Republicans fired up their base. Democrats, um, less so. [View All]

That makes a critical difference in an off year election with traditionally lighter turn out. Most of us here agree that the "conservatives" who are all fired up this year are also a bit, say, extreme. But they are passionate and they vote in disproportionate numbers. What gets them all so fired up are dramatic concepts like "Saving America" and "fighting Socialism". To get folks to organize and to vote in numbers, it don't matter much if truth is a motivation, just if they are motivated.

The Democratic base was all fired up the last few major election cycles. We were all about "Saving America" and "making sweeping changes". We were motivated and we voted. Now Democrats are in power in Washington. Congress and the President can change America's course and make dramatic changes. Rhetoric won't suffice to rally the Democratic base when actions speak louder than words.