Hey "Progressives": how many elections have *you* sat out?

[MannyGoldstein]

Me? I've missed a total of one general election in three decades, and that one was because I was traveling. Somehow, Gore was able to win Massachusetts without me that year.

No doubt, I'm the exception. Heck, it might be easier to just ask you "Progressives" how many you've voted in, if any.

[Scootaloo]

1. I missed 2006; I was moving across the country

and democratic votes in Alaska are sort of like pissing in the Sahara.

[liberal_at_heart]

2. I missed one because I moved and did not update my voter registration in time.

[brooklynite]

3. I've voted in every election I was eligible for since I turned 18 (in 1977)

(all the way down to School Board).

[Historic NY]

4. I deal with a lots of so - called progressives...

its almost like they are trying to re-invent the wheel w/o actually looking at the past. Manny you hit it on the head??? The term doesn't belay the position.

[HubertHeaver]

5. I have sat out 0 elections since 1972.

I have been active at some level in every election since 1960.

[CanonRay]

16. Same for me.

I vote in every election.

[JI7]

6. HEY EVERYONE LOOK AT ME

[Lochloosa]

13. Your point?

[MannyGoldstein]

22. Something to do with me sucking

My fan club, such as it is.

[Rex]

14. .

[sheshe2]

24. ...

[DisgustipatedinCA]

43. Alol caps and explicitly asking for attention. Ok. I'm listening.

What is it you want to say?

[SidDithers]

47. Exactly...

Same thing every day, all day.

Sid

[99Forever]

54. Yes you are. n/t

[Gore1FL]

63. Jury results...

On Sat Oct 11, 2014, 06:58 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

Exactly...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5651490

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Personal attack, stalking, etc. It's what he does.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sat Oct 11, 2014, 07:04 AM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I'm guessing a 7 of 7 "LEAVE IT ALONE"
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Just what the hell is wrong with this post? Whoever wasted
an alert on this is anal retentive and needs to get a hobby desperately.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Seriously? How is this an attack?

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[SidDithers]

64. Thanks for posting the results...

Sid

[OriginalGeek]

75. I'm Mr. Meeseeks?

[LondonReign2]

81. Oh, you poor thing

Did Manny say something that upset you again?

[LWolf]

91. I'm looking.

What, exactly, do you think I'm seeing when I look at you?

[sarisataka]

7. None

I even go vote in the primaries when no seats are being contested. I think it is important to exercise the right to vote at every opportunity.

[on point]

8. Not a single one my entire life

[rufus dog]

9. None, but I do have a message for you

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025650589

[Rex]

10. None.

Got to turn Texas back into a blue state.

[craigmatic]

11. 2002 but I didn't know I was registered.

[Lochloosa]

12. Zero.

[LeftyMom]

15. I've voted in every election, including obscure special elections, since becoming eligible.

I vote by mail so it's very easy to never miss any.

I'm also a poll worker and have been since 2004, though for reasons of getting time off work, childcare, etc I don't do that every single election.

I've also registered college students to vote, and volunteered to drive people to the polls.

[tabbycat31]

17. 2007

But that was because I moved and didn't change my registration in time. The top of the ticket was state senate.

[99Forever]

18. Zero.

Including 2014. My and my wife's vote are already in. Two votes to keep our actual LIBERAL Senator, the Honorable Al Franken.

[WillyT]

19. Not One !!!

[MannyGoldstein]

21. Then, clearly, you're not a "Progressive"

You must be... a Republican?

[cyberswede]

20. None...

starting with my vote for McGovern in 1st grade.

[Hatchling]

67. Lol!

I voted for Kennedy in fifth grade.

[cyberswede]

69. I wish I could have!

He died before I was born. My parents were good Democrats & voted for him, though.

[winter is coming]

23. Zero, including primaries, municipal elections, etc. n/t

[blkmusclmachine]

25. 0, although I have voted against some bad DEMS by voting to their Left. And I only voted for Obama

once (in 2008) down here in red, red Texas.

[hrmjustin]

26. I missed the 2005 NYC mayoral primary because i had to take my grandmother to the hospital.

I never missed anoother election.

[TDale313]

27. None. n/t

[Lugnut]

28. None.

I've been voting since 1966 and I've never failed to vote.

[rusty quoin]

29. I missed one general election since able to vote.

I don't have such a good record like you guys.

My first election I voted for Anderson over Carter and Reagan. My second mistake was voting for Dole over Clinton.

My third mistake, and a big one, was not voting in primaries and midterms until 2002.

The general election I missed was Gore's. We moved then.

But now I am a dependable Democrat. I always vote.

[gopiscrap]

30. I have never sat out an election

who was it who said: "Vote early and vote often?"

[benddem]

31. none since I retired from the Army

stationed over seas it was always a crap shoot.

[Unknown Beatle]

32. Zero

since I turned 18 in 1972. Unfortunately McGovern lost and we had to deal with Tricky Dick's criminal goings-on.

[wilsonbooks]

33. I am 61

And never missed one.

