They're Mad; They're Motivated & Apparently They're At Happy Hour

Today was the big day in Florida, the Democratic Primary, the first opportunity for the Democrats in Florida to prove that they're mobilized, motivated and mad.

Unfortunately, the turnout seems to indicate that they were motivated to go elsewhere. In Orlando, which had its mayoral race today, they are anticipating a turnout of just 18%. Yep, that sounds most motivated to me.

Of course, that is better than the 11.4% national turnout.

For supposedly being so motivated to get GWB out of office, you would think that the Party could put up at least slightly better numbers than these. Heck, Bush is generally getting around a 6.6% turnout - and he's the only real candidate on the ballot! This is the first week in which Kerry has basically run unopposed. Despite all that, despite the grassroots movement for Dean, the motivated Party apparatchiks, Kerry's Kousins, Edwards Efforts and whatever other clichés you want to think of, 11.4% is pitiful.

Happy hour has a better turnout than the supposedly competitive Democratic primaries. That is pretty sad.

Now I know that I'm sitting here taking shots at the Democrats for talking one story and walking another, but this is more than just a single party issue. Too many people practice self-disenfranchisement. Too many people abdicate their responsibilities as citizens.

Voting in the primaries is not an issue of life or death. The truly critical election is coming in Novemeber.

But the primaries do often have other important elections. For instance today Orlando elected its mayor and city commissioners. Folks who didn't bother to show for the election today will now have no say in the governance of their city. Many will complain about the results, but they didn't bother with making their voice, no matter how small it might be individually, heard.

In November we of course elect the President, members of the House, 1/3 of the Senate, state officials of varying descriptions and countless pieces of referendum legislation. Today's elections were important, but November will set more of the tone for the nation.

11.4% turnout is not motivated. It is pitiful. I know that many people blow off the primaries, but come November we have a responsibility, Republican, Democrat, Independent, Green, Commie, Libertarian, or whatever party affiliation, to show up and make our voices heard. In 2000, the residents of Palm Beach County, Florida in particular, proved the importance of each and every vote. My entire life before then, I had never seen an election where each vote was so important. I may never see it again (boy do I hope not!), but I will hereafter vote as though my vote will be the one to decide simply because it has been proven that it may very well be.

For what it's worth, however, I did not participate in today's election. I would have had an opportunity to vote in exactly one uncontested race today. Having just started a new job, that fact kept me from asking for the time off from work (as I am entitled to) to cast a single, solitary vote in an undisputed election. Not exactly in line with my above rant, but....