Sat Oct 11, 2014, 08:29 AM

Le Taz Hot (22,271 posts)

People vote when they have something/someone to vote FOR.

The fact is that the vast majority of people are not political/policy wonks like we at DU are. It's simple, if they don't feel that their needs are being met, if they don't feel like they're being represented by EITHER party, they'll simply stay home. Whine and wail and render your garments all you want about it but the FACT is that if you don't give people someone to vote FOR (He's/She's not as bad as the other guy/gal doesn't work anymore), they're far more likely not to show up.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about. Locally, there's no Senate seat up and it's not a presidential election year. We did have a couple of Congressional seats that COULD have changed from R to D given the right set of circumstance (the DCCC did not send ONE CENT to either candidate) but since Obama delayed immigration reform the Latinos (majority of the population) in my area are LIVID and several have told me they're staying home because of it. The result is that both seats will remain in R hands.

And before I'm accused of it by the Party Faithful, let me be clear: NO, I AM NOT ADVOCATING PEOPLE STAY HOME ON ELECTION DAY. I just choose not to berate people because they don't feel like anyone represents them. All berating does is cause people to entrench themselves deeper in their beliefs. When promises are made and then not kept, time after time after time, it's not difficult to see why so many are saying they don't feel like their voices are being heard even when they make the "right" choice (voting for Ds).

The remedy is not to berate people but to put up candidates for whom people will get excited -- candidates that they feel will represent them and their interests and WHO KEEP THEIR PROMISES. Do this and people will show up to donate, work for the campaign and get out the vote. Continue to deny, delay and make excuses for why reforms have not even BEGUN to be enacted and you'll get what you have now which is massive voter apathy.

