The Recent SCOTUS decisions should be the last message we need.

[MineralMan]

Too many Democrats do not bother to go to the polls on election day. That's especially true in off-year and mid-term elections. Folks on DU reliably go to the polls. There's no mistake about that. Still, many people we all know don't vote. Either they don't think it matters or they're just too apathetic to bother. Given recent SCOTUS decisions, those of us who do vote need to take the next step.

We need to start explaining clearly and directly why people cannot just sit back and let the people who do vote in high percentages control the direction of this country. We need to convince the non-voting Democrats among us that they're neglecting to do something that is crucial.

By taking these recent decisions to the people we know and using them to motivate them to get off their asses in November and vote for Democrats for every legislative position, both state and federal, as well as for local offices, we should be able to increase the Democratic turnout in November dramatically.

Accept no excuses. Use your best arguments to show everyone you know exactly why their vote does matter.

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!

[The Magistrate]

1. Hear Hear, Sir!

[MineralMan]

14. Thank you, kind sir!

[leftstreet]

2. What if we voted for the Democrats who confirmed these fuckers?

er...

[riqster]

6. A minority of those egregious votes came from Dems.

Without the large number of Repubs we have allowed to get elected to the Senate and the White House, the fuckers would never have been nominated, much less confirmed.

[MineralMan]

9. Well, here's the thing: SCOTUS justices are nominated by

the President. Typically, those appointments get confirmed. It's very rare when they don't.

We need more Democrats in Congress, not to mention in our state legislatures. The answer is not to avoid voting. The answer is to vote in larger numbers and elect more Democrats. Not every Democrat is an ideal Democrat. In some cases, it's almost impossible for any Democrat to get elected. But, the more Democrats, the more likely that good, rather than bad, legislation will be passed and sent to the President.

The only way to make sure we lose is to allow the Republicans to make the decision of who represents us. That's guaranteed to cause results we dislike. Are we choosing the lesser of two evils? Sometimes, yes. When we vote we should choose the best available candidate with a chance of winning. Any other choice ensures that some Republican will end up deciding things for us.

It's a matter of numbers, frankly. If Democrats have the numbers, progressive legislation has a far better chance of being enacted. If we just sit back and let the default be Republicans, we have what we have now. How is that working out, do you think?

Do I like every Democratic office-holder? Certainly not. I do like the legislators from my districts, though, who are the only ones I get to elect. Legislative elections are local. Every last one of them. Senators, even, are locally elected in their states.

Turnout is the answer, leftstreet. If you can't see that, you're obviously not looking at the results of past elections. Go vote and bring as many people with you as you can manage. That's the answer. It's always been the answer.

GOTV!

[jeff47]

26. And the Republicans who voted for the 4 dissenters?

Let's pretend we followed your idea, and each party to blocks the SCOTUS nominees of the other party.

Instead of a 5-4 decision that went against us, it would have been a 3-2 decision that went against us. Oooooo.

In addition, we would have lost several other recent cases, such as the one upholding the ACA.

[calimary]

3. Amen!

If you don't vote, you're part of the PROBLEM. Because you might have been able to add to the opposition that would have kept that problem from happening, or spreading.

[DeSwiss]

22. Actually it ain't them that don't.

It's them that do.

- You just encourage them.


''Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different outcome.''

[misterhighwasted]

4. I agree. It has to be a united & organized effort. TV & Radio Media will not tell the voting public

all that we find out here on DU & social media. If anyone knows of any powerful national organizing groups, please keep us up to date.

I did ask the admins if they could create a separate forum just for this particular subject, to keep all info in one place & for all to access, especially as we go into this fall's election, but haven't heard back. Its difficult keeping track of all the great posts before they disappear.
Just trying to bookmark as much as I can at this point.

---------------------------------------------------------------

The day that religious beliefs of ONE inched its way into our Law of the Land, which has always respected the religious beliefs of many, is the day the Game Changed for us all.
It didn't just happen one day, this has been in the making and secured by the appointments of the Supreme Court.

The Kochs must truly believe they ARE the United States Government. All others serve them.
America will abide by their Law & their Religion. And they are making that happen.

Their influence through the Supreme Court is very powerful.
Have they indeed found the achilles heel of American Democracy?

I believe we have one shot at stopping them. The November Election.

[MineralMan]

11. Personal contact is the very best way to get apathetic voters

to the polls. It always has been. I know for an absolute fact that my precinct-level GOTV efforts have convinced people who weren't planning to vote to go to the polls. I know because I saw them there on election day. It simply works. You talk to someone, find out what their pain points are and help them understand why their vote matters. It take study and knowledge of candidates' positions, and the ability to relate that to the issues raised by people you talk to.

