Considering a challenge Republicans face in replacing Barack Obama next year, Jim Geraghty wonders
. . . if we’re seeing a bit of the “sunken costs” phenomenon on Obama, in that folks invested so much of themselves emotionally in him throughout 2007 and 2008 that they feel that the only way to make that emotional investment “pay off” is to stick with him until fortunes turn around for Obama (and the country).
Of course, as the Wikipedia summary notes, “Sunk costs greatly affect actors’ decisions, because many humans are loss-averse and thus normally act irrationally when making economic decisions.” Like a gambler convinced that his next hand will be a big winner, Obama fans may look at three years or more of disappointment, scandal, and economic hard times and be convinced that a big turnaround and payoff is just around the corner . . .
Or, maybe they’ll take a taste of whiskey and heed the sage advice of Kenny Rogers’s gambler and know when to fold:
Given Mr. Obama’s record since the days of hope and change, it’s not time to walk away, it’s time to run.
Great point from Geraghty. To fully win over the regretful ex-Obama voters, the GOP must begin by NOT rubbing their noses in the fact that they’re idiots.
Well said, ILC.
To fully win over the regretful ex-Obama voters, the GOP must begin by NOT rubbing their noses in the fact that they’re idiots.
Aye.
And the hard part about that is that virtually everyone here in this nest of ignorant people (according to Levi) had Obama pegged for exactly what he’s turned out to be.
I take a more circumspect path.
There are some people who I genuinely believe bought Obama’s lies; they were used, and need only sympathy.
There are some people who I think had their reservations about Obama, but decided to support him out of optimism and pride at the thought of electing the first black President; these people need our support in coming to the realization that they were used by racist liberals.
And then there are our trolls, like Rob Tisinai, Cas, Levi, Serenity, and Evan Hurst, who are on the order of Peoples’ Temple leaders and should be treated accordingly.
And then there are our trolls, like Rob Tisinai, Cas, Levi, Serenity, and Evan Hurst, who are on the order of Peoples’ Temple leaders and should be treated accordingly.
They’ve also been pretty scarce lately.
NDT, agreed. Though they were had, the voters we’re talking about have at least enough sense to know it. Way better than our aggressive trolls.