Didnt a bunch of 2008 Obama voters, mostly self identified as "progressives" NOT vote in 2010

[Eliot Rosewater]

Obama's first midterms because they thought he wasn't doing what they wanted, fast enough?

The 70 days he had A SUPER MAJORITY they complained he didn't do Medicare for all, etc?

That is my memory, does anyone know if there are stats for this? I am asking for another discussion about where we are now, not trying to start an argument.

We have anybody here who did this, willing to discuss it?

[wryter2000]

1. I'm not sure anyone has collected those data

I know there was talk, but I don't know if anyone has any numbers.

Remember, too, the supermajority included Joe Lieberman, who hated Obama for beating his friend John McCain. Then, there was Ben Nelson. They voted for the filibuster against the Affordable Care act.

Good thing to remind people he only had that supermajority after Al Franken finally taking his seat and Ted Kennedy dying.

[Eliot Rosewater]

4. Great points. My reason for bringing it up is I had another idea, almost as radical as

my idea of having a high profile dem go on MTP and use the F word to get it to go viral talking about the danger we are in, so that the 100 million who didnt vote in 2020, most of them who dont even own TV's, would see it on YT.

My idea, which I cant spell out yet, is BEFORE November give those people a reason to vote having to do with what the future of our party is going to be.

[Elessar Zappa]

2. I know Democratic turnout was low in 2010.

I voted, of course, as I always do. I’m not sure if the low turnout was motivated by dislike for Obama or just plain old laziness.

[3catwoman3]

3. I remember that being discussed...

…frequently at the time.

If true, and I think it is, I have just as much contempt for those people as I do for Trump voters.

[iemanja]

5. Turn out among Democrats always drops in midterm elections

It's a real problem and why Republicans are able to gain so much power.

[Gore1FL]

6. There was an overall enthusiasm gap relative to the 2008 election.

I think it was more a of youth turnout issue with Obama not at the head of the ticket coupled with the Tea Party astroturfing.

[Eliot Rosewater]

7. OK, that is part of it, but my reason for asking is

NO MATTER that Joe is NOT to blame for inflation and gas prices, he will be blamed.

So I am thinking of ANY POSSIBLE way to not lose the House, and I had an idea.

[nclib]

8. My son and I were talking recently about who is most to blame

for the mess we are in. One of the answers was people not voting in 2010, particularly young people. I just remember the numbers were really low. But it seems like that is the usual case. Young people vote in lower numbers. I don't know if it's them protesting or just apathy.

I've always voted and understand that you don't always get everything you want but you keep trying. I've told my son since he was school age that the most important thing he can do for this country and his future is to vote. So far he is.

[Eliot Rosewater]

9. So my reason for this conversation is IF they knew someone who looked or was more LIKE THEM

would be in the WH in 2024, would they be more likely to vote in 2022?

[nclib]

10. I just asked my son some more questions.

Last edited Fri Jul 8, 2022, 12:36 AM - Edit history (1)

He's in college. I asked him your question above and I think 2024 is too far in the future to affect 2022. He believes younger, progressive candidates will get younger people out to vote. But...he says young people are really pissed off about the supreme court and that might spur them on.

He did say young people really don't like Biden but they will vote for him in 2024 if he is the candidate. Everyone loves the Obamas. Long shot that Michelle would run though.

[LiberalLovinLug]

11. I'm not excusing their behavour in not voting, but where does the fault lie in a liberal democracy?

Blame should fall a little on both voter and politician no?
You are asking if any are willing to discuss it, I am, but I don't know if DU allows it. Which would be sad if they restrict discussion on a political discussion site, but here goes,

Sure its partly laziness, partly that some don't see it as as important to make the effort in a non Presidential vote.
But its also partly due to voters, on the left, watching Obama say things like "we need to move forward" on Bush's abuse of the constitution and war crimes. His dramatic pivoting away from the public option that he promised he would even sacrifice his second term for if that's what it took to go out on a limb for it. His rubber stamping of the renewal of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. While giving billions to Wall Street to help them recover, and not holding many at all accountable for the casino like abuse with Americans money causing the crash.

His choice of chief of staff who was caught on a hot mike disparaging "fucking liberals". His general cap-in-hand approach to the GOP, perhaps influenced by his VP's more noble ideals in the belief that cooperation was still possible, even after months and months of McConnell telling him to f off, and how they were going to make sure he was a one term President. Refusal to consider marijuana law reform. In general it may have seemed to many Democratic voters, not just the "progressives" that he seemed not the same as the man who raised hell in his speeches during the primaries.

I just think that in a democracy, you must convince the voter to vote for you. Its that simple. If there was criticism from the more left in the party to live up to what he projected in the primary, and some stayed away in the mid terms, how much is that their fault and how much is it the politician?

I'm not advocating staying home then or now. Let me make that clear. Obama also did a lot of great things, and brought in what he thought was the best health care plan he could at that time. Brought in a lot of good environmental protection laws. And much more. And it would have been a disaster to have a McCain/Palin white house. All I'm doing is surmising and giving the reasons that I think some may have not come out.

I think it will be different this time. 1. More will come out to at least slow down the GOP and their SCOTUS henchpersons. and to stop the Trump Train, and 2. IMO as a progressive, I am happy with Biden's policies, or at least what he was trying to do until he ran into the closet Repugs in Manchin and Sinema. He would get my support in the midterms, and I'd certainly make the effort, if I was eligible to vote in your country. Just trying to answer your question.