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185 replies	Author	Time	Post
People vote when they have something/someone to vote FOR. (Original post)	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	OP
I agree! Voters went to the polls in 2008 and 2012	yeoman6987	Oct 2014	#1
Some States had good turnout and Democratic wins in 2010. Why?	Bluenorthwest	Oct 2014	#25
Turn out is always better for Presidential than for midterms.	merrily	Oct 2014	#116
Isn't the reason some promises aren't kept because...	JaneyVee	Oct 2014	#2
Cart before the horse.	hobbit709	Oct 2014	#4
Sometimes. But too often	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#6
Very few politicians are even willing to say people have been getting royally screwed.	winter is coming	Oct 2014	#69
Exactly! And now ConservaDems are nervous	Teamster Jeff	Oct 2014	#83
and voting FOR minimum wage and health care and media, election, and campaign finance reform	certainot	Oct 2014	#81
I agree on that the solution is not sitting it out, but I am not sure what the solution is.	merrily	Oct 2014	#120
In non-election years D candidates that have been disappointing	Enthusiast	Oct 2014	#170
+1 Doesn't matter the candidate. It only matters we unseat Republis	ffr	Oct 2014	#148
It's up to candidates to inspire voters to turn out. Blaming the voters is simply scapegoating.	Scuba	Oct 2014	#3
+1000	hobbit709	Oct 2014	#5
ditto	a kennedy	Oct 2014	#16
Then why walk your neighborhood canvessing?	JoePhilly	Oct 2014	#26
+1	treestar	Oct 2014	#117
You have to inspire	Caretha	Oct 2014	#159
Wouldn't you think this board would be filled with walkers and talkers?	JoePhilly	Oct 2014	#181
the part about "We the People"	treestar	Oct 2014	#37
Or you could GOTV and cut thru the media that hides what Dems stand for.	emulatorloo	Oct 2014	#48
but the left has allowed a political atmosphere where many 'inspirational' politicians don't	certainot	Oct 2014	#84
+1	leftstreet	Oct 2014	#94
and it's worse when they internalize it	MisterP	Oct 2014	#134
Precisely.	Enthusiast	Oct 2014	#171
I don't even have a congressional candidate to vote for.	Fuddnik	Oct 2014	#7
How can that be?	treestar	Oct 2014	#39
It happens more often than you might think	Bjorn Against	Oct 2014	#47
Geez	treestar	Oct 2014	#50
Democrats don't run anyone against Sanders, but that's a good thing, IMO.	merrily	Oct 2014	#127
Who's running against Jeb Hensarling?	malokvale77	Oct 2014	#132
He's referring to Florida.	Dr Hobbitstein	Oct 2014	#61
Thanks for that info; I recall when DU was allowed to support Crist	treestar	Oct 2014	#115
Actually, Crist was the better candidate than the "New Democrat" who ran against him in 2006.	Fuddnik	Oct 2014	#150
+mc^2	MannyGoldstein	Oct 2014	#8
K&R	abelenkpe	Oct 2014	#9
This election is as imprtant as 2016. We had better get as good as a Congress for the President....	marble falls	Oct 2014	#10
If God had intended for us to vote, he would have given us candidates.	Fuddnik	Oct 2014	#12
I'm in the Texas Hill country, with an abysmal Sen Cornyn and a Teabilly Rep, Williams ....	marble falls	Oct 2014	#17
None of the above doesn't count in Florida.	Fuddnik	Oct 2014	#21
I just early voted in FL.	Dr Hobbitstein	Oct 2014	#62
I dropped off my absentees the other day too.	Fuddnik	Oct 2014	#151
So find something to vote for...nt	SidDithers	Oct 2014	#11
Offer up someone/something to for for . . . nt	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#22
Do your own homework...	SidDithers	Oct 2014	#36
You need to quit making this about me	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#40
there's always voter apathy and lazy voters and too busy voters and too-'principled' voters	certainot	Oct 2014	#113
Apparently the cure for voter apathy is, "find something to vote for." Apparently missed the	rhett o rick	Oct 2014	#149
When I am completely unable to budge someone like that...	JHB	Oct 2014	#13
If "None of the above" was on the ballot, I'd bet there'd be a lot of elections where he would win.	hobbit709	Oct 2014	#15
Probably, but how would that help any?	JHB	Oct 2014	#34
And if it happened enough times maybe TPTB might notice the dissatisfaction.	hobbit709	Oct 2014	#98
None of the above wins!	Egnever	Oct 2014	#130
And that helps illustrate to them how	treestar	Oct 2014	#35
Perfectly stated.	99Forever	Oct 2014	#14
Peas	Enthusiast	Oct 2014	#172
Agree Completely Sadly The American Political System Has Grown Sclerotic	cantbeserious	Oct 2014	#18
Yes	Mister Nightowl	Oct 2014	#19
That is what we face in NC	Lee-Lee	Oct 2014	#20
I disagree (at least in some circumstances). Look at PA Gov this year.	MH1	Oct 2014	#23
If you don't vote. Don't complain.	Gore1FL	Oct 2014	#24
+1000	Blue_Tires	Oct 2014	#73
So, the Latinos you reference think that R control of the House HELPS immigration reform?	MH1	Oct 2014	#27
No, from my conversations they don't think either party	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#30
