If you are a Liberal, Progressive, or Centrist

[jazzimov]

we need your vote in 2014.

There is a lot of evidence of how legislation got stalled in the Republican House. How many times have they voted to repeal Obamacare, and how much has that cost us taxpayers DESPITE the fact that it won't pass?

We need to take back the House. This upcoming election is considered "off-season" which means fewer people usually vote. In elections where fewer people vote, Republicans usually win. That means we need to

GOTV!

And if the DEM candidate isn't Liberal enough for your tastes, then make it known in the Primaries. When it comes down to the actual vote where it's DEM vs REPUB vs THIRD PARTY, the THIRD PARTY isn't going to win, no matter how much you like them. By voting for that THIRD PARTY candidate, in most cases you're just stealing votes from the candidate that would have helped you - you might as well be casting your vote for the Republican.

Of course, it is probably much more complicated where you live. Or, it may be simpler.

But, remember this - if you are trying to destroy confidence in one Progressive Party in order to elevate another Progressive Party: remember which one has a real chance at making real change. Or else you could be stuck with a Regressive Party. In which case you just undermined your own ideals.

[Loudly]

1. My greatest hope and concern revolves around recruitment of candidates.

Those who go solidly BLUE in red states are misfits, until someone with leadership can be recruited to lead a campaign which changes minds.

Watch out for Rand Paul, who likes to blur lines and was complimented! by Lawrence tonight.

Repeat. Complimented by Lawrence.

[PowerToThePeople]

2. it begins.

[mick063]

3. I laugh at your GOTV.

I will never, ever vote for a candidate that embraces an agenda of economic disparity. I will relentlessly encourage others to do the same.

I will gladly vote for Democrats that champion the working man as evidenced through their track record. I will never trust campaign rhetoric again.

The first evidence of pandering to the wealthy elite and I avoid them like the plague.

Welcome to the coming political reality.

GOTV rings hollow to those that are not well represented.

[Summer Hathaway]

4. And I laugh at your so-called principles

because if your actions result in a Republican getting elected over a Democrat, you have no principles.

[Democracyinkind]

16. Duh, of course he has principles.

He just stated them. What you meant to say is that you don't approve of them.

[MNBrewer]

24. If getting a Democrat elected over a Republican, regardless of any other considerations

is the only principle to ever be taken into account, consider me unprincipled. Focusing merely on the quantity of Democrats elected and ignoring the quality is a recipe for failure.

[RC]

28. Absolutely correct.

The Democratic party currently encompasses all three; Democrat, Republican and two versions of third parties - Left Liberal and Right DLC, and it shows.
And we wonder why nothing get done. We would do better, to to do a through house cleaning and kick out anyone espousing DLC and and other Republican Right wing policies.
Big tent, my ass. Too many Democratic congress critters represent the 1% over their constituents. These people do not belong in the tent in the first place. If their campaign rhetoric does not match their actions once elected, do not vote them back in again. Weed them out in the primaries.

[IronLionZion]

36. No matter what sort of Dems get elected, majority mean leadership for long-time liberals

who actually do have track records, and it gives them influence to promote liberal legislation. Leadership of various committees determine where the efforts and funding are directed. We've seen what pointless bullshit happens with GOP leadership.

[leftstreet]

5. Democrats should stop pushing GOP policies

That's the best way to GOTV

[cui bono]

6. Yup. Do something to get the people excited and they will come out and support you. n/t

[Starry Messenger]

7. The challenge in elections is winning over centrists to one party or another.

Chew on that.

[L0oniX]

11. I'd hardly call a centrist an independant. A Dino, DLC'r or Clintoneesta maybe.

[AgingAmerican]

14. It's about the youth vote and the Independents

There are very few 'centrists' in the US. What do centrists believe in? Halfpublicanism?

[Volaris]

25. Compromise at all costs.

Welcome to the Eternal Maintenence of the Status Quo (which would be fine with me, as long as the status quo did was not "fucking over as many people as possible for the sake of next quarter's Profit Margin&quot .

[treestar]

20. If a republican were going to win, wouldn't you rather it be one

they considered to be a centrist?

