Can you remember an election in your lifetime as important as this one?

[kentuck]

I remember 1972.

The Watergate story was already known but it had not flowered in the mainstream media. Many of us knew that Nixon was a crooked criminal and nothing we could say would change the minds of those intent on voting for him. Vietnam was ending but we just didn't know how it was going to end?

We supported McGovern because he was trying to tell the truth to people, about the war, Watergate, and other matters. But they said he was a "socialist", much too liberal to be President of the United States. He would make America weak. Never mind that he was a bomber pilot in WWII...

I thought that was an important election. So was the election in 1980 with Ronald Raygun. And the election of 2000 that put the Bush Jr into office.

But, our country had the potential to survive all those assholes, criminals, and incompetents. They were bad but we would make it.

Now, with this election, I am not so sure? I don't think we can survive another 4 or 8 years of Republican politics. This is an important election because it is about our survival as a nation. Perhaps never in the history of our country has your vote been as important as now.

That is how I see it.

[taterguy]

1. Yes

[BootinUp]

2. 2000, 2004, 2008.

We've been locked in mortal combat for some time now.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. Agreed.

Wholeheartedly.

[Lil Missy]

16. I third that motion

[cally]

18. Exactly...

I believe that when * stole the 2000 election he ended the world's chance to address a climate change disaster.

[ProudDad]

30. Actually it was Poppy Bush

Who fucked up the last good chance to avert a disaster in 1992...

Now we're just watching them piss away any last chance of limiting it to a huge catastrophe instead of the end of the Earth as a viable environment for large air-breathing mammals..

[Lorien]

49. Yep. And we were promised huge Changes if the Democrats took the House, Senate and Presidency

in 2008. We wouldn't be worried if those promises had been KEPT.

[madokie]

4. during the watergate era

our press wasn't in the pockets of the pukes party like they are today. In fact shortly after the resignation of nixon the pukes decided that to get their message out they were going to have to buy up the press, print and air. I remember when this happened, when the decision was made by one of their think tanks.

[Bobbieo]

6. No and I've voted in 114 elections since 1944.

[madokie]

9. I agree with the no

just forgot to add that
I've been voting since I got home from the 'Nam in '70

[charlie]

25. Girded by a clarion call from one of our Supreme Court justices, no less

The Powell memorandum, in 1971:

http://old.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=22

A blueprint of everything that came to pass. It's all there, confrontational politics, media control, insertion of ideologues into campuses, monitoring academic journals, judicial activism...

[ProudDad]

31. You hit the nail on the head

the beginning of the final fascist takeover of the USAmerikan Empire...

[cbdo2007]

5. You really think this one is that important?? I think will be more important.

[texastoast]

7. Every single election changes the course of our nation

What infuriates me is coming across some people like I did today during our canvass.

"I'm not going to vote because I'm so mad at all politicians."

"I'm a Democrat and I'm not voting because of Obama" (we were working for a state candidate).


I would like to tell all people who do not exercise their right to vote that MY ANCESTORS DIED FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO VOTE SO GET YOUR WHINY ASS OUT AND DO IT. Republicans are certainly going to exercise theirs.

That is all.

Toast is toasted for the night.

[tularetom]

8. I thought 1964 was more important

I was a young father, a veteran and a college student and just starting to be aware of what was going on in the world.

I didn't have what you would call a social conscience but somehow I knew that what was going on in the south was not good, and that we were even then getting in over our heads in Southeast Asia. Plus since I was attending Cal I was getting exposed to free speech and radical ideas. And Goldwater sounded like such a loon it actually seemed the future of our country was in doubt. It was the first election I could vote in and I voted for Johnson.

Of course things didn't turn out as well as we hoped on the Nam front. BUt it definitely was a turn for the better on domestic matters.

[iamjoy]

10. Horse Manure

all elections are important and saying one is more important than the other is almost like asking a mother to say which child she loves best.

