Posted on 02/01/2006 5:02:29 PM PST by SC33
A new online poll of 1,028 conservative activists and donors shows that 77 percent are either seriously disappointed with Republican congressional leaders or want them replaced.
The Jan. 31 survey also found that 54 percent of conservatives feel so abandoned by current congressional leaders and President Bush that they plan to reduce their contributions and/or grass roots work for GOP candidates in the 2006 election. And 70 percent would support a principled conservative challenger running against an established incumbent Republican in a 2006 GOP primary.
The poll, taken just two days before House Republicans vote to choose new leaders, should serve as a wake-up call to GOP officials and President Bush, said Richard A. Viguerie, chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, which sponsored the survey.
"Conservatives feel betrayed by the Republican leaders, and they want them replaced,” said Viguerie, who has been dubbed the "Funding Father” of the conservative movement. "Conservatives, which form the GOP’s base, provided most of the volunteers and money to elect a Republican-controlled House and Senate – and wound up with bigger government as a result. Now more than half of these committed activists say they’ll reduce or end their involvement in the 2006 elections – which could prove devastating for the GOP.”
Asked how they feel about the Republican members of Congress, 48 percent of conservatives report being "disappointed” and an additional 32 percent think they "should be replaced.”
Asked to grade the GOP-controlled Congress, 73 percent gave it a D or F on "controlling government spending," 73 percent gave it a D or F on "reducing illegal immigration” and 54 percent gave it an "overall grade” of D or F.
Sixty-three percent gave Bush a D or F on controlling government spending.
Perhaps most troublesome for the GOP, Viguerie pointed out, is how that anger may affect the 2006 mid-term elections: 51 percent of donors said they plan to reduce or end their financial support in 2006.
"This is a recipe for Republicans losing both houses of Congress in 2006. Republican leaders need to comprehend that if they govern as liberals, they will lose the support of conservatives,” Viguerie said.
In other words, it's pretty worthless.
An "on line" poll? (ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha)
Imagine that. Conservatives wanting the repubs to me more conservative.
I wonder what A new online poll of 1,028 moderate activists would show. Maybe wanting the repubs to be more moderate.
Re#2 Yep. Also subject to lying when the opposition gets wind of it, e.g., the Wash Compost "GOP more racist" article of recent. Garbage....
Let people ignore it if they want to. Many of the same people who accuse other Conservatives of only bashing the President and Party, are also deaf to any criticism of it. If people choose to ignore the anger that has built up over the last few years rather than address it, then the Republicans will lose.
A good many of these people are just perpetually angry. I remember as clear as a bell how even when Reagan was POTUS, the 'perpetual whiners' were as unhappy as ever and never stopped complaining, griping, carping, ...
Little do some of these people realize that when they are always hyperventilating and negative and angry about everything, NO ONE LISTENS TO THEM ANYMORE!
Everything you said is probably true, but it is hard to deny that there are many loyal Conservatives and Republicans who have legitimate gripes over a few important issues.
I could not find the author but I do believe that though flawed this poll is accurate!
The other night I received another phone call from the GOP for another donation. Read them the riot act. I told the CR until Bush and the GOP leadership in Congress addresses illegal immigration&open borders, along with liberal spending&big government, I wouldn't be sending them a dime. The last time I held back financial support for the GOP in an election year was 1992. Bush 41 got my vote, just not my money. By 1994 things had turned around. Newt's Contract With America drove the campaign agenda and the GOP took full control of Congress for the first time in 40 years. Conservtaives have to hold PresBush and the GOP Congress accountable for their actions on these domestic issues. This year my Congressman will get my vote, just not my money.
Good point--but that's the big trend on here, attacking those who bring bad news, even if they are the ones who "brung us." Short, and selective, institutional memory, probably deliberate.
Viguerie was on the Savage show today. He does indeed know a lot of the history of modern conservatism.
I'm willing to bet that if this was 20 years ago, you'd be calling yourself Goldwater Man and posting how you are not sending any money because Reagan doing the things above.
Time to vote with the feet. I would go nuts, living in a liberal hellhole. I escaped a long time ago...
A poll says I'm supposed to be angry? Well, I guess I'm angry then. Wait, what are we supposed to be angry about? Will they take a poll about that? I'll just wait here and semi-pout.
(F) on "reducing illegal immigration!
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