Midterms are decided by regular and older voters, we can't count on new young voters

[pstokely]

Not new young voters who aren't really interested in politics. Many of the young voters who came in 2008 won't be showing up no matter what and there's nothing anyone can do. Many of these young voters didn't even look at the rest of the ballot in 2008 after waiting in a long line. They are more likely to stay than vote Repuke and probably will stay home. Older Dems are more likely to show up than those apolitical young voters without any party affiliation, at least they'll have a short line at the polls. I'm sure the most people here will vote and so will the Freepers but the apolitical young people won't. Those young voters probably woulnd't show up even if Obama lived up to the hype. They aren't in the habit of showing up every few months to vote on things like school boards or ballot initiatives like older voters are. Polling places set up at retirement homes have higher turnout than those set up at college dorms.

[Radical Activist]

1. Ok Eeyore.

Don't get too excited.

[napi21]

2. That's sure the historical data, and I suspect it will be true this time

too. That's why all the Dems should be screaming about the Pubs wanting to dismember Social Security! IF you want to aggrivate the voters especially the Dem voters who are guaranteed to go to the polls, tell them the Pubs are going to mess with their SS! I also believe the seniors will be SO PO'd they'll order their kids, no matter what age, to get off your lazy butt and vote Dem!

[RainDog]

3. that's why democrats are stupid to fuck over the base

because the base is the turn out they need to win the mid-terms.

but it's more important, apparently, to appease the religious right on GBLT matters, to make HCR a slam to poor women's right to privacy, to dismantle public education and to attack unions in general.

to then read people here issue threats to those who are pissed off is merely one more demonstration of the way the party has no fucking clue.

if they lose, it will be because of the choices the party made.

[Chulanowa]

8. I don't think most DU'ers know where the Democratic base lies

Fondest wishes aside, it's not those of us screaming at each other on the internet about how godawful Obama is for picking the wrong breed of puppy. We tend to assume we're the target audience, but, nope. We're not. :)

[RainDog]

16. I don't think I mentioned DU

tho people from all the groups I mentioned here are on DU, however.

democrats that I know - ones that vote for democrats consistently, are extremely disappointed in the party. they aren't here.

[yurbud]

4. young people would vote if they had a reason to

[pstokely]

5. They usually don't have one doing off year elections

I'll give them a reason: at leas the line at the polls will be short

[yurbud]

19. maybe if there were real health care reform Repubs were threatening to undo or

the stimulus hadn't been half Republican tax breaks, or finance reform hadn't been weakened in part by the White House or Obama hadn't announced the withdrawal of troops in Iraq when he really meant we are leaving 50,000 or...

[Hannah Bell]

11. yep. so would most people.

[griffi94]

6. given that the deficit commission

was appointed by obama and given that they seem to want to "tweak" social security, i wonder how many older voters will turn out for the democrats.

[FrenchieCat]

7. I thought Obama had only appointed 6 members of the commission?

no?

[griffi94]

9. i know appointed simpson

and i know he formed the commission by EO after the house voted against it, but i'm sure that won't bother AARP or the seniors at all. they love it when politicians want to "tweak" social security. lol

[jaxx]

10. True. It's a fact noticeably ignored though.

[smalll]

12. You are correct. Especially on the "even if Obama lived up to the hype" part --

it really wouldn't matter how Obama looked at this point. The iPod kids are not going to show up. As they themselves would say,

"It is what it is."

[Major Hogwash]

13. I tend to agree as an older voter, who is eating more fiber in order to be more regular.

And then there's that yogurt with the laxative in it that helps every once in awhile.
The one that what's her name from the movie "Halloween" is promoting all the time.

[GodlessBiker]

14. Regular? Older voters aren't regular voters?

[old mark]

15. I hope the young voters will surprise everyone this November, especially

the republicans...It would be great to beat them again!


mark

[LatteLibertine]

17. I'm really

getting to the point where I feel the poor and middle class get what they deserve.

We're so easily manipulated and often do thoughtless counterproductive shit.

I wouldn't be surprised if we get a Republican House and Senate, followed by a GoP president in 2012.

[Bitwit1234]

18. Older voters have lived the life under political hacks

they know the end results. They show up to try to get the crooks out of office. The young people don't because they have a lot to learn. THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HISTORY THE WAY WE DO. Their MP3 players, Ipods, etc etc get in their way. Too bad we don't have an APP FOR 101 POLITICS. Real politics and the consequences of not voting for honest caring people.

[mike r]

20. 'Angry' voters tend to be older voters

They play a big role in lower-level, smaller-turnout elections.

[depakid]

21. Explain 2006 then...

Midterms are decided by the base- and require enthusiasm from core constituencies.

Unfortunately, this administration (along with several high profile Senators) have spent the better part of 20 months going out of their way to piss those groups off.

[pstokely]

22. These young voters don't make up the base of either party

if more of then consider themselves independents