Replies

2010? Off year elections. Nobody voted: chech the numbers. 90 million voted in 2010. In 2012 it was 129 million. 2008 was 131 million. For reference in 2006 96 million voted. Smaller elections can induce a wave. Can the republicans make in roads in 2014? Sure. Can they win in 2016? Doubtfull without the Dems stepping on themselves via scandal or some other nonsense. Again, all about demographics. Demographics have moved significantly. 2008 to 2012 shows minorities picking up close to 2% of the electorate. 2% of 130 million? That is right 2.6. In certain states obviously much higher percentage. Look at CA? Reagan won twice Bush won in 88. Since then and one of the propositions that was seen as racsist the Republican Party has ceased to exist there. The presidential race is no contest.

I have read the Dems want to make 2014 all about min wage. This is a bad fight politically. Funny thing about elections though is the electorate decides what it is about. In 2010 the Tea party emerged and captured the midterms. Looking at polling I have a hard time believing that wave will happen again.

There have been a lot of complaints here about the president being in perpetual campaign mode. I find it smart. He stopped after 2008 and got killed in 2010. I do not think you will see a 90 million turnout in 2014.

There is one small potential for improvement though.
A wise FReeper (can’t remember the name) mentioned that Dems may have declared victory and don’t even consider the opposition worthy of a contest anymore.

Which leads them to start infighting (Stalin’s purges)

(Feds prosecute “Chicago’s own” JJJr, NYT writes story ripping Elon Musk electric wondercar, CBS questions Baraq’s lack of press access, etc).

Only time will tell...

Which leads them to start infighting (Stalin’s purges)

(Feds prosecute “Chicago’s own” JJJr, NYT writes story ripping Elon Musk electric wondercar, CBS questions Baraq’s lack of press access, etc).

Only time will tell...

It's kind of ironic that we are talking about elections being un-winnable because of the minority vote. By definition it is the ‘minority’ vote. That means even without changing Republican appeal with minorities (which I really don't think is impossible and could happen if approached correctly) Republicans could win by appealing to those in the non-minority demographic.

Actually, the fact that we are having this debate is very, very sad and speaks more about the problems in the US than our current economic situation. When identity politics, based on race, is the deciding factor you have big problems as a country.