Poll: 40% of Dems 'Not Likely' Or 'Will Not Vote' Next Year
By Susie Madrak Sunday Nov 29, 2009 3:00pmVia Steve Benen, some pretty interesting news that probably will not shock you. So we're not the only ones feeling less than enthusiastic about Democratic performance, huh:
The latest Research 2000 poll for Daily Kos included the usual question on the generic congressional ballot, with Dems still enjoying a modest edge over Republicans, 37% to 32%, with 31% unsure. Democratic numbers were strongest in the Northeast (53% Dems, 7% GOP), and Republican numbers were strongest in the South (51% GOP, 21% Dems).
But this poll added a new question to the mix to measure voter enthusiasm: "In the 2010 Congressional elections will you definitely vote, probably vote, not likely vote, or definitely will not vote?" The overall results aren't nearly as interesting as the partisan breakdown.
Among self-identified Republican voters, 81% are either "definitely" voting next year or "probably" voting, while 14% are "not likely" to vote or will "definitely" not vote.
Among self-identified Independent voters, 65% are either "definitely" voting next year or "probably" voting, while 23% are "not likely" to vote or will "definitely" not vote.
And among self-identified Democratic voters, 56% are either "definitely" voting next year or "probably" voting, while 40% are "not likely" to vote or will "definitely" not vote.
Markos, who called the results "shocking," explained:
Two in five Democratic voters either consider themselves unlikely to vote at this point in time, or have already made the firm decision to remove themselves from the 2010 electorate pool. Indeed, Democrats were three times more likely to say that they will "definitely not vote" in 2010 than are Republicans.
This enormous enthusiasm gap ... seems to make passing legitimate health care reform an absolute political necessity for Democrats. This polling data certainly should be something for Congressional leadership to consider, as they move along the legislative path.
The notion of an enthusiasm gap this year is not exactly new, but we haven't seen numbers quite this stark until now.
Login or Register to post comments.
probably don't even know there's such a thing as the midterm election. And will be opting out for partying.
are wondering why education is so underfunded.
You made that Fox pie chart from the other day, didn't you?
A lesson on how to get a strong public option enacted into law and get other progressive legislation enacted by Nov 2010 so you can go to the polls and vote for a Democrat. Right now I will go to the polls in 2010 and 2012 and vote for dog catcher and that appears it.
RING RING
Rite Aid CORPORATION, how can I help you?
Yes, your corporation gave huge amounts of money to conservatives in both parties, so unless you get your CEO to get HR676 enacted as a strong public option covering everything with no out of pocket costs funded only by tax money, forget about me and many of my friends and acquaintances and progressives and liberals going into your pharmacies to buy anything.
CLICK
RING RING
TYSON FOODS CORPORATION, how can I help you?
Yes, your company gave a lot of money to conservative Democrat Representative Mike Ross and conservative Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln both who oppose a strong public option so until your CEO gets Mike Ross and Sen. Blanche Lincoln to get HR676 as the strong public option covering everything with no out of pocket costs funded by taxes only then you can forget me, my friends, acquaintances, liberals and progressives buying any Tyson Chicken, Tyson Turkey or any other Tyson Products.
CLICK.
RING RING
American Express Corporation, how can I help you.
Yes, Your company gave a lot of money to Max Baucus who has a health care bill that looks like a Giant version of Medicare Part D. Get your CEO to get Max Baucus to support HR676 as the strong pubic option that covers everything with no out of pocket costs funded only by taxes or you can forget me, my friends, acquaintances, liberal and progressive using an American Express Card and I will cut it up and send it to Max Baucus.
CLICK.
After you read this blog, go here http://WWW.DEMOCRATZ.ORG and you can take your righteous anger on the corporations that hire conservatives in both the Democratic and RepubliKLAN parties.
STOP complaining and do something about the real poorbashers and the hate mongers in America, the companies that fund conservatives, or as I like to say KLANSERVATIVES.
Why should we? The change candidate himself is taking the middle road, protecting Wall Street, and escalating the war.
He can go ____ a rolling donut.
The question is what will cause more damage to the Dems - no bill or passage of the crap now on the table?
Obama will be a one-term president.
I cannot support the current health care reform bill - not any of them. It's all bullshit.
I sat and thought about this for the past two days - I'm done with Obama - I finally decided last night that he had lost me. The war was the last straw - but to have hundreds of millions of Americans suffering to the degree that they are - while the fat cats give themselves multi-million dollar bonuses is too galling for words. And they won't even give us health care.
And those are only a few of the problems I have with this administration.
Their idea of reform is garbage. I know exactly why Kos got these poll results. I'll be home making s'mores.
*
Yikes!
You can't legislate and govern center right and expect the base to remain enthused.
Time to give the base a little sumpin' sumpin'
The liberal/progressive base is pretty darn big.
What is Obama thinking, listening to Rahm?
*
Remember that "fuck you" you sent to all us Progressives? Right back atcha, dumbass.
Is the definitive nail in the Democratic party's coffin. By creating the illusion of health care reform as health INSURANCE reform, the Democrats prove they are in the same pockets as their republican counterparts. There is essentially no difference between them as far as being bought and sold by the same corporate special interests. Until there is elimination of corporate bribery in the American political process, we do not have anything like a democracy or representative form of government. It has become a pathetic vaudeville act - a colossal political ruse.
"Recovering Economy" . . that lie alone is going to kill the Dems.
and his majority in Congress have done for the country. I'm still waiting. Aside from the bailout of banks and the Big Three Automakers, just WTF has the country gotten for all the abuse and battering we've sustained after 8 years of Bush? What has he done for the majority of those of us who voted him into office??
