Pierce writes: "Somebody is going to have to explain to me why the Democratic 'base,' which is presumably younger and more spry than the older and whiter Republican 'base,' is nonetheless less likely to turn out for midterm elections than the That Sean Hannity Reminds Me Of My Grandson crowd."



Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin, left, talks with the committee's ranking Republican Sen. John McCain. (photo: AP)

This Is Why Midterm Election Turnout Matters

By Charles Pierce. Esquire

omebody is going to have to explain to me why the Democratic "base," which is presumably younger and more spry than the older and whiter Republican "base," is nonetheless less likely to turn out for midterm elections than the That Sean Hannity Reminds Me Of My Grandson crowd. It is taken as a given, and past performance indicates clearly that it's usually the case, but I'm not sure why it has to be. So, in the interest to changing this curious dynamic, let me take this red-hot poker and shove it up the base's ass.

Jim Inhofe as the chairman of the Senate Environment Committee? Chuck (Bag Of Hammers) running Judiciary? Grumpy McCloudyeller with an even bigger platform as chairman of Armed Services? Jefferson Davis Beauregard Sessions as chairman of anything?

Go ahead. Stay home now. I dare you.