2016 Postmortem

Igel

(36,966 posts)

231. For all that,

Tue Dec 20, 2016, 10:52 PM

Dec 2016

(R) turnout was lower than (D) turnout:

Turnout went up for Obama's first election and in response to Bush II--something to vote for, something to vote against--but down in 2012. Less to vote for. It was down in 2014 because it wasn't a presidential election.

This year, a lot of voters didn't see much to vote for. (D) voting was depressed. (R) voting was, too.

As for voting rights and disenfranchisement, the only actual decent study that's been done said more people were disenfranchised by the perception they wouldn't be able to vote than by not having the ID necessary to vote. In other words, they had the ID but had it drummed into their heads by pessimists and wrong-headed activists more out to score rhetorical points than actually enable democracy that they certainly did not have the right ID (so why bother even checking?).

It's a secular trend, with the occasional countermovement in the trend line. (Secular: of or relating to a long term of indefinite duration. Not from "seculum" meaning &quot this present) world," opposing Christ's "not of this world, but "seculum" meaning "age" or "century".)

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How were we supposed to reach 'Rural Whites' and still maintain our base? [View all] bravenak Dec 2016 OP

Our problem isn't rural white's. It's apathy. When 46% of eligible voters can't be bothered to vote Trust Buster Dec 2016 #1

I see that as a big ass problem too bravenak Dec 2016 #3

Part of that occurred because of the voter suppression that took place still_one Dec 2016 #31

It started long before 2013. Voter turnout has become increasingly abysmal over the past Trust Buster Dec 2016 #105

Think that's one of the main reasons the Rethugs disempowered the new Dem NC Governor MrPurple Dec 2016 #179

It is hard to believe this is really happening here. still_one Dec 2016 #190

For all that, Igel Dec 2016 #231

Among the 14 states which add restrictive voting requirements, Wisconsin, Ohio, still_one Dec 2016 #233

Apapthy for 1000, Alex... *ding ding ding* N/t DeadLetterOffice Dec 2016 #55

Can't be bothered. And also quite simply they just can't. kcr Dec 2016 #168

but they are just fine with white guys getting their shit made in China JI7 Dec 2016 #2

Exactly. The voted for the guy who outsources his products. Nothing we could say would do jack bravenak Dec 2016 #4

Donnie and Ivanka come to mind. sheshe2 Dec 2016 #47

i agree. nt DesertFlower Dec 2016 #56

and they are doing that already . Never a word about the businesses who hire undocumented workers . lunasun Dec 2016 #80

Or buying that stuff at the resulting lower prices treestar Dec 2016 #216

As POTUS said: elleng Dec 2016 #5

Thats nice. I do not always agree with him. bravenak Dec 2016 #11

You can't be serious realmirage Dec 2016 #6

I am not talking about the ones who voted for Hillary bravenak Dec 2016 #8

Then why talk about rural voters like they're a bunch of idiot racists that we can never win over? realmirage Dec 2016 #13

Many of them are? Why act like thats not true and pretend they are all aware and righteous? bravenak Dec 2016 #15

So you're one of those people that lumps whole groups of people together? realmirage Dec 2016 #20

No but facts matter, 67% of Trump voters thought the UE rate went up during Obama term... uponit7771 Dec 2016 #38

I live in rural ass Alaska and know about red states and just how racist rurals can be bravenak Dec 2016 #40

If we write off rural areas, we have to get votes elsewhere yeoman6987 Dec 2016 #83

We can make them up in the suburbs and increase our own turnout bravenak Dec 2016 #84

Very true. In fact he will never get the amount he got this time yeoman6987 Dec 2016 #85

They also believe Donnie won the popular vote. sheshe2 Dec 2016 #49

Because you didn't specify that at all in your OP. You might want to. dionysus Dec 2016 #144

No. Write whatever youwant however you want to. I just do me bravenak Dec 2016 #152

rural voters, again Afromania Dec 2016 #39

We can't. Adrahil Dec 2016 #167

The white rural vote in Arkansas WhiteTara Dec 2016 #75

All those Obama / Trump voters are racists? jfern Dec 2016 #134

"Dear God that's a perfect recipe to make our Party EXTINCT" tecelote Dec 2016 #147

Until rural whites abandon their bigotry and embrace 21st century America, we should ignore them. LonePirate Dec 2016 #7

I think so too bravenak Dec 2016 #9

I don't think that phrase is what you meant sarisataka Dec 2016 #22

I was using it condescendingly but completly understanding the history bravenak Dec 2016 #57

. sarisataka Dec 2016 #63

And they'll ignore us RIGHT BACK and we'll go extinct as a Party. Great strategy realmirage Dec 2016 #14

