You know, most people don't pay 1/10th as much attention to politics and the ramifications of voting or not voting as we do here on FR. It's too bad, but that's the way it is. Moreover, people lead such busy lives here in California that it's even worse in our state. THAT is our problem. The best we can do is anticipate that inattention, and give them real issues to attract their attention and real candidates at the very top of the ticket to fire them up.
We need to ELECTRIFY our campaigns as happened with Proposition 13 in 1978 and Proposition 22 in 2000, the Contract With America in 1994, and even the Recall in 2003 where people thought Arnold was what he said he was. That will never happen with moderates, RINOs, or sellouts at the top of our ticket. It's that simple.
Now, just because I said that, doesn't mean I'm disagreeing with the points you just made. I agree and think you are quite correct in your analysis!!!
However, I think he's gonna do like Bush and try to out-Demonicrat the Demonicrats with his up-coming Socialized Medicine play and un-like Bush, he'll get something for it. Bush got ZERO for his Medicare "Part D" (for drugs) play! Doolittle and Pombo, likewise!!! Nothing!!! Nada!!! Pigs in Space!!! (flying even!)
Just because people didn't go to the polls, doesn't meant that they didn't vote.
Fresno County issued a record number of absentee ballots and the FC Elections Commissioner still had over 10,000 to count as of last evening. Many Republicans in the San Joaquin Valley didn't go to the polls but they voted enthusiastically