30 days from today is election day. I want every one of us to vote.

[old mark]

I don't care if you have no use for me personally, I don't care what type of Democrat/Liberal/Progressive you are, or how you feel about our President, or Harry Reid, or the "corporatist" Democrats.

Please look at the republican/T'bagger candidates and listen to what they are saying. Look at the people who support them and what THEY are saying. IF they win even a larger degree of control, they will destroy whatever they can of the good things we Democrats have been able to do for OUR COUNTRY with almost zero participation from the GOP side. They are the party of destruction, of hatred and ignorance and they will be more in power than ever IF WE DO NOT VOTE.

We all have to live here after the election. I'd rather have a Democratic congress - even a timid one - than these terrible people who want to take OUR country on an even worse path than Bush II was able to conceive.

VOTE on November 2nd...we need every vote we can get.

Thanks.

mark

[TexasObserver]

1. recommend

[MadHound]

2. FEAR!

This is what is helping to run our country into the ground, fear. Candidates and political parties are running less and less on their record, and more and more on fear. Fear of the other party, fear of what might happen, fear.

It has happened with both parties, and it is this fear driven voting that is killing this country. No longer do candidates have to actually do what the majority of their constituents want them to do, they just have to inspire fear of the other in order to get votes.

A shitty way to run our government, and something that needs to change if we want to save our country.

[drm604]

7. So what do you suggest we do in November? n/t

[MadHound]

19. Don't know, this is more of a long term problem, and it only has a long term solution

The Dems pretty much blew it a week ago when, once again, they refused to fight and tabled the issue of the Bush tax cuts until after the election. In fact they've been backing down from the fight since they entered office in January 2009.

What is needed is that they listen to what the majority of people in this country want, like repeal of DADT, the public option, etc. and then go out and fight for that. If they did that, then they wouldn't have to worry about the next election cycle.

[drm604]

27. No argument

but not voting for them in November will only make things MUCH worse.

Telling people to fear the Republicans having power is just common sense. People should fear the Republicans having power.

[emilyg]

23. I suggest you think

before you vote.

[drm604]

25. There doesn't seem to be much to think about , to be honest.

When the choice is whether or not to hand one or both houses to the GOP (especially the current GOP) the answer seems pretty obvious to me.

[emilyg]

29. True. For the

first time ever I'm going to withold my vote for some dems. I feel strongly about sending a message to them.

[drm604]

35. And if by doing so you give one or both houses to the GOP,

you're okay with that?

Do you realize what is at stake here? Primaries are the time to send a message. Not now.

[backwoodsbob]

36. do you hear yourself?

don't vote for us...vote against them.

Pretty shiity choice if you ask me

[drm604]

39. Please read my message and show me where I said

"don't vote for us". You seem to be the ones suggesting that.

Added on edit:
What I'm saying is there are two choices. The Democrats are the better choice. Therefore we should all vote for Democrats. Withholding your vote is like voting against the Democrats. It will achieve nothing. Any good (which will be little or none) that would come from "sending a message" will be more than outweighed by the damage done by giving power to Republicans.

In my opinion the message you send will be the wrong one. Democrats will see the Republicans win and assume that they need to move even further to the right. If you can't see that then I don't know what to tell you.

You're trying to achieve positive change by losing ground. :banghead:

The only way to ultimately achieve long term change is to start at the bottom and take control of the Democratic Party. Get involved locally. Become a committee person. Run for office.

[old mark]

15. Not FEAR, just fucking common sense - do you honestly think ANY of the

current bunch of republican/T'baggers is capable of doing anything constructive for OUR country?

We Americans need the best we can get right now, and I will certainly grant the Democrats are not the greatest, but can you seriously point out ANY republican who would be an improvement?
Not fear, but self interest.

mark

[MadHound]

18. No, sorry, it is fear, the Democratic party is running a fear based campaign

So is the Republican party, and both have been doing so for years. You may not like that harsh assessment, but it is the truth, one has but to look over the election campaigns for the past four decades.

The best we can get right now is incremental change, and while that is OK, at best, for normal times, it is completely unacceptable for these times of crisis. Obama and the Democrats were elected to bring about CHANGE, remember that. Instead they've delivered incremental steps at best, and in some ways they've even been regressive (note this administration's civil liberties record and their ongoing assault on teachers and public education). It is obvious that Democrats can't run on their record, so they are using FEAR to get out the base. Well, fear and browbeating the left into voting against their own best interests.

Sorry, but this fear based GOTV effort is bad, bad for government, bad for our country. It is past time that we held our leaders accountable, have them run on their record, their achievements, not just fear.

[old mark]

21. So, you won't be voting because of the philosophy behind the campaign of both parties?

I don't see the point of this at all, and FWIW, I don't agree with you, but I still want you to vote.

mark

[MadHound]

26. No, I always vote,

But I vote on record, not on fear. If the Democrats have a solid record to run on, then they have my vote. But sadly, many Dems simply don't have the record. For instance my candidate for Senate wants to extend all the Bush tax cuts, despite the fact that it is simply transferring wealth up the socioeconomic ladder, despite the fact that tax cuts are pissing our tax money away on the weakest of economic stimulus tools, and despite the fact that these cuts are racking up massive amounts of debt. Does that sound like a popular, sensible position? Frankly it sounds rather, well, Republican to me.

[old mark]

31. I don't care what your reasoning is , just vote for the Democrats. nt

[drm604]

28. So are you saying that voting for Democrats is against the best interests of the left?

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you but that's what it sounds like you're saying.

It is obvious that Democrats can't run on their record, so they are using FEAR to get out the base. Well, fear and browbeating the left into voting against their own best interests.

