If you did not vote for Clinton or Gore..YOU OWN THIS!

[Thunderbeast]

Ideological purists gave the theocrats FIVE seats on this court. Had Bush (W) and Trump been defeated in the Electoral College (both lost the popular vote), the court's makeup would be seven liberals and two conservatives.

Bush and Trump promised this day to their voters. Sure, two of the seats were "stolen", but if you sat it out, or cast a protest vote, the result is on YOU.

Abortion rights, gun control, and rational campaign finance laws were all possible. Those opportunities were lost by those who threw election day tantrums.

[calimary]

1. THIS.

[Hekate]

2. W Bush & Trump both LOST the popular vote. They both played games with the system...

… especially the Electoral College part of it. The so-called leftist candidates were no such thing, but they worked the margins, among other things.

Anyhow, I’m sure it was just a typo in your part, but the popular vote showed that the majority of the American people wanted the Democrat, both times.

[Thunderbeast]

24. Thanks...corrected.

[Walleye]

3. Might be wrong but I blame the apathetic young woman who couldn't be bothered to vote

So let them deal with it. Two generations have passed since Roe. Those of us who worked so hard for women’s rights are just plain tired at this point

[Budi]

8. They were just too excited for the promise of "free stuff", to bother

File it under, "things we took for granted"

[gab13by13]

4. Gore actually won,

Jeb Bush stopped the vote in Broward county when Gore was set to overtake Bush. Blame the SC or blame Gore for not challenging the SC ruling.

I also blame people who didn't vote for McGovern. I and a couple of my friends were the only ones who voted for him.

[dflprincess]

9. I voted for McGovern -

the first vote I ever cast and I will be proud of that until I die (and afterward if we do go on in some form).

Back to Gore - I blame him and the entire Democratic party that just rolled over and let Bush steal it. At least on senator should have joined the Congressional Black Caucus when they moved to contest Florida's electoral votes.

[Texaswitchy]

13. I was pissed at Gore for giving in.

Just rolled over.

[electric_blue68]

19. My first Presidential Vote! I turned 18 in '71...

...so that was my first year voting.

Yeah, I was rather shocked he didn't pursue it, and no Sen supported the CBC. The non Senatorial support made me angry.

[tirebiter]

26. I ran the Hawaii for Humphrey Campaign in 1968.

Had been a supporter of Bobby Kennedy. The union was behind RFK not Clean Gene. Humphrey had been with DFL. If Humphrey had won, and almost did, the war would have been over within a year.

[dflprincess]

28. Had I been able to vote in '68 I would have voted for Humphrey (I was 15)

Though RFK was my first choice.

We would have been much better off today had Hubert won.

[tirebiter]

32. I was15 in 68 also

The fact I ended up running the state level campaign shows the judgement of tptb on its importance. Just too damn close. In 72 I was facing the possibility of getting drafted. It was more of one issue campaign. I wrote in McGovern for every elected position in Oregon.

[tirebiter]

33. I was15 in 68 also

The fact I ended up running the state level campaign shows the judgement of tptb on its importance. Just too damn close. In 72 I was facing the possibility of getting drafted. It was more of one issue campaign. I wrote in McGovern for every elected position in Oregon.

[Texaswitchy]

12. First president I voted for.

Damn I am so old.

[electric_blue68]

22. I remember walking into the hotel ballroom for McGovern...

... in NYC around 6PM, and seeing the projected on to a big screen all the States except ?______ projected going for Nixon.
Omg.





Just to be clear I voted for 💖 Hillary, too.

[IzzaNuDay]

5. Dayum RIGHT!

The current SCOTUS is there for generations! Because enough folks did not care to vote in their best interests.

[Budi]

6. K & R

Oh be sure they've all got their "women's rights are equal rights" fundraising emails ready to send out to their mass mailing lists, as soon as SC decision comes down.

Suddenly all those who ignored the warnings of 2016 will be asking for "3, $27".. followed by their media blitz & photo ops, of carrying a mantel of righteousness for women, that not one of them helped to hold up when the one candidate who warned of the SC turn of events on Roe, carried it alone in 2016, amid the mockery & debasing from those same ones who now ready their fundraising emails.

[AlexSFCA]

7. The overturning of Roe (it's guaranteed now) could a blessing wake up call

There is no question now that Roe v. Wade will be overturned in less than a year, and more cases will be trying to outlaw abortion nationwide (once SC recognizes “fetal rights”). My only hope that this will be a wake up call to young women and men too who are affected by these laws (e.g. their spouses). Also, women can’t just travel to another state to get an abortion, an opinion from one of California’s abortion rights activists is that clinics are unlikely to accepts women traveling from states where abortion is criminal, providers in CA can easily be liable, few will be willing to be criminally exposed.