It works. It has always worked. It will continue to work. But we all need to get involved with such activism. That's the real answer. Posting on DU is preaching to the choir. We need to be talking to the folks who aren't there on Sunday. That's what works.

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!

[riqster]

5. GOTFV

Well said!

[MineralMan]

12. Thank you! We're both broadcasting that message.

I will be continuing right up to election day, and I know you will, too.

[riqster]

19. Damn Skippy. And beyond.

[sheshe2]

7. Yes! GOTV

[MineralMan]

13. Thank you! Get the message out.

We can do it!

[msongs]

8. voting only works when candidates offer something worth voting for and republican lite isnt it nt

[MineralMan]

10. My friend, voting for the least worst candidate, if that's all that's available, is

still a positive choice. Someone will be elected. That's certain. Who that is depends on who shows up at the polling place. All too often, it's a conservative Republican. I'm sorry, but any Democrat who votes with the Democratic caucus most of the time is clearly a better choice than any Republican who never does so.

As much as I wish every legislator were a progressive, I recognize that such is an extremely unlikely possibility. I'll be happy with a Democratic majority in Congress and in my state legislature. The odds are far better in that situation than with a Republican majority. If you can't see that, you're no student of history.

[BootinUp]

16. Thats a negative attitude don't you think?

It is very rare that a Democrat would not be a better choice than a repuke. If you know of specific instances then list them so we can argue about it, lol.

[DeSwiss]

24. No, I see you're unfamiliar with this attitude.

- It's call A CORRECT ASSESSMENT OF REALITY. I know you've heard awful things about it, but it won't hurt you. Try it!

[jeff47]

30. Yeah, it won't hurt him. Women, OTOH, might find it someone detrimental.

Did you sleep through the last couple days?

[BootinUp]

32. Nevermind. Misunderstood you at first.

Edited see above.

[DeSwiss]

23. +1000!

[JI7]

25. Russ Feingold was Republican Lite ? maybe he should have been more like Terry Mcauliffe

[jeff47]

29. The last couple days should have taught you that this is a stupid argument.

But hey, it's only women who are getting screwed over by people not bothering to vote.

Wanna change the party? Vote in every Democratic primary. That is where we have the chance to turn the party. Your "I'm gonna sit on my ass until they cater to me" position means Democrats ignore you. It's easier for them to cater to the middle than to you. So they do that and ignore you.

In a primary, they don't have that option, because there's no middle to cater to.

The teabaggers understand this, which is why they show up every primary, and run candidates in every primary. "Mainstream" Republicans have to protect their right flank to win the primary. That turned the entire Republican party to the right.

We are smarter than teabaggers. We should be able to use their tactics, but we're busy yelling "republican lite!!!!!!" and waiting for someone else to fix it for us.

[BootinUp]

15. True

This ain't no game.

[pamela]

17. Freedom Summer 2014

We need to remind women and minorities that people died in the various fights for our rights and the best way to honor them is to exercise those rights. Vote like your life depends on it, because Ot does.

[Iliyah]

18. K & R

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE

GOPers/Libertarians/Right Winger nutcases, need to be in the minority, actually a permanent minority. Now I understand why The House of Representatives remained in the hands of the Democratic Party for 40 years. Put those closed minded Justices - Roberts, et al., in the minority as well. They are not for the American people, they are for $$$$. Corporations do not trump a single human being, and religion is a choice and could not be forced upon.

[dirtydickcheney]

20. Yeah, just VOTE - party only too!!

because we all know that there aren't any big name Democrats trying to do an end-around with the TPP.

Just vote, one issue too!

[jeff47]

31. Good thing we aren't just talking about general elections.

Vote in primaries too. Use the primary to steer the party, as the teabaggers have used primaries to steer the Republican party.

Then vote for the Democrat in the general. Holding your nose if necessary. And if that is necessary, vote against them in the next primary.

No primary challenger? Run. Or help someone to run.

[DeSwiss]

21. It is.

The whole shebang is CORRUPT AS HELL. Executive, Legislative and Judicial. All shot to hell.

Of course I didn't require any more evidence. But I'm sure others wanted to wait until now.

And anyone suggesting that this shit can be corrected using this same corrupt-ass system that can't tell the difference between a piece of paper and human corpuscles, is sorely mistaken.

But go ahead and give a shot.

- It'll give you something to do with your time while the Fascism takes hold and sets.

[jeff47]

34. What a monumentally dumb-ass position.

You're arguing that we're dumber than teabaggers. That we can't do exactly what they did to steer their political party - use primaries to turn the party in our direction.

