B CLINTON "Our side’s not used to voting in midterms-We gotta get used to it-There’s a lot at stake”

[kpete]

For the purposes of understanding this midterm election, the most important quote of the weekend by far comes from Bill Clinton, who said this while in Iowa yesterday:

“I’ve studied all the polls and I really believe that we’re still in a zone where they’re all real close and it depends on who decides to show. And our side’s not used to voting in midterms. We gotta get used to it. There’s a lot at stake.”

In that interview, Clinton suggested that this is particularly true of the Senate contests in southern states. Clinton said that Senator Mark Pryor could probably hang on in Arkansas “if we get the turnout.” And speaking about the contest between Dem Michelle Nunn and GOPer David Perdue, Clinton said that African Americans are “under-registered in Georgia” and added that if Dems “increase the number,” victory is possible even in that red state.

Clinton is right. It isn’t just that core Dem voter groups tend to drop off in midterms. It’s also that this time around, they don’t necessarily know what’s at stake in this election and why it should matter to them, as Dem focus grouping I reported on last week clearly shows. What’s more, as Nate Cohn recently demonstrated, for a variety of reasons, black voters are poised to play a pivotal and historic role in multiple Senate races in the south. If they turn out.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/09/15/morning-plum-bill-clinton-tells-dem-voters-to-wake-up-already/

[Peacetrain]

1. Amen and amen!

We had a huge discussion about that this week.. there ARE more of us than there are of them.. we have to get off our butts and go to the booth every time there is an election. Have to.. can't sit and wait for the next fellow to do the job for us..

[CentralMass]

2. Our side has grown tired of being ignored and taken for granted.

[JoePhilly]

4. Staying home is a great way of getting ignored.

[CentralMass]

5. I haven't missed an opportunity to vote since 1978, when I turned 18.

[riqster]

9. Your earlier comment gave a different impression in this context.

[CentralMass]

20. I would suggest that the voting electorate feeling as if they are being ignored is the norm.

[Scootaloo]

14. So is voting, apparently

[JoePhilly]

19. Not in my experience.

[MineralMan]

3. GOTV will be huge in November.

Huge in importance, anyhow. It remains to be seen how huge it will be in numbers. It's time, right now, to begin:

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!

[jwirr]

6. Absolutely. All we have to do to see that this is true is look back to 2012. And I suspect this has

happened many times in the past. Especially to minorities who felt they had no hope in the past. I am hoping we are in a new day. It all depends our GOTV.

[leftstreet]

7. Did he sleep through 2006?

when the Democrats campaigned on an actual issue...ending the war...and triumphed?

He's often just as tone deaf as his wife

[riqster]

10. 2006 was atypical.

http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/democrats-dread-2014-drop-off/

It is a valid concern and worth talking about.

[leftstreet]

13. Yes. A rare sighting of Spined-Democratic Politicians n/t

[riqster]

16. And a rare sighting of that elusive creature,

Democratus Offcyclus Votersis in greater numbers than usual.

[Scootaloo]

15. Yes, it was atypical, because the Democrats gave us something worth voting for them over

[riqster]

17. One way of looking at it. I differ.

I am done waiting for the party to give me something to vote for. Fuck that passive-reactor bit.

I am voting against Teapubbies. That ALWAYS provides ample motivation.

[riqster]

8. GOTFV. Rinse and repeat.

[handmade34]

11. Sept 23... National Register to Vote Day

http://www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org/register-to-vote

[Autumn]

12. Yes there is a lot at stake. That's why Democratic politicians should

GOTV by trumpeting and pushing Democratic values. "Not as bad as the other guys" just don't work anymore. neither does "who else you gonna vote for" and "it's your fault for staying home" is sort of fallen by the wayside , no one believes that anymore

And don't even get me started on you have to vote for the blue dog or a republican will get elected and it's all your fault because that's a fucking joke

The Democratic leaders need to step up and GIVE us a reason to vote. Give me a reason I want to vote for you and enjoy it and know that I am voting for the betterment of our country and not the corporations and the 1%.

Now it's a shame that I have to post a disclaimer but I have voted in every election for any Democrat and I will never sit one out and will voted for any Democrat who is nominated but there are people out there that won't. Give them and me a reason to vote.

[riqster]

18. It's a question of focus.

Do we wait for someone else to give us a reason? Or provide our own reason?

You, I suspect, provide your own motivation, as do I.

Instead of validating those who will not vote unless someone gives them a reason, let's help people to motivate themselves.

Because parties suck, and cannot be counted upon to perform when required to.

[Autumn]

21. How can we provide our own reason to vote if the ones we have to vote for

don't give us a reason to vote for them or motivate us to vote for them? If our party cannot be counted upon to perform when we require them to preform what is the use in voting for them? I have never rewarded bad behavior in my children or family members why should I reward the ones that I vote to represent my values and needs when their behavior is bad.

I can be motivated to vote easily, shouldn't the ones I vote for be motivated to represent me? You just can't get people to motivate themselves to elect someone to power and wealth just to watch them screw over the very ones who voted for them. The veil has been lifted and now with the power of the internet politicians need to realize that the games are not working any more. We see their actions and back room deals clearly.

[Cha]

22. Well, I think "our side" voted in the 2006 Midterms but

it seems they didn't in 2010.

Our side needs to be smarter than that.