If you are going to say "this is the most important election" than I say there are two cavaets: First, add of the past thirty-five years to the statement in consideration of voters born prior to then. I mean, can you imagine how different our country would be if FDR hadn't been president? What about if Goldwater had won in 1964? The second caveat is "so far." If you believe that this election is more important than 2000, 2004, 2008, etc then I have to believe that 2012 will be even more important.

[kentuck]

11. Yes. Nothing has changed since 2000.

Or even since 2008 that would make this election more important, right?

The economy. Wall Street. The banks. Unemployment. Everything the same as in 2000. Check. Nothing has changed to make this election any different.

Horse manure, indeed.

[iamjoy]

47. I Will Concede One Point

Every 10 years, states redraw the lines for the state legislative and US Congressional districts (based on the results of the Census). Since in most states, the state legislature (and governor) draw these lines and since the people we are electing this year are the ones who will do that, this election does have added importance. However, that only applies to elections at the state level.

I still think the election of 2000 or 2004 was more important. It was so close. And if we had gotten Gore or Kerry in we wouldn't have had Roberts and Alito on the Supreme Court. And if we had an extra moderate on SCOTUS, the Citizen's United Ruling would probably have gone differently.

To any one who thought Bush and Gore were no different, or that Bush and Kerry were no different - to those that were eligible but couldn't be bothered to vote or who clung to ideals rather than practicality and voted for another party candidate - you are partially responsible for bringing us to where we are today. Please learn from your mistake.

And if you are tempted to think state elections don't matter because you have your eye on the "prize" of President, Senate and Congress - every race matters.

[Bobbieo]

12. I honestly can't remember the degree of national hatred in past elections

that has permeated this one. Maybe, because this one is personally affecting me.

[doc03]

17. It's bad but I remember when JFK was shot and Rethug

said they finally got the SOB. My mother said when FDR died a Rethug neighbor of hers said the SOB probably poisoned himself. I don't remember ads being this bad before, nobody R or D is saying what they are going to do or have done it's just trash the other guy. I will be happy when it's over.

[KittyLover]

39. I would not say it's

the most important election we've ever faced, but it's fairly close. Every election has a certain importance to it. Depending on who is in power, polocies that are being executed, etc, etc. The turmoil everyone seems to be hyping now is a DIRECT result of the repugs shutting down (or at least attempting to) damn near everything President Obama has made an effort to do for this country. In that instance, I would say this election is pretty darn important. We cannot let them take back power. To do so would be to look at the next generation, and say "too bad for you." I agree with texas toast. Get your butts out there, and vote. I'm a fairly young voter at 23, but I darn sure know my duty.

[doc03]

13. We hear the same thing every election cycle, "It's the

most important election of your lifetime."

[kentuck]

15. And you believe this election is no different?

Heaven help us.

[doc03]

19. When there is a real choice like a party that has a platform

to get rid of lobbyists, take corporate money out of elections, have public funded elections, support fair trade laws, supports labor and a public option for health care. I would call that "the most important election of my lifetime." Now we have a choice between Republican and Republican Lite. I did vote already, I just want it over with now so I don't have to listen to any more disgusting ads.

[mwb970]

43. That's what I was thinking.

I can't remember any election that was not declared the Most Important Election Ever by someone. Maybe they're all important?

[kenny blankenship]

14. Sure. The last one.

That was our chance. IMO it was our last chance to pull out of a national nose dive.

We did our part.

[RagAss]

21. We did do our part.

[Bigmack]

20. 1980... without doubt!...

Reagan ushered in the era of Grover Norquist and the "starve the beast" people.

People started to say shit in public that - prior to the election of that Presidential Vegetable- they would only have said to their drinking buddies.

It's gone downhill from there.

Look at the graphs! Real wages started down, manufacturing down, taxes on the rich down, concentration of wealth up...

The US started turning to shit in 1980, and it's been a long slide into the septic tank of history since then.

