Really, Really Old "People" won the election for the Repukes ...

[MindMover]

CHART: The 2014 Electorate Was Really, Really Old

Older voters helped propel Republicans to sweeping victories Tuesday in Senate and gubernatorial races nationwide, according to exit polls from NBC News.

The disparity between the under-30 and over-60 was the widest it's been in a decade, those polls found. The seniors comprised 37 percent of the electorate; young people made up 12 percent.

That was even more extreme than 2010, another great Republican year, when the split was 32 percent over 60 and 12 percent under 30.

That analysis rang true for those supporting Democrats in key battleground states on Election Day. One source familiar with the Colorado Senate race told TPM on Tuesday that youth turnout there had been "pathetic."



http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/exit-polls-2014-electorate-old

They are the only part of the electorate that can afford to sit around there TVs and listen to the 4 billion dollars worth of lies....the rest of the electorate is too busy putting a roof over their heads and food on the table and keeping the bankers from foreclosing on their homes ... or as one of my 30 something friend says, they are all corrupt so who do I vote for anyway ..?

[JI7]

1. doesn't sound to good for their future

[pstokely]

8. but will today's young nonvoters become the future GOP base in 40-50 years?

or will they continue to show up just for Presidential elections?

[MFM008]

61. They dont have futures

they just want to screw it up for the ret of us.

[arcane1]

2. And non-old farts lost it for the Dems :(

[LostInAnomie]

3. I keep reading these articles blaming old people and white men...

... for electing Republicans, and they completely miss the point. These people did what every good citizen should do: they voted for their preferred candidate. They didn't pout at home, or throw their hands up in the air whining that the perfect candidate didn't magically appear. They voted.

Unless Democrats can get it through their fucking heads that voting ALWAYS matters, they can expect for this to happen over and over. The story isn't that old, white men showed up to vote, it's that Democrats once again sat on their hands like fucking children.

[arcane1]

5. THANK YOU!!!

[JI7]

6. because democrats aren't as angry

[RobertEarl]

9. 2008

Obama looked like a flaming liberal compared to today. So did the Democratic party.

Today Dems look like mealy-mouthed centrists afraid of the 2008 shadow.

That's what the kids see and they want no part of being fooled again. Prove me wrong.

[LostInAnomie]

28. Tough shit.

These candidates weren't magically anointed as the Democratic nominee. There is a nominating and primarying process they have to get through. Not happy with your current congressman? Primary him. Current crop of Democrats not liberal enough? Nominate some real liberals.

These young people need to realize they have a responsibility. Sitting back and whining is unproductive bullshit.

[arcane1]

30. Exactly, and that involves voting more than once every 4 years, and paying damn attention!

[RobertEarl]

34. Blaming the kids are you?

Geez, that will get them out to vote.

The kids want no part of the crap being dished out by the old farts in this party who have just about ruined the world. I worked to nominate a change candidate in 2012, and was told by the party hacks they couldn't even talk to the man; a good Dem.

You want the kids to vote? Give them another 2008 Obama type of liberal. Now argue that point, if you can. They voted like crazy in 2008. Now they feel fooled. That's the point. Argue it.

[arcane1]

41. Mainly non-voters in general, and I agree that there wasn't much to offer.

I don't feel fooled because I didn't believe it in the first place. But for me, that doesn't make me want to give up, it makes me want to try even harder!

On Edit: presidential elections always have a higher turnout. The problem is with all the other elections. I voted twice this year! And turnout sucked.

[LostInAnomie]

57. Why should anyone "give" them anything?

They're adults that should be taking part in their civic responsibility. If they are going to sit on their hands until someone "gives" them the perfect candidate, they are going to have a rough life.

Politicians are cynical people. If the youth vote can't be counted on, there is no reason to give a damn about what they want.

[RobertEarl]

62. Yep, there ya go

Fine display of leadership from you.

