Why Large Turnout is a Good Sign

[Joe Nation]

They say that Republicans always turn out to vote. So it is a little hard to increase your votes if you are already turning out all of your supporters every election. Therefore, significant increases in voter turnout would logically have to come from the other side of the aisle. New Republican voters in the 18-19 year old category would likely be offset to some degree by the aging Republican electorate that has died off in the past two years. Given all of this, I am optimistic that the high turnout numbers we are seeing this election cycle reflect a wave of blue voters and not rabid right-wingers no matter what the enthusiasm numbers say.

[unblock]

1. Yes, republicans are generally more likely to vote. Which makes the "red meat" strategy puzzling

Republicans have increasingly relied on writing off liberals and democrats and gone all-in on turning out the base by constantly throwing them red meat.

This makes sense as a strategy to get campaign contributions, but not to turnout the vote if the vote among republicans is already pretty reliable.

Hopefully this election proves the folly of their ways....

[Oak2004]

4. With Trump and many others, it's no strategy

It's their actual belief system. They are racist authoritarians, and they can't even pretend to be otherwise.

[Jersey Devil]

5. I don't think Trump won in 2016 due to red meat

I think he won in the rust belt and midwest because those people were hurting and wanted to shake things up. Now that Trump has not delivered to them as promised they want to shake things up again. And I think they will keep doing that until someone actually helps them by bringing back good jobs and better wages.

I think Trump really screwed up with them by campaigning on fear and xenophobia to get out what he calls his "base" rather than addressing their problems.

[unblock]

6. There will be many books and theses written on all the mistakes Donnie made.

In retrospect, I think (hope) he will be seen simply as a horribly inept politician, who seemed to keep making every mistake possible, and eventually the process will be seen as having worked as republicans earn themselves electoral defeat in 2018 and 2020.

Bad politicians get voted out of office, that's all.

The only problem imho is that when democrats make political mistakes, their career is over in a flash, whereas Donnie will likely get a full four years before the media decides he's actually toast.

[Brainstormy]

2. thanks. I needed that. n/t

[smirkymonkey]

3. K&R