We are truly screwed, and I don't know what I find more disturbing...

[cleanhippie]

That the Neocons so easily rigged yet another election....

or

that more than half the voters in Wisconsin are deluded ignoramuses.



One of these two scenarios played out yesterday, and while it ain't over until it's over, this does not bode well for the future of this country.

[piratefish08]

1. it was bought. it's how we do elections now.

[snappyturtle]

2. The repukes rigged it with money and the ignoramuses took the bait.

You're right on both counts. imho

[rurallib]

3. I am also quite concerned about the vote in San Diego and San Jose

to slash workers pensions. The RW now has another tool to beat the working class with.
I really fear this will sweep the country like a wind whipped wildfire.

[maryellen99]

4. It's already happening here where I live

Come July 1st my city is losing its Fire and police departments. And guess what?? The teabaggers/anti union people are blaming the officers pensions not the fact that the previous city council overpaid for land so a movie studio could be built(which failed)

[rurallib]

26. incredible - and people believe it

[maryellen99]

27. I call them "wannabe 1%ers" nt

[catbyte]

5. It's hopeless. Evil always wins

Apologies to MLK, but the universe doesn't always bend towards justice. We are all fucked.

I can't believe I am writing this, but I just don't care. If people want to fuck themselves and their neighbors over, there's no fighting it.

I think I will just go and hang out with my cats and hope this despair passes.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI & mom to Leo, Taz & Nigel, members of Dogs Against Romney, Cat Division
"Mitt is Mean--HISS!”

[deutsey]

14. I sometimes think that good often does not prevail

Although evil does prevail for a time, it ultimately implodes and when it does, good is there trying to figure out how best to tend to the terrible wounds that evil caused.

[mac56]

20. +1

I'm going to re-post that if you don't mind.

[deutsey]

25. By all means.

[sweetapogee]

6. two things

first, this was a state race, not national and the other is that as much as I dispise the pukes, this election was our idea.

[magical thyme]

7. when you label more than half the electorate ignoramuses

you do very little to persuade them to join you.

There may well have been election rigging involved...but 12% worth?

Maybe the recall attempt was itself a tactical blunder in what should be a strategic war. Or maybe it could have worked with a better candidate. But frankly, when you're outgunned you need to save the ammunition for when it can make the biggest difference. You choose your battles very, very carefully, and aim dead-on before you fire.

You don't start a head-on confrontation with a monster 10 times your size unless you can convince the monster you are 100 times its size.

[cleanhippie]

9. I cannot think of a better suited word.

It is an apt description.

[magical thyme]

16. It wasn't about the word choice; it was about the contempt and blame.

There is a simple cure, as far as the word goes. It's called a thesaurus.

But really, you don't need a synonym. You need a different attitude. I'm afraid I can't help you with that.

[cleanhippie]

19. I'm afraid you cannot, either.

Have you stopped for just a sec to think that perhaps it is YOU who needs a new attitude?

[magical thyme]

22. congratulations on totally missing my point

I repeat, when you label people ignoramuses you don't do much to persuade them to your side.

My attitude is fine. I personally think it makes more sense to analyze why Barrett lost for future reference, and figure out a way forward.

Assuming that everybody who didn't vote your way is an ignoramus will lead you to treat them that way. Next time around, they'll be doubly sure not to listen to you.

Whereas by analyzing the situation, you may learn something. Some of them may well be ignoramuses. Maybe some of them have a different perspective than you, and different language would have reached them. Maybe some of them were annoyed by having to vote again and took it out on those who forced the issue at this time. Maybe it would have made sense to hold off on a recall, and pursue a different route. And so on.

But hey, if you want to label 50+ percent of your neighbors with a contemptuous name and turn them off for good, by all means do.

[Greybnk48]

18. I've been using "slack-jawed morons"

Like the guy on our court who is a life-long union member who retired in his late 50's about 25 years ago with a pension & SS that supports he and his wife. She never worked out of the home. They have a new car every couple of years and season tickets to the Packers among other things.

The prick has a I Stand With Walker sign in his front yard. He's a knuckle-dragger in every sense of the word.

[We Want Peace]

10. all they have to do via central tabulator is flip the votes, Barrett actually won by 200,000

They knew it would be a big win, so they flipped it and kept the huge lead for Walker so no one would ask for a recount and actually see the ballots.

[magical thyme]

17. How do you know Barrett won by 200,000 votes?

Since you are able to cite a fairly specific number, you must have some way to have determined that number?

[libtodeath]

8. It is a depressing day

People voting against what is best for them once again and the liklihood of election theft.
I hate these fuckers that have bought our governments and media.

[Harmony Blue]

11. Critical thinking is under attack

and because of that money and adds work effectively.

[cleanhippie]

12. I guess the saying must be true; Ignorance is bliss.

[Harmony Blue]

13. Technology makes people lives easier

and provides entertainment but the cost is starting to come out to a high price.

[laundry_queen]

15. Marketing works.

I've posted about this here before. I've done a bit of research on marketing (and took some courses) and to be honest I'm quite shocked at just how easy it is to dupe people. People are basically pre-programmed, genetically, to be completely taken. It's not hard - there are just a few buttons to press that work nearly every time. What the Democrats need to do, and quick, is get on making unbelieveably moving, compelling ads.

When we had our election here in Canada, the NDP ran a series of very well put-together tv ads featuring Jack Layton (their leader, now deceased sadly) and the promise for the future, a leader that FIGHTS for you! etc. My conservative family LOVED the ads. My brother even considered voting for them just from the ads. "At least Jack is a fighter for what he believes in!" was what they said. It cracked me up, they didn't REALLY know anything about Layton, other than he hailed from the dreaded NDP, but the ads made them think they knew him. LOL. The NDP became official opposition and made history in doing so (socialist-leaning party, only party other than Liberals or Conservatives to ever do that). I think the ads had a large hand in it. At the very least, every conservative I met after that 'had respect' for Layton. Just from some ads.

I find when I watch CNN or MSNBC, there are so few left leaning ads it's maddening. Obviously it's more difficult because of less money, fewer super pacs, etc. but they can't be so broke they can't counter most TV ads, or at least have one repetitive ad running constantly on a few channels. C'mon. Twitter is OK, but the people who watch TV are the ones who vote reliably. I think the left completely doesn't get how important the media and ads are. The Democratic party as a whole needs a whole army of people who are fighting to get on those stupid news programs, and they need to stand their ground on what they believe in and they need to make it absolutely CLEAR as a bell that THEY are the party of the working people. I really think Democrats have completely dropped the ball on this one. MHO.

[HopeHoops]

21. (Ahem) - beer.

[Enrique]

23. Dems won control of the senate

the Walker recall was always a long shot. The Wisconsin dems are still pissed off, Occupy is still going on, none of this is over.

[Egalitarian Thug]

24. I'm afraid that we are facing the second scenario.

This election showed that when everybody votes, there are more of them than we like to pretend there are. More disturbing still is that even in a bluish swing state, there are more of them.

So this party, or perhaps this party's members, have a decision to make. Stick with the same strategy of safe and hope (foolishly, IMO) that they don't get this motivated in the general, or rededicate the party to the ideals that brought it to prominence and fight for them.
K&R