We 'old farts' are the establishment. We old the power to get things done. We are to be looked up to for leadership and our wisdom. You could even call it a team experience. We want them to give us their vote. Then people like you moan that we don't want to accept our responsibility as leaders. Instead we blame them for not following, and here we are: Losers!

I have seen some fine leaders over the years, but see very few today. Obama done good in 2008, and no one since. Maybe Grayson and Sanders?

[NYC Liberal]

39. Where were "the kids" during the primaries?

Probably sitting at home whining about "politicians suck man!" and "they're all the same!" while doing nothing to get better candidates nominated.

[RobertEarl]

42. Dissing the kids?

Where were you? Is the field presented the one you helped put together?

So why did we just lose? You can't blame the kids for the candidates who are losers. But you can blame yourself, eh? See how that goes?

Dissing the kids because they were not inspired by the candidates you put up, is kinda dumb. Heh, real dumb.

Give them a flaming 2008 Obama type and they'll vote. Like they did in 2008. Duh!

[NYC Liberal]

48. Who's "dissing the kids"? Not me.

I can most certainly criticize anyone who complains about candidates but do nothing during the primaries -- you know, where the candidates are actually chosen. I can criticize anyone who thinks all they have to do if they truly are dissatisfied with things is mark a ballot once every two years.

"Give them a flaming 2008 Obama type"? "Give them"? Who, exactly, is going to be "giving" this candidate? No one. You want better candidates? Go out and work for them. Or, better yet, maybe more people should run themselves.

We lost because in every single midterm, save for four, since the Civil War the president's party has lost seats. It's not new. It's not unprecedented. Far fewer people show up at the midterms, and the ones who do tend to be the ones who are dissatisfied with the current party in power. The ones who aren't don't. Not new. And it has nothing to do with "not being inspired". People just aren't that interested in Congressional races.

[RobertEarl]

49. Round and round you go

We did not present a field of candidates that inspired the young to vote for.

It is the established party's fault we did not do so. So we lost.

Blaming those outside the establishment for the establishment's failures is stupid.

If ever the dems give the voters another 2008 Obama style candidate, they will vote again like they did in 2008. Or even 2006. Duh!

Your "That's the way it's always been" schtick is really old. Kids don't like that. Obama was not like that. That's why he won!

[Calista241]

64. Nah, I bet they don't give two shits about politics 99.99% of the time.

"Politicians suck" would never cross their minds because they'd never even bother thinking about politicians in the first place.

I know, I used to be one of them. It's not apathy, it's total, willful ignorance.

[demosincebirth]

58. Oh, where are you FDR?

[KT2000]

12. yes - and the sooner

Democrats figure out what the old farts want and what they believe in, the better off we will be.
Many of these people are so brainwashed by fox news, radio media and the insane emails they get, they are electing some truly awful and treasonous people to office. That should have been an easy call for Democratic candidates.

There was a time when Democrats said what they stood for and shamed the bigots. They called upon people to strive for a more fair and better nation. They energized the voters with ideals. Not now.

[bigwillq]

15. Great post.

[DavidDvorkin]

29. Another thank you.

[upaloopa]

32. I'd like to add that it was old white men in red states.

The old white men here in CA re elected Jerry Brown and a whole raft of Dems .

[VanillaRhapsody]

45. +++1000

Like fucking children indeed...

[840high]

55. ...^ that

[steve2470]

56. amen brother or sister, you get it ! nt

[lumberjack_jeff]

63. Better yet, perhaps we should try to be a party worthy of the votes of actual voters.

Aspirational voters are not a good investment of time money or effort.

[cherokeeprogressive]

4. Seniors chose to vote; young people couldn't be bothered. You phrase it: "Old Farts won..."?

What fucking bullshit. I'd say you had it exactly backward. Young people didn't give enough of a fuck to drag themselves to the polling place, vote early, or get absentee ballots.

Young people didn't care. They LOST the election more than "Old Farts" won it. One might say they "twittered" it away.