If the Democrats don't provide a robust public option in the health care bill, that's the end for me. I'll vote in 2010 for Green candidates and for Democratic Socialists. Otherwise. Eh. I'm over it.
Well stated. I think what we are getting is kinder gentler abuse and battering.
for the average American. The banks are NOT lending. They are not modifying loans. They are continuing to foreclose despite the billions of tax dollars they received b/c there were no strings.
Socialize the losses and privitize the profits.
The Dems have been as skillful in manipulating their base (us!) as the Republicans have been manipulating theirs.
We've seen posts and opeds and tv-commentary marvelling at the fissures in the Republican Party, but little has been said about the discouragement felt by Progressives who fought hard to get Obama elected and now feel betrayed.
The Democrats have truly run out of options, other than to hope they can fool the progressive base again next time.
They've used up all their capital by getting the first Black citizen to become President. For those who believed that being Black in America would guarantee that person would support human rights and the hopes of the poor and ignorant, it was a rather rude and frightening door-opener. They won't be able to tap into those very human hopes and understandings if they put forward a woman or another minority next time.
I think they have nothing left to offer American progressives, and we may as well put them in the pot with greedy "let's get ours" conservatives.
Strange how American Democracy has been called an experiment that relied on the best that human beings can be to remain alive and vital. Maybe I lived during its Golden Years, most of the 20th Century, and we're all now watching it suffocate along with the institutions Democracy carried with it.
Perhaps for you, and only after a major depression forced the government to start thinking of the public in an attempt to avert another civil war or civilian coup.
For other countries on the planet? Not so much.
You did as much harm as you did good.
With Thomas sitting on the Supreme court as an example, it's hard to believe that anyone thought that being Black guaranteed being progressive.
I NEVER equated Obama's character with Clarence Thomas's, though you make a valid point.
But dammit, howcome do we get so many Black politicians and judges who're on the wrong side of the line, when they have all kinds of reasons to be on the other side... Of course, we still have women who are on the wrong side of the line as well, so admirable character is apparently not automatically chosen out of the experience of life's difficulties.
I will be voting against incumbents as always, and as always those incumbents will be Repugs.
they must have been polling the C&Lers that post here.
You are joking right?
It's not a matter of enthusiasm, it's a matter of betrayal and realization.
You can only call a friend names for so long before they just give up on you and stop calling. That does not mean they are going to go hang out with some mutual enemy, it means they aren't going to hang out with you either. When applied to election it means that they aren't going to be bothered to get out and vote for people they don't like.
And given that Obama and the Dem leadership have shown themselves to be corporate friendly right wingers of a less insane nature than the Repugs it like realizing that your friend really is not all that different from your bullies, your friend is just not as crazy.
and a non-crazy friend is, the crazy friend is more likely to kill you for no reason.
... just calls you names and beats you up all the time.
I didn't say non-crazy, the Dem leadership is plenty crazy. They just lie better than the repugs and aren't out to kill us all outright.
At least not until they can wring all the votes they can out of us.
Too early to tell and one poll does not a trend make.
As if any poll about next year could find meaningful numbers 26 days before Xmas during a recession?
I'd wager the numbers are a sincere effort but not substantial nor an accurate account of what the future will hold.
But if those numbers encourage conversation - that is a good thing.
I'm sure they'll be plenty for us all to wring our hands about before the next election. Polls will go up, down, and all around like drunken college students blasted On Yager shots. But unlike frat girls and closeted frat boys the only way Dems will get screwed is if they vote for Repubtards. That's 100 proof for sure. So everybody please don't puke all over the place with your ridiculous assumptions, spew responsibly. There's plenty of time to make an ass of yourself before the next election. Think before you open your mouth, please.
What do you think the reaction on their part will be?
A. OMG, we really HAVE been going in the wrong direction and we must look to bold strong progressive solutions that are 180 degrees away from where the right wing has taken us.
or
B. WAHHHHHHH, we're victims of the mean right-wing noise machine, they don't play fair. But we'll roll over for you since you're in charge.
C. Move to the right just a bit more since that's what the majority of Americans who voted seem to want.
-- or maybe that's just one more aspect of choice B.
covers that option.
It'll be:
WAAAAAAAAHHHH! We are so victimized by our own constituents!
They must want us to be more like the repugs, let's ratchet up the wars, take away abortion and lower taxes for the rich...
those "rigid leftie bloggers!"
Quack quack
Option B
AT this rate I'm only going to show up to vote for the medical marijuana initiative as the politicians don't seem to care.
Why would the Right Wing Republicans need to suppress any vote when people are so willing to do it for them?
While the frustration and anger with the current job Congress and President Obama exists, it is simply not an option for me to not ever vote. Not voting doesn't make problems go away and only adds to more problems because as the populice participation reduces the leverage of those taking the country down increases.
Further, not voting plays into the hands of the radical right wing's control of the Republican Party. The now deceased, Paul Weyrich, "father" of the right-wing movement and co-founder of the Heritage Foundation, Moral Majority and various other groups tells his flock that he doesn't want people to vote. He complains that fellow Christians have "Goo-Goo Syndrome": Good Government. Weyrich's message still resonates with the right wing Republican desciples. He gave weekly strategy sessions to Republicans.
Below is a 1980 clip of one of his strategy sessions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GBAsFwPglw
"Now many of our Christians have what I call the goo-goo syndrome — good government. They want everybody to vote. I don't want everybody to vote. Elections are not won by a majority of people, they never have been from the beginning of our country and they are not now. As a matter of fact, our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down."
