My Mom, lifelong Rep, is not voting in November

[cally]

We keep hearing that voter turnout by Reps will be down and I hope it's true. My Mom who has never missed an election volunteered today that she will not vote in the Primary or in November. I was shocked. She taught me that it's our civic duty to vote. She takes it very seriously. She doesn't discuss politics with me but volunteered that. She also asked me about a candidate that I'm working on the campaign for. Every other time, I've worked on a campaign my father and mother have never asked me why I was supporting this candidate. This time, they are interested and wanted to know more. The tide is turning.

[dorktv]

1. Tell her to go down and write in "none of the above" for everyone.

If she cannot bring herself to vote for Dems.

[cally]

3. She's never listened to me about politics

That's what I found so interesting. She and my father wanted to know about my candidate which is a first. I think the most we can hope for with many lifelong Reps is that they don't vote.

[dorktv]

13. Makes me wonder what would happen if we had instant run off

voting.

[GrumpyGreg]

2. Your Mom sounds like a smart lady. The Repugs have had it !!

[cally]

4. She's very smart...generally not about politics, though.

[GrumpyGreg]

8. As a mother and grandmother myself I wouldn't understimate her.

She probably knows a lot more than you give her credit for.

Most of us do---we just stay quiet to keep the peace.

[Kerrytravelers]

5. I heard a guy on Ed Schultz say he was a lifelong repug changing to Dem

To sum it up, he basically said the only moral people in the country are the Democrats.

[Arugula Latte]

14. But, but -- OMG! Doesn't he know Clintoon got a BLOWJOB?!!11!!

He corrupted the morals of our ENTIRE country when he got busy with Monica!11!1 That was the WORST thing that ever happened to this nation, hands down!1!!1!

:eyes:

[ginnyinWI]

6. My Dad also may not vote

He said he didn't want to vote Republican again, but just couldn't vote for a Dem. I suggested that he just not vote then (heh heh), and he agreed that that was a definite option! I was surprised, to say the least! He, the big RW radio fan and talking point spouter!

[cally]

7. Wow. He still listens to that junk and he may not vote?

I hope there are many more like him.

[ginnyinWI]

12. as far as I know he still does

He lives 80 miles away and I don't see him all the time.

He was absolutely rabid during 2004--kept firing off crazy emails to me about stuff--quite obviously stuff he got directly from one of our local RW radio shows. Stuff like this: "John Kerry is a traitor for going to Paris and meeting with Ho Chi Minh--and should be kicked out of the Senate because traitors are not allowed to hold office!" These days he doesn't have quite as much to say--but still dislikes Dems. They are the enemy.

As for me, he thinks I'm the black sheep that went astray, all corrupted into becoming a Dem by going to college and getting a liberal arts education. This, coming from a retired high school math teacher who should know better! And by the way, it's not true--life, not college, taught me to be a liberal.

[struggle4progress]

10. "When in doubt, vote the incumbent out" is always a good slogan

[Liberty Belle]

9. We've been holding candidate forums with Dems & Libertarians...

to give Republicans in the audience an palatable alternative to voting Republican.

Here's how it worked: Our local progressive group knew our Republican Congressman would never show up if we hosted a bipartisan forum. So we invited him, along with 5 Democrats and a Libertarian all running for his seat. Our press releases to the media honestly stated it would be a nonpartisan forum, so we got people from all parties attending.

It's the reverse of Fox News -- 5 liberals and 1 Libertarian. Interestingly, the Libertarian is anti-war and pro-impeachment, though he advocates small government and opposes social programs. We figure we won't lose any Dem votes to him, but he might entice some fed-up Republicans to cast a protest vote for a Libertarian if they can't bring themselves to vote Democratic.

[cyclezealot]

11. It's odd. I dislike Libertarians, but dont hate them.Like Repugs.

At least they respect our liberties. Thought two things earmarked the US.. TO make a more perfect union and our First Amendment. Disappoints are leaned at a yound age.