[JI7]

7. yeah but it's important to point out

[cherokeeprogressive]

17. What's important to point out is the "younger generation" is so consumed by Facebook and Twitter

that they have little time for anything else.

Not long ago I was at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in San Francisco. Across from the booth my Wife and I sat in was a table with two older folks and about 10 younger people. It looked like some kind of family celebration or something. At one point during the meal, the two older folks were THE ONLY people not consumed with their cell phones. I felt guilty because at one point, the gentleman at the head of the table caught me looking over at their group. I smiled and shrugged my shoulders and about two minutes later he asked everyone to put the cell phones away, which instantly caused a large argument. It seemed to ruin their dinner. I'd bet my bottom dollar not a single young person at that table voted, but that the two who paid what must have been an outrageous dinner tab DID.

The OP didn't point out anything of merit.

[LiberalElite]

23. No but they sure pushed my buttons nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

33. Mine too and I'm only 53. n/t

[Amonester]

59. Twitter and Facebook are already fading away in their trends...

Recent surveys I read about (can't recall where) found they're leaving FB and TWTR in droves, and turn to Insta(nt)gram instead, where they upload mostly selfies (pics & clips) and comment mostly unreadable nonsensical gibberish.

[pstokely]

10. most of the candidates didn't give them anything to care about

they were expect to stay home and were ignored while the candidates went after old farts who had made up their minds 6 years ago

[cherokeeprogressive]

22. Not buying it. Those who cared voted; those who didn't give a fuck couldn't be bothered.

[LiberalElite]

24. there are many old farts who stay

engaged and interested and have working brains. They're not necessarily rigid and never changing their opinions. I don't know about you.

[VanillaRhapsody]

46. baloney....Raise Minimum wage, Student Loan Reform....and stay on your parents Insurance

till 26....


Not buying dude...

[Throd]

68. Even if there is nobody to vote for, there is always somebody to vote against.

That is why I have never missed an election since I was eligible to vote.

[steve2470]

54. MMJ was on the ballot in FL, a big winner in the under 30 bracket

Yes, Crist was not a fantastic candidate. Nevertheless. MMJ. MMJ lost, as did Crist.

MMJ and legalized marijuana will continue to lose in Florida unless younger voters and educated voters get off their ass and vote, no matter how fucking bad the Dem ticket is.

Nuff said. Chicken, egg, they both are important.

[LiberalElite]

11. Hey can you leave off the ageism?

I'm over 60 and a very liberal Democrat. Brace yourself: I'm not the only one. "Old Farts" is insulting. And what's with the "afford to sit around there (sic) TVs"??????

[pstokely]

13. Did your children/grandchildren/neices/nephews vote?

nt

[LiberalElite]

16. I don't have any. What does that have to do with

"OLD FARTS"

[RebelOne]

40. My son and daughter always vote Democrat

as do their spouses. And I have brainwashed my 18-year-old grandson to vote Democrat. I have another grandson who lives in Tennessee and I don't know which party he voted for. His wife is part of a fundie cult, so who knows.

[LiberalElite]

19. And old people? Don't you realize most of them already

WORKED FOR DECADES????? There's something else you should drop - the us vs. them mentality.

[RebelOne]

37. I agree. Lay off the ageism.

I am 75 and have always voted Democrat, but unfortunately, I live in red, red Georgia where Democrat candidates don't have a chance.

[VanillaRhapsody]

47. and who voted for those Republicans???

average age of this election.....65.

[theHandpuppet]

52. So too many young people didn't vote.

That explains a lot, doesn't it.

[theHandpuppet]

51. I'm with you there

And yes, my nieces and nephews vote as well.

There are plenty of folks over 60 who are still working and some who worked all their lives and deserve some retirement. A lot of the "old farts" were the same volunteers who were poll workers yesterday.

My wife & I did watch a little TV tonight. She just loves Rachel Maddow.

