The Coming Repug Voter Revolt?.....

[global1]

I was at a summer gathering of friends over the weekend and after a fun day and a few drinks some of us got into a discussion about politics. The topic was about what has been going on in this country both in Washington and in the States by Repugs, the Teaparty, ALEC, etc - and basically the erosion of many of the things this country was great for.

We got around to talking about Repug voters and how they seemingly vote against their own best interests. One person posed the question - I wonder what's going to happen when these same people that have been voting against their best interests discover that they've been had and things begin to come back on them and they come to the full realization that they've been taken advantage of and lied to.

A couple of my friends chimed in and said it would never happen and that these people will never come to that realization. Others - including myself - felt that we're coming closer to that realization every day and that when these people discover that they've been had - that there will be a voter revolt and a sea change in the politics and climate of partisanship in this country.

I'm throwing this topic out for discussion here. Which side do you line up with?

A. No realization of being had and no revolt

OR

B. Realization that they were being lied to and a massive voter revolt.

I'll throw in one other question - if "B" seems to be the overriding feeling here - when will this voter revolt occur?

[MrSlayer]

1. A. No realization. No revolt.

I used to be a "B" thinker about ten years ago. It became clear that these people are never going to get it and don't want to get it. Willful ignorant is a point of pride to them. And those that do sort of get it let the "god" factor keep them in line.

Forget it. This country is pretty much doomed to idiocy.

[djean111]

2. A. No realization, no revolt.

They honestly accept and believe that everything that affects them in a bad way is the Dem's fault.
No jobs? Because Dems insist on onerous regulations. As an example.

[jeff47]

3. They're not going to figure it out.

A small portion will come to their senses, but by-and-large they won't figure it out.

Blaming all of their problems on "those people" means the crappy parts of their lives are not their fault. It's "those people" sucking up all the good food stamps, or getting houses they don't deserve, or whatever else they dislike about their own lives.

Realizing that is all bullshit means they are responsible for some of their own problems. Even if they haven't done anything particularly dumb, they've been busting their ass to protect the system that has been screwing them over.

And it's just much, much easier to keep blaming ACORN.

[dogknob]

22. Easy. They will always do whatever is easiest. n/t

[Blue Idaho]

4. Useful Idiots.

There is a reason the republicans count on their votes every election cycle. They are in fact useful idiots - nothing more, nothing less.

[Berlum]

5. People who let themselves be duped, like RepubliSuckers, often hate to admit they have been suckered

Last edited Mon Aug 12, 2013, 12:52 PM - Edit history (1)

and so they keep on pretending.

But in the end, a sucker (R) is a sucker (R) is a sucker (R), as my Pappy used to say.

[sufrommich]

6. These people have been voting against their

own interests since the 1960s,their baby boomers children did the same. They aren't going to change any time soon,they haven't changed for a couple of generations now.

[Savannahmann]

7. With all respect to your friends

We Democrats seem determined to hand victories to the Repugs. Even now, what serious contenders for 2016 are speaking out against the NSA? A few Democrats that would qualify as also ran, and the leader of the Repug pack, Rand Paul. This issue by the way has President Obama's approval ratings at roughly 41%. One of the lowest he's ever had.

But take that aside, our decision to waive the Employer mandate has not gone over well with the people, those are the ones we want to vote for us. But we found time to decide that Congress and the staff should get their medical insurance subsidized by the employer.

I can list issue after issue that the Rethugs use to show us as being at best less than serious, and at most hypocritical. Yet where are we? We are discussing issues pretending that up is down, and steadfastly defending the indefensible. We are starting to sound as lame as McSame in the 2008 election when the economy was melting down and he's still talking about the war in Iraq like it was the only issue that anybody would care about.

We have to pivot, and our destination has to be on principle. Because until we are able to point to solid principles that the people can understand we don't have a prayer of getting the majorities we should. Right now, our campaign flyers are going to read with versions of Vote Democrat, we're not quite as evil as the Republicans. We only spy on you some of the time. Rand Paul is going to ride the wave of disgust at this crap into the White House. Then we'll have a lunatic in the oval office, and who will be to blame? We will, because we are bound and determined to prop up the Intelligence Industrial Complex even if we go down in flames in the process.

Granted, I think that Rand will keep all those programs in place, but the damage he will do with them is immeasurable.

So keep pretending that the other side will wake up, while we are asleep at the wheel. Keep pretending that the people like us because they just know we're better than they are. Keep the fantasy alive man, because in another election cycle or two, all we're going to have is the fantasy.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. It did happen in 2006

where after 12 years of GOP control, the House did go back to Dem, with Democrats gaining 32 seats. If the "vote against your own interest" folks sit it out, then it just might happen. That's why the right is trying so hard to get something to stick.

[CANDO]

9. A. Not going to happen

These people are immersed too deeply into right wing world. They have full spectrum ideological media with which the enrich themselves 24/7. Our only hope is they drive their crazy train right over the electoral cliff.

