Jan 06 2010
Independents Have All But Abandoned The Democrats
Rasmussen has a very important and telling poll out today on support for the two national parties. In what has to be a shocking turn around, Dems now trail the GOP in the generic congressional ballot by 9%! For me, though, is the message being sent by independents:
Among all voters not affiliated with either party, the GOP leads 48% to 17%.
By almost 3 to 1, independents have abandoned the Democrats. We will see what this means on January 19th in the MA special election to fill Ted Kennedy’s seat – but whatever the outcome the message is loud and clear. And aimed at both parties.
America is fed up with the fringes. The far right is foolish to think they have rehabilitated themselves in the eyes of the country which dumped them from power in 2006 and 2008. The only reason Independents are moving is the liberal fringe went farther, faster than the far right tried to go.
The Tea Party movement is not a right wing movement, it is revolt across the left of center to right side of the spectrum. The winning candidates so far have all been center right candidates. I expect to see this trend continue. The independents and centrists decide who wins, and we can keep cleaning clocks until the message gets through.
AJ, I wouldn’t throw the right under the bus.
No disrespect intended, but why did Independents vote for the current occupant of the White House?? They were given ample information about his statist ideology and still voted for him. Not good judgement, imho.
The right elected Obama. Obama didn’t win with any greater margin of votes than Bush did when he defeated Kerry. What was interesting was the number of Republicans that didn’t vote for the presidential post on the ballot or didn’t show up to vote at all.
Republican turnout was poor. They elected Obama.
It’d be interesting to set up some test cases to watch:
Rubio surging in Florida – “far right” or centrist?
Toomey in PA – far right or centrist?
How about Schiffer in Conn?
I don’t think the distinction “far right” really has all that much meaning these days – the easiest way to square the circle is just to define anyone who wins as “centrist”.
But remember that all the “smart people” said that Obama was really a centrist when he was elected.
So, everyone make predictions – who will lose because they are too “far right” and not “centrist” enough? Or who will win?
I’m not so hyped about the designations, I don’t think they mean all that much. I do think that Toomey and Rubio will end up the winners of their respective elections, and one-time “centrists” Specter and Crist will be defeated by wide margins. Schiffer may be the one who does qualify as “far right” and who loses because of it – I like his economic message, but on foreign policy he tends to be a paulbot, and I doubt that will go over in Connecticut. He may not even make it through the primary because of that.
Google Scott Brown…
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The “Contribute” part is the red box in the upper right corner…
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You can do it, people…
CP – As expected you have hit the nail on the head. In fact, on my research of left wing web sites the biggest fear on the left is the return of the Republicans. They are worried about Republican turnout in 2010. In MA, the turnout problem for Coakley is two fold. To get the nominal Dems to the polls and to keep the unenrolled from voting. A huge turnout of unenrolled moderates in a special election would be a big boost to Brown. Especially since he carrying them with 65%. Even in MA, the independents are abandoning the Democrats, the key is to get them to get out and vote.
Other retirements on the horizon? Lincoln in AR. Specter in PA (maybe). Reid would be huge. Feingold would be a shocker and game changer. Bayh would be a jaw dropping, eyeball losing, this is going to a heart attack year moment for the Democrats.
These Senate retirements so far have been no big deal. If you see Reid, Feingold, or Bayh retire you know 2010 will be one for the history books.
I think this explains everything:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkzV5AIK8iM
AJ, I love your website and agree with you most of the time, but you cling to the delusion that the centrists abondoned the GOP because they were “too far to the right” The Right abondoned the GOP because they were too far to the left. They stayed home and did not vote. The mushy center middle, that votes on emotion and not logic, fell for Obamas emotion and rhetoric.
Strata,
The “right wing” you are so hell bent on beating is the progressive, check pants wing of the party.
Including Bush with his “compassionate conservatism” and stupid Rove policies.
His support for unfunded expansion of the medicare, his support for amnesty, which is the most hated issue in people’s eyes, his expansion of the federal education system, his deficits and, least, but not last, his not well thought Iraq war, which was unwise at best.
dbostan,
You provide the perfect example of why the far right egomaniacs are just slightly less despised than their liberal counterparts!
Enjoy your purity – the rest of us will take the country forward.
Yeah..
I can see where repubics like you took the party and the country.
No, thank you!
Obama and the demshevik dictatorship in the Congress and Senate is a direct result of the Bush years.
In effect, Bush elected Obama.
And I am not discounting the marxist media disinformation.
By the way…
How is working for you the relationship with LGF’s Charles Johnson?
Had enough of him?
1. Let’s not talk about the “throw blood on people and call them baby killers” right.
2. Let’s not talk about the “you must be 100% pure – even if you’re from a blue state” right.
Now that we’ve dismissed the extremists, let me clearly say: I don’t want the center, moderate, mushy, wishy washy, I don’t have any core principles Republicans to take back the country. AJ, I don’t think that’s what you want, but if it is, you can have it.
We need pricipled conservatives who believe in core values: fiscal discipline, low taxes, freedom, growth, a strong defense, self-reliance, a safety net (not a goody bag), etc.
Conservative values always win – if stated in the correct manner.
Layman – I am a centrist. And if you think we are wishy washy because we disagree with the zealots you are kidding yourselves.
Centrist conservatives are more than capable of controlling the debate and doing the right thing. And we are not shy either.
BTW, To all arrogant and insult flinging conservatives – I am not one of you. I do not insult the center left to right because they don’t deserve it. Disagreeing with Malkin, Rush and Hannity is not a crime – it is an American right. I admire Rush for his thinking, but he is 50% right at best – like all of us. Malkin and Hannity have a long way to go get up to par.
If your approach is to insult the center of America you have lost. I must note that to insult with exaggerations and due to lack of argument is a sign of insecurity, not leadership.
I will not ever respect those on the right who act like the idiots on the far left (who insult the center of America for being too dumb and greedy to be worthy of life).
I will never stand for a movement that cannot be built on the foundation of respecting Americans as much if not more than America.
Don’t come here expecting me to join in on that madness.
“I am not one of you”…..
Duuuh….
That was clear for a long time.
But that doesn’t mean I insulted you.
By the way, it is a pity that your political analysis of the conservative movement doesn’t measure up to your analysis, of very high quality, of the AGW hoax/scam/crime and the desmshevik disaster for the country.
dbostan – what makes you think my analysis is wrong 😉
Two words, in short: “John McCain”
I could elaborate in a political thesis, but I just do not have time right now.
I am at work…
LOL! And the option was Obama???
Remember, I opposed McCain, but supported him against the Won.
I seriously doubt you can claim even that minimal honor.
Wrong. I voted for McShame…
But, hey, what to expect from a conservative bashing guy?
Dbostan,
I never asked who you voted for. I asked who you supported!
And recall, my complaint was with conservatives who can’t keep a mature and civil tongue towards centrist Americans.
I never put you in that box – you jumped in ALL ON YOUR OWN!
LOL