. .
... that you enjoy being abused.
Carry on.
Yes, I like being abused. I like it so much that I blog on here and remain politically active pushing for a better tomorrow.
I never said vote for those you feel abused by nor will I just lay down and take it. Not voting is like bending over and taking it anyway those in power so choose.
Noticed you didn't offer your brilliant ideas of how to change the current political state of our government.
We worked our asses off keeping the Cons from taking over the whole fucking country and then worked our asses off to build a Dem majority in both houses of Congress.
We did something to change our government. The problem is, now that we've done all the work, we're the ones getting shit on the most!
I noticed that moonsha didn't offer up anything either, just the "you gotta vote" mantra. And it was "vote for a Dem" as well or the repugs will get ya!
Worthless advice.
we also worked our asses off to get a Dem inot the WH.
the teabaggers having to march in the streets for their upper income tax cuts when Bush and the GOP ruled the government.
So far Obama and the Democrats in congress have delivered economic recovery to Wall Street, watered down health care reform into an insurance industry welfare program, failed to address any LGBT issues, continued some of Bush's most obscene detention and intelligence policies, recognized a coup government in Honduras that nobody else in the UN will and are about to escalate the war in Afghanistan. Did I miss anything? Change we can believe in? Change I can't even see....
As for Change you can't see.....well, that's why you have to BELIEVE in it.....it's kinda like God 'n stuff.
;)
n/t
you were one of them they polled weren't you. Come on, admit it, you were polled weren't you.
I wouldn't have held back like I did in my comment here. On the other hand, I'm going to vote, I always do but the Democrats can't be surprised when so many others don't.
is like eating liver. You're sooooo hungry that you hold your nose and choke it down, but it takes sooooo long to get the taste out of your mouth that you're likely not to do it again for awhile.
It's good with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.
.
Even joined up with OFA at one point and was on track to becoming a community organizer with them.... BUT ...
If this war does not END (including Afghanistan) and our men and women aren't brought home ....
count me out.
You can probably include health care in there as well. If the Democrats cannot or will not make good on their promises with the mandate voters like me gave them then they lost my vote.
Am I aware that things will be much worse under a Republican Administration? Yes I am think you and I don't care.
Make good on your promises Democrats .
STOP THE WAR NOW !
On the other hand, Democrats HAVE to know that their base isn't just going to roll over and support them while they are selling us out. They seem to have not learned that lesson yet.
Voter apathy wins out again. And here I was hoping we'd actually have a Democracy for once.
Refusing to vote for someone who is abusing you is democracy in action.
Democracy inaction.
to push through an agenda for change than they do now.
It's NOW or never, and they had better give up on any thoughts of bi-partisanship. This is exactly what the extreme right was hoping for.........stall any initiatives by Obama; essentially wait him out until public opinion changed.
I'm afraid we're looking at a lame duck president after only 2 years.
It's sad. What a squandered opportunity.
Obama is pathetic. An absolute joke! This guy doesn't have a freaking clue. Talk about the repukes being out of touch, Obama and his Clinton flunkies are the biggest gift the republican's could have ever gotten.
This guy is nothing but status quo - here we go again. I really loathe him for what he did with the greatest opportunity the American people have had since FDR.
Rahm freaking Emmanuel? Your a corporate sellout idiot Obama. This clown has turned the bully pullpit into the "reach over and grab your ankles pullpit."
they polled a bunch of C&Lers.
I hope they call me. I'll give em' an earfull.
We voted for what we hoped would be another FDR.
Instead, we got DLC, Clinton-style republican-lite.
President Obama (r), Harry Reid (r), Rahm Emmanuel(R), and the rest of the corporate clowns are toast.
The morons down south will continue to support the closet psycho republican's who are destroying them economically - as long as the continue to wave a bible wrapped up in a flag.
The liberals on the other hand, are not going to support DLCer's who are as bad as the repukes. Thus, the stupid shall propell the nutjobs back into power.
This country is completely fucked. Time to split up into seperate smaller nations. Let the imbeciles down south take their repukes and start their own psycho-land. When they are all living in tent cities after five years of repuke rule, maybe then those rednecks will figure it out? I doubt it though. You can't fix stupid.
Here in the northeast and west, we can get rid of the bluedogs, and have a great nation once again. See, everybody wins.
They'll never figure it out.
They'll just blame the northerners and invade.
Repugs like war.
And I'd bet almost anything that I'm somewhere to the left of you. I know I don't think in terms of stereotypes and regional bigotry for example.
So all those charts and election outcomes showing the South as a solidly Republican area are wrong?
Damn, and here I was trusting the data instead of my gut again...
You're guilty of stereotyping by lumping everybody who lives in a Republican controlled state together. Why am I responsible for the wingnuts in my state? Are you responsible for the ones in yours?
I moved away from them.
Far far away, like to another country away.
Wake up and smell the coffee and stop playing the victim, no one is talking about you, we are talking about your mouth breathing neighbours.
As for the analysis put forth above, you may not be responsible but that won't matter much (as it doesn't matter now in the elections).
If the country splits along left/right lines then you are going to be on the other side like it or not.
"Moved far far away, like another country away"
Run, run, run far away then turn around and criticize which you couldn't stomach when you lived here.
And speak for yourself instead of saying "we" as if you are spokesperson for your superiority complex.
I left because I see what is coming and I know there is no stopping it.
Even the "left wing" parties are solidly right wing in the US.