[katandmoon]

22. +1

[leftstreet]

24. Good description

Reagan, Thatcher, Mulroney...the true axis of evil

[Johonny]

48. +1

[Lorien]

50. +1. nt

[geckosfeet]

23. the last presidential election was more important

[kentuck]

26. I would agree that was a very, very, very important election...

The tragedy was that so many people did not see it as that important. Or, if they did, they chose not to publicize the severity of the situation. Does anyone know how far we have come from 2008? Anyone?

[ProudDad]

27. Yep...1968, 1972, 1980, 1988, 2000, 2004...

and we lost them all...

We the People usually do lose...

[kentuck]

28. For real?

Hmmmmmmmmm....

[ProudDad]

29. We also lost in ...

1948 (Korea)
1952 (McCarthy, Red Scare, Cold War, military build-up) and
1958 (same-o, same-o)
1960 (Bay of Pigs, Embargo, more Military Buildup)
1964 (VietNam)
1976 (Military buildup on the credit card)
1992 (the best pro-corporate republican money can buy)
1998 (it gets worse)

and again in 2008 (the NEW best pro-corporate spokesmodel money can buy)...

In the Corporate States of USAmerica, the heart of the Empire, We the People always lose...

[phasma ex machina]

36. +1 "We the People usually do lose..."

The powers-that-be see to it that even when we win we lose.

Tails we lose, heads the powers-that-be win.

Sorry guys, it's hard for me to get excited about elections anymore.

[fishwax]

32. pretty much all of them

I'm trying to remember an unimportant election cycle, but I can't really remember one. Maybe I'm not old enough.

[OHdem10]

33. When you see the hurting around the country and read and listen

and you realize the Republican Agenda, there has never been
a more serious election than this one.

[McCamy Taylor]

34. 1968, 1980, 2000---stolen presidential elections from hell.

[Raine]

35. Just to name a couple 1980 when Raygun cheated

and stole his way in, 2000 when we had more votes and it was still stolen. Those two elections alone could have changed the path of this country

[breadandwine]

37. Aw, don't be so worried and exercised. Just because the GOP is a bunch of Nazis ---

is no reason to get your panties in a bunch. Fascism is good for us!


See here ----


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9358240

[deacon]

Democracy is truly at stake. They are trying to buy the country. This one is the most

important.

[deacon]

38. Democracy is truly at stake. They are trying to buy the country. This one is the most

important.

[WinkyDink]

40. EVERY ONE, because it is a CONSTANT BATTLE beating back the Republican Fascists.

[Le Taz Hot]

41. Yes,

1980 & 2000.

[quaker bill]

42. all of them

but in particular 2004, 2006, and 2008.

[GA_ArmyVet]

44. Yep , the last one..

and the one before that..and the one before that...

it seems like every election for the 10-15 years has been labeled as the most important with do or die implications and yet..not matter who won nothing really seemed to change much..

[kentuck]

45. ...no "matter who won nothing really seemed to change much.."

really?

It was all my imagination.

[Lorien]

51. Indeed it was

Nothing has changed much. We're still in two wars of choice, we still torture, we're still unemployed, the Banksters and CEOs are still getting away with criminal acts and being rewarded for it, women's rights are still be eroded, and no one is doing a damn thing about climate change, which will make all other issues seem insignificant soon enough. If they had kept their promises they would be looking at landslide victories right now.

[GA_ArmyVet]

53. Perhaps I am being needlessly negative

but I lately feel that neither party is much different other than who they cater to get and maintain their power...I am very liberal in my beliefs, but having to speak from my heart. I just dont see many in the that big building on capitol hill doing much of anything except saying and doing whatever it takes to stay in office and line their own pockets. That may not be the case, but somedays it just seems really get me down. Sorry, just venting on a bad week, looking for a job here and not really finding anything..somedays it just gets you in a bad state of mind..

[ThomWV]

46. 1980 gave us Reagan and 2000 gave us Bush, so this one isn't the most important

[Iggo]

52. 2000, 2004. (n/t)