[leftstreet]

10. I thought Hillary won the popular vote n/t

[Thunderbeast]

25. Corrected..thanks.

[ColinC]

11. I did not vote for Gore

Although I would have proudly done so.


...I was 15.

[electric_blue68]

17. Well...

why didn't you grow up faster!



😉

Good to know you heart was in the right place. 👍

[colsohlibgal]

14. Well I'm Good

Voted for both of them.

[Initech]

15. Been voting straight Dem since Gore!

Fuck the Christian right!

[greenjar_01]

16. Agreed

[LetMyPeopleVote]

18. guess who could've prevented #scotus judges from overturning roe v wade

Link to tweet

[StevieM]

20. If your name is James Comey you own this. (eom)

[H2O Man]

21. Respectfully disagree.

I think republicans are to blame, and that while republicans "own" it, it will be others who suffer as a result. In my opinion, that is a better stance to take than pointing fingers of blame and shame at the people we need to get out and vote for Democratic candidates in 2022. For, as you point out, we need everyone to get out and vote in order to win.

[Demsrule86]

29. Wrong and wrong...some supposedly on our side advocated voting for Stein, staying home or in

some cases voting for Trump...these folks siphoned off just enough votes in must win rustbelt states to allow Trump to win narrowly...so to all of these folks I say you helped kill 700,000 Americans with Covid, and you will now be responsible for setting women back 50 years and killing more than a few...I will hate you until the day you die...we had a great shot and you 'but her email' folks blew it. And let me just say if I never have to hear one word from the fucking Greens who are not Green but exist only to help Republicans win elections...get Republicans elected every November. Fuck you Greens and double fuck you Jill (putin's traitor) Stein.

[betsuni]

36. +1

[Nixie]

43. +1000

Amen to everything you said, Dems. All those lies at vanity rallies and this was what we could see as the consequence. And here it is. SMH.

[betsuni]

44. Vanity rallies, audiences trained to boo louder at the words "Democratic establishment" than

"Republicans." Here are the consequences. Hope that person is happy.

[H2O Man]

45. I think it's good

that you recognize that this isn't something that you want to, or can, do. We all have different abilities, and need to focus upon different important tasks as 2022 approaches. This includes a wide span of options, from those who are Democrats of the Joe Manchin camp, to those who are in the Bernie/ AOC camp. Obviously, a Manchin Democrat is neither interested in nor capable of communicating in a meaningful manner with the Democratic Left, any more than an AOC Democrat can pusuade a Liz Cheney republican to vote for our candidates in 2022.

As both the OP and your post highlight -- and the implications are essential that all of us grasp -- we win elections on the national level when we appeal to the largest number of people. And the only loss since 2004 was when there were potential votes that went to either a third-party candidate, or more importantly, simply did not get cast. The numbers from 2016 document that the biggest factor in the voting was specific groups that did not turn out in the numbers that they did in 2008, 2012, and 2020. (I consider the Russian interference another obviously important factor.)

Hence, my understanding -- which may be limited -- is that a tool like Jill Stein is not going to be a factor. For example, there are a whole lot of people who have turned 18 since 2016, and Stein is not entrenched in their thinking. And I doubt that a single person who does think about Stein when considering 2022 has anything but an extremely negative view of her and her 2016 role. In the early 2000's, I was familiar with people who supported the Green Party. But I honestly don't know a single one now who is not fully aware that the republican operatives run the Green Party. Admittedly, this is merely based upon a large number of counties in rural upstate New York. Thus, the possibility to attempting to appeal to something that no longer exists is the exact opposite of what I'm saying.

There are numerous other groups of people that we need to appeal to. That includes those who sat 2016 out, or who cast what they considered a protest vote. It includes those who have turned 18 after 2016. It includes people who see little or no connection between voting/ politics and the reality of their daily lives. And it includes republicans who are aghast at the direction that their party has taken.

It also involves running the candidates most likely to win. For in the end, just as a candidate owns a victory, they own a defeat.

[Polybius]

23. If Bush lost in 2000, it's not realistic to think that there wouldn't be another Republican

He might have been a one termer. McCain (or Bush again in a rematch) may have defeated him in 2004. If that's the case, it wouldn't have changed much, since Bush's two picks were into his second term. And even if Gore won re-election, there is certain to have been another Republican in 2008. Americans would never have one Party rule for more than 16 years again.