How should the left vote in November in order to be voting in their own best interests?

[TexasObserver]

22. Anyone who isn't fearful of GOP control of congress needs a reality check.

You have two choices for parties leading congress - Democrats or Republicans. Pretending there is any other choice is pointless. Either we elect Democrats, some of whom are disappointing, or we see another onslaught of GOP controlled insanity.

I'll take disappointment over disembowelment any day.

[MadHound]

24. Trouble is, for many people they're getting both under the Dems, disappointment and disembowelment

Teachers, anti-war folks, civil libertarians aren't making progress under this administration, they're not even holding steady, they're regressing:shrug:

The use of the fear tactic is simply a clever ruse for that let's politicians be unaccountable for their records.

[emilyg]

30. +10

[old mark]

32. Then maybe you would be happier voting for the GOP - see how they treat you. nt

[TexasObserver]

44. If you can't tell the difference between Democratic and Republican rule ...

... you should work on that problem, first and foremost.

[Luciferous]

37. Agreed.

[Bluzmann57]

3. Haven't missed an election since I was 18

Waaaayyyyy back in 1975. And I don't intend to miss this one either.
And you're welcome.

[handmade34]

6. me too

1972 1st vote after 26th Amendment

[hlthe2b]

4. It is not DUers you need to worry about, IMO

[old mark]

13. I have no doubt you are right, but, there may still be a few...I really believe

we can WIN with a very large turnout, despite the lies we are told by the MSM and of course the republicans. I am supporting my state democratic candidates as well as several in other states, and doing what I can to help them.

This is just one more thing I can do, so here it is.

mark

[mistertrickster]

5. Voting is the LEAST you can do (Howard Dean). There're Dem candidates out there that

need your help making phone calls, knocking doors, filling envelops.

Just do it.

[Barack_America]

8. I have to walk through my polling place to leave my building.

I'll vote.

It's just a pity that I'll do so with so little enthusiasm this year.

[Monique1]

9. I'm 68 yrs young

always voted Dems and I will do the same thing in Nov.

[old mark]

11. I'm only 63, but have not ever voted for republican, and certainly won't...nt

[muffin1]

12. Same here, Barack_America.

I'm voting Dem, but not thrilled about it. Yeah, it's better than the alternative, but...
Hopefully, we will all be more enthusiastic in 2012.

[Barack_America]

I'll just vote straight ticket and be done with it.

Normally I take pleasure in voting for each Dem separately.

But the voter registration drives and canvassing I've become accustomed to? Not this year. I feel like I lied to a lot of people during those efforts in 2008 (part. regarding the public option) and I'm not eager to repeat the experience anytime soon.

[femrap]

10. I filled out my absentee

ballot last night...all ready to be mailed tomorrow. Straight Dem Ticket. Please let Strickland win....and pray that the Dem wins Sec'y of State. Otherwise, it will be Ken Blackwell all over again...if not worse. I don't think I could bear a repugnant administration in Ohio.

[LWolf]

14. I have every intention of voting. I always vote, regardless of what

I think of you, or any other Democrat, or any political party.

[AmerVoicesUnited]

16. Let's do it again in '10!

I'll see you all at the voting booth.
http://youtu.be/iUvrQyGvNFI

[jwirr]

17. One of the best things that DU has done over the years I have been

here is to pull together in primary elections. It is time to do that once again. I will be voting and I will be telling my extended family it is vital that they do. Come on brothers and sisters let's do it again.

[ejpoeta]

20. oh i'll be voting you can be damned sure. even if i am voting to make sure

paladino can't have any say over my life!!! i will be voting. and the negative ads are helping me know who to vote for considering none of the candidates seem to want to tell me whether they are dem or republican. i loook for catch phrases like, cut taxes and cut spending. i still never hear exactly how they are going to do that they are always so vague.

[old mark]

33. As I stated in the OP, I am merely trying to encourage Democrats to vote for Democrats.

I don't give a shit about your "reasons" or if there is some agenda you perceive that everyone else is missing...and I have no idea why some people are unrec'ing this.
I just want us to WIN THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

I hope that is plain and relatively innocuous and inoffensive to most people.

VOTE!

mark

[Dogmudgeon]

34. Kickin' it like the Donkey

--d!

[etherealtruth]

38. Always do

I considered not voting once ... was VERY pregnant, living in a fairly conservative part of Virginia, it was raining, I had a toddler .... I really didn't want to vote ... watched a PBS show documenting women's suffrage in the U.S.

I realized that no matter how distasteful I found the ballot I owed it to those that fought for me to vote. I realized I owed it to myself, as well. I voted that day ....and regardless of life situation on voting day, I don't even consider not voting.

[bigwillq]

40. I always vote

I have in every election on every level since I was 18.

[Bluenorthwest]

41. Oh, stop it. I have never missed an election. Ever.

So take your podium and mount it in front of some 'moderate centrists' who vote for Republicans at times, to the Crist voting Reagan 'Democrats' of today.
The fact that the more socially conservative among us keep preaching at 'liberals and progressives' about voting when it is the 'centrists' who have always wandered to the GOP or just stopped voting is getting old.
Have you ever voted for a Republican? Have you ever missed an election of any kind? If so, you lack standing in my house on this issue.

[Ohio Joe]

42. Will do - K&R - nt

[alfredo]

43. The street game is what is going to make the difference. We

have to get out the vote. The RNC, according to the link below, is having money problems and has had to cut back on get out the vote efforts. We can do it.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100929/el_yblog_upshot/facing-a-cash-crunch-rnc-dials-back-on-gotv-efforts

We have to out hustle them.