This is not good news people

[lonestarnot]

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Voter_anger_may_not_help_Dems_0913.html

[acmavm]

1. Oh crap. Unofficial bullshit is more like it.

[Richardo]

2. It's not news *at all* until it moves beyond rawstory

...in my book. :eyes:

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Another psychological factor to be calculated:

Voters so disgusted and discouraged may not vote. Period. The would-be democratic votes are not tallied and come Election Day, the status quo.

[JackBeck]

4. Possibly lowering Democratic expectations

so they get their asses out and vote on Election Day.

[lonestarnot]

7. I like this explanation, but I still hated reading it.

[The Deacon]

5. An "Unscientific" Poll Of People Invested In Maintaining The Status Quo

Sounds like a bunch of lazy MSM Whores diddling themselves with obscene hopes they won't be rendered meaningless by the voters. Fuck 'em. With somebody else's penis.

[originalpckelly]

6. This makes sense. And why would Raw Story put out negative info...

towards the cause?

This isn't new. I have seen many polls where people hate all the other people in Congress, but they love their own Congressman/woman.

It has to do with pork, they don't like paying for things in other states, but they sure as hell don't mind if someone in another state pays for something in their home state.

[RufusEarl]

8. What side is this guy on? "Louis Jacobson" reports for Roll Call

Bush has been addressing conservatives journalist, perhaps Jacobson is on the WH payroll!!

[xchrom]

9. here's the quote that bothers me --

 
Voter anger may not help Democrats on Election Day

RAW STORY
Published: Wednesday September 13, 2006
...

"There is clearly a feeling against incumbents, but not much chance to vote against them in state legislative races — too many are unopposed — and very little opportunity in Congressional races," said one Florida reporter.

[BanzaiBonnie]

10. An "unscientific poll"

sounds like it holds as much credence as the oft heard "some people say"

[OzarkDem]

21. of "political reporters" no less

wanna guess how many are on the GOP payroll?

[jsamuel]

11. This is exactly where the 50 state strategy comes in handy.

[KharmaTrain]

12. Folks...I'm Damned Concerned About GOTV...

...and you should be, too.

California 50 was a great opportunity for a Democratic pick-up. It was assumed "frustrated Democrats" and Independents would come out and Busby would blow Billbray away. It didn't happen...and a major reason was Democratic turn-out was low. The local party didn't get their people to the polls in the numbers Billbray did. Don't blame the machines...Busby should have won this race if the party had gotten their people to the polls.

My big concern is that Democrats sit back and think that people are so pissed that they "MUST" vote out the Repugnicans. As we're starting to see, these goons will stop at nothing to hold onto their power and this will result in the loading up of the church busses to the polling places...making sure their people...or at least "the base" is there on Nov. 7.

A low turn-out is disaster...and the time is now to start putting the effort in making sure every person who wants to vote Democrat gets to the polls...and those who are fence-sitting get a little prodding.

Repugnicans win when there's a low turn-out...and they're doing all they can to put a bad taste in lots of people's mouths...hoping many stay home and only the "bases" fight it out. Let's show we not only have a "base", but a diverse and growing one.

[lonestarnot]

14. Excellent advise to the wise KharmaTrain.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

16. Very true and well said. nt

[LunaC]

19. See post #18

I'm looking for the antidote to apathy too.

[Nikki Stone 1]

27. Excellent point, Kharma Train!

I have been worried about all of this hyping of the Dem "win" in November. It think it is a strategy to get us all to stay home. Considering too that many Dems in less affluent neighborhoods run up against all kinds of dirty tricks at the polls, I think that we really have an uphill battle.

[KharmaTrain]

28. That's What's Cost Us More Elections...

Not to diminish the possibilities of machine fraud...it does exist, but it only works in tight races...where a couple votes here or there that can be flipped can make a difference. Otherwise, most defeats I've experienced were that not enough of "my people" showed up at the polls vs. the other guy. There are a lot of reasons...the most common is that voters...even ones that you think are a sure thing...will find reasons NOT to vote. Maybe it's "I didn't really have the time today" or "something else came up". Dare I say how many elections I personally kicked myself for not following up on the "sure ones"...that weren't as passionate or motivated to vote as I was.

I also see a trend on here, as I have with campaigns I've worked with oer the year...lots of people who will yell from on high, but when the rubber hits the road, they're content on either letting someone else deal with it, or they're on to the next "big thing"...to busy with "bigger" things to deal with the small stuff. It's that small stuff that wins elections. Corrupt and inept as they are...Repugnican built up their strength by being able to get their people to the polls and win elections...even the small ones. Some Democrats, like Dr. Dean, see this as a problem, but there's still a lot of catch-up to do.

While Diversity is our strength...when it comes to elections, it's been our downfall. I am seeing little outreach to black and Hispanics...as if they're votes are gonna be taken for granted. If we could have an on-going effort to organize and mobilize these voters, Democrats would never have to sweat a major national or statewide election. Instead, there's an assumption that people are pissed at booosh or whatever their pet issue is...be it immigration or Iraq or Health Care...and it's assumed the frustration/anger is enough to get a turn-out. It isn't. Winning elections still means a lot of elbow work...people to people...and to me, that's what makes this system work best and its most interesting.

Straight up...if the Democrats aren't able to win the House (at least) in November, it's cause they worked to lose it. I don't want to see that happen.

Cheers...

[LunaC]

13. Pre-election propaganda

I can't take it seriously.

[lonestarnot]

15. Read KharmaTrain's advise above if you have time please.

[LunaC]

18. Aye, but here's the rub.......

I came to the same conclusion as KharmaTrain and made an attempt to "get out the Vote" by posting this thread about a week ago......

Get your lazy-ass friends to VOTE! (Here’s how!)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2048787

That thread got ONE response. So how do we motivate the masses when we can't even get the political junkies around here to take an interest?

I'll never give up the good fight but continually swimming against the tide of apathy is wearing.

[lonestarnot]

20. I'm sorry for the lack of response to your thread here, but we just can't

give up. We do not have a choice. I plan to lasso everyone I can to get them to the polls and personally drive them there.

[LunaC]

23. I'm certainly doing my part, as are you

I just don't know how to get more people enthused to join our efforts. If you have any suggestions, I'm certainly open to hearing them.

[lonestarnot]

24. Likewise. I'm thinking.

[KharmaTrain]

26. I'm With You As Well

I sit out here most days and just read...a lot of wasted electrons and angst over things that don't matter and little focus on the things that do. Fortunately that's not the real world I'm living in and I hope not yours as well.

I'm involved in a local campaign and we started canvassing last winter and the GOTV effort began here weeks ago. It's the little things like keeping in touch with "your people" and doing everything you can to make sure they get to the polls...from giving rides (taxi service on election day) to helping pick up the kids and running to the pharamcy as well.

Sadly, this stuff ain't sexy or flamebait...just how elections are won.

Cheers!

[Javaman]

17. Bullshit. nt

[applegrove]

22. Zounds like CRAP to me!!!

[sendero]

25. Y'all go ahead..

... and shoot the messenger. I've been saying this for months - the Republicans are hated but the Dems are absent. If the Dems want to take back Congress they are going to have to take positions, make denunciations, stand for something. Right now, folks just don't think the Dems would be any better - after all they enabled most of Bush**'s policies.