[livingwagenow]

8. K&R nt

[L0oniX]

9. Thanks for the reminder that I need to throw you into my ignore dungeon.

Your not worth responding to so there's no point in seeing your posts.

[whatchamacallit]

10. I think I'll exercise my right as an American, follow my principles, and

vote for whoever the fuck I like.

[L0oniX]

13. How dare you! Infidel! You will be assimilated into the BOG ...oh ..uhm ...I mean Borg.

[deutsey]

21. +1

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Simple solution. Run candidates that appeal to the left as much as some 3rd Party candidates.

[great white snark]

15. This message will piss off the Republican enablers.

You can't earn their vote-nothing is ever good enough. You can only hope they aren't feeling selfish in the voting booth.

[cali]

17. I live in Vermont. I do what I want.

and it sure as fuck doesn't involve taking advice from the likes of YOU.

Furthermore, I have a Senator with an "I" after his name who is a socialist. And there is a viable progressive 3rd party in this state with members in both the Vermont House and the Vermont Senate.

Oh, and the national dem party is not progressive.

[quinnox]

18. these kinds of demands and threats don't make me all excited to want to go out and

vote in the mid-terms, that's for sure.

[JHB]

19. I'm always baffled when people think scolding and condescension are...

...effective tactics on this.

[LWolf]

22. Gosh, what an original post.

We've never seen nor heard this idea before. We've never even thought about it when we make our voting choices.

Thank you so much for opening our minds to this fresh new talking point.

I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come up with this brainstorm.

Ignorant voters, especially on DU, must be educated about party loyalty.

[NuclearDem]

23. That's the same gun Democrats have been holding to voters' heads for years

Vote for us, loyal lapdogs, while we shift to the right to get more right wingers in our party! After all, we're still slightly better than the Republicans!

[sufrommich]

27. The amount of venom thrown a this pretty

typical GOTV appeal is what makes DU suck for me. Seriously,if you take offense at such a non offensive OP, you're not reacting to the OP,you're playing us against them forum war games and it seems to be all DU does anymore.It's getting boring and predictable.

[RC]

30. The amount of venom thrown is because our representatives, of any persuasion, do not represent us.

To many people do not look past the (D) or (R) instead of at the person running. A large majority of our congress critters, of both parties, become multimillionaires on $174,000 a year. And we keep voting them back in election after election. I see a problem here.

[sufrommich]

32. Is there a magic elixir for voting in liberals

in areas where liberals cannot win? No, there is not. Until you deal with that,complaining that voters aren't liberal enough is a waste of time.It starts at the primary level and if you can't GOTV for a liberal candidate,I'll take the centrist democrat over the right wing nut every time.

[RC]

34. Liberals do run, but they are either shut out of the Democratic Primary and/or they run as

Independents or third party.^* It starts at the local level. School Board, dog catcher, any low level elected position to pad the resume. That is what the Republicans and their Tea-baggers did. They got a president elected.

^* Read the bios of the candidates, many local newspapers print just before any elections. There are usually at least one Liberal or progressive, often more, running. Sometimes as Democrats, sometimes not. They do not get in because the local Democrats already have their bought boy front and center.
20 plus years of watching local politics taught me this.

[FSogol]

37. ^^^^ THIS ^^^^.

Saying "we need your help in 2014" brings out this level of venom? Pathetic.

[Rex]

29. Tell us something we haven't heard like a thousand times.

Yes we know, party loyalty etc..

[zappaman]

35. Did you know...

that to escape from a crocodile's jaws, push your thumbs in it's eyeballs--it will let you go instantly

Bet you haven't heard that like a thousand times!

[pampango]

31. It depends. In my red district I would take a moderate Democrat over my tea party idiot.

I have lived here for 30 years and a Democrat has never come close to winning.

In more competitive districts, and certainly in Democratic-leaning districts, we should push hard for the most liberal candidate we can get.

[fredamae]

33. I Used to vote straight

Dem because I Trusted my party--until the dots connected, that is.
I will No longer settle for the illusion that being associated to one party or the other in and of itself describes a "good for democracy/people" candidate.
Party affiliation, imo, has Nothing to do with Quality of a public servants service--at least not anymore.
Personally I see little difference between the votes, motives and goals of members in the Corporate Wing of either party.