[Demsrule86]

30. Consider how few Presidents are one termers. We had Hoover, Carter (I don't count Ford), Bush 1 and

now Trump...every reason to believe Gore would have served two terms.

[Polybius]

46. Americans tend to usually choose in cycles

So a President from one Party wins, gets re-elected, then the other Party wins and gets re-elected and so on. However, there are factors that stop the cycle. 1988 was supposed to be a Democratic year, but Regan was extremely popular when leaving office, so Poppy Bush rode on his coattails. Because the cycle was skipped, 1992 became the Democratic year, hence the win by Bill Clinton.

In many ways, Gore's 2000 mirrors Bush's 1988. While 2000 was supposed to be a clear Republican year from the cycle, Clinton's popularity was off the charts, and pushed Gore to almost (actually he probably did win) squeak out a win. Because of this, 2004 would have skipped to become a Republican year in the cycle. He would have had a tough time to run on, with no war, no 9/11 (I think Gore's intelligence would have intercepted it), etc. The Presidency probably would have been rather uneventful.

I also worry about 2024. 2016 was a Republican year, and 2020 was supposed to that Party's re-election. However, Trump was hated and lost, likely meaning that the cycle turns to Republicans in 2024.

[Demsrule86]

50. Clinton won two terms so I doubt that we need to worry in 2024. Our best shot is with Biden.

[Polybius]

66. Clinton won two terms because the Democratic cycle was skipped in 1988

He also had massive charisma and was very likeable. Be very afraid for 2024.

[radius777]

63. +1. Gore ran a bad campaign, distanced himself from Big Dog

and picked the tiresome Lieberman who added nothing to the ticket. If he picked Bill Bradley he would've covered his left flank and likely prevented Nadir from gaining any steam.

Gore/Dems in 2000 simply bought into the GOP narratives about the Clintons, when in reality Bill Clinton's ratings were sky high and voters were happy with the job he did.

[Raftergirl]

27. I've voted straight Democratic line since

I became eligible to vote in 1974.

I wouldn’t even vote R for dog catcher.

[Demsrule86]

31. Me too...and dogs deserve better than GOP types.

[darmok167]

34. I respectfully disagree.

I honestly can't remember with 100% certainty for whom I voted in 2000. I think it was Bush because I was a conservative back then because I grew up that way, I was young, and I didn't know any better. I voted for Obama in 2008 and in 2012. But in 2016, I voted for a 3rd party candidate, and I take no responsibility for this. My reason? I live in a solidly red state where my vote does not matter. My one vote makes no difference. Honestly, I voted for Kanye West this past election because let's be honest, how often will I ever get the opportunity to vote for Kanye West for President? LOL

I am sympathetic, and I understand where you are coming from, but not all votes are equal. Mine means nothing in national elections so I try to have some fun with it. If I were in a "swing state", you can bet your ass I would vote differently. But I am not.

[Rob H.]

35. I know what you mean

I live in a deep red state that Trump won by 20 percent in 2016 and 16 percent last year—I could’ve voted for a ham sandwich for all the difference my ballot made.

[W_HAMILTON]

37. Oh, no, don't get it twisted -- you own it.

You may "respectfully disagree" and you may not want to own it, but you own it.

Just like now. I wish you and others like you were as irrelevant as you claim, but you're not. You proudly boasting about voting third party in 2016 and then doubling down by admitting you voted for Kanye fucking West -- are you kidding me? -- in the last election, while it should lead to you being completely dismissed as a serious person or a Democratic-aligned ally, it won't be. You alone may not change one person's vote, but it isn't just you alone out there. I mean, fuck, there are foreign troll farms that spent day and night trying to conjure up people like you, and you disclaim any responsibility for your actions? Shameful.

"No single rain drop thinks it's responsible for the flood."

[betsuni]

38. +1

[darmok167]

40. Had my votes have gone for Gore and Clinton...

...the results would be exactly the same as they are now. There are simply not enough people in my very red state to make a difference in the outcome. I understand your perspective, but what's one more vote when you already win the popular vote but still lose the electoral college?

[W_HAMILTON]

61. And the pivotal states that Hillary lost, a Democrat had not lost in decades.

Your poor reasoning is the same poor reasoning that led ignorant people to believe that any particular state is "in the bag" and thus didn't turn out or decided to waste their vote on do-nothing grifters like Jill Stein.

