General Discussion

merrily

(45,251 posts)

122. I said the two elections were different, which is about the direct opposite of conflating.

Sun Dec 7, 2014, 04:26 PM

Dec 2014

And, yes, I get that Obama's lower approval rating in 2012 correlates with fewer votes for him in 2012. My point was he was the same man in the same Party in 2012 as he was in 2008, yet his 2012 outcome was not as good as his 2008 outcome. Why?

In 2008, Obama expressly engendered hope of great change from the Republican administration, which the voters obviously wanted and expected (as shown as well by the 2006 and 2008 Democratic Congressional wave elections.) And looking for change from the Republicans included the very red state of Indiana and, until McCain picked Palin, almost the very red state of Alaska, too.

So, what caused the change in both his approval ratings and his election performance in 2012? Was it that his actual job performance was too different from Republicans, as he had promised it would be? Or not different enough? Or something else entirely?

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

167 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

What could Landrieu have done to go further right? [View all] MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 OP

I rather liked my post from another Landrieu thread. I'll paste it here w. some edits. merrily Dec 2014 #1

LA didn't have one, but AR had a Green candidate who ran on single payer and a higher minimum wage Recursion Dec 2014 #7

Right. Because the ONLY difference between a merrily Dec 2014 #8

Moving right, leaving the base and half the potential electorate behind, to try to peel off ... Scuba Dec 2014 #61

Exactly, the party(s) follow the electorate Progressive dog Dec 2014 #71

Disagree. The electorate is not demanding lower wages, or more jobs leaving the US merrily Dec 2014 #116

You have to understand that the electorate Progressive dog Dec 2014 #161

The solution to that is better messaging, not worse people. merrily Dec 2014 #162

That didn't make sense Progressive dog Dec 2014 #163

Actually, your post is the one that doesn't make sense. merrily Dec 2014 #164

Wrong, we learned another fact from this last midterm where right leaning Dems lost AGAIN. sabrina 1 Dec 2014 #72

No. 3 conservatives lost as opposed to 7 liberals. And the only pick-offs were by conservative dems Recursion Dec 2014 #98

Which Liberal Dems were supported by the DCCC in those states? sabrina 1 Dec 2014 #100

Garcia, Schneider, Enyart, Horsford, Shea-Porter, Bishop, Maffei Recursion Dec 2014 #101

Funny how you always manage to blame the Left for the Party leaders moving right. rhett o rick Dec 2014 #134

Bizarre take on things AgingAmerican Dec 2014 #136

Obama's approval rating is south of 40% in LA tritsofme Dec 2014 #2

That's because neither are percieved as being liberal enough.... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2014 #3

What is Ellen running for? Recursion Dec 2014 #10

No one attacked you personally, yet your replies 4 and 10 are quite insulting to Manny and Spitfire. merrily Dec 2014 #11

Because Landrieu defended a woman's right to choose and background checks on gun Recursion Dec 2014 #12

So? Many of your posts have irritated me no end. merrily Dec 2014 #13

Much more liberal Democrats than Landrieu ran in the jungle primary. They all lost very badly. Recursion Dec 2014 #19

Non sequitur much? The subject was your insults to the OP and Spitfire. merrily Dec 2014 #64

The voters had a right leaning Dem and they rejected her. The voters have consistently rejected sabrina 1 Dec 2014 #75

What about this part of the post? ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #86

Well if it's that bad, then we may as well just give up and let the Republicans have it all, no?? sabrina 1 Dec 2014 #89

No, that'snot whatI am saying at all ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #90

Did the party leadership back the progressive candidates in the primaries? Fund them sabrina 1 Dec 2014 #91

From what I understand ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #93

Actually I don't need Brooklynite's input on this. I worked for nine years for sabrina 1 Dec 2014 #96

Are you talking about DSCC fundraisers? brooklynite Dec 2014 #153

Hmm, I didn't know I was a "her"..... brooklynite Dec 2014 #142

Hmmm ... Who do I believe ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #149

Hmmm ... Who do I believe??? Wall Street or Main Street? U4ikLefty Dec 2014 #166

Whether you SUPPORT Wall Street or Main Street has nothing to do with the truth..... brooklynite Dec 2014 #167

Jeff Merkely, Brian Schatz MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 #94

Oregan and Hawaii ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #95

Braleya nd Udall got about the same percent of the votes in states that Obama carried twice bornskeptic Dec 2014 #105

Agree, but it is also fantasy to think that all we need is for candidates to be more right. merrily Dec 2014 #117

That would be nearly as silly as claiming all we need is "real progressive candidates" Recursion Dec 2014 #146

It's all he's got. Scuba Dec 2014 #62

Not to his way of thinking, apparently. merrily Dec 2014 #65

Yes. I will stand here and say she would have done better as a bigger liberal. Scootaloo Dec 2014 #14