And you're utterly ignoring the last two days and how they show there is a massive difference between the parties.

Quit your whining, get off your ass, and help us fix it instead of waiting for someone else to do it for you.

[MineralMan]

40. You're horribly wrong. There is no other alternative

at this time. Not encouraging Democrats to vote is surrendering to the Republicans. The system cannot be changed except from within. If you think otherwise, you are simply deluded.

[bettyellen]

44. LOL, maybe if you're a man and actually have rights to your body and aren't already fucked...

you have time for such paranoia. But you;re preaching to people trying to unfuck the lives they have. Real problems like scopes up their vaginas. That beats your NSA concerns by a country mile.

[DeSwiss]

58. I don't preach.

I shared my opinion of the state of things. I don't set myself up as higher than anyone and think that I have the right to tell them what to do with their lives. So you go right ahead. Apparently it somehow makes sense to you to continue to use that same male-dominated system that has taken away all the things you mentioned, and expect that it can be miraculously changed to make all things right.

- I don't know why anyone hadn't thought of this before. It's bound to work right eventually....

LOL

The Damned Things Will Not Fit Into Their Slots

''The most thoroughly and relentlessly Damned, Banned, Excluded, Condemned, Forbidden, Ostracized, Ignored, Suppressed, Repressed, Robbed, Brutalized and Defamed of all Damned Things is the individual human being.

The social engineers, statisticians, psychologists, sociologists, market researchers, landlords, bureaucrats, captains of industry, bankers, governors, commissars, kings and presidents are perpetually forcing this Damned Thing into carefully prepared blueprints and are perpetually irritated that the Damned Thing will not fit into the slot assigned it.

The theologians call it a sinner and try to reform it. The governor calls it a criminal and tries to punish it. The psychologist calls it a neurotic and tries to cure it. Still, the Damned Things will not fit into their slots.''

~Robert Anton Wilson

Just because someone's paranoid doesn't mean they're wrong to be.......

[bettyellen]

59. apparently you are imagining things when it comes to make sense to me. not even close.

Last edited Thu Jul 3, 2014, 01:24 AM - Edit history (1)

but I get it, people need to constuct an enemy in their minds to add some fuel to their concerns. been here, seen it before.

[DeSwiss]

60. Yes, your perspective seems to support that very view of ''constructing enemies.'' n/t

[randys1]

27. AbsaPHUCKINGlutely!

Here is what scares me, other than us, who knows ANY of this?

Does the average person in the street realize there is a violent and real war against Women, Minorities, Gays and voting?

I dont think so...

The VOTING RIGHTS ACT


GUTTED


IN 2013

GOD FUCKING DAMN, DOES THIS MICROPHONE WORK?

[Politicalboi]

28. We should do a "sting" operation

On Nov 4th, tell them they need to appear at this address to pick up their "prize". But instead of getting a prize or arrested, they have to vote. Let them register months ahead to make them think they're entering a contest.

[jaysunb]

35. 50 State strategy works every time. n/t

[TexinD]

36. I HAVE A CUNNING IDEA!

Create an APP (maybe there is one - I don't know)...

It is targeted to the younger generation, and especially women. You know, the very demographics he GOTP hates.

It has to positive reinforce their desire to SHARE the APP.

The APP needs a cool name to remember something like : SAVE YOUR LIFE!

This app can be made in a few days, won't cost much to operate... we'd use the PUSH tech to remind them to VOTE! And how that election effects them. Remember, too many non-neo-con people are NOT aware of this. They have spent 30 yeas building up their base of wackos and morons. I too, admit that in my younger years (20s), I NEVER KNEW there were mid-term or off year elections.

That is how the neonazi-cons got in power. The USA cannot afford to have these nutjobs in complete power again.

[gwheezie]

37. Vote in every dinky election

Where I live the tea bags are very organized getting on school boards, planning boards, sheriff. And then they run for the next office. My Eric cantor mini me of a rep was the district fish inspector. They embedd in local politics. The dems wind up running people with no political experience or network.
For the 12 election we did small coffee and cake hours with neighbors and drove people to vote. This year since we have new voter ID laws we have to make sure we getting our voters the acceptable documents. By the time Election Day comes it's too late. Start now.

[Gothmog]

39. We organized for some city council, a mayors race and a school board race

My county party focused on a couple of local races where tea party types were running. We recruited strong candidates and beat the tea party types in these local races. It was fun

[Gothmog]

38. In Texas, the Davis campaign was already focusing on women voters

This decision will hopefully motivate women to come out and vote as if Texas women need any further motivation given the fact that the GOP candidates have made it clear that they hate women

[MineralMan]

41. Good plan!

[TexinD]

53. But

But the Fox crowd is very positive that there is NO war on women... that is only DEMS doing all the bigotry in the country.
While they say "liberal" with snear and then play stupid "We don't know why they hate us?"