They have BEEN ignoring us bravenak Dec 2016 #16

Oh? Then how did Obama win twice? realmirage Dec 2016 #17

With minorities, women, and us city folks making up the lion's share of his coalition bravenak Dec 2016 #21

He won by energizing the voters in urban, sub-urban/exurban areas etherealtruth Dec 2016 #34

... sheshe2 Dec 2016 #77

So you're for embracing bigotry and ignorance then? LonePirate Dec 2016 #25

Are you one of those people that lumps whole groups together? Like Trump does? realmirage Dec 2016 #37

Not all rural whites are bigots but a great number, perhaps even a majority of them are. LonePirate Dec 2016 #46

Oh, please! If what you say is true we all would have been in a museum by now. n/t kcr Dec 2016 #170

Yeah, ignoring them was a great strategy this election. intheflow Dec 2016 #171

So you want us to abandon our core values and principles to appease them? LonePirate Dec 2016 #172

Amen! mcar Dec 2016 #174

You don't have to appease them. intheflow Dec 2016 #227

Same way Obama did??? It's a thought!!! n/t Yo_Mama Dec 2016 #10

You think Obama won white folks who think blacks are taking their jobs? bravenak Dec 2016 #12

Exactly. nycbos Dec 2016 #19

LOL bravenak Dec 2016 #65

We could start by asking these people Lonusca Dec 2016 #101

How to get them and keep me is the question. bravenak Dec 2016 #107

That's why I suggested asking them Lonusca Dec 2016 #110

Most of them did not vote for obama bravenak Dec 2016 #112

They did in 2012. nt Lonusca Dec 2016 #139

No. They absolutely did not. bravenak Dec 2016 #140

Interesting take Lonusca Dec 2016 #164

Most likely lack of Democratic turnout rather than actual flipped votes, also I would be... Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #166

If you read the article Lonusca Dec 2016 #195

That's precisely the problem, but it isn't as high as 25% in most cases, the differences in votes... Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #210

If thats the case, in WI Lonusca Dec 2016 #220

She lost by a margin of approximately less than 100k in 3 states, it was pretty close to razor thin. Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #226

Bravenak quit fighting to keep the same strategy we just lost with realmirage Dec 2016 #18

We won millions more votes. Those voters matter just as much as the ones you seem to focus bravenak Dec 2016 #26

I'll take the howard dean approach, you can go with shrinking the tent and become a party dionysus Dec 2016 #145

You do what you gotta do bravenak Dec 2016 #146

Empirically we were cheated out of this election, I'm not going to fight facts uponit7771 Dec 2016 #32

As a 'rural white' myself... Blanks Dec 2016 #23

That's what I see here and I live in the ruralist of the rural states bravenak Dec 2016 #27

+1, "get the control of the radio waves in these small towns. " seems like something that uponit7771 Dec 2016 #29

Air America BREMPRO Dec 2016 #135

Ok, but that was tried ten years ago and failed. Kilgore Dec 2016 #44

If you look at Keith Olberman... Blanks Dec 2016 #59

If Keith can actually hold on to a show and not get fired, Kilgore Dec 2016 #79

Olberman is too over the top... Blanks Dec 2016 #161

Pay attention to when the Prog channels flip. it's usually becuase they were bought out. Raine1967 Dec 2016 #103

Good point. I think you're right. I have heard this before and totally forgot about it. AgadorSparticus Dec 2016 #208

In my small rural town, 90% of the people who grew up in the town are Republicans incl the Hispanics womanofthehills Dec 2016 #73

I don't think that can be done standingtall Dec 2016 #78

We don't "win" them we talk to them to whittle down the margin... that's about it uponit7771 Dec 2016 #24

Yeppers bravenak Dec 2016 #28

Your idea about the radio waves is good but where do we get the liberal funds... uponit7771 Dec 2016 #30

Maybe rich liberals should chip in to save our democracy bravenak Dec 2016 #33

Yes, for them it would be a drop in the bucket to by rural air time ... seems like something uponit7771 Dec 2016 #35

The big problem Afromania Dec 2016 #45

Well, of course not. We believe they should pay their fair share bravenak Dec 2016 #52

indeed Afromania Dec 2016 #68

Easy. It isn't either/or. EVERYONE needs JOBS. So SHOW UP, talk JOBS, and leave their guns alone! RBInMaine Dec 2016 #36

What jobs? Afromania Dec 2016 #48

What jobs are you going tobring to them? Specifically? bravenak Dec 2016 #54

You are stereotyping as bad as the people you are accusing. I hope you enjoy LOSING. RBInMaine Dec 2016 #41

We all lost Afromania Dec 2016 #50

Did you somehow win while I lost? bravenak Dec 2016 #60

I think many of them live in a fantasy world of... Buckeye_Democrat Dec 2016 #42

I think so too bravenak Dec 2016 #51

I am going to agree with others stating that it has to do with turn out .... etherealtruth Dec 2016 #43

