PBS News Hour is reporting significantly lower turnout of Dems in these early primaries

[2banon]

Than it was at this juncture in the 2008 race.

Seems like a wake up call to me. underscoring a concern many of us have expressed for several years now.

Wonder if the party establishment is paying any attention?

I'm thinking they haven't been getting the memos for some reason.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. By design.

DWS wanted low turnout, because low turnout favours the more conservative candidate who draws older voters, the most reliable voters.

[2banon]

3. I'm 65. An Official Senior and " Baby Boomer".

But I ain't no Conservative! LOL! And oh, none of my peeps my age are conservative either! Of course, we're all artists, musicians, activists, some are red-diaper babies, some not, but for certain old lefties through and through.

And we Vote!

But then, I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, so there's that.

[kstewart33]

2. Bad news for the party and for Bernie.

Nobody wins here except the Republicans.

[2banon]

4. I'm hoping there's a mistake in PBS calculations.

Because if that's a real trend at this juncture, yep. you'd be correct.

[RobertEarl]

5. Bad news for Hillary

With all her fame and fortune she can't get out the vote.

She should have won already!

[kstewart33]

7. Maybe, but it's worse for Bernie.

He needs a huge turnout for the Revolution to occur. Without huge turnout, he can't win the party nomination. Hillary can win the nomination with lower turnout because she doesn't need to bring 1st time voters into the election, at least not before the general.

[RobertEarl]

9. But Bernie has more votes!

Hillary can't win the nomination because she can't get new voters to be enthused. But Bernie can and is and that's why he can win it all..

[vdogg]

54. If that were the case

Then voter turnout would be up, not down. If Bernie is such a big draw then where are all the people?

[AgingAmerican]

46. The lack of enthusiasm for her among Democrats bodes ill for her in the general election

[RBInMaine]

10. That's COMPARED to the 2008 banner year with more candidates, Obama, and hatred of Bush.

[w4rma]

45. And Howard Dean running a 50 state GOTV campaign as DNC chair.

Now we have Hillary's incompetent minion as DNC chair.

[Sinistrous]

6. 2008 had an unusually high turnout.

They are comparing this year's turnout to what was essentially an outlier.

There was a post on DU some weeks ago that laid this out quite eloquently.

[2banon]

15. Missed that post, I've had to attend to other matters away from the computer.

If you happen to have the link, I'd be interested in reading it. tia.

[jillan]

8. I am getting so sick of this meme. These talking heads are forgetting the most motivating factor in

2008.

Not only did we have Barack Obama on the ticket....

the entire nation could not wait to fix the damage of the Bush administration.

They all must have amnesia because I remember 2007 & 2008 very well. We were out of our minds & united to get a Democrat in office after 8 years of Dubya.

And I suppose the repugs are feeling the same way about Obama after their mothership has spent 7.5 years trying to destroy our President.

Add the sheer disgust and anger we felt about Bush/Cheney to the brilliance and amazing campaign of Barack Obama who we wanted to see be our first black President = massive turnout.

[2banon]

13. I don't have cable or sat, so I wasn't aware this was meme.

My apologies if I'm repeating a false meme perpetrated by M$M.

[tazkcmo]

29. Not really false

But they are comparing apples to oranges.

[2banon]

44. It's going to be interesting in the coming days.. n/t

[Zorra]

23. You got it, jillan. 8 yrs of Bush drove masses of anti-republican voters to the polls.

I would have voted for a herd of 'possums in the 2008 election, as long as they had a D next to their names.

[Fuddnik]

31. Well I'm not voting for a skunk with a (D) next to it's name.

[Oilwellian]

11. There is one other factor that I heard Bernie mention

during his interview with Tweety. There were also far more candidates still in the running, at this juncture in 2008. More candidates will also bring out more voters in a primary.

[2banon]

12. good point.

If memory serves there were at least a half dozen (if not a bit more) candidates to be "excited" about at the start. I can't remember when Kucinich dropped out. Loved him of course, he was always spot on, but the media's debate moderator lobbed a straw man cannon at him and he didn't see it coming and wasn't prepared for it, of course obliterating his chances to gain any traction.

