Election 2018 post-mortem (Denver, Louisville, Basalt: house, to live in, offices)

[davebarnes]

For me, the takeaway from the poll:

"President Trump’s job approval among all unaffiliated voters is toxic, with only 31% approving of the job he is doing, 62% disapproving, and 48% strongly disapproving of the job he is doing.

Overwhelmingly, the top two issues that were important to unaffiliated voters and influenced their vote for Governor and the state legislature were education and healthcare."

[Brill]

Personally, I see unaffiliated as people that are not loyal to either party. While their votes may have gone democratic this time, will that always be the case?

[otowi]

Originally Posted by Brill

Personally, I see unaffiliated as people that are not loyal to either party. While their votes may have gone democratic this time, will that always be the case?

Well, voting shouldn't be about party loyalty - every candidate and issue ought to be evaluated on its own merits, imho. I think U voters would not have turned so strongly against the R party if they saw evidence that R folks in office were thinking for themselves, trying to truly represent their constituents first rather than party or just R faction of constituents only, and doing what they thought was right rather than what many perceived as putting party before right, and having no courage to stand up to Trump no matter how far he went off the rails.

Yes, things could easily change in another election cycle but I think it is highly unlikely U voters would turn drastically toward R in the near future unless R made drastic changes. D party is guilty of the party line as well, but the consequences are seen as much more extreme in the R party right now.

Sometimes I wish we weren't so locked into a two-party system. It is so entrenched right now that you'd think it was designed to be that way way back in 1776 or so, but it wasn't.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

I have not been affiliated with a party ever, and voting since 1970. I still get lots of campaign mail, phone calls and door knocking. In fact, I told one woman at the door that she was the 3rd to come by for that candidate who I was intending to vote for, but if anyone else came I would change my vote to the opponent. The campaign mail went directly into the recyling bin. When I got a campaign phone call, regardless of the candidate I would hang up on them. This particular election the campaigning got way out of hand. I do the research and vote for the best person, and will not be influenced by the propaganda and negative campaigning.

DH is unaffiliated since 1982. Some woman campaigning for the Democrats came to the door looking for him. I said he was in the hospital. She just went on with her spiel and left some literature. Not even an "I'm sorry".

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by otowi

Well, voting shouldn't be about party ...- every candidate and issue ought to be evaluated on its own merits, imho.

No!
The GOP: Party of Hate® needs to die.
The Dumpster® owns the GOPers and a vote for any GOPer is a vote in support of an odious sociopath.

Ten years ago, I would have agreed with you. But, no more.

[BarryK123]

Originally Posted by otowi

Well, voting shouldn't be about party loyalty - every candidate and issue ought to be evaluated on its own merits, imho.

Problem is it's all about them doing favors for each other. Independent thought within each party is a rarity, unfortunately.

Originally Posted by Katarina Witt

DH is unaffiliated since 1982. Some woman campaigning for the Democrats came to the door looking for him. I said he was in the hospital. She just went on with her spiel and left some literature. Not even an "I'm sorry".

A cold-heearted Democrat - shocking!

[Brill]

Originally Posted by otowi

Well, voting shouldn't be about party loyalty - every candidate and issue ought to be evaluated on its own merits, imho. I think U voters would not have turned so strongly against the R party if they saw evidence that R folks in office were thinking for themselves, trying to truly represent their constituents first rather than party or just R faction of constituents only, and doing what they thought was right rather than what many perceived as putting party before right, and having no courage to stand up to Trump no matter how far he went off the rails.

Yes, things could easily change in another election cycle but I think it is highly unlikely U voters would turn drastically toward R in the near future unless R made drastic changes. D party is guilty of the party line as well, but the consequences are seen as much more extreme in the R party right now.

Sometimes I wish we weren't so locked into a two-party system. It is so entrenched right now that you'd think it was designed to be that way way back in 1776 or so, but it wasn't.

I agree. Unfortunately, there are a decent number of people that blindly vote for whomever has an R or D next to their name. I feel that neither party care about serving the citizens anymore. It's all about keeping power. It would be great if a third party could gain some traction.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by Brill

I agree. Unfortunately, there are a decent number of people that blindly vote for whomever has an R or D next to their name. I feel that neither party care about serving the citizens anymore. It's all about keeping power. It would be great if a third party could gain some traction.

What’s the platform though? 3rd parties that have had any success in our system have typically been founded on a single issue. If that issue garners enough support that the 3rd party gets a substantial showing in an election, then one of the major parties co-opts that issue in the next election cycle rendering the 3rd party powerless.

The Dems have done it with environmental issues which is why the Green Party will never have a strong showing in an election and the republicans have done it with white nationalism so the Nazis will never get a lot of votes.

[TCHP]

Originally Posted by Brill

I agree. Unfortunately, there are a decent number of people that blindly vote for whomever has an R or D next to their name. I feel that neither party care about serving the citizens anymore. It's all about keeping power. It would be great if a third party could gain some traction.

True, and simply having that R or D next to a nominee will almost guarantee them 15-20% of the vote regardless of how out of touch they are.

[Westerner92]

There are some pretty easy ways to weaken the two-party dichotomy. Part of me is wondering if I can start the campaign for preferential voting myself. It sounds like most on this board, conservative and liberal alike, would sign the petition.