i can't even guess as to why they went quiet. not one guess at all. we will never know.
edit: well they're not quiet now once they get called out
A small vocal minority that spurred apathy.
They are sanctimonious while being one of the many architects of our crumbling level of control in our democracy.
Are they a minority? Maybe but US elections are won and lost on an increasingly small number of constituents.
That being said I dislike all forms of non-voting but at least I might be able to convince them.