[Phillyindy]

10. It should be obvious...

Not only will the right retain the house, they have a good shot and getting the Senate too.

These are people who lived through dangerous idiocity of the Bush Administrstion and said, "Hey, Sarah Palin would be great!"

These are people who lived through the Wall Steet criminal scandals that led to the Great Recession, the outsourcing of their jobs, the loss of their benefits and the shrinking of their wages by a handful of billionaire owners and said, "hey Mitt Romney is on my side"

There's not a word for what the Republican voter is. Dumb isn't strong enough, and often not the case. Brainwashed cult member seems to be the closest description. They'll NEVER change.

[wandy]

11. No, won't ever happen. The GOP was smart enough to appeal.............

to some of the darker sides of human nature.

Consider the welfare queens, the takers of free stuff.
A side of us needs to be better than the rest. To some it is important to be superior to someone. republicans play this card in many ways. 47% of Americans don't pay taxes and get "free stuff". Hell I'm better than them.
Or what I'll call "holier than thou". Liberals are godless and have no morals. I'm better than them.

Another example is playing the race card, without playing the race card. Let's face it some people can hate anything that doesn't look, talk and act exactly like them. When you here that Obama is a Kenyan born socialist "muslin", they know exactly what their saying.

Hate, fear, greed and envy hide within all of us. GOP co. just makes a deliberate outreach to those who succumb to those emotions.

Those that can be easily be won over to the dark side.

[immoderate]

12. People get smart? Won't happen.

--imm

[Lugnut]

13. A. No realization of being had and no revolt

You can't fix stupid.

[Bandit]

14. Remember the Tea Bagger Chant from 2003

"We Don't Care" "We Don't Care" "We Don't Care" and they truly do not care...

[Skittles]

15. they are already revolting

yes INDEED

[steve2470]

16. I think some portion of the Repugs will but the rest will not

As the white racist demographic shrinks, eventually they will moderate and some chunk of the Democratic Party and "independents" will go rejoin them. Their whole appeal is based on ignorance and selfishness, plain and simple.

A very large percentage of this country is both ignorant, especially about politics, and selfish. For them, the Republicans are the default choice. This explains the whole phenomenon of gay Republicans, which to me is utter insanity.

Even if we descend into Great Depression II, there will still be Republicans clinging to their selfish ideology, just as during the 1930's. The Republicans are the "wealthy capitalist" party, and again a very large percentage of this country wants to be or at least associate themselves with the wealthy. Yes, I'm cynical, but I think our history bears me out.

[AlinPA]

17. No realization of being had and no revolt. Stupidity is rampant in the US, especially PA.

[HardTimes99]

18. Without intending to hijack your thread, I think Lenin's distinction between a class 'in itself' and

a class 'for itself' is a useful way to consider this question. Most of us acknowledge that there is such a thing as a 'working class' no matter how we might refer to it, i.e., 'proletariat,' '99%,' and so on. So the question is, given that this class exists in itself, will it ever start acting 'for itself'.

I would like to offer a qualified 'yes,' and say that when the working class starts acting as a class on its own behalf, the Republicans will be swept into the dustbin of history (where logic says they already belong) and many Dems will probably be swept there with them (by the same logic).

As to when it will occur, few of us have workable crystal balls, but I think we can easily state conditions that may be necessary, if not sufficient: another financial\demand-side crisis that the fascists will refuse to ameliorate and the formation of a pro-working class 'faction' or salient within the Democratic Party that will have the strength to primary Blue Dogs and kick them to the curb when they prove incapable or unwilling to represent the interests of those who work for a living.

[LiberalAndProud]

19. No realization. No Revolt.

The Tea Party has been packaged and sold as "voter revolt". Yes, I know that it was astroturf, but too few pay enough attention to know that they're being skinned. Party identity is too engrained and too contentious for an easy transformation. The Democratic party has been successfully branded as the party of communist, godless, gun grabbing ideologues, reality be damned. With no viable alternatives, Republican voters will continue to vote Republican and Democrats will continue to vote Democratic -- policy and platform notwithstanding.

And we must not forget the social issues which will divide us always and forever.

[mick063]

20. Sweeping change is inevitable

Unchecked capitalism is inherently unstable. There will be a major economic calamity and people will look to the government for a solution. The government will resolve the economic calamity in the same manner it has always done so. Government expansion, stimulus, job creation, and social welfare.

[Waiting For Everyman]

21. Two things would have to happen first.

The churches have the propaganda locked in, so 1) they'd have to realize that the churches have been playing a power brokering game with their votes; and 2) discrediting of trickle down has to happen completely and finally. Then, they might have a chance at catching on.

[Motown_Johnny]

23. A) Look at southern states

They have been living under failed conservative economic policies for decades. The cons still have a stranglehold on power there.