One of the tactics I notice on FOX that works very well with typical / lower intelligence is that they (Fox mouth pieces) will say vile crap about their target with a SMILE on their face. This visual actually effects how the person translates the information. (I am not an expert in the field) - so the sheep's thinking is: The Nice man is telling me that XYZ is out to kill me.

Think about a newscaster saying the following two stories:

1) A box of cute Kittens at a school played in room while children laughed.
2) A box of cute Kittens were set on fire and stomped on by teabaggers.

Now imagine an anchor man saying both stories with a smile and cheerful voice. And another one with anger and spite.
The Happy Anchor is HAPPY about dead kittens... while the 2nd one is angry about happy children. Of course this is overly simplified.

Of course, for 24hrs, FOX says the same thing on every show as their boss dictates.

[WillyT]

42. K & R !!!

[MineralMan]

46. Thank you.

[WillyT]

51. Anytime... MineralMan, Anytime...

[bettyellen]

43. unless Christians start going after penises, too many dudes do not care.... they are obsessed with

spying while in the real world, and while scopes are being shoved up our ho-has due to the govt, they have nothing to say. The silence has become deafening.
Fuck them, they care about money and themselves only. Phonies and trolls.

[MineralMan]

45. That's true for some, but hardly for all.

I'm an atheist, and it's Damn sure not true for me. Enlist help where it can be found. All Christians are not the same, so please avoid broad brush condemnation of Christians. Enlist their help, instead. That's a much more effective strategy than alienating your allies.

[bettyellen]

47. I said "too many", but thanks for the "some". I think we have both seen them here too.

And I think someone sent them a very clear message last night.

[TexinD]

55. HOW TO FIX the Penis problem.

What is the #1 thing a penis wants? Its the vagina.

Women *DO* need MEN to vote for their rights as well. TO DO THIS, women need to hit men with both SEX and money.

Concept: IF Abortion and birth control is NOT available, then that means LESS sex... and if there is a pregnancy, *HE* will be supporting her and their unwanted babies (not baby). Since in an IDEAL GOTP world, there is no BC, then instead of having 1-2 kids, a woman may have 5~7.... ouch!

So to men at 17~25, where they/we want SEX but no children yet... they need to see the value in that.

Women WILL want less sex because of the dangers of pregnancy. That is what the PILL do for women, it gave them freedom to go to school and get jobs... which is something that SOME women DO NOT WANT!

The womens's NOW movement in the 70s almost got women the EQUAL RIGHTS they needed. The country was going that way, the law needed to be rectified in 50 states (If I remember right)... but some conservative women group together (wow, how un-house-wife like) pushed against them... and everything collapsed. We would not be where we are today *IF* Women had EQUAL rights.

Again, we NEED to request ALL WOMEN who want to fight for their rights to use pussy power. TO talk to their boyfriends and husbands about SUPPORTING her rights... or he *WILL* pay for it in many ways.

[woo me with science]

48. This OP has cobwebs.

The relevant battle is no longer Republicans versus Democrats. The corporatists who are staging a coup on this nation live in both parties now.

The relevant battle is the One Percent, against the rest of us.

We need to rally the entire country to empower the right people, and that means those who genuinely work against the corporate machine.

[MineralMan]

49. Be realistic. It's a long road, and things are happening today, not

in some fantasy future world. We do not have the numbers at present for your suggestion to work. Unless you are planning some sort of armed revolution, we must deal with reality. You will do as you please. I will be getting people to the polls and encouraging others to do the same.

[SidDithers]

52. The FUDers don't like your post, MM...

Apparently, they think it's a better idea that everyone stay home and not vote.

Clowns.

Sid

[MineralMan]

54. I'm sure they don't. Sucks to their assmar, I say.

I'm not playing with them any longer. There's far too much at stake.

Reference for "assmar," on request, is available, of course.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sucks%20to%20your%20assmar

[emsimon33]

56. Voting is necessary but NOT sufficient: We need to actively get out the vote--GOTV!

[MineralMan]

57. Exactly!

[noiretextatique]

61. stop blaming people: the system is corrupt

2000 proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt. The voting system is verifiably corrupt, so admonishing people to vote in a proven corrupt system might make one feel better, but what about the corruption? How in the hell do we change that? By continuing to pretend that voting really matters?