So, it's that time of the election cycle when I stop reading

other blogs, forums and stuff. People are just too wacky, crazy, nervous, picky or nasty to be believed. I think, from now until election day, I am just going to check in here and maybe TPM. The other sites seem pretty worthless right now.

How about you?

I was just thinking that there's very little actual information out there.

Of course, I think everyone should read my blog ;-), but it's largely a waste of time. There is definitely a large element of :crazy: out there right now.

Do you know anything about the effectiveness of last minute ads? I can see dunning deep-pocketed dems for GOTV funds and such, but aren't we well into the point where people stop paying attention to the stuff on tv? Or am I all wet on this?

It all is not to be believed right now.

The reason is DVR (Tivo) style TV watching. As more and more people watch TV without sitting through the ads, candidates area going to figure out that it's all wasted money--and a lot of it, at that.

IF I had any doubt about who to vote for, I MIGHT slow it down and actually watch an ad--but on the other hand, I know not to trust any "facts" in them, anyway--and usually I'm more in a hurry to finish watching the program I'm replaying than stop for any reason like that. I'd really like to see some research done on whether an ad changed anyone's mind.

Just like on the internet with all the YouTube's of political commercials. Everybody who views them already knows who they're voting for; they dream THIS one will be the winning one. But I doubt that's often the case.

I think most people have their minds made up at this point. I think the money should go to GOTV ads and stuff like that.

I am just tired of the blogs lately. If peole aren't hyperventilating about a poll then they are posting utterly cheerless exhortations to the Dem masses to go out and phone bank. There was a truly, truly depressing diary on Kos the other day from someone who said that unless you are making 40 phone calls a day, you shouldn't even call yourself a Democrat. She then went on to say how deeply she hates phone calling, how it saps her energy and drains her brain and that she finds this effort utterly depressing.

But, you should do it too. Cuz we can't ever say we did anything unless we are well and truly depressed, exhausted and beaten by election night.

How'd you like to be on the receiving end of one of her calls? "Hi, I'm Morticia, and I'm here to ask you to vote for my guy/gal. You have no idear how much I suffered to get to the point where I could call you. I hope you understand the eternal damage this is doing to my self-confidence and will consider, maybe, going out to vote for my guy/gal. Sigh! I hope this works, but I doubt it."

Oh. My. God. I just can't take that stuff.

people are becoming more motivated to vote (I think about the student in SC who said Kerry convinced him to vote), and the Republican Party has completely turned them off. The Democrats, no matter what is being said, are in great shape, it's not a guarantee, but the situation is far more encouraging than these downers make it out to be. I hear people around me vocalizing more and more their displeasure with Republicans, and am surprised by conversations (where the conversation never would have happened a couple of years ago) that deal specifically with smearing Democrats. I hear this, and I know from talking to family members, who live in other states, that it's not just in my corner of the country.

New Poll Shows Independent Voters Favor Democrats

Republicans losing ground with US women

Rural battleground shifts toward Democrats

Although I have been listening to Tom Joyner and it's the opposite. He has been saying the last couple of weeks that the AA GOTV isn't going well. He's been very pessimistic all week. (It was like this in 04).

He is saying that he gets calls like "Why should I vote if it's not going to count?" He thinks people are tired of voting when they stole the election in 2000 and Katrina. So he has had Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton trying to help energize the AA vote cause there is no confidence in the voting machines at all.

Kerry got 89% of the African American vote. He speaks of symptoms, but these are things that have always plagued the party (some apply to voter apathy across various groups). These must be addressed to get more African Americans to vote, increase voter turnout and maintain the level who will vote Democratic. Joyner has his audience, but I can't use him as an accurate indicator.

I know he has a large audience. Interesting article on AA remaining loyal to Democrats considering they always complain that they take us for granted while the GOP ignores us.

I think it's also laziness too.

I did a LOT of calls and asked the campaign if the next time I came: could I just do some data entry? They said yes. I get there, they set me up at a desk, and whoops -- computer system was down. So I ended up doing phone calls again! But it was more fun this time, because I was paired with an older lady who had been volunteering since forever. She was from NYC, and had volunteered for Dinkins. She had volunteered for Kerry, Kaine, and now Kellam and Webb. She had the most pleasant voice on the telephone -- she always told the person at the end "have a blessed day!". I told her she had a very pleasant personality on the phone, and I think she really liked the compliment.

The other most wonderful thing happened that day: my first call was met with a VERY enthusiastic Democratic voter who shared with me a story of George Allen back when he was in law school. He stayed with this family, the head of which was a military lawyer -- not exactly a flaming liberal. Well, apparently the entire household thought Allen was a complete IDIOT. They said every time he opened his mouth, something stupid came out. They'd be sitting around the dinner table listening George Allen spout his stupid remarks, and they ALL were rolling their eyes. How's THAT for a nice local Virginia story? The caller was told the story back in 1996 when Allen was running for governor. So the stupidity of George Allen is apparently an open secret in Virginia.

I knew he was a big bag of beef. I just knew it. Now, how did he ever get elected to the Senate? Was Chuck Robb that bad in 2000?

The rise of the Republicans in the '90s, also. I think that kind of Republican politics has jumped the shark, though. Allen is W's younger stupider brother, and a second act schtick ain't going to happen.

Regardless of how the Senate race goes, Allen's presidential prospects are over.

But I want one better -- Webb in the Senate!