As our democracy comes close to crumbling down, how about having just a wee bit of respect for being civically responsible not to mock the entire process by voting for Kanye fucking West? People died to protect your right to vote, Republicans are rolling back people's rights to vote anywhere they can, and you are voting for the equivalent of cartoon characters in an election that damn nearly cost us our democracy.

Once again, shame on you, and, yes, you most certainly do own it.

[darmok167]

41. Don't get me wrong...

...you are free to blame me all you want. And I am fine with you blaming me. I just know it's not my fault.

[W_HAMILTON]

62. And you are free to think you're not part of the problem.

But you are.

If everyone who took that similar reckless approach to their civic duty in 2016 instead acted like responsible members of our democracy, Hillary would have won. Hell, Hillary would have won if you ran it back the day after, just based on people that thought she had it "in the bag" and were sure there was no way a moron like Trump could win.

I can't imagine the shame I would have if, in a few decades, my child came to me and asked who I voted for when Trump and co. were dismantling our democracy, and I had to tell them Jill Stein and Kanye fucking West. Have you no shame?

[darmok167]

71. Since both margins were 30% in my state...

...no, I do not. And I did not vote for Stein.

[ecstatic]

42. +1000. Imagine if Georgians had used that same ridiculous approach

Biden certainly would not have won the state and we definitely wouldn't have sent two Democratic senators to Washington. The common wisdom last year and even this year for the runoffs was that Georgia is a solid red state.

[darmok167]

52. Again, I respectfully disagree...

...the margin of victory in 2016 for Trump in Georgia was about 5%. The margin of victory for Trump in my state in 2016 was 30%. In 2008 when the "blue wave" happened because of an amazing candidate, the margin of victory for "The Maverick" John McCain was 16%. The last time my state went blue was 1996 and that was by less than 1%. That was 25 years ago. My state is red, and it is only getting redder. Trump beat Biden by 30% in 2020 here. I promise you my Kanye vote made no difference.

I follow politics. I know the trends. My state elected a Democratic Governor in 2019 by the slimmest of all margins. 0.4%. Literally about 5,000 votes. And why did they do this? Because the Republican Governor was one of the worst human beings alive. And the Democrat was the son of a VERY popular 2 term Governor just 4 years prior. The Republican said that when the teachers union took a day off to protest something, there were a lot of children that were likely raped or molested "because they (the teachers) took a day off." He said if we allowed casinos in our state it would lead to an increase in suicides "every night." And he only lost by 0.4%.

I voted for the Democrat in that race because I knew it mattered. If my state ever gets as close as 5%, you can bet your ass I will vote for Mickey Mouse if he were the Democrat, but until the trends change, it just isn't happening here. These people are idiots.

[Lancero]

72. Nice catch 22.

I refuse to support Democrats, because people in my state refuse to support Democrats.

Congratulations on being part of the problem.

[Act_of_Reparation]

49. Cool.

Here's the thing, though:

If ideological purity is what has you concerned, implying ownership of unsavory outcomes based on one's electoral history ain't a fucking thread you want to be pulling at. It's just going to make purists even more self-righteous.

[iemanja]

54. Dude

Voting Democratic is a requirement on this site.

[darmok167]

58. I hear you.

And I get it. I was just trying to address the original premise because I reject it. I am a Democrat. That's for damn sure. That's why I am here. I am just old enough to know that emotional arguments will likely get you clout and points and whatever, but they rarely ever win you elections...unless you are a Republican. Those idiots stick together come hell or high water when it comes to things like restricting voting rights or putting women back in their place. LOL

[Polybius]

67. Yes but we allow those who previously voted Republican or indy to be members

2000 was a long time ago.

[iemanja]

69. I understand but

He voted third party in 2016 and 2020 as well.

[DFW]

39. I agree. No rationalization changes this.

I became eligible to vote in 1971. I have voted for every Democratic candidate for President, Vice-President, Senator, House Rep., and on down the line.

I have voted for a Republican exactly once, and that was my very first vote. I'm still proud of it, and happy to own it. I was studying in Philadelphia, and had PA residence at the time. The Philly Democrats, not exactly the cleanest bunch at the time, since they owned the city, decided to nominate the corrupt, oafish, and extremely nasty police commissioner, Frank Rizzo, for mayor. He campaigned on a platform of police violence to anti-war protesters and being friends with Richard Nixon. His Republican opponent was a mild, unobtrusive bureaucrat named Thatcher Longstreth. He was an unspectacular nice guy who I'm sure the Philly Republicans put up because he was one of the few willing to get their asses handed to them in the election. It was a foregone conclusion. But there was NO way in the world I was going to vote for a corrupt cop who got his jollies by seeing kids my age sent to the emergency room by his goons in uniform. Damn straight I voted against him.