Yes. We need to increase turnout among people who are reachable, not waste out energy bravenak Dec 2016 #67

I do not want to be part of a party that panders to this group of people. Merlot Dec 2016 #163

If for any reason we denigrate our base, brer cat Dec 2016 #53

Agreed. n/t DeadLetterOffice Dec 2016 #70

Great answer bravenak Dec 2016 #71

You speak the truth. phylny Dec 2016 #93

but with the Rust belt losing population, it is becoming older and whiter pstokely Dec 2016 #211

Does this make them commies?!?! lisvard2 Dec 2016 #58

Putinistas bravenak Dec 2016 #62

Bwaaaahahahahaha lisvard2 Dec 2016 #66

It's hopeless. Rural Whites will only come back AFTER Trump pushes us into another depression. tenorly Dec 2016 #61

Yep bravenak Dec 2016 #64

Can we stop using "rural whites"... DeadLetterOffice Dec 2016 #69

I wish I could stop using it, but the words I could replace it with would not go over well bravenak Dec 2016 #74

+1000 brer cat Dec 2016 #162

Well said. tenorly Dec 2016 #169

How much of rural America standingtall Dec 2016 #72

Reaching the suburbs would be way easier bravenak Dec 2016 #76

Great point. MarvinGardens Dec 2016 #90

I have been going to rural mid-Missouri to visit the in-laws farm for the last 45 years... NoMoreRepugs Dec 2016 #81

I see it too bravenak Dec 2016 #87

Seems like you have already made up you mind on the matter Joe Turner Dec 2016 #82

One election loss after another? Did obama lose twice and I forgot? bravenak Dec 2016 #86

The democratic party has lost Congress, the majority of governorships, the presidency Joe Turner Dec 2016 #94

Districting in 2010 was fucked up because we lost in midterms bravenak Dec 2016 #97

Actually we are both Complaining Joe Turner Dec 2016 #102

I Always complain about republicans bravenak Dec 2016 #106

Not many white folk think like that Joe Turner Dec 2016 #119

Yes they do. bravenak Dec 2016 #120

+1, the blame dems first crew love to ignore the gerrymandering and act like it doesn't matter mosty uponit7771 Dec 2016 #160

Did you forget about the vast amount of elected office that isn't the dionysus Dec 2016 #148

No. But election after election seems hyperbolic since obama won four tears ago bravenak Dec 2016 #150

The easiest explanation is that Asians, black and Hispanics tend to be located in the population cen yuiyoshida Dec 2016 #88

That's right, gurl! bravenak Dec 2016 #91

I love that song!! yuiyoshida Dec 2016 #92

They should really make a full version bravenak Dec 2016 #95

Did you watch the cross over shows? yuiyoshida Dec 2016 #96

Not yet, I'm almost done with hers bravenak Dec 2016 #98

I LOVE LUKE CAGE!! I hope they make a second Season!!! yuiyoshida Dec 2016 #100

They BETTER make season two!! bravenak Dec 2016 #108

uhuh! yuiyoshida Dec 2016 #115

Perfect team!!! I want babies!! bravenak Dec 2016 #116

They will be bullet proof yuiyoshida Dec 2016 #117

And maybe FLY!!! Oh shit!!! bravenak Dec 2016 #118

I bet you could find issues featuring Danielle Cage yuiyoshida Dec 2016 #121

Maybe at the boscos bravenak Dec 2016 #123

cool!!.. yuiyoshida Dec 2016 #125

I just watched suicide squad bravenak Dec 2016 #126

awesome, have you seen Deadpool yet? yuiyoshida Dec 2016 #127

Yep. Saw it a few weeks ago bravenak Dec 2016 #128

I loved Deadpool yuiyoshida Dec 2016 #130

Love Luke Cage. Love Jessica Jones. mcar Dec 2016 #175

I was so glad I was told to watch those bravenak Dec 2016 #181

Me too mcar Dec 2016 #182

THANK YOU!!!!!!!! nt asuhornets Dec 2016 #89

More than two choices. MarvinGardens Dec 2016 #99

How to get the rural whites I described in my op while maintaining our base was my question bravenak Dec 2016 #111

Not every rural white thinks a minority has stolen or unfairly taken dionysus Dec 2016 #151

Many of them do. Check the polls and face reality bravenak Dec 2016 #153

We don't because they can't be reached. duffyduff Dec 2016 #104

True bravenak Dec 2016 #114

Easy. Stop assuming those things are mutually exclusive. hellofromreddit Dec 2016 #109