Damned straight I couldn't stomach it! You can?
I'd be a fool to willingly allow myself to be beat down and my child to be denied an education and chance at a good life.
Are you trying to say that I have no stake in what happens in the US, that I am no longer allowed to criticise the BS that I can plainly see because I live in Europe now? Are you stupid?
Soo, I see you can't actually come back and mangle on my argument so you attack me personally, isn't that what you were just bitching about?
I suppose you deserve your neighbours.
I just gotta ask, did you vote in a blue dog?
Hmmm?
Oh, and BTW - it is WE as there are more than one of us talking about the south like this.
Actually no. I don't even live in the South. I happen to live in the 5th congressional district of MN. A district that is progressive having one of the highest voter particpation in the country. I campaigned and voted for the 1st Muslims into Congress, Keith Ellison. He could have been atheist for all I care because the one thing he made clear was that he was devoted the Constitution.
I never eluded to voting for those that continue to abuse. Choosing not vote is not democratic which ensures even having the option to vote will soon be removed going down this path.
Choosing NOT to vote is as democratic as choosing to vote.
When you are presented with shit why would you vote for it? Just so you could say "I was a good little girl and did my duty and voted"?
AND it has nothing to do with this sub thread, that one is farther up.
Good for you and Ellison, that changes NOTHING about the south or how it votes.
So what exactly was your point other than to toss out a personal attack?
Oh, and thanks for letting us know that you are a Dem political operative.
That places you as a centrist in the political scale (or a righty if you are liking the way Obama is running things) and lights your posts asking for Dem votes from the proper angle.
That kind of information should be in a tag on all of your posts.
According to the last election, I'm a 39 percenter. I used to be a 36 percenter.
Another 12 years and we might flip to blue. (sarc off)
Margaret I know how you feel.
You may be to the left of me, but I doubt it.
Furthermore, the results are very clear in the representation of your region, THEY LOVE REPUBLICANS! Look at the election results. I grow tired of people complaining about "stereotypes" when they are an accurate description of a phenomena.
I have a huge number of relatives and friends who have relocated down south or to places like Oklahoma; and they do - by any stretch of the imagination, fit right into the stereotype of rightwing republican bigots who use Jesus to hate others.
I can understand if you don't like your region to be cast in that light, but the truth is the truth.
I'm a Lib Dem here in the UK, that puts me WAY to the left of any Dem on this board.
http://www.gavinwhenman.com/wp-content/upload...
She just wants to take offence for her neighbours is all.
The red states may indeed have some Dems in them, but they still overwhelmingly vote and think republican.
The problem here is that the Dems don't want to be associated with their idiot neighbours, too bad there. They'll have to move to avoid that stigma.
heath shuler
and nearly every blue dog
are representing confederate states. add them to the (R)ahmocrats, if any are not (R)ahmocrats already, and the geographical link is unfortunately obvious.
I'm in the South, but I'm ready to apply for political asylum in the West if it comes to that.
Was hiring Rahm Emanuel and listening to him. I think he can recover but it's going to have to be drastic and very, VERY soon.
Second mistake was passing over Howard Dean for Health and Human Services - that was Rahm's idea, no doubt. I've had it with the Democrats, especially the current bunch in the Senate (Al Franken and Bernie Sanders excepted), a group so useless they can't even wipe their asses unless they have 60 vote. It's one big rich man's club, and nobody is representing us. We NEED proportional representation in this country;the two-party system is corrupt and broken beyond repair.
is good too. :P
if it comes to pass, then we will get merely what we deserve.
this crisis! I bet these dlc / dscc / dccc asses thought that hijacking the DNC from Dean was a good idea. they are fucking themselves along with the rest of us. and worse, after so many of them get fucked, the media will say it's because they weren't far enough to the right.
Yep. How fucking sad is that?
NoGWBpolicyleftinplace is very accurately giving verbal manifestation to my anger.
solves nothing. Running and supporting TRUE progressive candidates, even if it means writing them in, makes a statement at least. The Rethug will win, but at least the votes would point toward the more useful leftist candidates, rather than useless Dems.
isn't that why they have primaries?
so we need to keep with act blue and blue america to keep bouncing these asses off the ballot in the primaries. Obama is proof that the will of the people can put anyone into office.
not counting DIEBOLD, we can definitely bounce people like reid, shuler and others off the ballot. I'd like to see Ned Lamont get another shot in Conn. there are plenty of people to remove. But we need to identify and support those who we will vote for and get positive results.
the problem is, Obama has made us very very cynical.
Remember all the "there is no difference between Gore and Bush" talk from disgruntled progressives and greenies in 2000? that attitude gave us Bush. So what do we think after 8 years of Bush destroying our country? Gore would have been a much better (possibly good?) president than Bush or at least would have done far less damage. So, I will vote for the most progressive candidates I can find. I would advise everyone to do the same. The term "negative enthusiasm" pops up as I force my mind to consider a president Palin, Huckabee, Cheney (either one), Romney, Pawlenty, etc. Remeber, things are always darkest just before they go completely black.
It sure seems like we're hitting the final FADE OUT - THE END.
I'll never not vote, but I'm sure done with DLC dems. It'll be progressive dems in the primaries, and when they lose, Green in November. Eff Rahm, Obama, and Clintons. If I wanted Republicans, I'd vote (R).
Even Big Dog was saying this some months ago, pass a good healthcare bill, good to go for 2010.
