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jmondine

(1,649 posts)

100. Clarification from the OP

Thu Nov 6, 2014, 12:59 PM

Nov 2014

First off, I voted.

Second, the OP is meant to encapsulate what I think the current Democratic leadership should take away from this, because I am very nervous about them screwing it up yet again and thinking, "Oh. The voters want us to work with the Tea Party. They want us to shift even more to the right".

I am not saying that Democrats do not, as a whole, support progressive policies. There are some who don't, and some who do. However, the voters obviously didn't know where the candidates stood, or didn't trust them. The Dems made a huge mistake running from every popular initiative, not to mention the President, in an effort to court the "middle".

The Republicans courted their base. The problem is, the Democrats also courted the Republican base, with predictable results.

The Democrats now need to stand up for everything that voters supported: Sensible gun laws, decriminalization of marijuana, protecting Social Security and the environment and raising the minimum wage. And make the Republicans pay every time they stand against these things.

The message is clear. Let's hope the Democrats are listening.

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This was the message from voters to the Dems... [View all] jmondine Nov 2014 OP

This is where the logic always falls apart for me. CincyDem Nov 2014 #1

The voters were not pouting. Ever heard of a 'vote of no confidence'? That's what voters sabrina 1 Nov 2014 #12

Vote of no confidence would be to show up and write in a candidate Hippo_Tron Nov 2014 #55

No, this election was a declaration from voters that they have no confidence in their government. sabrina 1 Nov 2014 #85

Call it what you want Andy823 Nov 2014 #106

This. Well said. Skidmore Nov 2014 #115

Exactly!!! And democrats will whine and while and whine. Effective action would have prevented RKP5637 Nov 2014 #152

Forget it.. SomethingFishy Nov 2014 #122

+1 an entire shit load. Enthusiast Nov 2014 #134

Thank you! And I agree, 'they' will never admit it, because they are happy with protecting their sabrina 1 Nov 2014 #163

Then they werent paying ANY attention to what was going on, because to say ALL randys1 Nov 2014 #127

The voice of the people speaks at the ballot box. arcane1 Nov 2014 #136

While I agree with the sentiment - this election was BOUGHT and PAID FOR... elzenmahn Nov 2014 #149

Okay, put yourself in a politician's shoes for a moment... Hippo_Tron Nov 2014 #160

And if we lived in a parliamentary system, that just might be applicable. CincyDem Nov 2014 #75

A vote of no confidence still requires you to vote. TeamPooka Nov 2014 #108

We are not talking about the political junkies . . . MrModerate Nov 2014 #13

I've been scolded by those who think this line of thinking is poppycock corkhead Nov 2014 #74

Then we need to create the candidates (and support) to get those things. CincyDem Nov 2014 #80

When you can spend millions developing a candidate get back to me. Bandit Nov 2014 #81

If you mean Richmond, we won jhart3333 Nov 2014 #118

The Tea Party marions ghost Nov 2014 #83

"I've been scolded by those who think this line of thinking is poppycock" did they get their ass jtuck004 Nov 2014 #109

Rediculous those were not on the ballot upaloopa Nov 2014 #129

Because elections have consequences. CincyDem Nov 2014 #76

If you were going to pick a leader in the Senate, whould YOU have picked Harry Reed? Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #18

Tip O'Neill liked to schmooze with Reagan Art_from_Ark Nov 2014 #36

According to Tweety,...but he's wrong.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #49

I heard-- and saw-- that long before Tweety Art_from_Ark Nov 2014 #54

Tip was the only one who could STOP a lot of the Reagan Era crap.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #64

But how much of the Reagan crap did he stop? Art_from_Ark Nov 2014 #70

It was before "trickle down" was a proven failure.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #72

But Reagan fired the PATCO air traffic controllers in mid-1981 Art_from_Ark Nov 2014 #73

Washington is known as "Hollywood for ugly people".... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #91

Reagan got his way because the "conservative coalition" (blue dogs and GOP) were the majority Hippo_Tron Nov 2014 #56

I understand that Art_from_Ark Nov 2014 #71

if either way your vote will go to a policy you don't support, WHY VOTE?! Scootaloo Nov 2014 #19

Well, there is a chicken-and-egg problem here, cemaphonic Nov 2014 #32

See, I don't think that's true Scootaloo Nov 2014 #46

I post this a lot, because I think it is the most insightful analysis of Democratic Party principles Maedhros Nov 2014 #103

Fascinating. Do you use that same principle in other areas? cheapdate Nov 2014 #65

You are a prime example of .. sendero Nov 2014 #79

"...in a forced choice situation (if you don't choose someone will choose for you)" cheapdate Nov 2014 #138

