Apathy to Blame for Widespread Democratic Losses?

Sure, the Democratic turnout was down compared to 2008, especially among the 18-29 year-olds. Municipal issues like zoning and property taxes are not sexy compared to the national and international issues debated in presidential campaigns. Another factor was the independent vote swinging GOP this year. But exit polls were mixed over the reasons why this happened. Some independents have "Obama fatigue" and punished Democrats across the ballot. Other independents are mad that change hasn't happened overnight. There is also a school of thought that Democrats have become complacent with the Party controlling the White House and Congress and decided to stay home Tuesday.

Moving forward, GOPers feel good about next year. But 2010 will feature a different set of voters where issues like healthcare, climate change and Afghanistan will dominate the headlines and stump speeches. Democratic turnout will dramatically improve, benefiting candidates up and down the ticket. Arlen Specter or Joe Sestak should win the Seate seat and Patrick Murphy appears safe. GOPers may fare better in the gubernatorial race and could retake the state House if lawmakers fail to pass a budget on time again.

Obama is the captain of the wrong change. Next year all those really mad grass roots voters will clean house. D's Go ahead and pass the health care debacle-- Make my day!

The Ds are going down thanks to Obama.
He will be a one term president is he keeps his socialist agenda up.
NO PUBLIC OPTION!

This will be nothing compared to the thumping the Democrats take in 2010.

No catchy slogans to stir the emotions of Democrats like last year's hope and change.
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The Democrats delivered few home runs, the Stimulus Bill wasn't stimulating, Iran isn't any friendlier and there is a growing sense the health reform bill isn't good medicine, just expensive medicine.
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Climate change/carbon bill is a rich liberal's hobby and many on the lower economic ladder rungs are worried their jobs may disappear because of it.
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What is there for Democrat voters to get excited over? Half the time the party seems to be working against them.

let's tell both sides of the story shall we?

the Dems won the 2 congressional races. one being a referendum on the far right tea party fringe movement.

2 right wing TABOR initiatives were shot down by the voters.

2 Republican Governors were elected while running as moderates.

so it looks like the Republicans can make some inroads in 2010. if they run as moderates.

reeltime wrote:

let's tell both sides of the story shall we?
the Dems won the 2 congressional races. one being a referendum on the far right tea party fringe movement.

The Conservative in the NY 23rd was charisma challenged, not very well known and not a professional politician. The Democrat won by a small margin. The combined Republican/Conservative vote was greater than that of the Democrats. The most that could be said is the Democrat won by 4%(which is not a “mandate” win).
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You are correct in the sense 2010 will be about fiscal issues. The Republicans need to stick to purse string issues and deal with social issues another day. In no way should they be moderate about how poorly the Democrats have handled their time in office from 2006. From poor fiscal management to corruption, the Republicans have a good menu of issues for 2010 to select from.

LookingToEscape wrote:

<quoted text>
The Conservative in the NY 23rd was charisma challenged, not very well known and not a professional politician. The Democrat won by a small margin. The combined Republican/Conservative vote was greater than that of the Democrats. The most that could be said is the Democrat won by 4%(which is not a “mandate” win).
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You are correct in the sense 2010 will be about fiscal issues. The Republicans need to stick to purse string issues and deal with social issues another day. In no way should they be moderate about how poorly the Democrats have handled their time in office from 2006. From poor fiscal management to corruption, the Republicans have a good menu of issues for 2010 to select from.

2006? making that case will be difficult.

"The strategy of being obstructionist can work or fail...and so far it's working for us. Democrats are taking the blame for not getting anything done."
(R)Trent Lott, Roll Call, April 18, 2007

and as for NY 23....the Republicans have held that seat since the Civil War. and if they had let the moderate run without interference it would still be in their hands. no matter how you cut it it's a clear statement that the fringe tea party movement is not going forward. the message may hold some small creditability, but the messenger does not....as evidenced by the many right wing endorsements that were for naught.

I hope I have some change left when Obama loses in 2012.

Looking to escape, you are right, the Democrats
haven't won any "feel good" points with the
American people.
The unemployment rate in Los Angeles County is
12.7% and we're suppose to sit tight, being told
improvement is going to happen slowly. Unemployment
is expected to stay in the double-digits throughout
2010. People are losing their homes, losing their
ability to feed their families. I'm not being
dramatic. I work with some formerly upper middle
class people who are now homeless, on welfare and
food stamps with no prospect for a livable wage
in sight, people who thought "it" would never
happen to them. When are the Democrats going to acknowledge this economic situation as a crisis?

Could this work?

