Wave Of 65+ Voters Put Wingnuts In Control Of The Senate

[JDDavis]

There were a lot of reasons we lost last night, but not rallying young voters was the biggest.

But in the states where young people turned out, like New Hampshire, we won. Hmm.

But mostly, we didn't get out our young voters. That's because, more than any other group, young voters are least tolerant of bullshit.

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/11/wave-65-voters-put-wingnuts-control-senate

[BeyondGeography]

1. You left out "white"

[JDDavis]

2. I didn't write the article

And, by the way, I'm white and over 65, and did NOT vote for any wingnuts.

[BeyondGeography]

5. All such articles leave it out

Nothing personal.

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. That's true. ( The "intolerant of bullshit"part.) But they're also...

... the slice of the electoral pie w. the shortest attention span and the greatest ability to put reality on psychological "hold".

They will, in fact, get older. They will, in fact want to start a family. They will, in fact, need real health insurance and they will, in fact , need a real retirement system. (If they haven't already died young from having no health insurance.)

When one's 25 , it's VERY easy... seductive even.... to be able to cruise in the "it's all bullshit" lane.

[pkdu]

4. I'm a big fan of C&L usually , but this is bullshit in my opinion...

Young people stayed away in droves because Democrats hailed a recovery too much?

Not buying it. Not one bit.

Consumer confidence is up higher than pre-crash levels.

[JDDavis]

11. Look at NH, where unemployment isn't as high as other states

Young people voted there.

Not so in Kansas, Texas, or FL.

[pkdu]

15. There are no facts cited supporting the statement ..

"That's because, more than any other group, young voters are least tolerant of bullshit. For over a year now, Democrats have been touting an economic "recovery" that exists only for rich people. Young people who can't get jobs (let alone good ones), who are still living at home or sharing apartments because there's no way in hell they can afford to get their own -- they don't see any recovery."

Not only is it not supported by any facts , it's patently false. Many people are now employed in " good jobs" that weren't in 2008/9 ...I'm one of them , and I know many in same boat.

To say that 18-49 year-olds stayed away from polls because they think Democrats exaggerate the economic recovery is absurd.

[earthside]

6. As the parent of two Millennials ...

... I nearly had to forced them to vote because they didn't see why they should.

I can tell you they are 'message' voters.
They need a good reason to vote; party affiliation means very little to them though they are progressive and have thus far only ever voted for Democrats.

In my state of Colorado, Mark Udall said nothing, nothing to young voters. He and his allies tried to motivate young women with the fear that Gardner would take away their birth control.

And that was it.

Mark Udall the 'great' environmentalist wouldn't hardly talk about the environment because of his fear of being tagged as anti-XL Keystone by the Repuglicans (and he was anyway). Udall never talked about Obamacare and how well it is working in Colorado. Udall never talked about how our state is one of the best in economic recovery.

Frankly, Udall didn't even give me good solid reason to vote to reelect him. I had my own fears of a Republican U.S. Senate.

So, the lesson is -- you want young folks to vote for a Democratic candidate? Have a solid, positive reason why they should.

[ellie]

10. They don't know why they should vote?

Seriously? You can tell them that they are going to inherit this country and they better step up to make sure it is livable.

[earthside]

18. Yes. Seriously.

If you are interested enough in politics and government to be a part of DU, you (like me) often have a difficult time comprehending a world view that is not focused on politics.

My Millennials complain to me that their friends are very apathetic compared to them.
Hey, my kids voted ... they get the livable country and world stuff. But their disappointment with Obama is profound and because of things like the cost of college and low-paying jobs, their view is much more cynical than I was at that age.

So, we are not going to get these young folks back in 2016, unless Democrats nominate a bold progressive like Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders. Hillary being a woman is not going to be enough by a long shot.

Democrats better take this loss seriously and reevaluate who they are and where they want to go, because if the party is led by a center-right functionary like Clinton, well, I am beginning to see it as conceivable that a Paul or Kasich or Bush could get elected President.

[ellie]

19. My father drilled into me the importance

of voting Democratic back in the '60s, '70s, and '80s before Democratic Underground. So I don't have a difficult time comprehending the world outside of DU.

As for the disappointment in Obama, well I have no words. No words at all.

[Blue_Tires]

23. For some reason it's hard to engage today's young voters in midterms

well, at least in my state of Va.

I work at a university, and in 2010 my unofficial polling indicated about 30-35% of students voted...Asking students yesterday and today I'm around 10%(!)...Not good...

[global1]

7. Perhaps The Better Title For Your Post Should Say "Young People Put Wingnuts In Control Of The....

Senate". Their lack of attention to this election and their low turnout was more of the cause of the results than 65+ voters turning out to vote. At least we 65+er's exercised our right to vote. I'm 66 and I kind of resent shouldering the blame for last nights results.

I feel sorry for the young voters many of whom are burdened with massive student loans. They will feel the effects of this election more than I and for a longer period of their life. I wish they'd wake up and find out what the Rethugs have in store for their future and their children's future. It ain't pretty.

[kysrsoze]

9. Exactly. They don't pay attention to anything but headlines. They see nothing getting passed and

think both sides are rotten to the core. Little do they know... My daughter didn't vote yet AGAIN. Well, when everything goes completely to shit, I guess they may take a minute or two to actually start voting.

[global1]

12. That Minute or Two They May Take Might Be Too Late To Make A Difference.....nt

[JDDavis]

13. I quote exact titles in my threads, (as per suggested format)

But the lack of sane voters of any age could be responsible for the results, (or lack of minority voters or whatever), if you want to play it that way.

The fact is: in states where the wingnuts won and the sane candidates lost, it was over 65 voters who overwhelmingly voted for them in the majority of cases. That's the point of the article.

[kysrsoze]

8. When only 12% of millennials vote and Dem candidates run away from Obama and their record...

You get this result. It was tough enough with this being a lame-duck mid-term. And now I have Bruce Rauner as a governor...

[cilla4progress]

14. I'm approaching 60 and I SO can't relate to these

"over 65+" vote stats. We're baby boomers for gods sake, we were THERE for the psychedelic 60s.

Kills me that these people have turned from the vallues of that idealistic, progressive time, to THIS?

[JDDavis]

17. Yes, I identify with you, (over 65 here) and I wonder

what the heck happened to the age of Aquarius, Bob Dylan, and PP+M?

I think some people were asleep at 18-30 and woke up paranoid or scared or struggling at 65 and have to blame Obama for that.

[Sunlei]

16. The article doesn't say how those votes were cast. were they mail in, early or on the 4th?

[geek tragedy]

20. young voters are simply lazier voters than everyone else.

sorry, this is just a fact, they always vote at a lower percentage than other demographics

no strategy should ever depend on young voters--they are a bonus, not a base

[LannyDeVaney]

21. See how they feel...

after SS is cut and they raise the retirement age.

They can't survive on hate alone. Death squad, indeed.

[BlueStater]

22. Maybe it will take having their SS cut before they stop being morons.

I'm sorry to all the elderly voters last night who didn't act like a bunch of dumb assholes. Looks like you'll have to suffer along with the rest.