The logic falls apart either way. merrily Nov 2014 #41

Apathy AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #43

Do you mean that her view of each party had led to her not caring who wins? merrily Nov 2014 #51

When your party leadership AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #57

I'm over touting. Now, it takes results. merrily Nov 2014 #61

Just wait ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #110

Sounds like what my mom calls 'bite your own nose to spite your face'. AKA 3 year olds. n/t DebJ Nov 2014 #124

"slip into" < It's already in anti-progressive hands. n/t jtuck004 Nov 2014 #142

really need to change the way we pick the people who are going to run. PatrynXX Nov 2014 #157

Because it's nonsense. JohnnyRingo Nov 2014 #159

really? VanillaRhapsody Nov 2014 #2

Ain't that the damn truth. LAGC Nov 2014 #39

"Send our jobs overseas"? Marr Nov 2014 #68

As well as "tap our computer messages" LondonReign2 Nov 2014 #86

And republicans do? Crazy ass ones at that? onecaliberal Nov 2014 #3

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride... Spazito Nov 2014 #4

I know for a fact that the person who wrote this OP tavalon Nov 2014 #25

My post was referencing those who didn't vote not those who did... Spazito Nov 2014 #95

False. Liberals are the most reliable voters LondonReign2 Nov 2014 #87

If what you say is true then the percentage of Liberals is far less than 30%... Spazito Nov 2014 #93

I haven't seen any breakdown for 2014 yet, but here are the previous numbers LondonReign2 Nov 2014 #94

Here is the breakdown for the recent election... Spazito Nov 2014 #96

What I don't see in there--and maybe it is in one of the embedded links-- LondonReign2 Nov 2014 #99

Again, either the percentage of Liberals is very small or they did not all come out... Spazito Nov 2014 #102

From the data LondonReign2 Nov 2014 #105

Actually your stats bolster my point... Spazito Nov 2014 #131

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Nov 2014 #5

You might just have a point there. Voters for the most part passed progressive legislation Autumn Nov 2014 #6

The truth emerges for those that notice. Conservative dems just don't show up and vote! Rex Nov 2014 #23

...in Kentucky, Arkansas, Georgia, Montana, Alaska? brooklynite Nov 2014 #7

Some people would feel compelled to offer proof of such a contention mythology Nov 2014 #8

So instead they voted republican? That makes no sense. BillZBubb Nov 2014 #9

I agree. They were dissatisfied and they voted for change. merrily Nov 2014 #45

And we Democrats did a really crappy job FLyellowdog Nov 2014 #47

It's worse than that; most people don't even know who's running what and many of them are our voters BeyondGeography Nov 2014 #77

Cow towing to Wall Street and not Wellstone ruled Nov 2014 #10

We should have destroyed Republicanism when we had a chance Elmer S. E. Dump Nov 2014 #11

I agree... SoapBox Nov 2014 #15

, blkmusclmachine Nov 2014 #14

They lost because they ran against themselves instead of running against the republicans Gore1FL Nov 2014 #16

Perhaps we should sent Obama the real message from the nation, at least many of us. Maineman Nov 2014 #17

Perfectly stated. MannyGoldstein Nov 2014 #20

Yeah, Republicans also thought they lost in 2006 because they weren't conservative enough Recursion Nov 2014 #21

No, for the most part they acknowledged that they were too racist/sexist. Ash_F Nov 2014 #50

Oh, sure, the party leaders did. I'm talking about the conservative blogosphere Recursion Nov 2014 #52

The OP and others make a point Ash_F Nov 2014 #58

America is all over the place and loves laws until they get written Recursion Nov 2014 #59

Politicians come and go Ash_F Nov 2014 #62

I certainly hope so Recursion Nov 2014 #63

Easy you are riling up the conservative dems that hardly show up to vote! Rex Nov 2014 #22

Incorrect. The message from Democrat voters to their candidates was: Sarah Ibarruri Nov 2014 #24

Yup gordianot Nov 2014 #27

+1 cheapdate Nov 2014 #53

Sarah is on point. nt Codeine Nov 2014 #82

The GOP voted against US. Dems fought amongst themselves. JoePhilly Nov 2014 #88

If Ford has a bad quarter, they don't get to shrug it off with "car buyers are stupid!". Marr Nov 2014 #89

Bullshit LondonReign2 Nov 2014 #97

I understand people not being inspired to vote steve2470 Nov 2014 #146

Bingo Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Nov 2014 #161

Either that, or... TrollBuster9090 Nov 2014 #26

That's exactly the idiotic and infantile sort of thinking which keeps putting GOP in office Sarah Ibarruri Nov 2014 #29