Immediately repeal the Stimulus Bill.
Immediately repeal the extended unemployment benefits.
Immediately toss Cap and Trade legislation.
Immediately develop an energy plan that includes everything so as to not make us dependent on any foreign country.
Immediately toss the 2000 pg health care bill and start with something that makes sense (to the people and the legistlators.)
Immediately give everyone a 3 month tax holiday. No fed taxes at all.
Stop making people with money the bad guys.
Stop making people without money dependent victims.

In fact, I want government in my life as little as possible. I thought this was the land of the free and the brave.

How is it possible that everyone (okay, Republicans) have so convienently "forgotten" who got us into this mess? Eight years of GW going wild with no boundaries sunk us to a new low - yet you all are so quick to blame our new president after just 10 months on the job for not making America perfect again by now? You should be ashamed of yourselves. Instead of pointing the finger, maybe if you joined in to help correct all the wrongs of the past eight years things may turn around more quickly.

Jersey Duke wrote:

Obama is the captain of the wrong change. Next year all those really mad grass roots voters will clean house. D's Go ahead and pass the health care debacle-- Make my day!

Historically the Party controlling the White House loses seats in Congress. 2010 will be no exception. The Democrats will probably lose 7 to 8 seats, most likely in the southwest where the pending 2010 debate over immigration will help GOPers. But Democrats will retain their majority in the House and Senate.

Howard wrote:

<quoted text>
Historically the Party controlling the White House loses seats in Congress. 2010 will be no exception. The Democrats will probably lose 7 to 8 seats, most likely in the southwest where the pending 2010 debate over immigration will help GOPers. But Democrats will retain their majority in the House and Senate.

Keep dreaming Howard!

[QUOTE who="Naomi"You should be ashamed of yourselves.[/QUOTE]

Ashamed of ourselves? You must be joking. I am proud of our country and of my own actions.

I am unhappy about the spending going on, especially now and in the past. As a person with a budget, you must recognize that taking loans and spending money you do not have in your budget will not fix your personal budget woes.

There are many things President Obama can do to fix the ills of this current economy. I want him to do those things. Instead, he appears to have allowed Speaker Pelosie and MJ Leader Reid to determine our fates.

Constitutionally, the President sets his goals and guides the legislation through the house. After approval, then through the Senate. Into committee, then returning the same path until both the House and Senate approve. This is where it ends up on President Obama's desk.

I am very unhappy about this spending. If it were on worthwhile things… maybe (well, no. Not even then.) President Bush was just as bad, spending more out than came into the gov's budget.

The Obama Administration appears to be spending like sailors on shore leave. THey have spent only 10%(ish) of the stimulus and trust me (political creatures that they are) will only release to rest at the end of next summer (just before the 2010 election) so that they can say "see! the stimulus is working and so is our economy." If things are as bad as everyone says,(though I disagree) release all the stim cash now and fix things.

Libby wrote:

If things are as bad as everyone says,(though I disagree

Front page story in the LA Times today, unemployment is over
10% nationwide and expected to climb.

I'd like to hear about some sort of "plan of action" to get
hiring going again."Cash for Clunkers" *whoopee!!!* really
proved to be a big fix, right?

Jersey Duke wrote:

<quoted text>
Keep dreaming Howard!

Dreaming? I give you political analysis and you give me snark.

Let the DNC continue to think the recent elections really "mean nothing"... I think they'll get the picture by the time the heel of my boot attempts to pass through their sphincters next November.

ILuvBucks wrote:

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"Cash for Clunkers" *whoopee!!!* really proved to be a big fix, right?

Hey... give the president a break. The taxpayers only paid $24,000 for each car that was collected via the program and destroyed.

Take me back to the days where the taxpayers paid $1000 for a toilet seat... at least we didn't crush those after we bought them.

ILuvBucks wrote:

<quoted text>
Front page story in the LA Times today, unemployment is over
10% nationwide and expected to climb.
I'd like to hear about some sort of "plan of action" to get
hiring going again."Cash for Clunkers" *whoopee!!!* really
proved to be a big fix, right?

Luv - Forget what I said earlier. I do believe things are terrible. But not because of the usual, typical cycle of up and down in any economy.

Unemployment is at 10.2%(and much, much higher, depending on which numbers you use.) You are correct and I was wrong. Things are bad. It is just an opinion of mine as to why those employment numbers are so bad. Again, you can't spend this kind of money (cash for clunkers being the least of our worries) without there being consequences. Bush? I wasn't a complete fan, but the current economic difficulties are not his fault (or his problem.) President Obama need to cut costs, end the stimulus and get rich (not sure of the definition) people to expand their businesses and hire, hire, hire.

Free market prevails.