President Obama. Stop raising your head up to the heavens whenever you make a speech that is being recorded. That worked in your campaign, when I was desperate to cast my vote for change, which I naivly thought you were really going to deliver. I see you are still raising your chin up to the heavens, as if you were a messiah coming to raise us up and as if you are in a heavenly journey getting messages from on high. Stop it. Stop the chin raising and the looking up. All it looks like now is a PR, rehearsed stunt, and totally disingenuous. Stop looking up, with chin raised and get down to earth with the rest of us, you know, the little poor people, the little working people, some who work three jobs just to survive and whose biggest fear is that they, or a family member who donated and worked for you--you know, us little guys,may be stricken with an illness that will do the entire family in, due to the greed of the insurance industry, which you seem to favor over the lives of the little people. Well I don't blame you. After all, they support and run the country and you are all too willing to let them, while we the little people struggle because, well sir, because we do not have the clout, or the money, or the influence, or the connections in the beltway---all we have to cling to is the notion that our vote is the last power we have===and I, for one, will steadfastly use my vote, because it is my perception of power that I, a little person, can cling to, to vote against the Democratic party of wishy washy cowards and also you sir, because it is obvious to me there is no difference whatsoever between the two parties. Both are held hostage by the rich, the lobbyists and the corporations. Pay to play and the pompous asses in the government indeed, expect these bonuses.
PS--they all get the health care they and their families, and their staff, from the little people tax payers.
disgusted by the grandiose nose-stuck-in-the-air-PR-while screwing-the-little-guy stance.
Obama will accomplish more with a Republican majority House & Senate. Unfortunately, he will do that by moving more to the "center" and none of it will benefit the country. We'll see more tax cuts for the wealthy, cuts in spending, further involvement in the phony "war on terror" and, once again, an economic and housing bubble will be created followed by another, more serious, collapse than the one we are experiencing now.
That would be an improvement.
He is currently running solidly right at the moment.
Try to loot 70 Million boomers heading toward the exits.
There is always the possibility of the Beckies and the Palinites spliting the Repubs.
Heh, if any progressives genuinely thought that things would change dramatically because of one or two elections in this country, they're not all that bright. It's naive to think that all that's needed is to get out and vote.
When conservatives see the country slipping from them, they buckle down for a long-term movement. They knew it would take decades for them to undo FDR's New Deal and Johnson's Great Society, and they're still working on it. They know they won't win every election, and they're not always simply gunning for that next election win.
Our side seems to think it's the next election is always the most important one, and is willing to compromise all of its principles to win it. It's a losing strategy in both the short and long terms.
Unless we're willing to create a long-term, bottom-up movement to truly change the way we elect all representatives, and recognize that just doing our part and voting for the so called left-leaning major party is not enough, we can write this country off.
It will soon be time to move to other parts of the world, leaving the U.S. behind as a dream that lasted only a little longer than the founders thought it would.
Their strategy works, because the top 1% have more cash than us 90% at the bottom!
It's a lot easier to say wait until 2012 or 2014 when your biggest concern is living on 75 million or 80 million next year.
The rest of us? We are looking for a break somewhere, anywhere, and sooner as opposed to later. We don't have the option or luxury of playing the waiting game that the rich pricks play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIraCchPDhk
God, I miss that guy!
!!!
19 of the 40 Republicans in the Senate are up for re-election in 2010.
* Richard Shelby of Alabama
* Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
* John McCain of Arizona
* Mel Martinez of Florida -- will not run
* Johnny Isakson of Georgia
* Mike Crapo of Idaho
* Chuck Grassley of Iowa
* Sam Brownback of Kansas -- will not run
* Jim Bunning of Kentucky
* David Vitter of Louisiana
* Kit Bond of Missouri -- will not run
* Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
* Richard Burr of North Carolina
* George Voinovich of Ohio -- will not run
* Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
* Jim DeMint of South Carolina
* John Thune of South Dakota
* Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas -- may retire to run for Gov.
* Bob Bennett of Utah
That's 19 of them. Almost half the 40 Republicans in the Senate.
Only the New Hampshire and Ohio seats could go blue. Some of the states seem to like having one Dem and one Repub. Kinda like Carville and Matalin. No matter who's in power, somebody still has clout.
I thought Judd Gregg was retiring also, and the party doesn't want Bunning to run.
Wikipedia: Judd Gregg:
Wikipedia: Jim Bunning:
for the fraud that he is three years ago.
when you try pulling the same old tired, DLC corporate scam just eight years after the last one.
But I'm sure we'll hear nothing but blame for liberals once the corporate sell-outs lose it all-- again.
I don't thinks the Dems even care. There is no "government" any more; just puppets of the Corporate Masters. All the Dems and Pukes do is play good cop, bad cop for the masses. It was a nice dream, but it's over.
My nice dreams can't be repeated in mixed company
Why I had one just last night
Something to do with black leather outfits, and duct tape over nipples.
I Would Not Vote Against Hitler" http://www.voluntaryist.com/articles/085b.php
Interesting how Dr. Dean and the 50-State strategy got everybody fired up and out stumping for the Democrats. And how the Democrats, after winning so decisively, have been so disappointing that so many of us are now planning to sit the next one out.
This is not just a clue, it's a billboard telling Obama to shape up, dump Rahm and move to the left.
Liberals should turn out in strength and write in "Liberal Candidate" to show their dissatisfaction with centrist policies. If leadership sees that ignoring their base costs them elections - maybe they will start dancing with the ones who brought them.
He'll get a new Chief of Staff. That always happens.
But we're talkin 2010 here.
People have to do what they think is right. Even if they know that it's wrong.
