No f*cking mandate - Bush lost: He got only about 31% of the vote

[tandot]

Please remember that over 40% of eligible voters did NOT vote, many of them young people. A little under 60% of eligible voters voted, a little over half of them for Bush (or maybe not...we'll see). In essence, only about 31% of all eligible voters voted for Bush. The rest - about 69% - voted for Kerry or didn't vote .

America is getting more progressive and liberal. Way less than 31% of eligible voters are ignorant bigots who had their last uprising. They are scared because they realize that they are a minority. The remaining Bush voters were ignorant "security moms" who were scared into voting for Bush and rich people who give a shit about poor people.

To all my gay friends and gay DUers: Those hateful bigots who voted for Bush do NOT make up the majority. They are a dying breed and they know it.

Love is stronger than hate. Love will win.

[bleedingheart]

1. Well those 40% helped contribute to the mess and now I hope

they are sitting in their house happy eating chips and watching TV.

[tandot]

2. I am pissed, too. Every one knew how important it was to vote

I don't understand how so many people can sit on their ass and just let other people decide what future this country is taking. I was especially hoping that more young people would be interested in their future.

I hope we find a way to increase voter participation.

[bleedingheart]

3. I agree and I am working locally to figure that out right now...

we are going to strike while the iron is hot.

[aquart]

4. People who don't vote don't count. Period.

You can't include non-participants. They have chosen to opt out of the process. And you are guessing as to what they believe because they haven't bothered to show up and TELL you what they believe. They don't care enough.

Sorry. These numbers just aren't real.

[ComerPerro]

6. Exactly

[jtb33]

5. Oh, come on...

Please don't spin this any more than it needs to be. You say: "Please remember that over 40% of eligible voters did NOT vote, many of them young people. A little under 60% of eligible voters voted, a little over half of them for Bush (or maybe not...we'll see). In essence, only about 31% of all eligible voters voted for Bush. The rest - about 69% - voted for Kerry or didn't vote."

Thus, using that logic, you could also say: "Please remember that over 40% of eligible voters did NOT vote, many of them young people. A little under 60% of eligible voters voted, a little over half of them for Bush (or maybe not...we'll see). In essence, only about 29% of all eligible voters voted for Kerry. The rest - about 71% - voted for Bush or didn't vote."

I think America is gradually getting more liberal/progressive, but we need to face the truth that the majority of America is still very much conservative. We lost big on Tuesday/Wednesday, and that's the bottom line as to why we lost by such a large margin. :(

[patdem]

7. NO that is not the same thing...bush** calling for a MAN-DATE

so those who did NOT vote did NOT give bush** a man-date...they simply did nothing...so get over yourself! :grr:

[jtb33]

8. My *only* point was that...

the 40% who didn't vote can't be lumped into one side or the other. The bottom line on the 40% who didn't vote was that THEY DIDN'T REALLY CARE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER! If they did, they would have voted!

[tandot]

11. The point that I wanted to make is that Bush did not receive a mandate

I have a gay sister and gay friends who now think that the majority of Americans hate them. A big part of the world now thinks that a majority of Americans are ignorant bigots.

A full 40% didn't care enough about this country to vote. They have given up their right to decide the future of this country to some right-wing extremists who understood how to organize and fire up their base.

Bush is not my President. He is the President of ignorant fascists.

[tandot]

10. That is what Bush and the right-wingers will have you believe

They are fighting a losing battle. Right-wingers are just more politically active. And Bush and Rove scared the shit out of them with their lies. BS like "Kerry will ban Bibles" or "Kerry will make gay marriage legal".

Sorry, but just looking at the last 50 years, you can't tell me that we have gotten more conservative. In the late 60s, interracial marriage was against the law in some states. In the 70s, homosexuality was considered a mental illness. We have now gotten as far as talking about Civil Unions and Gay Marriage.

You can't stop progress.

[jtb33]

13. I definitely agree with you, but...

I think that the results of the election were evidence that we tried to push "too hard, too fast, too far" to the left for what the majority in this country is currently willing to accept. :(

[WisconsonDem]

9. Playing With The Numbers

While I understand whats in your heart, your math does not chamge things. Weather you say Bush 51---Kerry 49 or Bush 31---Kerry 29, the result is still the same. What really ticks me off is the 40% who did not vote. How do you figure something like that ? What in God's name is wrong with those people ?

[tandot]

14. I just get angry every time they call it a "mandate"

Bush's arrogance when he talked about "political capital" ... :mad:

Over 40% not voting is utterly disgusting. Especially young people.

[Abelman]

12. Focussing on the wrong thing

The problem isn't Americans being progressive or regressive.

The problem is apathy and complacency. Until we get people to care, we will not improve.

[DoBotherMe]

15. When I was doing GOTV

on election day, there were many registered demos who weren't voting because they didn't like EITHER candidate and they were also disillusioned by the whole process -- they have disenfranchised themselves.