OK, I'll say it out loud.

[LAS14]

I think we should admit that we have not yet figured out a way to combat "swift boat/e-mails" attacks, and until we do we need to focus on getting a nominee who is pretty much vanilla on that kind of front. Only really strong Trump vs Biden polls in most of the swing states would reassure me about Biden. Just wait for the Senate trial.

[guillaumeb]

1. The GOP will simply manufacture charges.

And FOX will amplify those lies.

[TheRealNorth]

10. Couldn't have said it better myself

The whole swiftboat thing was manufactured nonsense that made one of John Kerry's strengths a weakness for those who believed it.

The Republican fever swamp will always make something up.

[TidalWave46]

2. There is no such thing.

"we need to focus on getting a nominee who is pretty much vanilla on that kind of front"

We don't control the Republican smear machine.

[lapfog_1]

3. ummm... every poll taken since Biden announced

shows Biden outperforming every other Democrat when up against Trump in the swing states.

These polls also show Biden Beating Trump in most if not all of those swing states.

Combat the "swift boat"... how about just calling them liars... like Biden just did to a Trumpest voter.

I, for one, was very happy the Joe got in the guys face and got angry... it's high time we all started getting angry with these brain washed idiots.

[padah513]

5. I was happy too

Because I know on the debate stage with Trump he'd have no problem saying the same thing right to his face though I doubt Trump would want to debate him.

[mopinko]

4. except i think we do.

i have heard a couple of experts say that the remedy is to wrap the lies in a truth sandwich.
our media could do this at any time. till they do we have to do it ourselves.

and honestly, i can only put so much blame on the media for doing things the way that they always have. it took a while for them to get a grip on how to handle things like presidential tweets. you cant say nothing. so they tried saying they were ridiculous, but they had to read them to ridicule them.
so some, like rachel, decided early on to 'watch what they do, not what they say'. but even she has to break down from time to time and report it. but she instinctively did what they recommend- she pounded the truth ad nauseum before, during, and after reporting actual facts.

so, the method is out there. we should do our best to put this advice to work in how we discuss things here.
facts, facts, facts, this is a lie, this is the purpose of the lie, facts, facts, facts facts.
that's the recipe.

[LAS14]

6. On the other hand, there was the CNN special, "All the President's Lies."

I didn't see it all, but I did catch a part where they were pointing out that simple repetition of a lie, even if it is in service of debunking it, gives more and more credibility to it. I'm sure that's going to happen to Biden in the Senate trial.

[BuffaloJackalope]

7. Nobody should be expected to come up with an answer to "When did you stop beating your spouse?"

[LAS14]

14. We HAVE to come up with a strategy, a response. See my reply #6.

[Demsrule86]

8. Sorry to disappoint you...and I must say kind wrong on all levels...but the Senate will call no

witnesses. So what we are saying is we let the right choose our nominees...yeah sure. What a good idea...

[abqtommy]

9. It's obvious to me that the reTHUGS spend a lot of money developing and diseminating

swiftboat-style attacks. We can use funds to develop a swift response to these attacks and do it
effectively. I think we should.

[LAS14]

13. Yes, I do think lots of creative thinking and money is required. We need to develop..

... a strong strategy for fighting back. Kerry and Hillary didn't come up with the right approach.

[LanternWaste]

11. Simply saying "2 plus 2 equals 22" out loud doesn't warrant the math any additional credibility.

[LAS14]

12. See my response #6. nt