore.
So, when I oppose Operation Hilarity, I do so because I do not believe that I have sufficient predictive qualities to guarantee that the ultimate outcome of such an endeavor will neatly allign itself with my initial intentions. I do so because I cannot predict the future and am loath to bring about that which might work horribly against us.
I oppose not becuase I'm a pearl clutcher who is afraid of the fight but because I cannot support the worst case scenario: What if Santorum wins?