I voted today. Beginning to wonder why...

[XOKCowboy]

Dem primary in CO. Only two races on my ballot were contested so I voted for the two most progressive candidates on the ballot. In the past voting was an empowering experience. Especially in 2008. Wow that felt good! We'd finally done it! Two short years later it was just another thing I had to do today.

It didn't help that on the way to the polling place I heard Gibb's statement about us liberals. Still I did my duty as a citizen today and will again in November. I hope that others do the same but I understand if many like me who were so jubilant and expectant back in January 2009 now just say what does it matter and stay home.

[n2doc]

1. Today was the reason why

The only way progressives are really going to be heard without damage is in primaries. These are the way to get progressives in office. Once the Conservadems get past the primaries then we are stuck holding our noses or getting someone from the insane party. Good for you to vote.

If progressives turned out in droves for the primaries, like they did in 08 for the general election, we could kick ass. literally. Because the conservadems won't.

[XOKCowboy]

7. In our case it's Bennett vs Romanoff

IMHO Bennett has been a disappointment (read centrist) and Romanoff is the more progressive candidate. Yet thanks to lots of advertising and our President's endorsement Bennett was shown 9 points ahead of Romanoff in the polls. I don't know if I'll be holding my nose if Bennett wins the primary and general. Maybe he'll see the light. He sure has been sucking up to the left lately.

[KharmaTrain]

2. Cause Your Vote Still Matters...

Maybe it's me, but I could care less what Gibbs or Emanuel or anyone else says...just as much as they could care less what I think or say. It's actions and results I look for, and while I'm not satisfied I can't see anyone else being able to deal with the current situation any better and can see many who would have made things a lot worse.

When I wasn't happy with the candidates or the situation, I always would think about some asshat rushpublican I know and how if I didn't vote, I let the bastards win.

I'm sad to see so much of the enthusiasm of '08 gone, but I also expected it. It's one thing to campaign, it's another to govern. We went through the booosh era of non-stop campaign and zero governing which has led to many of the problems this country faces now. Sadly people don't see it...short-term attention span and frustrations along with those who projected their issues and hopes on this administration (yes, some of it was egged on) without realizing how corrupted our political system has become. Now your option...you can agree things are screwed, curse the wind and stay home or work wherever possible and stay viable. Bottom line is your vote counts...always has and always will. It's one of the few rights we have left...sitting home lets the bastards win.

Cheers...

[XOKCowboy]

4. Of course that's why I voted today and will again and always Democratic!

I just hate to be the party that's not as bad as the Republicans. It seems that a true Progressive Liberal Democrat actually getting elected and getting anything done is next to nil.

[UrbScotty]

9. +1

[RKP5637]

3. Very well said! The dems in office need to do everything they can do to unite the

party and if their spokesmen can't handle it they need to step aside, all of them.

[XOKCowboy]

5. I keep wondering why Gibb's made that statement...

And didn't even have the guts to say it to someone like Ed, Keith, Rachel, KOS or even Alan Colmes? Instead he throws a fit in front of someone from The Hill who already had an agenda against the "professional left" and was guaranteed to slant the story? That's stupid! Was he just having a bad day? If so, I agree he's not qualified for the job.

[RKP5637]

6. I would think that job would really get to anyone. Maybe he's had enough of it, but

he really hasn't realized it... It's got to be a pressure cooker of a job.

[UrbScotty]

8. I cannot believe apathy is CELEBRATED here on DU. SHAMEFUL!!

[XOKCowboy]

10. I don't condone (or celebrate) it but I understand it.

Heck I want to be energized by the electoral process but when we had most of the country behind us we tried to negotiate with the Republicans? Again and again? Yes we did get a watered down health care bill and a watered down subsidy passed. We should be way up in the polls but by trying to seem bipartisan we're seen as weak.

I'm not celebrating apathy at all. I will vote because I'm a yellow dog Democrat and have been since I voted against Nixon. I'm just saying that I can understand if some don't see in their daily lives any difference between the two parties. Those are the people that count come election time. We had them 2 yrs ago. Now???