[Le Taz Hot]

18. What's with the quotations surrounding the word "people?"

The elderly ARE people. And MILLIONS of us old "people" got out and voted for Democrats but THANKS FOR FORGETTING THAT! Jesus this is a sickening OP.

And, btw, I haven't had a TV service in years nor do I engage in social media -- talk about a time waster!

[LiberalElite]

20. It certainly is. nt

[LiberalElite]

25. Thank you and Welcome to DU!

[bigwillq]

27. Hello

Welcome to DU!

[dem in texas]

26. I am 75 and always vote and always vote a straight democratic ticket, as does my husband

All old foggies are not right wing Fox watchers. I have been a Democrat since I cast my first vote years ago. I am what is called a "yellow dog" Democrat. So sorry the kids did not take enough interest in the elections to vote.

[DavidDvorkin]

31. The Republican Party is delighted to see the generation war

It's part of their divide-and-conquer strategy. Don't play their game.

[JEFF9K]

35. Oldies will regret it ...

when their Social Security gets chained.

[treestar]

38. I'd almost like to see that happen

to see their then hypocritical whining. It would be fun to tell right wingers then that they should have had enough retirement under market forces and not expect government handouts. Ideal to say their words back to them.

[Amonester]

60. If that happens, you do KNOW who the repuglican MEDIA$ will blame...

24/7/365

Catapult the pRopaganda non-$top.

[treestar]

36. At least they go and vote

They get their reward for that.

[Bluenorthwest]

43. Are you under the impression that the entire West Coast is young? How do you explain a huge

region electing a whole bunch of Democrats by some good margins? No old people in Oregon? Everyone's 20 in California? How does this work, exactly?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

44. OMG. What that chart implies is that the under-30 crowd sat on their asses!

But you look at it and say mommy and daddy didn't vote the way you wanted?
Jesusfuckingchristonatrailerhitch, what gall!
Nobody, roof, food, bankers, whatever, is too fucking busy to vote!

[theHandpuppet]

53. Yep. Because we don't have anything like early voting, absentee ballots, etc

If folks really want to vote, they'll find a way.

[nruthie]

50. I'm an old woman.

I am a progressive Democrat, thank you. I have other old friends who feel as I do. Please don't lump us all together. It is very offensive. Not all "old" people are stupid.

[Nevada Blue]

66. Agree. We're 62 and 64/ sis and BIL are 72 and 74 and

my mother is 93. All Progressives, all voters every election.

I had several conversations with people from back home in a chat group; there were many younger people who were adamant Republican supporters, had no answers when asked their reasoning, other than sharing Fox News links.

Do not lump all of us older citizens in with Fox News right-wingers. It's just not accurate.

As far as the young people are concerned, I don't blame them for being disillusioned - have things gotten better for them in the past 6 years? However, I do expect the Democratic Party to be reaching out to all generations, talking up the good things that have happened and discussing issues. As much as the low voter turnout failed the party, the party also failed the voters.

I didn't hear a single 'issue' brought up by either side during the entire campaign season. But when issues appeared on ballots, people voted FOR wage increases, FOR relaxing the ridiculous 'drug war' laws, and so forth.

Lots of things went wrong with this election, but it starts with the message which reached the voting public. People need to be engaged, need to feel that they're voting FOR something. Unless, that is, they're just us older folks who will vote in every election.

[Throd]

65. I have seen this movie before...

[moondust]

67. More or less.

After six years glued to Fox News' nonstop whacking away at the scary black dictator and the hordes of illegal immigrants and Benghazzzzzi and Eboler and a lot of other scary stuff they're told is due to incompetent Democratic leadership, apparently a lot of old white folks long for the prosperous, secure, good old days of white power and privilege.

I've always joked that they're forever stuck in the 1950s.

Republicans know that old white people dominate voting in midterms and naturally aim their campaigns at them using a lot of fear and distrust of "the other."