It greatly concerns me that we maybe returning to a largely apathetic "electorate".

[Depaysement]

32. I don't think so

In 2008, Edwards dropped out at the end of January, making the Dem primary a 2 person race.

[ThePhilosopher04]

41. Iowa and New Hampshire were earlier in '08

and Edwards fully participated in both, as did others.

[itsrobert]

14. So the Revolution is not turning out?

I see.

[2banon]

17. ?

Who said that? It doesn't appear you understand what is meant by that term in this context. Or you're just being snarky cuz that's how you roll?

[MaggieD]

16. I guess Bernie's revolution just ain't happening

[2banon]

18. And another thing...

Last edited Sat Feb 27, 2016, 01:44 PM - Edit history (1)

I strongly, STRONGLY, suggest Hillary supporters keep a check on your snark.

As a matter of fact, Unless you're in favor of a Republican victory, you're going to want Bernie supporters to be on your side on the day it matters most.

[MaggieD]

21. Dems will vote Dem

And a great many indies and some republicans will join them when Trump is the nominee. The extreme left may sit home, but it won't matter. Personally, it will take me years to forgive them for the nasty smears they have made about Obama and Clinton. I don't give a crap what they do.

[2banon]

22. Just read "campaigns and movements"

An amazingly spot on analysis of the current events.

Of course H2OMan is an amazing community member here, sometimes I wish it were him running for POTUS.

edit to add link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1348665

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. Let me clue you in Maggie

the king makers in the United States, as it were, contrary to your views in a GE are not Dems or Rs... that is so fifty years ago. It is the independent voter. This behavior from your types is also alienating independent voters.

So you will need them. Dems will vote dem, and not all, some will stay home, A 2014 performance, without some help from the new conservative party (a third party run) will give this to Trump. And you know who is to blame? YOU.

[MaggieD]

28. Trump has a 60% disapproval rating

So the extreme left can stay home like they usually do. Won't matter. The hostage taking type threats should be ignored.

Vote for my guy or I will sit home never works. Won't this time either.

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. As usual, you are msireading the popular anti establisment mood

don't worry, so is the DNC... the brush fire among YOUR PARTY base will not be over this November, They are barely getting started.

I love base revolts. I expected a damn boring primary... instead I might get a third party formed in the US and the breakup of the GOP,,, YAY!!!! how so oh 1852... and I have been predicting that for about 10 years. So I think I have a better finger on this pulse.

[2banon]

48. You seem so confident in your belief of a HRC victory over a Trump.

the characterization of Bernie supporters as the "far left" is as telling as it is insulting.

[Barack_America]

19. Bernie has been doing better than expected, Hillary worse.

Who exactly, is not showing up?

And, if as you claim, Bernie's revolution is not showing up to vote for him in the primaries, what makes you think they'll show up for Hillary in the general election?

[MaggieD]

20. You're going to see the error of that comment....

.... Over the next two weeks. So I won't expound on it.

[HooptieWagon]

27. Appears Hillary's firewall isn't showing up.

[Depaysement]

35. I guess Hillary's coronation isn't happening

[2banon]

59. not in the GE anyway.

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. Hmm depending on how this plays tonight when the votes are counted

it might prove a theory from a young BLM leader correct.

Thanks. I got CNN running and they have not mentioned that at all.

[2banon]

43. Due to other life events and matters, I have some catching up to do..

what was the theory BLM leader expressed?

[berni_mccoy]

26. It's Hillary. She's so negative that the talk of her inevitable win is killing turnout

[HooptieWagon]

34. "Vote for the status quo, it's MY turn"....

...isn't exactly an inspiring platform. And Camp Weathervane's strategy of insulting and alienating Sanders supporters sure isn't going to get them to vote for Hillary in the GE if nominated. She'll get even fewer votes than Kerry 12 years ago....10 million less than Obama.

[2banon]

40. That's how I see it too. But it's definitely concerning, IF true.

As a skeptic of corporate media punditry and "analysis" spoon fed to us (and that includes PBS/NPR) I tend to filter information delivered on my tv or radio as an untrusted source.

