I didn't vote in the Democratic primary today....only the 2nd time I've missed a race since 1972

[Rowdyboy]

In 1992 I missed a mayoral primary because my mom was in the hospital hours away and not expected to live. My candidate lost by 3 votes. Haven't missed another chance since.

This year I just don't care. The Mississippi Democratic party is gone-vamoose! 10 years ago we help 6 of 7 of statewide offices-today we hold one. On todays ballot there were 4 Democratic candidates for governor (none stand a chance); No Dems ran this year for lt gov, sec state, auditor etc. There's no Democratic primaries in my county for sheriff, state legislature or even supervisors.

As a Democrat I literally had no one to vote for except 4 guys running for governor who don't stand a chance. The Democratic party that reigned supreme until the 1970's is now vanished-nothing as far as the eye can see but a vast tea party wilderness.

I've been one of the Democratic parties strongest backers here on DU forever (or at least since I signed up the summer of '02). I came of age in the 1960s when being a Democrat meant emulating Bobby Kennedy, William Proxmire, Hubert Humphrey, Ed Muskie and Howard Metzenbaum and thats why I've always viewed the party so favorably. I remember when Bella Abzug and George McGovern (and yes, Mike Gravel) represented my party. Compared to today, these people were giants. But sadly, that party is gone forever and I need to accept that and move on.

I really did think about voting in the Republican primary for "the lesser of two evils". Can you imagine a MISSISSIPPI Republican primary? There is no "lesser" of two evils, there's only evil. Neither my partner nor I could force ourselves. Its better just not to vote.

Only the 2nd time I've missed an election since 1972 but it won't be the last. Not the way things look now.

[gateley]

1. I'm not going to give up the fight, I wish you wouldn't either.

:(

[Rowdyboy]

4. Never will....I'm just depressed at both the lack of candidates here in Mississippi where

I've witnessed the death of what I thought was a vibrant growing party. 12 years ago we elected a moderate Democrat (Ronnie Musgrove) who fought for public education and to get rid of the state (confederate) flag-that cost him re-election. Now we've had Haley Barbour for 8 years and his successor will be just as bad. Add that to the lack of any real Democratic leadership from congress and the white house and I'm disheartened. Not even close to finished, but disheartened.

Next year, when the presidential election roll around I'll be there.

[gateley]

13. Understood -

:hug:

We need to help where we can to keep Republicans out of office, but if it's an impossible effort, I can sure understand your discouragement.

Does Barbour have a gig lined up with BP? :grr:

[Rowdyboy]

18. I'm afraid this state is hopeless-at least for now....

As for Barbour, if he doesn't have a job lined up with BP he should. Just like he funneled hurricane recovery funds into expanding port facilities as opposed to housing for the poor, he has done his "master's" bidding.

Just be glad the pig isn't running for president.

[lonestarnot]

2. You are breaking rules and most people here at DU never give the fuck up!

Settle for being a loser, I think fucking not!

[Rowdyboy]

5. Perhaps if you lived in Mississippi for 20 or 30 years you might understand my feelings of utter....

hopelessness. But thanks for your empathy.

[bigwillq]

3. Could you have written in someone? (nt)

[Rowdyboy]

6. I'm pretty sure you can do that on the voting machines but I'm borderline past caring....

This state is so mortally fucked up. I'm 57 and every positive development I've seen here in 40 years has dissipated into shit, every good governor destroyed by midgets in the legislature. This state is still as backwards and depressing as it was when I was 18. Then I thought it could be changed. Now I'm really not sure I care anymore. I just want to be somewhere else.

[bigwillq]

7. Can you move?

:shrug: Is that possible?

[Rowdyboy]

8. Oh hell yes, we're both retired unfortunately most of the liberal areas of the country

are pretty expensive. We're both fond of Charlotte/Durham/Ashville NC and its certainly on our radar. Just have a big-ass 1890's house to get rid of in a depressed market. If the housing market ever turns around, we're golden and so out of here.

In the meantime we're just going to travel as much as possible.

[bigwillq]

12. Well, at least there's some positives in this situation.

---That you're able to move, eventually.
---You're able to travel.

Best of luck to you! :hi:


I wish there were more candidates you felt comfortable voting for. I am lucky, I guess, in CT. Most of the DEM candidates and office holders are pretty decent.

[Rowdyboy]

17. You have no idea how lucky you are....I do have a good congressman-Benny Thompson....

He's pretty progressive (former chmn of the house intelligence committee) and a good guy. But he's about it for the state.

It can be really frustrating down here.

[SwampG8r]

20. try the small towns around asheville

canton and the like
or go over those mountains to tenn where they will just leave you be

[Rowdyboy]

22. Parts of the Ozarks are supposed to be cool but its too far from the ocean for me....

My partners ex-wife and her husband are moving to Bentonville Arkansas this week and they're really excited. Apparently the area is filled with aging hippies (like us) and really liberal. I fell in love with Asheville last fall and would love to expl0ore the area more. Kind of weird you mention Canton NC. We live in Canton MS.

[woolldog]

9. Move to Canada.

[Rowdyboy]

10. Too cold, I'm more inclined to the Yucatan-specifically the town of Merida....

But thats another fantasy altogether....

[woolldog]

15. Ah, see I like the cold...

and the Canadian accent--as well as how progressive they are

[Rowdyboy]

19. The progressive attitude is wonderful and the accent is certainly not a problem....

I think its sexy. But I grew up in south Mississippi-which is probably more similar to the Yucatan than to the Yukon! And I like their accent too!

[Joe the Revelator]

11. So you've taken your ball, and gone home.. Do you expect support for that?

Shit or get off the pot.

[Rowdyboy]

14. How the hell do I shit when there's no pot to shit in? Did you not read my post? My party is GONE

Nobody ran. No Democrat ran for lt gov, no Dem ran for sec of state, or auditor, or ag commissioner or insurance commissioner or sheriff or state legislature or fucking supervisor. The whole point of the thread is that the party is gone! 4 freaking nobodies, basically attention seekers ran for the Democratic nomination for governor. That was the ONLY race on my ballot. I didn't want to skip voting-I just didn't have anyone to vote FOR!

[Joe the Revelator]

16. If there are deems on the ballot you should have voted for them...

....by not, you prove that the party was right to run sacrificial lambs.

[Rowdyboy]

21. Sorry but I only vote for real Democrats, not self-promoting assholes running

for their own self-aggrandizement. But I have no problem with sacrificial lambs-I've been voting for them ever since George McGovern in '72 but I will not waste a vote on a POS like Donald Trump who is only promoting themself.

[Empowerer]

23. Don't wait for other people to identify candidates

All of the candidates - Republican and Democratic - came from SOMEWHERE. They didn't just show up on the ballot all by themeselves. If you wait until people are on the ballot and then limit your choices to only them, you're going to stay where you are.

Get in the process earlier! Go out and find NEW potential candidates. Get involved in events, activities that allow you to meet and support up-and-comers who do fit the profile of the kind of candidate you want to see. Raise money and knock on doors for the men and women you want in public office.

We can't fix the system by opting out of it. Dig in deeper and earlier and we CAN make a difference.

It works. Where do you think all of those Tea Partyers came from? When Republicans feel disenfranchised they get busy from the ground up. Democrats need to do the same thing.