You last paragraph deserves an award BrotherIvan Dec 2014 #20

why didn't the liberals of louisiana vote for the more liberal democrats who were also on the race JI7 Dec 2014 #23

They did. All 15 of them (nt) Recursion Dec 2014 #27

if i was there i would have voted for Senegal JI7 Dec 2014 #29

Me too. I like her Recursion Dec 2014 #31

LOL!!! Ever hear of vote splitting? Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2014 #84

Well, becuse there was only one more liberal democrat on the ballot Scootaloo Dec 2014 #36

they were on the ballot , do liberals in the state not know how to do simple research JI7 Dec 2014 #38

I've looked all over for her positions, JI7 Scootaloo Dec 2014 #40

more fair tax system , marijuana legalization JI7 Dec 2014 #43

If the Democrats of louisiana really want a conservative Democrat... why didn't William Waymire win? Scootaloo Dec 2014 #44

i don't think the democrats want a conservative JI7 Dec 2014 #47

Your question strongly implies otherwise Scootaloo Dec 2014 #48

because the republicans were more conservative JI7 Dec 2014 #49

Try to follow Scootaloo Dec 2014 #51

he wasnt the most conservative JI7 Dec 2014 #59

Money and name recognition and incumbency. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Dec 2014 #55

Also, the Party supports incumbents. merrily Dec 2014 #67

K&R... WOW, Scootaloo Carolina Dec 2014 #53

Nailed it, especially that part in your last paragraph about giving credence to the Republicans. Scuba Dec 2014 #63

if dems voted our pols wouldnt need to goto the right for votes belzabubba333 Dec 2014 #66

I'm afraid you've got the horse pushing the cart there, Belzabubba Scootaloo Dec 2014 #123

"and tell the undecided voters that republicans are right about things." Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2014 #83

Sadly, these "Undecideds" are, either, 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #87

Reverse the focus aspirant Dec 2014 #137

No, he's saying Ellen could have beat Bill Cassidy./NT DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2014 #56

What's crazy is assuming there are no Liberals in Louisiana.... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2014 #78

And Landrieu said on a radio show that she didn't vote for Obama. merrily Dec 2014 #5

And how on earth did he lose her vote anyway? Generic Other Dec 2014 #76

Grimes refused to say whether she voted for him or not. And Dems all over the merrily Dec 2014 #81

Obama's approval rating in October was not very high anywhere, yet merrily Dec 2014 #82

I'm not sure why you are conflating 2008 and 2014. Based on Obama's approval rating, the 2014 result tritsofme Dec 2014 #121

I said the two elections were different, which is about the direct opposite of conflating. merrily Dec 2014 #122

Well she could be anti-choice, anti immigration reform, against gun background checks Recursion Dec 2014 #4

I'd bet most of the people who voted against her couldn't tell you what her positions merrily Dec 2014 #6

Politicians represent their local districts and states BainsBane Dec 2014 #22

yes, most people don't even know how the louisana election is run JI7 Dec 2014 #32

Yes, theoretically. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Dec 2014 #50

Yes, she did need to appeal to the people of Louisiana. Apparently, she didn't. merrily Dec 2014 #68

What you said BainsBane Dec 2014 #85

As far as allegedly "trashing" DUers, how many OPs calling out DUers who are not thrilled merrily Dec 2014 #99

"Did you scold Steve Leser, for example, for his call out thread? or brooklynite for his? " Capt. Obvious Dec 2014 #160

+1. n/t 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #88

The population of Louisiana is 32% African American BrotherIvan Dec 2014 #15

I'm all for LA (and MS, and AL) running black candidates Recursion Dec 2014 #17

She actually pulled in a majority of votes in the initial election Scootaloo Dec 2014 #16

I have. I imagine she would not have made the run-off. The more liberal Democrats who ran didn't. Recursion Dec 2014 #18

This message was self-deleted by its author Scootaloo Dec 2014 #21

Maybe we should make a poll BrotherIvan Dec 2014 #24

Most DUers would complain about Keystone, etc. joshcryer Dec 2014 #26

And Keystone polls at about 85% positive in Louisiana Recursion Dec 2014 #28

Well, yes BrotherIvan Dec 2014 #115

The more liberal democrats, huh? Scootaloo Dec 2014 #30

Senegal and Brown Recursion Dec 2014 #33

Brown withdrew and endorsed Landrieu Scootaloo Dec 2014 #34

OK, so there was one rather liberal Democrat on the LA ballot in the jungle primary. Recursion Dec 2014 #35

She also got no exposure Scootaloo Dec 2014 #39

IIRC "Poe wrote on both", incidentally (nt) Recursion Dec 2014 #37

Wrong! Scootaloo Dec 2014 #41

According the reasoning of some, the teabagger should have won. merrily Dec 2014 #69

It's amusing how the more liberal person loses to the conservative. joshcryer Dec 2014 #25

So the answer is, obviously, to abandon liberal principles and join the right. Scootaloo Dec 2014 #42

