Does anyone actually care about this election?

[Boris]

By "anyone" I mean relatively normal and well-adjusted people, not the people who usually frequent and post in this subforum. By "care" I mean the election results  eliciting either a euphoric or despondent reaction, something a little more than "I hit all green lights on the drive back from work!" or "Aw shucks, I just lost $10 at Hold 'Em." The process simply isn't as engaging as it was four and eight years ago; I don't know how anyone could seriously argue otherwise. I mean, who here can envision another "I never said I wouldn't gloat" thread on November 7, 2012? 2004-2006-2008 and even 2010 to a lesser extent had something going for it and it's not to say that this cycle won't pick up, but Holy Christ, the fall campaign better bring it to us hard.

Also, it doesn't really help that Torie is basically the only Romney supporter on this forum worth engaging in conversation with.

[Penelope]

Also, it doesn't really help that Torie is basically the only Romney supporter on this forum worth engaging in conversation with.

Oh come on, Winfield is hilarious.

But no I don't think most people care about the election just yet. Once the conventions hit, then people will start caring.

[memphis]

Turnout is going to be awful. Nobody is enthusiastic or optimistic.

[Eraserhead]

Nah, this election can't be compared to 2008 and it certainly can't be compared to the bittersweet symphony that was 2004. Those two elections felt epic, grand, compelling and intense. This one feels like 2000 before the recount drama started or even more appropriately like 1996. It's boring and nobody particularly likes either of the two candidates. If I wasn't kind of a %/map/etc. junkie, I may have tuned out myself.

[milhouse24]

There are no code pinkers this year, but I would think the 8% unemployed Americans care about the election. 
I see Obama losing support and enthusiasm amongst college students and the under 25 crowd.  This is bad news for him.  If Obama is Bush in 2004, then he needs to find his "base of evangelicals that came out for Bush."  Obama is counting on college students and universal marriage supporters. 

I think Romney has solidified the senior citizen vote.  They are scared to death of health care rationing and want to end universal health care. 

Obama has 31% of the white working class vote, so he has that going for him.

[old timey villain]

There are no code pinkers this year, but I would think the 8% unemployed Americans care about the election. 
I see Obama losing support and enthusiasm amongst college students and the under 25 crowd.  This is bad news for him.  If Obama is Bush in 2004, then he needs to find his "base of evangelicals that came out for Bush."  Obama is counting on college students and universal marriage supporters. 

I think Romney has solidified the senior citizen vote.  They are scared to death of health care rationing and want to end universal health care. 

Obama has 31% of the white working class vote, so he has that going for him.

Hmm, funny how all the lack of enthusiasm is only Obama's fault. Of course Romney doesn't have any of the same problems.

There is voter apathy on both sides. Obama's supporters still like Obama personally and probably most of his policies, but the struggling economy and the possibility that he could lose is beginning to sink in. It's really depressing his base and making them pessimistic.

Supporters of Romney on the other hand, see him as their best (and only chance) to beat Obama, but he's far from the brave, shining figure they had hoped would rise up in 2012. He is famously uninspiring and awkward on the national stage and as leader of the party. His background as a flip flopper and exorbitantly rich aristocrat makes him vulnerable to attacks and every Republican knows it, even if they won't admit it.  The doubts that 'the base' had about Romney during the primaries still exist, but most of them are just dealing with it because he's what they've got.

So both candidates are flawed and vulnerable, as they are in every election, but the weaknesses are just much more apparent. The biggest problem is that during tough times, politicians like Roosevelt, Reagan and Clinton always seem to come along and offer people a hope for the future, that things will get better. Neither candidate is offering that this year.

[King]

I care in that I want Romney to lose.

But I don't really care who wins.

[Vosem]

Also, it doesn't really help that Torie is basically the only Romney supporter on this forum worth engaging in conversation with.

I'm not worth engaging in conversation with?

I care in that I want Romney to lose.

But I don't really care who wins.

Those two statements are mutually exclusive, yes?

[Torie]

Yes, I admit, I care. I am very unhappy with Obama's "leadership," or more to the point, lack thereof.

[RJ]

I'd like to see Obama win just because before he took office we had Republicans occupying the Whitehouse 20 of the previous 28 years. Here in Ohio the state government has been Republican the majority of the last 20 years. In 2016, I'd like to see the Democrats let the Republican candidate run unopposed and concentrate on congressional elections.

There's just such a small amount for our country to work compared to generations past with no matter who or what party is in power  to make a difference. It's like comparing being manager of the Yankees to being manager of the Royals. Between the media willing us into a recession, special interest money influencing capitol hill, a swelling national debt and a disfunctional congress there's just no way for any 1 man to effectively govern and get our country what it needs. There are 300+ million people in this country and that many visions for what's best. May be a general and gloomy rant but I think it's accurate. Then again, I'm just 1 in 300 million...

[anvi]

I don't.  I have no faith in either candidate, really.  I haven't cared less about a presidential election since I was ten.  I consider the fact that I'm in Canada for the remainder of the year a major blessing.

[Eraserhead]

I care in that I want Romney to lose.

But I don't really care who wins.

That too. That too.

[WhyteRain]

Obama sucks.  Romney sucks.  I'll be voting for Gary Johnson.

If I knew for sure that the GOP would take the Senate, then I'd definitely want Obama to win.

But my prediction remains that he loses in a landslide.

[BaldEagle1991]

All I want to see is Obama get 4 more years and that's it. 