It actually says that a MAJORITY of them believe that bravenak Dec 2016 #113

No. The article doesn't say that. hellofromreddit Dec 2016 #158

More of this? melman Dec 2016 #122

You know you can post your OWN ops, right? bravenak Dec 2016 #124

the best cure is to do what Obama did DonCoquixote Dec 2016 #129

I am a rural, white voter. Lifelong Protester Dec 2016 #131

I was talking about the non hillary voters bravenak Dec 2016 #132

I'm old enough to remember a time when the Democratic Party did appeal... spin Dec 2016 #133

I think he will b a disaster bravenak Dec 2016 #136

I agree. However I have been proven wrong about Trump before. ... spin Dec 2016 #137

Me too. This is the worst political experience of my life. bravenak Dec 2016 #138

that final quote... JustinL Dec 2016 #141

We damn sure did!! Opportunity was not knocking at our doors, we had to find it. bravenak Dec 2016 #142

I would assume it would involve educating people on the issues. You have also dionysus Dec 2016 #143

Educate them then. bravenak Dec 2016 #149

Most likely because.. AllenJordan Dec 2016 #154

Their neighborhoods filling with foreigners? Guess folks shoulda thought about that when they bravenak Dec 2016 #156

Rural neighborhoods are "filling up with foreigners"? What do you mean. Welcome to du uppityperson Dec 2016 #165

Just going by what i hear.. AllenJordan Dec 2016 #177

You live in urban area but have heard and noticed rural areas being filled with foreigners? uppityperson Dec 2016 #184

Think about how the native americans, the first nations people felt when white folks show up bravenak Dec 2016 #185

I find it interesting that no one ever asks about the people that hire illegals... tenderfoot Dec 2016 #194

Short answer?... We don't need to reach D or D-leaning rural whites. PotatoChip Dec 2016 #155

I pretty much agree bravenak Dec 2016 #157

Obama is probably our best example of how. aikoaiko Dec 2016 #159

People can move to where the jobs are mcar Dec 2016 #173

There's a lot of assumptions in this idea. DeadLetterOffice Dec 2016 #178

Yep. Buckeye_Democrat Dec 2016 #189

The Democratic Party isnt going to back down from defending minority rights Gothmog Dec 2016 #176

We won't ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #180

I know bravenak Dec 2016 #188

It's crazy town ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #196

Fucking ridiculous bravenak Dec 2016 #198

If we reach out to rural whites where is our "base" going to go? jalan48 Dec 2016 #183

I personally will not sit here and watch pandering. I just wont bother. I am just as important as bravenak Dec 2016 #186

Boycott the Democratic Party then? jalan48 Dec 2016 #187

I will Stay the fuck in my place that they put me in. Ignore me I ignore you. It is what it is. bravenak Dec 2016 #191

OK- I don't see how reaching out to a group negates your issues. jalan48 Dec 2016 #192

Look to the suburbs. That where you will find the votes bravenak Dec 2016 #197

It will be interesting to see what strategy the Party adopts in the next few years. jalan48 Dec 2016 #203

You know what Bravenek? ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #205

I'm sick too. I knew this but it is ugly bravenak Dec 2016 #206

Yeah it is ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #207

Curious as to why you always seem to use poor grammar when you're upset. cwydro Dec 2016 #209

Because I am ghetto bravenak Dec 2016 #213

It's not as hard as some would like to believe. Exilednight Dec 2016 #193

They eschew education. They hate elitist college graduates bravenak Dec 2016 #199

The alternative: revitalize their urban centers and move there. Then we'll have the votes for JudyM Dec 2016 #200

I really like this idea bravenak Dec 2016 #201

They're less likely to move than we are, though. And even if they move they still have the Electora JudyM Dec 2016 #202

Yep. You're right bravenak Dec 2016 #204

man it's tempting and maybe I should make that sacrifice forjusticethunders Dec 2016 #221

Oh shit, no don't move! bravenak Dec 2016 #224

By not dividing people into groups such as "rural whites" Coyotl Dec 2016 #212

We are not one people. Never have been. bravenak Dec 2016 #214

Says trump and the white nationalists. Coyotl Dec 2016 #217

Says history and the constitution as originally written bravenak Dec 2016 #218

I actually would love to drop identity politics forjusticethunders Dec 2016 #222

Seriously bravenak Dec 2016 #225

yeah I don't think so treestar Dec 2016 #215

We cannot. I think they have to get a full dose of Trump before they even consider changing bravenak Dec 2016 #219

My worst fear is that Trump "succeeds" forjusticethunders Dec 2016 #223

How about stop trying to ban the most popular guns/magazines? That is a huge turnoff where I live. benEzra Dec 2016 #228

I live in ALASKA bravenak Dec 2016 #229

It's not people like you who are pushing to enact crap like the NY SAFE Act. benEzra Dec 2016 #230

To me, handguns are the most dangerous bravenak Dec 2016 #232