No, just stop trashing the more liberal person. joshcryer Dec 2014 #45

No, your argument is "trash liberalism." Scootaloo Dec 2014 #46

No, she has liberal social positions. joshcryer Dec 2014 #60

She fought for the pipeline aspirant Dec 2014 #140

So, Landrieu lost because of DU? merrily Dec 2014 #73

It was a waffle merrily. A Belgian waffle with berries and bacon. Nothing could ever beat that Autumn Dec 2014 #97

That is both funny and very clever. merrily Dec 2014 #107

Oops it was supposed to be it not I. Start here Autumn Dec 2014 #147

Okay, just the change from I to It helps a lot. merrily Dec 2014 #156

Nope. joshcryer Dec 2014 #104

Well, at least we agree on one thing. However, then I must have misunderstood your merrily Dec 2014 #108

Why didn't people vote? joshcryer Dec 2014 #111

Where is this alleged "trashing" taking place, though? You said it was not on DU. So who was merrily Dec 2014 #112

In the mass media. joshcryer Dec 2014 #113

So, when you said the answer is "stop trashing the liberal candidate" you meant mass media merrily Dec 2014 #114

You don't have to give the media the fire. joshcryer Dec 2014 #125

Let's see: the answer is for mass media to stop trashing the more liberal candidate, but merrily Dec 2014 #127

This is meta discussion for post #45. joshcryer Dec 2014 #129

OK, the generic you. The generic I. How is anyone or any group doing that? merrily Dec 2014 #130

Through disinformation? joshcryer Dec 2014 #131

Again, where is this alleged lying bashing that allegedly fuels the mass media taking place? merrily Dec 2014 #132

No, at its finest, pretzel logic is looking at the record of the Dem Party post DLC and merrily Dec 2014 #70

The party is not going right. joshcryer Dec 2014 #103

I simply can't be that rude. merrily Dec 2014 #109

"keep going right" assumes it had before joshcryer Dec 2014 #126

The issue was logic, Josh. merrily Dec 2014 #128

PS I never told you to stop replying to me under another name. merrily Dec 2014 #119

Wishful thinking and it occurs on the right too treestar Dec 2014 #150

How many La's are pro-SS vouchers? aspirant Dec 2014 #138

A majority of the ones who showed up preferred a Senate candidate who is (nt) Recursion Dec 2014 #145

Was this an issue aspirant Dec 2014 #148

Seems there less and less actual Democrats in each election. 99Forever Dec 2014 #9

Exactly! B Calm Dec 2014 #52

Perhaps it should be ask can Cassidy go further roght than Landrieu? Thinkingabout Dec 2014 #54

Are there any Louisianans in this thread? DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2014 #57

A former louisianan here, the Landrieu family has been deep in politics for years Thinkingabout Dec 2014 #79

"What could Landrieu have done to go further right?" fredamae Dec 2014 #58

If you really want to know jamzrockz Dec 2014 #74

Stick her head a little further in the sand is all I know madokie Dec 2014 #77

She could have announced she had formally changed her party affiliation to republican. Autumn Dec 2014 #80

Nothing, she was not going to get the majority white vote. Rex Dec 2014 #92

babies + tophet = 3-point bump! MisterP Dec 2014 #102

More critically is if there are folks that feel she was too liberal to win what do they advise TheKentuckian Dec 2014 #106

If she wanted to be a republican, she should had run under the republican ticket. B Calm Dec 2014 #110

Bingo! You're exactly right. Vinca Dec 2014 #118

She is pro-choice, etc treestar Dec 2014 #151

Are you honestly saying there are not any pro choice republicans? B Calm Dec 2014 #155

Sponsor a Constitutional Amendment to privatize the federal government! Zorra Dec 2014 #120

Well, she could have avoided insulting the voters. Savannahmann Dec 2014 #124

If only politicians could rid the nation of the accursed scourge of voters, all would be great. merrily Dec 2014 #133

She could have burned piles of used tires at her campaign rallies AgingAmerican Dec 2014 #135

Too far right already. No reason for dems to vote for her on point Dec 2014 #139

I'll buy a "Clean coal"-burning truck when the clean coal revolution begins. L0oniX Dec 2014 #141

The only people mourning her loss in the Senate Aerows Dec 2014 #143

How about shooting a target with you know who's picture on it n/t doc03 Dec 2014 #144

The conservative Democrat lost to the conservative Republican. neverforget Dec 2014 #152

Now we can get a candidate who will not sell out to Big Oil TheNutcracker Dec 2014 #154

...who will become a Senator who "will not sell out to Big Oil"? brooklynite Dec 2014 #158

No Democrat would have won in Louisiana this year Freddie Stubbs Dec 2014 #157

Well Manny, I guess she could have given up her pro gun-control stance... brooklynite Dec 2014 #159

Go big in the opposite direction. All it takes is one victory to re-emerge the left in the South. True Blue Door Dec 2014 #165