[technical support]

I care

[Franzl]

Not particularly interested myself. I've no faith left in the American political system and am also happy that I don't have to care for personal interests. Sucks for everyone being screwed and who will be screwed even further if Republicans regain total control.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

This definitely seems like 1996. A real meh election.

[minionofmidas]

Also, it doesn't really help that Torie is basically the only Romney supporter on this forum worth engaging in conversation with.

I'm not worth engaging in conversation with?

I care in that I want Romney to lose.

But I don't really care who wins.

Those two statements are mutually exclusive, yes?

What does it matter whether Barack Obama or Gary Johnson is forced to govern with a Republican House? Nothing will happen either way.

[Mr. Morden]

I'm more interested in 2016, and wish we had a 2016 board here, so we could talk about who's going to win Iowa in 43 months.

[Sasquatch]

I don't care about this election. I followed the 2004 and 2008 elections closely. Everyday I would look at the polls and follow the horse race. I suppose back then I still had a naive belief in the American political system and it's ability to change things. That belief has evaporated as I've learned that the political theater we see is just a show and the real "rulers" are pulling the strings behind the scenes for both parties. I don't see a 2nd Obama term or a Romney Presidency changing the situation in this country for anyone in the bottom 99%. Same as it ever was...

[Boris]

Oh come on guys, this isn't the place to spout off hackneyed dribble of how the US political system is "broken," as if it's some epiphany you've had over the past couple of years. Everyone here was so fired up between 2004-2008 and has fairly in-depth knowledge of US political history, so don't give me that bullsh**t. Hell, does anyone remember all the Dems displaying pictures of Jon Cozine and Tim Kaine after the November 2005 elections? We had an awesome cast of characters supporting Obama, McCain, Hillary, Kerry, and Bush. Now the forum zeitgeist seems to basically entail Torie bashing public sector unions and students with the rest of the forum ganging up on the poor guy. Even Naso seems subdued.

[milhouse24]

I'm more interested in 2016, and wish we had a 2016 board here, so we could talk about who's going to win Iowa in 43 months.

Lol, hillary clinton if she runs, or mark warner.  Jeb bush or john thune.

I guess every one wants the Obama presidency over with.

[milhouse24]

I don't care about this election. I followed the 2004 and 2008 elections closely. Everyday I would look at the polls and follow the horse race. I suppose back then I still had a naive belief in the American political system and it's ability to change things. That belief has evaporated as I've learned that the political theater we see is just a show and the real "rulers" are pulling the strings behind the scenes for both parties. I don't see a 2nd Obama term or a Romney Presidency changing the situation in this country for anyone in the bottom 99%. Same as it ever was...

The liberal media doesn't have the Iraq war to oppose or blaming the big bad Bush meme.  They just talk about how cool, handsome, and sexy Obama is.  But make no mistake, this will be a dogfight similar to 2004.  Obama may win as the more well known candidate, and he might be able to get enough people out to the polls who remember all the fun of 2008.  Romney has a smaller margin of error.  It will be surprising how close the election could be.  I just think there might be more enthusiasm on the Republican side.  The republican silent majority isn't on messageboards, they're middle class workers with tough jobs, and they have to decide whether to stay home (to oppose Obama) or vote for Romney.  If Obama is relying on young people, then he should just forget about winning this election.  I think it is utterly stupid to rely on young people under 30 and college kids to come out to vote in the election.  You might be able to get a lot of cheap interns with pizza money canvassing neighborhoods but they're not going to change adult voters minds in this economy.  There's really only one issue that will get college kids to the polls: herbal legalization.  the other issue would be if Obama replaces Biden with Hillary.  Then after he wins, hillary makes Obama resign so she can become president. 

[Joe Biden 2020]

It's not time for anyone to care, yet.  It's just now the very end of June.  Once we get past the Olympics and into August, as the veep pick and the Conventions roll around, we'll see more interest.  The American Political System is not broken, it's just heavily flawed. Why? There are human beings running it.

Personally, I am very interested in this election, because it is the first real referendum on the Obama Administration.  It will be interesting just how Americans approve of his job performance come 6 November.  Ultimately, that's what this, and every, incumbent election is about - how well the president is doing what he was hired to do and if the other guy can do a better job.

No one can compare this to 2008, 2000, or 1988 because there wasn't an incumbent president running, there was just an incumbent party.  1992, 1996, 2004, and 2012 all have incumbent presidents, so naturally the question is "do you approve of how the guy you hired is doing his job or would the other guy be better?"

[milhouse24]

I think its good to point out how little college students and young people care about this election, and how low the enthusiasm gap is.  This is very bad news for Obama. 

I think there will always be a good turnout for Republican voters.  Most of the Bush voters in 2004 were strong Bush voters, and saw Kerry as weak/liberal.  Romney may be seen as a social liberal, but he's not as wimpy as Kerry, the war protester.  Obama is also seen as a wimpy liberal to some. 

Clinton was popular, but he only got 49% in 1996.  The 2008 Obama voters were mostly anti-war, and not necessarily anti-bush or anti-republican.  It was about "changing" the foreign policy, and not about changing to socialism or changing to a black president.  Now that the foreign policy issue has subsided, the issue of economic competence is strongest. 

The Health Care Law is tied to economy.  Obama actually has a better chance at re-election if the health care law loses, because companies will losen the purse strings and take out more loans for hiring and expansion, instead of holding back and waiting for new taxes. 

Its ironic, but if the Health Care Law passes, then Obama may actually lose re-election because the economy will be strangled, and Senior Citizens will rush towards Romney to try to repeal Health care. 

In other words, college students should stay home and smoke pot!