Rizzo did us all a favor by switching to the Republican Party soon after the election, going to DC to hang with his "friend," Nixon, and then fading a few years later when the Philly press started asking how come he could suddenly afford to build himself a new house that cost over ten times his annual gross salary.

[Calista241]

47. I don't know, I just don't think the country would have dealt well with

28 years of 1 party rule in the White House. Assuming Clinton won in 1992 and 1996, Gore in 2000 and 2004, then Obama in 2008 and 2012, and then Clinton again in 2016.

I mean, I would love to see what happened, but the realistic part of me doesn't think it could legit happen.

[Polybius]

48. Bush is the main reason that I'm a Democrat today

2000 was my transition year from conservative to liberal, and I was undecided till the end, but voted for Gore. At the time I really liked Bush too though, because he said he was against "nation building." Well, Bush "won" and I was not terribly upset. After 9/11 I was among the 90% that supported him. However, once 2002 came I soured on him. By 2004 I hated him, and never went back.

[UTUSN]

51. Who here didn't vote for Clinton or Gore?

[iemanja]

53. I didn't vote for Gore

I was younger and stupid. Greatest regret of my political life. I'd tell the story to people wavering on voting for Hillary. I don't know that it influenced anyone.

It gets worse too. I voted for Nader on the butterfly ballot in Palm Beach county. I'm a piece of shit for that, I know. It's the experience that turned me into a loyal Democrat. No more third party BS for me.

[UTUSN]

55. Gosh, I won't call you a pos, but am disappointed. I voted all our Dems but have been

disappointed and heartbroken on several of them not winning even if they weren't my first choice in the primaries and when I knew they wouldn't win.

The biggest flack I've gotten here is that I have criticized McGOVERN. I sent him a letter during the campaign saying I admired him personally but knew he couldn't win and that the main thing was to BEAT NIXON and that he couldn't do it and asked him to drop it and let somebody who COULD win take it. I got back a letter (didn't save it), maybe form letter, saying, "Thank you for your support, I think I can win and hope you will support me blah blah." I lost the letter.

[iemanja]

56. All I can say is that I've evolved

and I greatly regret my actions.

[UTUSN]

57. You're fine, no problemo!

[Polybius]

68. Dole was the last Republican that I voted for

I was young then. Voted for Gore 4 years later.

[MerryBlooms]

59. I respect you and your votes.

Very brave for you to reveal your voting history here. The attacks and no quarter given,, under any circumstances displayed on our DU lately... Anyway, thank you for your comments. I always vote straight ticket. I don't agree with your votes, but that's okay. ((Hug))

[iemanja]

60. Thank you.

I appreciate the support.

[Hortensis]

64. :) Voting mistakes, especially when younng, are unfortunately significantly

more numerous than coming to recognize and regret them. As we see every election as millions of people harden into repeating what shouldn't have happened once. If more were like you, we're be in incredibly better position now. In fact, with every election a new chance to learn from our mistakes, we should have an awesome majority!

[MustLoveBeagles]

65. Everyone makes mistakes

You're not a POS for that. At least you've learned from that experience and tried to help others.

[betsuni]

70. Ironic for the "vote my conscience," "How we voted is not as important as that we voted" idiots.

YES IT DOES FUCKING MATTER.

What was so terrible about the 2016 Democratic nominee? Oh, right. She was paid for speeches at Goldman Sachs and sent emails and was "flawed" and held fundraisers like anyone else running for office. Good call, obvious diabolical corruption. Your conscience is, like, totally safe.

[Lancero]

73. So, how about the people who refused to support Kerry?

You know, 2004? Chance to kick Bush out?

Roberts and Alito were late 05 and early 06. Would have been someone different, if people cared enough to support Kerry.

[Raine]

74. True Bush should've been denied a second term. Kerry should've had people voting him

into the Presidency but no mention of the wrong done by denying him votes.

[betsuni]

76. Was there a third party challenger or effect to get people to "both sides" sit out the vote?

There was for Gore and Clinton. Don't remember for Kerry.

[Deuce]

75. I blame the Constitution & Electoral College for the oddity in electing the President...

I blame the Constitution & 2nd Amendment for the gun problem we have in the Country…