So the majority of Dems can't name a candidate? So what?

[vi5]

Honestly I think that speaks more to the general frame of mind and lifestyle of the average democrat than it does anything else. Republicans are focused on power and on being "right" all the time and on winning. The majority of democrats are focused on working, on keeping their jobs, on being with their families, and for every one of us on DU who are politically rabid and news junkies, there are about 50-100 middle to lower class working stiffs or single mothers or Union guys who have about a million better things to do in their day to day lives than concern themselves with who may or may not run for president or how stiff Kerry is or how many people Dean has registered on Meet Up or the voting machines or whatever it is that we hardcore Dems are worried about today.

It's not a matter of right or wrong, it's just that the republicans are more concerned with their power structure and the status quo. And even the most remote threat to that, no matter how far in the future, worries them and makes them think about and keep aware of the potential democratic challengers. But a lot of self identified Dems and the typical Dem consituencies are likely to be more concerned with keeping their heads above water money wise. They know they don't like Bush, and they know they don't want to vote for him, but that doesn't mean that they are keeping track of this stuff just yet.

Would I like people to be more politically aware? Sure I would, and I fight to see that it happens every day amongst people I know. But I wouldn't worry or be concerned with or judge anyone "pathetic" based on these numbers.

[diplomats]

1. I agree

eom

[HFishbine]

2. "wouldn't worry or be concerned with or judge anyone 'pathetic'"

Since that was my post that used "pathetic" allow me to repsond. My original post did not attack dems as being less informed and therefore "pathetic." What is pathetic is the statistic as it stands. As you certainly observed by the rest of my comments, my reponse to the poll was not to denegrate democrats, it was to issue a call to action for each of us who care to get more involved in spreading the word. To take concrete steps to bring YOUR candidate's message to your neighbors.

Judging by the responses which range from questioning the poll results, asserting that dem voters are not "pathetic," and citing other polls that say 50% of people think a democrat can win -- anything but whether or not it makes sense to get off our wired asses to actually DO something, I'd say more trouble lies ahead.

[vi5]

3. Sorry, didn't mean that as a personal affront.....

I actually saw a few different posts that used that word so I'm not even sure if I read yours. Plus, had a few conversations in "real life" where fellow dems were very judgemental. I just thought it was a rash approach to take a more than a little alarmist (theirs not yours).

I agree that the statistic can be troubling but my point is I'm not worried (yet). And I would say I'm more pessimistic than most around here.

[Ernesto]

4. Hey, I'm proud to be a DU wierdo!

All my peers think I'm strange, but they seem to enjoy listoning to me rant n rave. I'll be wearing my DU tee shirt today @ Sacramento's Labor day picnic. Maybe Davis or Cruz will show up!