It is likely that the Tea Party will split off and that they will take many of the (R) voters with them. If that counts as a revolt then I guess I need to vote for both A and B.

[Qutzupalotl]

24. You've hit on an effective strategy for changing minds,

namely telling them they've been lied to. That avoids the defense mechanism of denial and makes you an ally with them against those who have lied to them. This can work on an individual level, one-to-one, but I don't see it happening on a large scale; so I'd have to come down on the A side. But that is no reason not to use it on a small scale.

Our differences are more cultural than ideological. Sure, the leaders are ideologues, but average RW voters vote for people who look and talk like them. They choose their congregation over what they see as hippies on our side. And it is a war to them, with the other side embodying everything evil.

Why do they vote against their interests? Two reasons. One is that they don't see the economic argument. But the other reason is that they are driven by religious zealotry; they are willing to sacrifice even their own economic benefit if they can elect people they think are "pure." So they don't mind keeping their own wages stagnant as long as taxes don't rise and the evil "baby killers" are not in power.

[1awake]

25. The vast majority of "republican"

voter's only vote republican because it make's them feel good. "Flag waving / church going / family centered" propaganda goes really far with people in the middle.

Some will realize.. most will not. There will not be a revolt in this country until something happens of epic proportions (ie economic collapse). You know people as well as I do... Change never takes place unless people's lives are significantly disrupted. Then they come out in droves.

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

26. A. No realization of being had and no revolt

n/t

[CrispyQ]

27. Doesn't look like you're going to ask that other question.

Check column A for me. Repub voters are authoritarian followers. They do what their authoritarian leaders tell them to do. And when their leaders betray them, Hannity & Rush tell them that it's the liberals/feminists/minorities/gays fault, anyone but their own selves fault, for not thinking for themselves.

[notadmblnd]

28. There will be no massive revolt

because those type of people slowly wake up at different times. My step father or instance; he woke up just before W's 2nd term. That's when he took his financial hit and began to feel not so upper middle class.

[GentryDixon]

29. Option A.

In my state, Utah, the Church tacitly tells the flock to vote Republican. They march lock-step to the voting booth to do just that. Since they have so many tax deductions for all of their children, they don't feel the pinch many do.

I got into a discussion with my financial adviser about taxes. He is a devout Mormon, 5 children & thinks the tax rate is too high & the government spends too much money. I asked him if he liked driving on roads without falling into potholes and other such government expenditures. The city has terrible roads, and they are so short on tax dollars they canceled their county fair. After giving all the tax breaks to the big business to get them into the city, they are dying for revenue, but won't raise taxes. I explained to him that I fully support paying taxes for that purpose and the school budget as well. I had one child, long since out of the system & he has 5 children in the system other people are paying for because of the tax credits he gets with all of these little darlings. He actually looked embarrassed when I said that. No matter. He still gets the tax credits, and I pay for his children to get educated.

[bravenak]

30. B.

Obamacare is working for them.

[Cal33]

31. I think that some will never come to the realization, but some definitely will. There will be a

voter revolt, not as massive, but big enough to do a lot of damage.

[Jim Lane]

32. I choose Option "C": fear of revolt, leading to change.

Quite a few Republican elected officials think the Tea Partiers are dangerous nuts. Unfortunately, most of these more centrist Republicans haven't been driven by their principles to change parties, even if privately they think they'd feel more at home as conservaDems than as Republicans constantly being sniped at as RINOs by the RWNJ's.

What will get them to move is not principles, but self-interest. They will see incipient signs of revolt or, more precisely, erosion. There won't be a dramatic "revolt" event, but, instead, a slow accumulation of factors -- declining Republican support among seniors, growing Hispanic importance in the electorate, etc. Non-TP Republicans will conclude that, if the trends continue, the Republican Party is doomed.

In other words, because these politicians are good at seeing which way the wind is blowing, it's hard for me to envision a revolt coming out of the blue. Any revolt would be preceded by a growing fear of revolt.

At that point I see these possibilities:
1) Republican centrists fight back. The Republican caucus in the House still has many TP members but the adults are in charge, and have made it clear that the current mindless obstructionism won't be tolerated. A few of them are successfully primaried from the right, but many remain. Boehner and Cantor, being generally unprincipled, are quite willing to sell out the Tea Party if that's what it takes to keep their jobs.
2) Republican centrists give up, probably after an unsuccessful attempt at fighting back. Some disgruntled centrists do switch parties. For example, if Democrats make gains in 2014 but not enough to get a House majority, it might take only a dozen or so Republicans (or even fewer) switching parties. They would do so as a bloc to ensure that they'll remain in the majority party. (Few politicians would switch from the majority to the minority party.)
3) Any Republican fight back is too little. The current gridlock situation continues at least through the 2016 election. With each passing cycle, though, the chance of a successful centrist push-back or large-scale party switching grows.

[reformist2]

33. It will happen when they have no money, no job when they're 65. And they won't be blaming themselves