I agree with your first analysis of what Karl Rove did in 2004 and that social media took it to the next level in 2008.
I am not sure I completely buy into your second example though. I voted for Obama in 2008 primarily because there was no way in Hell I wanted Sarah Palin anywhere near the Presidency never mind I had read both of Obama's books and admired his Audacity of Hope.
What happened with me in 2012 was that I was now disillusioned with Obama because of his lack of management skills. He seemed to abrogate his responsibility for legislation to Pelosi and others in Congress rather than driving it from his leadership and vision. It seemed the detail was for others to figure out. It also didn't help that ACA totally messed up my health insurance and raised my costs significantly and also reduced my coverage and I was NOT happy.
Chuck, good analysis but you forgot that the Democrat Party still had a significant number of Democrats representing conservative districts in 2008. These members won by keeping the most radical ideas of the Democrat Party in check and supported some of the policies of the Bush II agenda. As you stated the Democrats completely misread the Obama win in 2008 and rammed trough Osama Care between the 08 and 10 election and we know how that worked out. What was it 50-60 House Democrats lost reelection, the vast majority from conservative districts. The point you don’t touch on is this allowed the radical leftists in the Democratic Party to then assume the agenda without a thought to more conservative Democrats. That is why today over a decade later you have Jeffries. Murray, Bluminthau, and their ilk leading the party which is vastly outside the mainstream. Again the 2010 midterms was in my view a water shed moment in the radicalized Democrat Party.
I agree with your first analysis of what Karl Rove did in 2004 and that social media took it to the next level in 2008.
I am not sure I completely buy into your second example though. I voted for Obama in 2008 primarily because there was no way in Hell I wanted Sarah Palin anywhere near the Presidency never mind I had read both of Obama's books and admired his Audacity of Hope.
What happened with me in 2012 was that I was now disillusioned with Obama because of his lack of management skills. He seemed to abrogate his responsibility for legislation to Pelosi and others in Congress rather than driving it from his leadership and vision. It seemed the detail was for others to figure out. It also didn't help that ACA totally messed up my health insurance and raised my costs significantly and also reduced my coverage and I was NOT happy.
Chuck, good analysis but you forgot that the Democrat Party still had a significant number of Democrats representing conservative districts in 2008. These members won by keeping the most radical ideas of the Democrat Party in check and supported some of the policies of the Bush II agenda. As you stated the Democrats completely misread the Obama win in 2008 and rammed trough Osama Care between the 08 and 10 election and we know how that worked out. What was it 50-60 House Democrats lost reelection, the vast majority from conservative districts. The point you don’t touch on is this allowed the radical leftists in the Democratic Party to then assume the agenda without a thought to more conservative Democrats. That is why today over a decade later you have Jeffries. Murray, Bluminthau, and their ilk leading the party which is vastly outside the mainstream. Again the 2010 midterms was in my view a water shed moment in the radicalized Democrat Party.
Thank you for your insight. Look forward to reading it all!!!