[moyta]

I was in Michigan just after caucusing for Bernie at home, and the sheer amount of people for Bernie or bust among the White, Asian & Black communities was palpable. 10 million less people turned out to vote compared to 2008, and those were nearly exclusively 10 million Obama voters.

Voters like this African American gal I met in eastern Michigan who did not vote after Bernie lost, or that of this great group of young Asian Americans who also supported Bernie but switched or did not vote after his loss due to extended family & friends (from the west coast nonetheless) telling them Trump was the only option.

[drusepth]

>10 million less people turned out to vote compared to 2008, and those were nearly exclusively 10 million Obama voters.

This is crazy. Neither Hillary nor Trump even received as many votes as John McCain did back in 2008 (60M) [1], who still lost to Obama by another 10 million votes. It's crazy to actually see how many fewer people voted this election compared to the past two, for whatever reasons.

[1] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/npA9xOL8_g_akHquHjzBBFn1RS...

[moyta]

I mean shit, I would vote for McCain if he had been an option this election. He is a very honorable man, and a goddamned national hero, and I say that as a person who conflicts with most of his beliefs.

His tireless opposition to torture is something I wish Obama had, and I truly can respect a person who can stand up and say essentially "I was tortured in Vietnam, how DARE we do this to others. We are not them!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F-YIA-lhQ0

[yolesaber]

Given two of the worst presidential candidates in recent history compared to 2008 when you had two great candidates (and I say this as a hardcore leftist), it's not that surprising people stayed home.

[moyta]

Damn straight, if I could have the choice I would have thrown my vote away on John McCain this election, I might not agree with most of his positions, but you can definitely respect him. His enduring fight to end and prevent our use of torture is quite heartening, even as a bleeding heart, housing first progressive.

[zappo2938]

We all made a decision and we all have to live with it. That gal decided at the time to do what is best for her future.

[moyta]

I don't disagree that we have to live with the outcomes of our decisions, but I doubt that decision to not vote was in her best interest. She did make me want to spend some time in Northern Michigan & Traverse City, wish I had a few weeks back out there.