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In reply to the discussion: Here's why I've given up on voting: [View all]MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)67. That's not how I read this from Silver:
Actually, there is not much evidence that it hurt them at all.
According to the exit poll of voting for Congress, 90 percent of self-described liberal voters selected the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House, in contrast to 8 percent who voted for the Republican. This percentage was actually up slightly from two years earlier, when 87 percent of liberal voters backed the Democratic candidate for the House.
In addition, the share of liberal voters as a percentage of the overall electorate was not significantly changed from recent years. It was 20 percent, according to the exit poll; by comparison, it had been between 20 and 22 percent in elections from 2004 through 2008.
Instead, Democrats troubles were almost entirely caused by conservatives turning out at higher rates in place of moderates. The share of conservatives of the electorate increased to 42 percent in 2010 from 34 percent in 2008, according to the exit poll. And just 13 percent of these conservatives voted for Democrats, as compared to 23 percent in 2008.
According to the exit poll of voting for Congress, 90 percent of self-described liberal voters selected the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House, in contrast to 8 percent who voted for the Republican. This percentage was actually up slightly from two years earlier, when 87 percent of liberal voters backed the Democratic candidate for the House.
In addition, the share of liberal voters as a percentage of the overall electorate was not significantly changed from recent years. It was 20 percent, according to the exit poll; by comparison, it had been between 20 and 22 percent in elections from 2004 through 2008.
Instead, Democrats troubles were almost entirely caused by conservatives turning out at higher rates in place of moderates. The share of conservatives of the electorate increased to 42 percent in 2010 from 34 percent in 2008, according to the exit poll. And just 13 percent of these conservatives voted for Democrats, as compared to 23 percent in 2008.
It's true that if Liberals showed up in higher numbers, Democrats would do better. But the situation was more a matter of Liberals showing up in typical numbers, while non-Liberals shifted right.
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That is what is so sickening. Rand Paul is against the NSA spying and the drone strikes
quinnox
Jan 2014
#21
I hope you can see that opposing Obama and supporting Paul are two different things
BelgianMadCow
Jan 2014
#132
well, he is wrong to say domestic drones are ok. But he is right to be against the foreign drones
quinnox
Jan 2014
#120
and he only had 60 in the House...for 2 months....not filibuster proof.
VanillaRhapsody
Jan 2014
#45
It wouldn't make any difference....the goal of the actual filibuster is to attempt to
VanillaRhapsody
Feb 2014
#157
It's amazing to me how wishing Democrats were more progressive = "seeing the small picture"
beerandjesus
Jan 2014
#63
The youth votes; it's that the elder brackets counter their votes AND outnumber them
Scootaloo
Jan 2014
#27
I think there will be a lot of write ins if Dems don't get Progressive Candidates to vote for this
sabrina 1
Jan 2014
#22
No, it was Independents who had come out in 2008, who were so disappointed in the Democratic Party
sabrina 1
Jan 2014
#35
Don't you get tired of being wrong? The disappointment of the young voters in
sabrina 1
Jan 2014
#47
By international standards, the Democrats are an odd mishmash of center-right and center-left
Distant Quasar
Jan 2014
#92
Obama was in the White House during the ACA Townhalls, and he left Democratic
Bluenorthwest
Jan 2014
#95
Exactly. And when Grassley flat out lied at public rallies it was left unchecked. n/t
cui bono
Jan 2014
#113
They have to keep hammering away at the lie, if not they admit their corporate politics
TheKentuckian
Jan 2014
#57
Independents... if you live in a state where Independents can't vote in primaries...
NYtoBush-Drop Dead
Jan 2014
#58
I disagree. Nate Silver made it clear that the 2010 problem was left-leaning voters not voting.
broadcaster75201
Jan 2014
#64
True. And his most ardent and vocal supporters are not left-leaning either. n/t
cui bono
Jan 2014
#118
Those that blame the left talk out of both sides of their faces. From one side of their faces they
rhett o rick
Jan 2014
#77
Thank you Manny, that really, really needed to be said. I'm so tired of that old canard,
tavalon
Jan 2014
#99
That is why I am now an independent. I am done being abused. When there is a left leaning
liberal_at_heart
Jan 2014
#136