It's a political balancing act. As you know, control of the Senate hinges on a few	totodeinhere	Oct 2014	#54
I just think if we had more candidates	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#63
+1 You nailed it.	Enthusiast	Oct 2014	#173
constructive thoughts	treestar	Oct 2014	#33
So should we engage GOTV efforts or not?	JoePhilly	Oct 2014	#28
"The Left" doesn't need to tell them "The Democrats SUCK,"	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#32
You did not answer my question. Should we canvass?	JoePhilly	Oct 2014	#56
I don't know who "we" is but what you do	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#71
That's a weak dodge.	JoePhilly	Oct 2014	#79
I already answered that	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#88
There isn't time to get a better candidate right now.	JoePhilly	Oct 2014	#92
I'm not here to tell you which path to take.	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#99
Then why post on DU if Democratic values do not represent your interests? n/t	Dr Hobbitstein	Oct 2014	#67
Democratic Values.	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#76
FDR believed in locking up Japanese-Americans in internment camps...	Dr Hobbitstein	Oct 2014	#89
And he was wrong to do that.	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#96
Yes that was heinous, but it does not cancel out that he saved the country as it was circling the	merrily	Oct 2014	#122
I'm not throwing FDR under the bus...	Dr Hobbitstein	Oct 2014	#177
FDR is considered the third best President of any party, after Washington and Lincoln.	merrily	Oct 2014	#178
PLUS ONE, a whole bunch!	Enthusiast	Oct 2014	#174
When she loses will you blame the electorate or blame the candidate?	yodermon	Oct 2014	#162
You seem more concerned about who to blame, than of the	JoePhilly	Oct 2014	#179
US Supreme Court, voting rights, safety net. Reasons to vote.	jwirr	Oct 2014	#29
BS	treestar	Oct 2014	#31
Wow!	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#38
So we do what - beg and beg	treestar	Oct 2014	#41
You need to stop making this about me.	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#43
Not only that, but you've been instructed to "stay out of the process"	NorthCarolina	Oct 2014	#65
+1,000.	totodeinhere	Oct 2014	#55
holy FUCKING shit. You deserve the eternal Repuke majority you will inevitably end up with	yodermon	Oct 2014	#163
I challenge anyone to produce a perfect candidate, to produce a candidate who "keeps their	Thinkingabout	Oct 2014	#42
This is such an old, tired trick.	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#46
OK, i see you have Warren for the 100%, what bill has she gotten passed and enacted into law?	Thinkingabout	Oct 2014	#58
She conceived of, lobbied for, and talked enough people,	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#68
It may surprise you there are many candidates or potential candidates with their names in	Thinkingabout	Oct 2014	#82
I never promoted not voting.	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#90
The title of your post indicates people will vote when they have something to they want.	Thinkingabout	Oct 2014	#128
Yes, and . . .?	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#131
warren was kept out of the administration in the same way van jones was- with the left ignoring the	certainot	Oct 2014	#123
Yes, in fact, it is up to us to vote "for" whoever is closest	treestar	Oct 2014	#49
exactly, staying home, not voting or not making a vote for a selection on a ballot though	Thinkingabout	Oct 2014	#64
Cuomo or Astorino? I'm from the Bronx. No thonks. n/t	Smarmie Doofus	Oct 2014	#44
My state senate race is between	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#53
Are you in the 4th CD?	eridani	Oct 2014	#154
No, the 22nd.	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#156
22nd has always been tough for Dems	eridani	Oct 2014	#158
Which republican endorsed candidate are you going to chose?	adirondacker	Oct 2014	#80
I'm not allowed to advocate for a third party on DU. If I understand....	Smarmie Doofus	Oct 2014	#106
!	adirondacker	Oct 2014	#119
The DLC/New Democrats/Blue Dogs	Warpy	Oct 2014	#45
OH GAWD.....more finger waving from people who tell us they are Democrats.....	VanillaRhapsody	Oct 2014	#51
I've not been a Democrat since 2004 and not claimed to be,	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#57
then WHO among them DO you support?	VanillaRhapsody	Oct 2014	#59
I'm a Democrat in a State that gets pretty good turnout in most elections, we elect Democrats and	Bluenorthwest	Oct 2014	#74
I am sorry but I do not agree here......You are among a different kind of people there...	VanillaRhapsody	Oct 2014	#77
I've never even been to Vermont.	Bluenorthwest	Oct 2014	#87
Yes they are.....BUT they elected Bernie Sanders......	VanillaRhapsody	Oct 2014	#95
Message auto-removed	Name removed	Oct 2014	#52
Well said	marym625	Oct 2014	#60
