2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumObama is right: Democrats’ ‘meh’ attitude toward midterms is a major problem
By Chris Cillizza, Sunday, February 23, 10:40 AM E-mail the writers
President Obamas speech at a Democratic Governors Association fundraiser in D.C. Thursday night contained a key pearl of political wisdom for his party:
We know how to win national elections, but all too often, its during these midterms where we end up getting ourselves into trouble, because I guess we dont think its sexy enough, Obama said. But the fact of the matter is, is that thats where so much of the action is.
Obama is exactly right. His party from the donor community to the activists gets very excited about presidential elections but tends to lose interest (at least when compared to Republicans) in midterm elections. Put another way: Democrats love the Super Bowl; they are less attracted to the mid-season game between two teams they probably havent heard of. (Browns-Vikings .?.?. its fantastic!)
Young people a key pillar of the Obama coalition tend to stray from politics during midterms. Attempts by Democratic operatives in past midterm elections to build outside organizations to battle conservative groups on the airwaves fizzled for lack of interest. And so on and so forth.
more
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-is-right-democrats-meh-attitude-toward-midterms-is-a-major-problem/2014/02/23/ad5a3ed0-9c94-11e3-ad71-e03637a299c0_story.html
elleng
(131,293 posts)and we're all sunk (to put it politely) if this doesn't change. Repug bullies will continue to eat all of our lunches, ad infinitum, if we don't change things.
Jamaal510
(10,893 posts)can do all they can to try to change that and maybe boost enthusiasm, but ultimately it is everyone's responsibility to get informed. People have to be better educated about our government and the importance of participating in congressional/gubernatorial elections. In addition, we must get rid of the image of a President being equal to a king. Their only jobs are basically to sign/veto bills, and appoint SC justices.
As the saying goes, "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink it."
elleng
(131,293 posts)and in the future, who the heck knows, as repugs thrive on an uninformed populace.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)... people to get to the polls?
I'm pretty well informed yet can't recall seeing our Party promoting any national platform for 2014. Please tell me I'm wrong, that I just missed it.
lastlib
(23,356 posts)Ditto every independent who doesn't vote their own best interest (Democratic) in November. There is far too much at stake to let the GOP hold the reins of power anywhere in this country over the next two years.
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)problem putting whatever inflames their base on the ballot whenever they please.
Why don't we push ballot measures on making the min wage $15/hr indexed for inflation?
How about one to decriminalize Marijuana?
One to guarantee every resident free education for life?
GOTV
Response to n2doc (Original post)
blkmusclmachine This message was self-deleted by its author.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)I mean, if you need some one else to motivate you to vote, skip it.
Its not all that important.
otohara
(24,135 posts)should he lie to the base?
Mark Udall is in trouble now in CO - no weed on the ballot this time around to rile the base up.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,250 posts)dionysus
(26,467 posts)Tarheel_Dem
(31,250 posts)neverforget
(9,437 posts)truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)I am sick of that zombie lie.
winter is coming
(11,785 posts)Time and time again, the left is pushed aside using the rationale that catering to the center wins elections, but who gets the blame when the center doesn't show up?
MisterP
(23,730 posts)otohara
(24,135 posts)they swing back/forth - most uninformed voters out there are so called "independents".
These people who call themselves independent are oh so willing to let the rest of us choose who will run in the primaries. That just screams independent...not.
TheKentuckian
(25,035 posts)TeaPubliKlans grasp that mid terms are base elections, they do not spend their energy wringing their hands about how to win the fake middle, they get their people out and do far better than their numbers and the popularity of their policy positions can justify pretty consistently. They also have structural advantages that we don't even try to compensate for or end. Our pols seem to prefer to play on their side of the field.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)and charter schools and race to the bottom and more drilling and Gingrinch Care, and then will point fingers when the party gets trounced.
He is the biggest disaster for the party in my nearly 60 years of life.
dionysus
(26,467 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Social Security cuts? Can they claim that Democrats stand for more American jobs? Probably not with the TPP hanging over their heads.
It's the damn centrists that stay at home in the midterms. The wacky, extreme left are always out fighting.
truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)who will fight as hard for us.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)have a hard time fighting the Corporatist National Democratic machine.
truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)INdemo
(6,994 posts)We need to get and keep our younger voters involved and informed. Howard Dean had the formula for doing just that.
But I would be willing to be that a very large percentage of Democratic voters could not name the DNC chairman.
This was not the case when Howard Dean was at the helm.
Our state party leaders (especially in red state) I think just say oh well and don't really recruit a viable candidate.
We have that here in Indiana in the 3rd district which is red but the incumbent Congressman is beatable we just need a capable Democratic candidate and one that has the support of the DCCC.
But this is true in all States that congressional election need the support of the DNC
wocaonimabi
(187 posts)get out and vote.
However as Party Leader if you think approving Keystone, the TTP, Fracking and Chained CPI are ALL good things that you think Democrats can run on you as party leader are going to be very disappointed come the day after the election.
polichick
(37,152 posts)Redfairen
(1,276 posts)Other than 2006, when was the last time the Dems did well in a midterm election? I guess it'll take another debacle like Iraq to get anyone on the left moving again. We love to show up for our presidential candidates, but otherwise? Yawn.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)Democrats are going to run as far as they can from the party base instead of embracing it. I don't have much hope that the midterms are going to change the balance of Congress. I love both my senators, but my congressman is a bluedog.
Kablooie
(18,645 posts)That will help Democrats win in 2016 because everyone will be so disgusted with the Repubs by then but we will be in hell for the next two years before that.
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)with bells on. Count on it. Mickey Mouse will get my vote before I ever vote for the Space Alien.
The Magistrate
(95,264 posts)This requires a coherent Party program, which all running for office under the Party banner will campaign vigorously on, and which all elected to office on the Party ticket can be relied on to vote for in the next Congress.
So long as various Boll Weevil/Blue Dog/Third Way types refuse to adhere to policies which are supported by the great preponderance of Democratic voters, and which are sound government into the bargain, it will not be possible to do this.
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)Our local Dem club is getting fired up! We have expanded get out the vote structure and recruited more folk to work. We will try to take out a local rep. Come on! Join us!
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)is responsible for the "meh" attitude amongst Democratic voters.
Redford
(373 posts)The tea party has claimed North Texas
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)who knows? It might work
hollowdweller
(4,229 posts)Hasn't seemed to me like the Dems have worked as hard at gaining seats and finding good candidates.
50 state strategy has been tossed.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,250 posts)by the purists. Of course Howard escaped critique, because although he was a moderate Governor of VT, he ran to the left of his record there.
thepalladin69
(1 post)Obama is up to 56% disapproval today on Gallup...
I am getting worried.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Job-Approval.aspx
dionysus
(26,467 posts)MineralMan
(146,345 posts)This is not one of those times, though. But, then again, your concerns may not be the same as my concerns.