I hope it's Sen. Webb too come Jan 3rd, 2007.

exhorting me to phone bank at the home of some townsperson I've never met, and talking about how much FUN it is, I may scream.

preemptive BS. Some of these bloggers have lost all focus on 2006, except when it comes to using the election in their frenzied posturing for 2008. After the election, it will be whole new ball game.

I mean, geez.

;)

Anyone from this group with a website/blog is exempt from this by definition. (I said this forum and that, by extention) means all of you.

I am heartless, not cruel.

One conservative blogger thought Allen bringing up Webb's novels was unbelievably stupid. Then another blogger over there wrote a reflective post on what a bloody mess Iraq is, and how there is no leadership!

Seems to me they're angling for a big electoral loss already. The commenters are mighty pissed at the above bloggers, but hey -- the truth hurts.

Well, I am trying to write about upbeat and odd stuff. One thing I find depressing about politics is the message you get that you can never do enough.

I resent that. Sometimes you just have to tune it out or lose your mind.

Thanks so much for that :)

And I'm a big fan of yours as well. I think yours may be the only corner of the web where JK is discussed in a breezy tone.

It's kind of sad that more people in the blogosphere don't have a sense of humor about this stuff.

It does get tiring out there Tay Tay. The ugly gets too deep sometimes.

It really looks nice now and is so upbeat. The stories from the road and videos are cool.

I shut off the tv too. The nuttiness in the middle of such a serious election is just too much to take. I think when I got that flier that attacked Defazio because animal activists donated to him was the end for me. As for the lefty blogs, this is pretty much the kind of support they gave JK in 2004 too, constant whining and criticism. I really dread the day some of these Gen Xers are in charge. Yikes!! (Emphasis on the 'some')

that the troops in Iraq are largely Gen X, and they've performed remarkably well given the circumstances. Call them the John Kerrys of that generation, whereas some of those idiots at dkos, et al are the "George W. Bush's" of Gen X.

I think we'll be well served by my generation when the time comes, IF the facts get out and the right person elected.

That come in both political parties. I don't know what their problem is but they've been spoiling for a fight since the day they were born practically. The 30 or so Gen Xers, not the younger college crowd. The younger kids are different. Not that all 30 year olds are exactly the same either, it's just that group seems to have more than their share of people whose solution to everything is to tear it down or beat it up.

On the GOP side, the role model is Karl Rove. True, Markos is almost the same age as me, but I don't think he's necessarily representative of my generation.

The troops I speak of are the officers like platoon leaders, leutenants, etc. They're in battle and they're in their 30s.

Here's the article. Definitely Gen X:

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/050117fa_fact

Just 'some' in a generation that's a little more violent than previous ones, imo.

Every generation has people serve in the military. It's got absolutely nothing to do with anything.

this Gen X crowd in the military has been far more creative than the baby boomers in Vietnam, and more willing to go outside the box, really in direct rebellion of the Defense Secretary. And the crime rate has been much lower starting in the '90s, so a few anecdotal cases like gangsta rap simply does not translate into my generation being more violent.

Anyway, I don't want to get into a pie fight about this. There are flaws in every generation, and it's too early to tell how people in their 30s will be once they reach the upper echelons of power in 10 to 20 years.

violent crimes have surged:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/06/12/crime.rate

It probably has more to do with Bush's stupid policies:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2805530

I wish this would get more exposure so that the Repubs could stop pretending they're tough on crime and terrorism!

Dare I invoke Freakonomics and the fact that limiting women's reproductive rights (which the anti-abortion has done in reality, if not technically by law) has an extremely bad effect on the entire society?

really the anti-life, anti-common good coalition:



They support illegal wars and the death penalty, but oppose scientific research with life-saving potential.

A walk through the Clinton library is an education in the Bush strategy. Every single accomplishment has been undone by Bush. It's really a disheartening experience.

There was a strong point in there about the anti-authoritarian streak in GenX working for them in pressure situations. The leaders on the ground in Iraq were much more likely to chuck the rules books out and improvise in their thinking of how to deal with the actual situations in front of them. They were applying creative thinking the rapidly conditions and achieving what little success there was to be had in this war.

Every generation has it's achievers and it's non-achievers, it's heroes and villains, slackers and over-achievers. Sigh!

the recent attacks on Jim Webb with the book quotes really got me angry. with that stupid puke Lynne Cheney on CNN. and why didn't CNN bring that up before but only now and allows her loser ass to come on and defend herself. yeah, i heard she sucked but still, just the fact Webb was attacked on it makes me mad.

last week it was the attacks on Michael J Fox and Harold Ford. full of hatefulness and bigotry.

and then coming on DU with people posting that it's all over and bashing Democrats.

i don't know. alternate between feeling excited and nervous of the upcoming elections. i have a hard time sleeping as we get closer also.

I HAVE to watch and read and listen or I feel like I'm missing something and I freak out. It's really crazy how obsessed I've become with politics. So much I'm even thinking of changing my major from music to political science. I like to check in at least once or twice a day in between other stuff.

Being in Germany on vacation only gives me the occasional chnce to check in with you guys. In a way, it's a blessing, on the other hand, I feel a little left out of the loop. Oh well, I'll be back on the 6th - just in time for the fun :-)
Hi to everyone, btw!

It has been nail-biting time on so many of these races. This is good, because the Dems have such a good shot to take a lot of seats in both Houses, but it's still nail-biting. (Quick, where did I put those antacids.)

There have been a few cycles where I over-indulged in news. It was not good. (Waking up at 3:00 am and not being able to sleep and finding oneself in front of the TV watching a debate or rally from the day before is not a good thing in the aggregate. sigh!)