People can sit out the next election, and piss and moan about what's happening and feel morally superior because they can say, I didn't vote for this shit.
That's their right.
Or they can vote , and try to keep the likes of Bachmann, Cheney and the rest of those weasles out of office and in a minority.
That's their right too.
Just remember, 2000-2008.
I know alot of people are thoroughly disgusted right now.
And feelin like they've been misled. I feel the same way.
But, It can get worse. Much worse.
So, in closing, let your conscience be your guide. And be willing to accept the ramifications of your own actions.
Obama's complete failure on the voters is unfair. He had and has the numbers among voters, yet he's effectively given the store to GW's policies, banks, pharma and insurers. He's pretty much stiffed mainstreet, so you out the blame where it belongs.
He's lost me. I'm gone.
*
Was going to actually do things much different. Of course he's not like GWB.
And I'm talking about the up coming elections. Nothing else.
I still haven't thrown the towel in on Obama.
I understand that Washington doesn't move very quickly. And that Washington is basically like an auction. A horse or livestock auction. Lots of trading goes on. Nothing is as it seems.
I am displeased with him on Afghanistan.
He has set a date for withdrawal of all combat troops in Iraq.
So far, he was honest about that during the campaign.
The bail outs?
The thought of doing nothing, scares me.
Now, It's the people who received the monies that are holding up the show. I'd like to see more enforcement in the releasing of these monies.
Jobs. Need more jobs.period. But their kinda linked with that money.
He has done somethings right.
Like making it so lobbyists can't work in govt. I'd like to see the same applied to govt workers.
Stiffed mainstreet. The jury is still out on that one. For me anyway. It's still early in his Presidency.
The guy did inherit thee most fucked up situation imaginable.
Barring a 3rd WW.
So, call me what you want. I'll reserve judgment on his Presidency till a later date.
As for voting.
Let your conscience be your guide.
Actually, He's a lot different than GWBoosh. Night and day difference.
I'll do what I always do
Vote open
So not only can I vote for Democrats
But muck around with republican runs for offices unopposed by a Democrat, and vote for whoever the other is.
I was always an independent with liberal leanings. Lately there haven't been any re=Thugs I could vote for so I'm been voting only on the left. But I can actually see myself not voting now. And I'm not happy about it.
Maybe I'll do write-ins.
*
that many of you are venting reasons not to vote when the next post for C&L has Bernie Sanders in it. He is an independant and a very good reason to vote.
But it usually isn't.
I'll vote if there is a real choice and not just some lunatic freakzoids, a Dem and a Repug. Chances are that will be the choice.
but I didn't see ant reference to why they won't vote. I suspect it's O's abysmal failure to get health care done with the majority of the voters wanting it.
O has given it all away and while the country doesn't deserve to thrown back to the republicans, O doesn't deserve the support he was given. maybe he'll change his tune if the house is controlled by the repubs and he actually has to lead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGH6XXvTa3c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aVFH-sBIcs&fe...
I wouldn't have minded waiting for health care reform if it were going to be a good bill.
It's garbage.
*
I hope the GOP wins large majorities.
I'm tired of the suspense. The country is long overdue to be brought to its knees, and I'm simply tired of the suspense.
Oh, dear, I'm terrible at math, but let me get this straight. If my numbers are right and things hold the way this poll indicates, then, out of a population of a little more than 300 million (is that right?) about 80% of the 25% who claim they are Republicans are sure to vote. So, OK, that means about 65 to 66 million Republicans will definitely vote. The majority of them are in the South. The Southern block gets further entrenched (Heath Shuler loses? Mary Landrieu?) Independents break a little to the right so maybe a few more losses in the mid-west? The North probably stays solidly Democratic. The west coast stays solidly democratic (OK, Harry Reid might lose). The numbers are troubling, but with a year to go, I'm not sure they translate into "We're doomed."
All recent polls show the majority of independents deserting democrats.
*
During the holiday I had to interact with a right wing relative who inadvertently help me work out something that I find hilarious.
Look at the numbers:
Right now 31.9% cop to being repug.
28% of the voting population is hard core retarded ultra right wing (as in Palin is qualified to be President) repug.
"Conservatives" LOVE to claim that 28% as fringe.
Not so.
If it were 28% of the republican voting population it would not really be fringe but it would be just the weirdo losers way out in right field.
But it's not. It's 28% of the ENTIRE voting population!
That makes it a clear super majority (87%!) of the repugs.
So in fact, this is not fringe, it IS the repug party in a very real and vote majority holding way.
Any "conservative" you know claiming otherwise is either one of these nuts or is in fact in denial about being a member of the true fringe of their party.
Share that with a repug you love, they'll sputter and squirm and try to deny it but in the end they'll have to admit it's true.
Priceless.
They are so scared to take a chance on any bill that's really progressive because it might cost them votes, but their inaction due to this fear is what is really costing them votes.
Why can't this party get it's head out of it's ass?
The repugs are evil, but the dems are cowards and I'm starting to see why people will vote for the evil party, because they just don't want to be associated with a cowardly party.
fear of losing corporate donors. Our lax campaign finance laws are scr*wing over America. In France, only people are allowed to contribute to political campaigns and no commerical advertising is allowed at all during the last 3 months of a campaign. They are also very short in duration and don't drag out over years, like in America. I.e., big money doesn't set the political agenda like it does in America.
Seriously. If they lose their majority, what do they care? Only the few people who stand to lose their seats care. The rest of them simply want to keep their jobs, whether in the majority or the minority.
