Why Republican Turnout Is Trumping Democrats

[berni_mccoy]

The reason why Reuplican voter turnout is crushing 2008 numbers (even 2008 Democratic numbers in some cases) is that this is an Anti-establishment Election. Period. Conservative voters see a Democrat they loath in the White House as the establishment and a GOP Congress who hasn't done enough to fight him. They are extremely motivated, without ANY organized effort, to hit the reset button, even on their own representation in Congress.

Democrats are not universally anti-establishment. They see many good things done during Obama's two terms. They want at least to preserve that (Hillary's base) or go further and expand those progressive policies (Bernie's base). The true enthusiasm is with doing more. The majority so far appears to want to play it safe.

The only problem with that is we aren't going to win playing it safe. The way you fight the enthusiasm of a hate-filled anti-establishment movement is with a bigger movement in the other direction. You don't play tug of war trying to hold a heavier team from pulling you across the line. You win it by catching them off guard with your own enthusiasm and strength and pull them to your side.

Folks, it's as plain as day to most of us Bernie supporters. It's not a matter of pledging to support the nominee. It's a matter have having bigger and bolder ideas and saying YES WE CAN do more for the PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT NATION. Hillary isn't going to win the general election as a status quo candidate on a platform of pragmatism. Bernie will win as a candidate with bold ideas for the people. That's what the general election matchup polls are showing.

[liberal N proud]

1. Republicans control the house, the Senate and until 2 weeks ago the Court

And they control most of the State Legislatures.

Who is the establishment?

[berni_mccoy]

3. Doesn't matter. To them it's the White House.

[Jitter65]

2. You first paragraph is sage! Dems ought to take the opportunity run candidates down ticket

in every Congressional and Senate contest. There should be no uncontested elections anywhere. If only the Dems had spent time educating the Dem base about the importance of voting down ticket and the importance of voting in state and local elections. Wasserman is the weakest link in the Dem base chain. Bring back Dean and put Booker in place to galvanize them.

[themonster]

4. Presidential election

Come November, you will see the Democrats come out big time. Trump's bigoted comments will bring them out.

[berni_mccoy]

5. There are plenty of Democrats who would vote Trump over Hillary

That's a truth that Hillary supporters aren't accepting. Yes there really are Democrats who would vote against their own interest.

[themonster]

6. little

That number will be small by the time we get to November. Also, those people are fools.

[berni_mccoy]

8. According to Hillary Campaign (and many of her supporters)

Bernie supporters are dumb racist mysoginists. If so there may be more than you think.

[Armstead]

7. Trump will modify his tone in the general

He will still be trump, but in a slightly less obnoxious way.

A lot of moderates will look at him vs a stale same old corporate candidate and decide to take a chance on him.

[Hortensis]

9. Go ahead and make that giant wave of support happen.

If it still happened most of us would move to join it.

But in the end, if it comes to it, hopefully you will then be encouraging those who would choose failure to spite success to look up and see the real threat to their dreams: The huge, previously secret anti-government/anti-liberalism movement funded by severeal hundred plutocrats. Note that the nearly $1 billion gathered to win this election for them is only the tip of their iceberg. By far most of the money they are spending to subvert our democracy is allocated elsewhere -- not on candidate races...

IMO, whatever happens in the general, right now the anti-establishment right-wing renegades are inadvertently but unquestionably pulling on our end of the rope.

[berni_mccoy]

10. It is happening. $43 million in one month from small individual contributors

That is a movement. The word is spreading and people are willing to put their pocket books behind it. However, we need people to give up on the us-vs-them in this primary to continue it. Hillary should drop out.

[Hortensis]

11. Oh, goodness. Way, way too soon

for Hillary to drop out. If nothing else, we need a spare, right?

[berni_mccoy]

12. You said you'd join the movement if I could show you. Well I did.

And if people like you join, then Hillary will have to drop out.