If you don't have something to vote for	BeyondGeography	Oct 2014	#66
I understand what you are saying but	tularetom	Oct 2014	#70
When Obama chose to table immigration reform	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#85
not voting is voting repub. republicans have been short circuiting democracy and the left ignores it	certainot	Oct 2014	#72
.	stonecutter357	Oct 2014	#75
Then send a message to the GOP that they are no longer welcome.	randome	Oct 2014	#78
I'm not sure I understand how this is supposed to	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#91
Does everyone need to be 'inspired' to do the right thing?	randome	Oct 2014	#101
Because the vast majority of people out there aren't like people on DU.	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#104
I agree that what affects people's lives is important.	randome	Oct 2014	#108
Well, I don't at all agree that Obama has good political instincts	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#110
The disconnect we're seeing in this thread is incredible.	Marr	Oct 2014	#112
A-FREAKING-MEN !!!	marmar	Oct 2014	#86
Anyone that intentionally doesn't vote this election = idiot.	LostInAnomie	Oct 2014	#93
Yeah, calling them "idiots" and "morons" ought to work.	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#97
Post removed	Post removed	Oct 2014	#100
I rest my case.	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#105
Your "case" was more unicorn and pony nonsense.	LostInAnomie	Oct 2014	#109
A perfect example of exactly WHY...	99Forever	Oct 2014	#118
If they need to be "inspired" to do the right thing for their country...	LostInAnomie	Oct 2014	#124
You're a real class act.	99Forever	Oct 2014	#125
vote or suck. the right is winning so don't vote. what brilliant logic.	certainot	Oct 2014	#126
EVERY election year we vote for one PERMANENT issue - The Supreme Court.	blm	Oct 2014	#102
now, because IDIOTS haven't been voting, we have another permanent issue- GLOBAL WARMING	certainot	Oct 2014	#129
Exactly!!!	blm	Oct 2014	#184
The remedy is not only putting up candidates. It's getting stuff done that helps people.	merrily	Oct 2014	#103
I have something to vote for	LadyHawkAZ	Oct 2014	#107
Look, during election season, trashing, undermining or depressing turnout for Dem candidates is	JTFrog	Oct 2014	#111
And if this is a TOS violation there has been plenty of time	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#114
Very sad	revmclaren	Oct 2014	#164
K&R	liberal_at_heart	Oct 2014	#121
Seems that Democrats and Republicans have different standards	alp227	Oct 2014	#133
I'm back at DU after a several month layoff where I read from time to time but wasn't posting	Fumesucker	Oct 2014	#135
It's like certain posters that make divisive threads right before election time	Rex	Oct 2014	#136
+1 You nailed it.	Enthusiast	Oct 2014	#175
This is true. But the questions is - why is it so hard to get people to do something about it?	Chathamization	Oct 2014	#137
Politics is a huge social minefield, it always has been but there are more and bigger mines now	Fumesucker	Oct 2014	#140
Yeah, but the average Joe could easily spend a few hours a year reading up on primary and local	Chathamization	Oct 2014	#142
You can't penetrate the first layer of the tightly interwoven sphere of pure bullshit in that time	Fumesucker	Oct 2014	#144
Well, that's true to some extent. That's why networks of progressives are useful. Each individual	Chathamization	Oct 2014	#146
The DC DEMS just can't help showing their 1% ways. And I'm pretty sure they don't care. They'll	blkmusclmachine	Oct 2014	#138
Pot will get them out. nt	valerief	Oct 2014	#139
That was the best vote I have ever made!	L0oniX	Oct 2014	#153
Wise truths.	joanbarnes	Oct 2014	#141
DON'T DECEIVE YOURSELVES....	cynzke	Oct 2014	#143
Elections aren't cancelled because of voter apathy. SOMEONE wins and takes power.	CakeGrrl	Oct 2014	#145
HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!	WillyT	Oct 2014	#147
Correct. Millions THOUGHT that had something to vote for back in 2008 ...	DrBulldog	Oct 2014	#152
They also vote when they have something/someone to vote against	JohnnyRingo	Oct 2014	#155
Very true.	randome	Oct 2014	#176
DU is NOT full of policy wonks	JI7	Oct 2014	#157
+1 ...	1StrongBlackMan	Oct 2014	#161
Too many people who just want attention	Fumesucker	Oct 2014	#182
I crack up at EVERY one of the self-congratulatory "DUers are sooo much more informed than	Number23	Oct 2014	#185
Actually ...	1StrongBlackMan	Oct 2014	#160
Howard Dean was RIGHT! contest everything. 50 state strategy.	NuttyFluffers	Oct 2014	#165
Try using the facts	Tweedy	Oct 2014	#166
I'm not a partisan.	Le Taz Hot	Oct 2014	#167
The facts are not propaganda	Tweedy	Oct 2014	#183
Anyone we put up that the Republicans hate	Shankapotomus	Oct 2014	#168
This is DU, the remedy will always be to berate people	IronLionZion	Oct 2014	#169
Astute observation!	Shankapotomus	Oct 2014	#180

Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Sat Oct 11, 2014, 08:34 AM

yeoman6987 (14,449 posts)

1. I agree! Voters went to the polls in 2008 and 2012

Because President Obama gave us someone and something to vote for. 2010, the President was not on the ballot so some said home. 2014 with the Senate up for grab. Hopefully we will see voters out in droves.

People vote when they have something/someone to vote FOR.

1. I agree! Voters went to the polls in 2008 and 2012

25. Some States had good turnout and Democratic wins in 2010. Why?

116. Turn out is always better for Presidential than for midterms.

2. Isn't the reason some promises aren't kept because...

4. Cart before the horse.

6. Sometimes. But too often

69. Very few politicians are even willing to say people have been getting royally screwed.

83. Exactly! And now ConservaDems are nervous

81. and voting FOR minimum wage and health care and media, election, and campaign finance reform

120. I agree on that the solution is not sitting it out, but I am not sure what the solution is.

170. In non-election years D candidates that have been disappointing

148. +1 Doesn't matter the candidate. It only matters we unseat Republis

3. It's up to candidates to inspire voters to turn out. Blaming the voters is simply scapegoating.

5. +1000

16. ditto

26. Then why walk your neighborhood canvessing?

117. +1

159. You have to inspire

181. Wouldn't you think this board would be filled with walkers and talkers?

37. the part about "We the People"

48. Or you could GOTV and cut thru the media that hides what Dems stand for.

84. but the left has allowed a political atmosphere where many 'inspirational' politicians don't

94. +1

134. and it's worse when they internalize it

171. Precisely.

7. I don't even have a congressional candidate to vote for.

39. How can that be?

47. It happens more often than you might think

50. Geez

127. Democrats don't run anyone against Sanders, but that's a good thing, IMO.

132. Who's running against Jeb Hensarling?

61. He's referring to Florida.

115. Thanks for that info; I recall when DU was allowed to support Crist

150. Actually, Crist was the better candidate than the "New Democrat" who ran against him in 2006.

8. +mc^2

9. K&R

10. This election is as imprtant as 2016. We had better get as good as a Congress for the President....

12. If God had intended for us to vote, he would have given us candidates.

17. I'm in the Texas Hill country, with an abysmal Sen Cornyn and a Teabilly Rep, Williams ....

21. None of the above doesn't count in Florida.

62. I just early voted in FL.

151. I dropped off my absentees the other day too.

11. So find something to vote for...nt

22. Offer up someone/something to for for . . . nt

36. Do your own homework...

40. You need to quit making this about me

113. there's always voter apathy and lazy voters and too busy voters and too-'principled' voters

149. Apparently the cure for voter apathy is, "find something to vote for." Apparently missed the

13. When I am completely unable to budge someone like that...

15. If "None of the above" was on the ballot, I'd bet there'd be a lot of elections where he would win.

34. Probably, but how would that help any?

98. And if it happened enough times maybe TPTB might notice the dissatisfaction.

130. None of the above wins!

35. And that helps illustrate to them how

14. Perfectly stated.

172. Peas

18. Agree Completely Sadly The American Political System Has Grown Sclerotic

19. Yes

20. That is what we face in NC

23. I disagree (at least in some circumstances). Look at PA Gov this year.

24. If you don't vote. Don't complain.

73. +1000

27. So, the Latinos you reference think that R control of the House HELPS immigration reform?

30. No, from my conversations they don't think either party

54. It's a political balancing act. As you know, control of the Senate hinges on a few

63. I just think if we had more candidates

173. +1 You nailed it.

33. constructive thoughts

28. So should we engage GOTV efforts or not?

32. "The Left" doesn't need to tell them "The Democrats SUCK,"

56. You did not answer my question. Should we canvass?

71. I don't know who "we" is but what you do

79. That's a weak dodge.

88. I already answered that

92. There isn't time to get a better candidate right now.

99. I'm not here to tell you which path to take.

67. Then why post on DU if Democratic values do not represent your interests? n/t

76. Democratic Values.

89. FDR believed in locking up Japanese-Americans in internment camps...