And so did I. Look at my last Diary.
I have been reading the post-mortem of the 2014 election. I see many diaries attempting to figure out - or place blame for the losses. There are probably a lot of reasons. I am no expert. I know there many, many reasons for why people vote the way they do, or even fail to vote at all.
But - I do converse with a wide variety of people across the nation, on every level or side of the political spectrum - left and right.
I am a Democrat. I typically vote for Democrats. This year, I voted for anyone that showed a tendency to, or promised (I know - politicians and promises) to stand up for my Constitutional Rights - all of them.
I'll say it one more time, and ban me if you want to. 35% of Democrats are gun owners. Not all of them feel this way - but "gun controllers", AKA "gun grabbers" went WAAAY too far. Gun ownership is not a left/right thing. The Daily Kos is important - but sometimes becomes an echo chamber. "Moderate" Democrats have left this place. All that seems to be left are left-wing extremists (from my point of view). Democrats and Liberals are now associated by name with gun control. Despite the many polls showing interest in either direction - the majority of Americans don't seem to want anything other than background checks - which is sensible to me.
The threats, the demands, the outright push to ban all guns (in part) lost us this election. The fine details of it all are not the point. Democrat = gun grabbers now.
Say what you will. Analyze it all you want. Gun control equals lost elections. Ask Bill. I will continue to vote this way, and you can bet many others will too. I like every part of the Democratic platform - except the idea that any of the pieces of the Bill of Rights can be set aside like so much frippery. Yes, Republicans are responsible for enormous deprivations of those rights. Ever wonder why most registered voters are now "Independent"? They can't stand either party. Next "mid term" elections will probably swing the other way, for various reasons. My contacts, friends, connections - are fed up with losing their civil rights - and yes, the Second Amendment illustrates a civil right. That list of folks includes lots of upset Democratic voters - Democrats with guns people. They do exist. Think about it.
Adios gun grabbers.