[hollysmom]

34. well, I was sick during this years primary, I was gong to vote anyway

but a quick look at the ballot and everyone was going to win by a landslide and I didn't disagree, so I stayed home and it went as predicted. One election for some weird reason I forgot it was election day and was in my seat at the opera when someone mentioned it to me, I could not make it home in time to vote, i.e. by 9 pm. other than that, rain or shine sick or well, I always vote,
although, like the primary, this years election is supposed to be a blow out, and I can't see it happening any other way, no surprises and my sister may be still in bed with a hip replacement, so, I might just be helping her. don't know yet, but this is not a close election by a mile, even the local stuff, the mayor is running unopposed - so no choice there. I used to drive people to the polls, but again, it does not seem necessary this year and, as I get older, I need no talking when I drive.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

35. None since my first presidential vote in '68.

[tkmorris]

36. Not one, not fucking ever

And I am Liberal as all get out. Weird huh?

[eridani]

37. Zero. However--

--canvassing for a transit levy special election last April I ran into a 3 for 3 voter who threw her ballot away on the grounds that she didn't want to waste a stamp voting on just one issue. AAaaarrrrgh!!

[Major Hogwash]

38. Good thread, Manny.

In the last four decades, I have never sat out a Presidential election.

The only year that I missed a chance to cast my vote was during the 1990 mid-term elections because I had just moved to Minneapolis and was not registered to vote by the time the election came around.

[JDPriestly]

39. I did not vote in US elections when I lived overseas because I felt I did not know enough

about what was going on in US politics. (And I was raising babies and living for the most part in out-of-the-way places far from our embassy so voting seemed complicated to me.)

Other than that, since 1985, I missed a mayoral race because I was working early and late that day (and also because I knew both candidates personally and thought they were both qualified. I could not choose between them. After the election one of them called me to ask me whether I had voted for him. I was glad I hadn't voted.)

OK. That's full disclosure. Since missing that one mayoral election, I vote absentee ballot so that I can be sure to get my vote counted. I am a fanatic about it. And I like to sit at the internet and check on information about the candidates for minor offices so that I don't just vote haphazardly for propositions or "minor" offices because in reality no office is minor.

[Scuba]

40. I first voted in 1972 and have missed only one election since, when I was ...

... relocating after being discharged from the Air Force.

[MFM008]

41. I started voting in 1984

I have only missed one local election...school levy I think. Never missed any others.

[H2O Man]

42. Zero n/t

[hobbit709]

44. From 1972 on none.

Though there's been some when I had to hold my nose and carry a barf bag.

[sendero]

45. I have serious misgivings..

.... about the usefulness of voting when the entire system BOTH PARTIES are completely beholden to the money men who finance them.

That said, I vote in every election possible, generally just a straight Dem ticket.

[Le Taz Hot]

46. Since 1974?

None.

[stillwaiting]

48. Zero general elections missed; zero primaries missed; zero local elections missed AND...

... I have voted Democratic in every single one.

With that said, I will continue to criticize the hell out of the state of the Democratic Party as well while being clear that the way out of our National Nightmare can happen THROUGH the Democratic Party (by embracing progressive candidates and avoiding the very well-funded and promoted New Dems/Third Way/DLC types that are rampant within the Democratic Party).

I have no idea why people have bought the lie that we can't nominate people that will stand up for average Americans' interests over the interests of Wall Street and the multinationals.

[bigwillq]

49. None (nt)

[dembotoz]

50. 0--none

.

[B Calm]

51. None, but I have missed a few primaries.

[Smarmie Doofus]

52. None. I vote third party if I can't stand the DEM.

Alas... this is increasingly the case.


Have to add.... it's easy for me to say. I can WALK to the polling place.... as can just about anyone else in NYC.

If I had to really *travel* , I'd have skipped some, for sure.

[City Lights]

53. Zero.

I always vote.

[fadedrose]

55. All starting with JFK (60)

[Autumn]

56. In over forty years, I have never misssed an election.

[Warpy]

57. 1984

I was in the hospital with peritonitis after a popped appendix.

I didn't regret it much, I knew that asshole Reagan would get back in because his slick corporate pitchman's persona fooled so many people, especially in the heartland.

[peacebird]

58. I have voted in every election but 1 in the last 39 years.

That one was Reagans second term.

[JoePhilly]

59. Moderate Dems will sit out. All of the messages they hear

say "stay home, it doesn't matter anyway".

You seem more concerned about being blamed if the Dems lose, than about the real world consequences of what happens if the GOP wins.

Progressives will vote, moderates will give up and stay home.

You can either help prevent that, or help cause it.

But its clear the endless whining sure doesn't help generate better candidates.

If it did, you'd have many more "acceptable" candidates after 6+ years of whining about how awful Obama and the Dems are.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

88. Given most of the candidates we seem to get

it doesn't look like there's anything in particular that generates better candidates, other than better people being willing to throw themselves into the cesspool of politics. And I can certainly understand why so few good people who aren't simply out for personal gain are willing to do so.

[treestar]

60. I voted in every single election, all midterms and primaries

I do not fall for the BS. I never try to discourage others from voting, not even freepers. I spend zero time crying that the Democrats are not good enough; they are closer to my aspirations than the Republicans and I will support them, period. I do not fall for any of the Bullshit.