I was thinking more of undecided voters, and democratic-leaning voters when I said that. TrollBuster9090 Nov 2014 #33

Keep on telling yourself the voters chose Sam Brownback geek tragedy Nov 2014 #28

Could not believe Brownback won..but I couldn't believe Scott in my state either florida08 Nov 2014 #113

delusional bullshit. Period. and ! cali Nov 2014 #30

Message our esteemed leaders heard... Ruby the Liberal Nov 2014 #31

I like the Democrats I voted for. Mr.Bill Nov 2014 #34

and I live in Utah... defacto7 Nov 2014 #42

Keep up the fight. Mr.Bill Nov 2014 #44

Dream on. n/t pnwmom Nov 2014 #35

Well, not exactly Zambero Nov 2014 #37

Absolutely WestCoastLib Nov 2014 #38

So, they voted Republican Because Republicans Would Advance... TomCADem Nov 2014 #40

No, they failed to vote at all LondonReign2 Nov 2014 #98

Is that why democrats didn't show up in elections past? JohnnyRingo Nov 2014 #158

Forget "not Liberal enough", we had candidates that barely ran as Democrats LondonReign2 Nov 2014 #164

I don't think that Kay Hagan or Michelle Nunn lost cheapdate Nov 2014 #48

I agree malletgirl02 Nov 2014 #144

Kay Hagen was profracking & pro-offshore drilling just like the rethugs RiverLover Nov 2014 #148

And yet I'd much rather have her in the Senate that Republican Thom Tillis. cheapdate Nov 2014 #153

Me too. Lesser of 2 evils for sure. RiverLover Nov 2014 #155

No.. NO "Period".. there were a lot of different factors.. and to those who stayed home and whined Cha Nov 2014 #60

I've posted this before and I'll post it again. defacto7 Nov 2014 #66

Wow! sheshe2 Nov 2014 #67

Very sad indeed Andy823 Nov 2014 #107

I don't think my wife's Missouri white redneck rural relatives... Last_Stand Nov 2014 #69

"We voted for progressive measures and propositions" DinahMoeHum Nov 2014 #78

Have to give the people something to vote for Yavin4 Nov 2014 #84

K&R because I think you can make this overall assumption and more often than not it is correct. NCTraveler Nov 2014 #90

And, they are amazed that people don't bother to vote. Tierra_y_Libertad Nov 2014 #92

Clarification from the OP jmondine Nov 2014 #100

I think you've got it wrong shenmue Nov 2014 #101

And yet those who did vote... jmondine Nov 2014 #104

agreed florida08 Nov 2014 #111

Thing is, that means it is up to US to run as progressive candidates in 2016. tridim Nov 2014 #112

I am so far from squeaky clean, I make Pig Pen look like Felix Unger jmondine Nov 2014 #116

I believe the main reason Dems lost was ... CaptainTruth Nov 2014 #114

Alaska was particularly schizophrenic in this regard. Blue_In_AK Nov 2014 #117

Exactly. Phlem Nov 2014 #119

Then why did the voters elect candidates on the far right? JohnnyRingo Nov 2014 #120

While I agree that the two statements are true jimlup Nov 2014 #121

Message: You didn't motivate us. You didn't differentiate yourself enough from the gridlockers. JPZenger Nov 2014 #123

Without very detailed exit polls can't say. One_Life_To_Give Nov 2014 #125

No this is the message upaloopa Nov 2014 #126

Explains why the young people tuned out. Octafish Nov 2014 #128

So I guess McConnell and Boner are going to upaloopa Nov 2014 #130

I think Norm Goldman is right. He said people are sick of a gov't that does nothing, napi21 Nov 2014 #132

K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations! Enthusiast Nov 2014 #133

The numbers say "we support a republican agenda". Votes not cast are votes not counted. arcane1 Nov 2014 #135

And that's why they voted for Republicans, Progressive dog Nov 2014 #137

You got like, WAY too much logic there for this thread Number23 Nov 2014 #143

Logic is seeing that most Progressives didn't see either party represent them, so they stayed home RiverLover Nov 2014 #147

No, "logic" is saying that someone doesn't represent me 100% Number23 Nov 2014 #162

They don't care. DireStrike Nov 2014 #139

The message was a yawn. hay rick Nov 2014 #140

You mean spying, drones, torture, bank fraud, and putting social security on the table whereisjustice Nov 2014 #141

Incorrect: The message was.... Liberal Veteran Nov 2014 #145

1,000 Recs swilton Nov 2014 #150

Dumbfounded. zentrum Nov 2014 #151

K&R DeSwiss Nov 2014 #154

You have to give people a reason to vote. They didn't. jillan Nov 2014 #156