The broken clock rule seemed to be at play here, and that is disconcerting. Don't want to be pessimistic so early in the game..

But again, I strongly suggest Hillary supporters take a long view here, cease and desist the snark and start showing some love to Bernie supporters cuz the same pundits are saying the neanderthals (my term) are turning out in high numbers for their primaries.

[Depaysement]

42. +1 nt

[wyldwolf]

30. I thought Bernie's revolution would change that.

Guess not.

[HooptieWagon]

36. Where is Clintons firewall?

We were told to expect big turnout to support the status quo. Where are all those voters?

[wyldwolf]

38. Bernie supporter will smack into it tonight around 7:30

[PFunk1]

37. It could also be the super-delegates thing

Bernie is the reason why many millennials, independents and others are coming out to vote so far (it certainly anit Hillary). But that passion to vote for him has been cooled somewhat by the threat of a Bernie nomination being taken away by the super-delegates. So many are starting to say why bother. Which plays exactly into repug hands.

(maybe after this it's time to deep-six the super-delegate thing)

[Metric System]

39. That makes no sense. Hillary initially lead Obama in SDs in 2008 but that didn't stop him from

clinching the nomination. He proved he could win in diverse states, so SDs moved over to him.

[TIME TO PANIC]

47. Not as many candidates, not as many people on the ground to GOTV.

Plus, the msm have been obsessed with Trump and the clown car. It also doesn't help that DWS limited exposure with the debate scheduling.

[2banon]

49. good points..

work outside of the perimeters of the establishment is mandatory.

[TIME TO PANIC]

50. Absolutely. The establishment is doing everything it can to stifle Sanders.

The grassroots is largely responsible for the success Sanders has had, so far. It's quite astonishing how well he is doing with virtually no support from the democratic establishment, and very little (and mostly negative) media attention.

It's inspiring and infuriating all at once.

[2banon]

52. to your point. A new article (supporting Hillary) was shared on fb page this morning

A new article (supporting Hillary) was shared on fb page this morning
insisting that our opposition to Hillary is essentially the result of GOP smears. The obvious implication that we lack the intellect or capability to discern baseless GOP smears and attacks (which of course we have witnessed for decades now) and are just merely tools for their agenda.

Nothing could be further from the truth.. but this is what they're attacking us with.



edited to add link to the article mentioned.

[TIME TO PANIC]

55. They've been trying to paint Sanders supporters as right-wing yahoos since the begining.

It's classic projection. They know Sanders is far more progressive and in tune with the base than Hillary, so they will try anything to marginalize Sanders and his supporters.

Just last week, Bill Clinton said we were the left-wing Tea Party.

[2banon]

57. yeah, I know. It's puzzling why and how they think that's gonna work to their advantage!

[RKP5637]

51. The DNC/DWS is giving this election to Trump!

[2banon]

53. yeah.. well makes our work to get Bernie competitive

much more difficult, but that's more imperative than ever.!

[nadinbrzezinski]

56. CNN did as well half an hour ago 11:00 PST,

low to moderate... I forgot the other tidbit, they also added she needed high turnout. I found that tidbit interesting.

[2banon]

58. Not connected to cable, but that's a meme repeated on PBS last night

and "by comparison" the republicans have turned out in"overwhelmingly" higher numbers.. I don't see how that helps Hillary. in any way shape or form.

If true.

[nadinbrzezinski]

61. In a general, I read this as a repeat of 2014

here... I have no idea if there is an inkling on where the absentees already have something in them. At here in San Diego, to save some time, at least in HIGH turnout elections (rare as they are) they start to feed them to the machines before the polls close. It does not affect a damn thing results wise. But whenever anybody says that from a registrar I find that curious.

[2banon]

62. a repeat of 2014 is too depressing to contiplate

But predictable.

I do hold out hope that this perception was formulated by a false meme..

[nadinbrzezinski]

63. Some of the talking heads are changing some of the tone

[brooklynite]

60. Also suggests that Bernie's not turning out new voters.