[QC]

61. One. Was off at college

and didn't get absentee ballot request in on time.

Otherwise I have been there for every general election in the past thirty years and most midterms and primaries.

[jwirr]

62. Absolutely none since JFK - when I wanted to one time my daughter showed up at the door and

demanded I vote. She is union and was working on getting out the vote.

[Shrike47]

65. I missed 1984 by moving right before the election. I went to my (former) polling place but they

asked me if I had moved, and like a fool, I said yes. Teach me to be honest.(not) Other than that one, I've voted in every election and primary since 1968.

[Warren Stupidity]

66. I didn't vote in 74 or 76.

That is two out of the last 21 elections.

[L0oniX]

68. I've never sat out an errection.

[Nevada Blue]

70. have never missed an election since '72 - started working campaigns in '68 n/t

[Retrograde]

71. None; the local elections are the important ones

since that's where the issues that have immediate and direct effect on me are decided.

I even voted in the one local election where the only issue on the ballot concerned compost; not THAT was a hot issue, with finger-pointing and name calling on both sides!

[whistler162]

72. 2 off off year elections.

[OriginalGeek]

73. I've missed one since 1984

and that was because I thought I'd be able to do it after work but shit happened and I didn't get off work in time.

And I felt like shit for a week after. It was only a mid-term but voting is important to me and I felt like shit for missing it.

[MerryBlooms]

74. One. I was in a medical induced coma down in Florida. Not joking. n/t

[ileus]

76. 0 missed since 1988.

That includes every office no matter how small.

[ladyVet]

77. Not a one since I cast my first vote for Walter Mondale.

Caused quite a stir when I told my then-husband, fundy freak that he was, that I was not going to vote for Ronnie Raygun, I didn't care what his pastor thought the Bible said about women doing as they're told.

He was so pissed! And it didn't help that we were waiting in line at our polling place, and I was getting a lot of support from our fellow voters.

[zappaman]

78. None. N/t

[Doctor_J]

79. I think I missed one - in 1984. And yet I am the reason we have Heritage Care instead of SP

In 1984 I had recently relocated to a different state and not yet updated my drivers license. I don't think Mondale missed my vote too much.

Still, it's my fault that we couldn't get healthcare. Go figure.

[WillyT]

80. Zero Since I Was 18 In 1974...

& Rec !!!

[LondonReign2]

82. I missed 2000 because I was living overseas

and failed to order to absentee ballot in a timely manner. Gore managed to eke out a victory in Illinois without me.

[sakabatou]

83. I've never sat out one since '06

That was the first year I could vote (I was 19).

[vi5]

84. Not a single one in 28 years of voting, but apparently it's still all my fault.

Voting apparently isn't enough any more. Total fealty to a letter and a desire to clap louder for centrism are pre-requisites for being a good liberal citizen in the eyes f the Democratic party.

[2naSalit]

85. I've missed one since

1980.

[orpupilofnature57]

86. Never missed one, Jimmy Carter BEING MY 1ST , but only Twice after was I positive....

I was voting for more than the lesser of two evils , Clinton his first time and Obama his first time, and that's the truth . Gubernatorial wise I voted for Mario Cuomo all four times he ran, and I won't be voting for Andrew Cuomo Ever again . In 1978 voted for a Communist Jarvis Tyner for Governor rather than Lou Lerhman R or Hugh Carey the biggest Crook to ever Govern our state.


People contrary to popular bullshit, didn't die so I could vote, They died for megalomaniacs ego's & wealth. But the one single thing that let's a person participate in the process regardless of Education, Race or Religion is voting . And seeing how one party means to usurp the conditions of that RIGHT, it is important people protect it .

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

87. None, as far as I can recall.

Although it's vaguely possible I might have missed one my first year in college, since I was in another state. But as it was an odd-numbered year, the only things I would have missed voting on would have been county level referendums, tax levies and suchlike.

'Sitting out' is a damnfool thing to do. Even if you don't care for a single candidate, there are almost always local issues on my ballot, and I assume on most other folks'. One thing I refuse to do, though, is to vote for candidates who run unopposed, no matter with which party they are affiliated. If nobody is running against you, you can vote for yourself, and none of the rest of us need to vote for you.

[MADem]

89. Gee, with the way you go on, I'd have thought you were one of those "progressives" you are now

complaining about!!! You're always griping about the POTUS, you're always crabbing at us "party line" (how dare we think that the worst Dem is better than the best Republican?) voters ... and now--after running down half the Dems standing for reelection-- you want everyone to GOTV??

And this thread seems like it leads off with a load of disruptive META, directing comments about "you 'Progressives'" in a snide and slightly accusatory fashion, and challenging DUers about their voting habits (with a demand to know how many they've eschewed) like you're the holier-than-thou arbiter and scolding professor...it just doesn't seem very helpful or convivial to me, that kind of commentary, particularly with the backdrop of your previous remarks.

This kind of thread doesn't make DU a friendly place to visit...to put it as civilly as I can manage.

[LWolf]

90. Zero. nt