Virtual is correct, that they fear losing the campaign cash more than they fear losing the voters. Voters don't matter much. As long as a candidate can get enough money to get 50% + 1 vote in the next election in their gerrymandered, arbitrary districts, they're fine. So, they work to make happy only the people who can give them the money to do that.
Until we change the electoral system, and until we recognize that the system itself is so broken that it will take a long-term (many decades-long), bottom-up effort to change it, we'll keep seeing what we're seeing: Republicans and Democrats alternating shifts, where Republicans make the mess that much worse, and Democrats stem the progression from bad to worse by a teeny tiny bit.
As it was predicted that the Dem's when given complete control would lose it and they haven't been proven wrong yet. In desperation of change for the better and the promise of change as a Independent I was given the Following:
1) Yes We Can, just reach across the aisle and hope for the best.
2) Change, Yes Political parties and the same Old Special Interest and Socialist Corporations are given FREE passes.
3) The promise of Justice and the reestablishment of the Constitution put on the back burner and/ completely forgotten about.
4)Public Health Option is a SNOW JOB for a Better deal for the Insurance Industry,
5)Mega buck Deal for the Pharma Industry.
6) Complete free ride with NO Criminal Indictments for Wall Street.
7) No Investigation into the War Crimes of the Last Administration.
What I have received as this List of incompetency can really go on and on is Broken Promises, a SELL OUT and NO PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE.
One of the biggest disappointments is the Lack of Real Intestinal Fortitude from but a handful of the Democratic party or leadership, Just a complete sellout.
So No Public Option, NO Money and NO Vote.
Reach across the aisle and see if they will give it to you or maybe those special interest or Socialist Corporations you want to cow toe to.
Damn it! This was supposed to be a reply to this comment. Fucking computer systems!
If you think creating a bottom-up, long-term strategy amounts to nothing more than a waiting game, I don't know what to say. I'm not encouraging anyone to sit around and wait for things to change. I'm encouraging a different, long-term, approach to political change.
And no, the top 10% don't have all the money. If 10 million of the rest of us donate $5 each, we get $50 million for our movement. It's how Howard Dean ran his campaign, and how Barack Obama ended up winning.
In any case, the point is not to sit around waiting. The point is to stop expecting things to change at the next election, and then quitting when they don't. It's naive and stupid, and if progressives do indeed sit out the next election, they, and this country, will get what it deserves.
ourselves get suckered by pseudo-liberals who turn around and give us the finger and and govern like Republicans once they are in office. The only way the Democratic party is going to once again represent the average American is if the average American demands it by withholding their vote until/unless the Democratic Party begins to follow the principles it claims to espouse. And by demanding campaign finance reform.
If progressives withhold their votes from Democrats, they will simply write off progressives altogether, and move further to the right in order to get the share of the voting populous they need to remain in office. Chile became a dictatorship in large part because people gave up on the system, and stopped voting.
See, progressives aren't really getting suckered by candidates like Obama. Obama was mostly up front about who he was and how he would govern. The party nominated a consensus builder, a middle-of-the-raoder compromise candidate. As it always does, because we keep thinking the next election is the really important one.
Progressives want to be able to vote in an election, win it, and let the elected representatives do their job. It doesn't work that way. The system is broken.
What progressives need to do is change their whole view of the system, and begin to work to change it, starting at the local level. Things aren't going to change just because we elect someone new, someone who claims to be progressive, and we have to realize that.
So, people can come up with all sorts of non-ideas like not voting so as to make a statement, voting for third-party candidates next time around or whatever. It's not going to do anything beneficial unless we start a long-term movement that looks past the next election and begins to fix the way in which we elect people in the first place.
I will vote for candidates that support my positions. I will not vote for Obama again who, btw, I don't agree is centrist. He is a corporatist who is working for himself and to fill his campaign coffers; he is not working for the American people.
Every election counts! The 2010 elections are less than one year away. We've got that long to whip up enthusiasm for Democratic candidates.
Trust me, this year is critical, especially in Kansas, where you've got a self-confessed teabagger (Tiahrt) running for the Senate seat and a Palin-esque theocrat (Brownback) wanting to be Governor. NEITHER of these men can hold these offices, ESPECIALLY Brownback. Trust me, if he ever holds any form of executive office, you best be fleeing.
Of course the Democrats are going to get their ass's kicked in 2010. They should. They shit on their voters.
Whether it's banking, Wall St., Guantanomo, domestic spying or health care reform, they have proven themselves liars and/or weaklings and failed to deliver any promised change. Hell, they rewarded the whores on Wall Street.
What have they done, since geting elected and given control of the executive and legislative branches, is a disgrace. What fucking losers.
Sarah Palin, Dick Cheney.
Fearmongering is not becoming.
No, it's not. What it is is a reminder of who these people will be allowing into office. Because it certainly is not hypothetical.
It will be fact if people don't vote.
It may not be either of those two, but rest assured, they will be just like them and they will implement their agenda. Again.
And, if this does strike fear into your heart? It should.
Because it's real. The threat is real. It's not some made up political hyperbole. Alot of people are not happy with Obama. Just think of how unhappy they'd be with McCain/Palin in office right now.
But hey, as I said above. It's your right to exercise as you will.
And I would do damn near anything to make sure those weasels don't get in a majority ever again.
I can't wrap my mind around so many people being willing to go back to what we just left.
I'm not very satisfied with Obama either. But I'm willing to give him his due and be willing to give him more time to sort all this bs out.
Having the GOP take over is unacceptable. I don't want to go back to what we all just went through. It'll be like what happened to Clinton all over again.Only worse this time around.
And, your Right Symes. Fearmongering is unbecoming. So is stupidity.
He spends the entire campaign shitting on Hillary supporters, then wonders why those voters stay home? Are you kidding me?
We lost, but that doesn't mean you beat us.
PS -- Thanks a lot you motherfucking bluedogs.
You wanna take on the left in your party? Well, have fun with what's left of your party!!
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 19:42 — ugsome
He spends the entire campaign shitting on Hillary supporters, then wonders why those voters stay home? Are you kidding me?
------------
Agreed. And speaking of Daily Kos, I find the comments here more to-the-point and practical on this topic than over there.
At DKos, it's all about the diaries and the power over other posters, not to mention censorship of certain taboo subjects.
Stated reason was my fomenting "conspiratorial views" when I asked if WH operatives were posting on the site; perfectly reasonable question since there is such a cult-like Obama following there that you don't find on other sites, not to mention the creepily idolatrous "picture diaries" of Obama and his family that are posted daily. Real reason I was HR'ed was because I was being critical of Obama...which brings me back to my original question...
at DailyKos - more incisive and intelligent.
I think C&L is one of if not the best liberal blog.
I didn't vote FOR Obama as much as I voted AGAINST McCain.
Generally speaking I know Dems are better for the citizenry and the country than the Repubs are. I know this.
However there are certain really important ideals, American ideals that are so fundamental to my beliefs, that I couldn't vote for someone who didn't respect them.
Obama's failure to investigate possible war crimes, abuses of our civil liberties and even more nauseatingly his continued defense of the idea that 'national security' can be used preempt ANY attempt to bring govt injustice to light.
I know some people will trot out the 'give him time' or 'he needs to work with congress'. Yes I know this. The things I'm referring to however are specifically areas where Obama can and should have acted in his role as the executive.
He's making it REAL hard (for me) to vote for him again. Repubs better put up some really fucking shitty, I'm talking PALIN/mccain shitty, candidates, if they want to get my apathetic ass out of my seat in 2012.
60 Senators and a huge majority in the House plus an ostensibly Democratic President gives us:
1- The Bush appointed US Attorneys still serving.
2- Guantanamo Bay still open.
3- No EFCA (Remember the promises in Chicago at Soldier Field (Union Candidates Forum).
4- A no reform Healthcare reform bill.
5- No action on the Rethugnican Bankruptcy laws.
6- Goldman Sachs running the Treasury and stealing us blind.
7- Still in Iraq and a surge in Afghanistan
8- Not one prosecution for torture, extraordinary rendition or warrantless wiretapping.
9- Not one Bankster perp walked for stealing us blind.
10- Millions still losing their homes and getting nothing while the banks get 100¢ on the $.
11- Banksters raising interest rates on good customers to 25-35% on credit cards while Obama and Geithner twiddle their thumbs.
12- No new action on renewable energy.
13- No new action of GATT, WTO, NAFTA and the wholesale export of jobs to China and the third world.
14- No proven reform at the CIA, NSA and other intelligence agencies that got almost everything wrong from 9-11 to PreWar Intel.
15- No announced investigations, prosecutions on the misallocation of TARP funds by Treasury under Obama and Bush.
Tell me, what exactly has this administration done that make them worthy of ONE SINGLE VOTE or campaign dollar to those who worked & donated to put them in power.
Harry Truman one said that voters, if choosing between a real Republican and a Democrat that acts like one will pick the real one every time (paraphrase).
Bravo!! Well said.
WTF does Markos expect, anyway?
It was a perfect storm of liberal progressive Democrats, liberal progressive Independents, and Republicans dismayed by the shocking shift of the GOP into the apocalyptic POG (Party of God) that got Obama elected.
Obama has not embraced the platform planks that he espoused prior to his campaign that gave this base their "hope". Instead he has embraced most of the policies of the fascistic Bush 43 administration, and adopted "THEIR BASE: the haves and have mores".
Many, many of the key personnel that Obama has taken on as his staff would otherwise be considered Corporatist shills and/or K-Street lobbyists, in direct contradiction to his stated policy of "No Lobbyists".
The Wall Street crime syndicate (Bankers), the Insurance ponzi-schemers, the Healthcare death-panels, and the bloated M.i.C. secret government have all gotten multiple "Pass Go & Collect $200 Billion" passes around the Monopoly Money "deficits don't matter unless it's for the social safety net" Board Game.
Not to worry - all that "funny money" the Federal Reserve is privately passing out to their friends like candy at Halloween isn't worth anything real, or at least soon will not be. The USA economy is still circling the drain, and we will just pay back our foreign creditors with depreciated USD about as useful as TP in 5, 4, 3, 2 ... ( well, pretty soon, anyway.)
Obama is a one-term President. He is a Neo-Liberal Democrat standing beside the guilty-but-unindicted criminals of the Neo-Con Republicans. It is inevitable that without fresh new liberal progressives to challenge the Neo-Liberal, Blue Dog, and DINO Democrats in 2010, Obama's political power (and Rahm Emanuel's lust for power behind the curtain) will wane. When it waddles like a Neo-Liberal, quacks like a DINO, and lays down with Blue Dogs, it isn't a liberal progressive but it is a Lame Duck.
I mean, Oh please, Corporate Congress and Corporate Media. Have mercy on America.
Allow America to have more than two parties. Parties for the people on the right and on the left who love freedom and democracy better than oil. Perhaps a Dennis Kucinich party and a Ron Paul party.
No? The puppet show must go on?
Login or Register to post comments.