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How Democratic Congress threw away advantage over GOP
Examiner ^ | 09/01/10 | Byron York

Posted on 09/02/2010 12:24:02 PM PDT by freespirited

Many political observers were stunned by the new Gallup poll showing the Republican party with a 10-point advantage in the so-called "generic ballot" question. Now we have a better idea how that happened.

According to new, more detailed Gallup numbers, Democratic advantages on issues like health care, the economy, and handling corruption in government have simply disappeared. Democratic leads that were enormous when the party took control of Congress in 2006 have dwindled to nothing or have now become Republican advantages.

The most striking example is in health care. Back in October 2006, just before Democrats won control of Congress, Gallup asked the traditional question, "Do you think the Republicans in Congress or the Democrats in Congress would do a better job dealing with [the following issue]…" At that time, Democrats held a 64 percent to 25 percent lead on health care -- a 39 percentage-point advantage. Now, after Democrats passed their long-dreamed-of national health care bill, the result is 44 percent for Democrats versus 43 percent for Republicans -- a virtual tie. That is an enormous advantage to have thrown away during four years in power.

The news is just as bad for Democrats on the economy. In October 2006, Democrats held a 53 to 37 lead over Republicans on the issue. Now, after Democrats passed an $862 billion stimulus bill and touted 2010 as the "summer of recovery," Republicans hold a 49 to 38 lead. Democrats have gone from having a 16 point lead to being 11 points behind.

Then there is the question of dealing with corruption in government. Back in '06, a large majority -- 51 percent to 28 percent -- trusted Democrats more than Republicans to deal with the issue. Now, with Democrats facing high-profile ethics proceedings in Congress, Republicans hold a 38 to 35 lead.

Back in 2006, things had gotten so bad for Republicans that Democrats took the lead even in a traditionally Republican area: protecting the country against terrorism. Just before the '06 elections, Democrats held a 47 to 42 lead on protecting against terrorism. Now, after Ft. Hood, Detroit, and the Times Square bombing attempt, Republicans hold a 55 to 31 lead.

The only issue on which Democrats hold the lead today is the environment.

So look at the swings away from the Democratic party: a 38-point swing on health care, a 27-point swing on the economy, a 26-point swing on handling corruption in government, a 29-point swing on combating terrorism. All the progress Democrats had made on those issues during the Bush years has gone away. Is it any wonder Democratic strategists are approaching this November's elections in a state of panic.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2006electionbias; 2010; 2010electionbias; 9point5percent; ericholder; incompetence; incompetents; midterms; pelosicongress; ratcongress; stealingcongress
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To: Deb

How does that make them “incompetent”?

I dunno - ask the public, who believes they are no more competent than the Dims. That was my point.


21 posted on 09/02/2010 1:08:38 PM PDT by jessduntno ("There's only one true Christian liberal in the country and that's Mike Huckabee." - Ann Coulter)
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To: jessduntno
This has nothing to do with politics but much to do with the culture. When a nation succums to Utopia, it places trust in Utopians and then blames those very people for reality being different from Utopia.

That's all that happened. Great many people thought that healthcare is costless (or "rich" people can pay for it), that having a Black man as president is good in itself (regardless of what's iside the suit), etc. Now they blame real people for failing to be pure symbols. That's what children do to parents; that's what a narcisssistic nation does to its leadership. We've seen the same in the 1930s Germany and Italy.

22 posted on 09/02/2010 1:15:48 PM PDT by TopQuark
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To: freespirited

Talk’s cheap when you’re in the minority. When you attain the majority, you have to perform. The Dems have had four years and they’re still trying to get by on pointing the finger at the other guy. Even their base is telling them that but they’re not listening.


23 posted on 09/02/2010 1:19:30 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: TopQuark

“...that having a Black man as president is good in itself (regardless of what’s iside the suit), etc.”

Something I wrote a while back;

Unvetted and unknown, we have a POtuS in the White House that is a complete cipher. All the idiots in the country who keep referring to Obama as a genius because he was “the first African American Editor of the Harvard Law Review” should be reminded that a lot of “firsts” have no significance beyond that simple fact of being first in unusual circumstances.

The “first” black ballplayer in Boston Red Sox history - the LAST team in MLB to integrate, ironically, was Jerry “Pumpsie” Green who played a few short and unremarkable years and was out of baseball entirely before he was 30, He can be found, though, in all of the history books because he was a “first” in what was considered a bigoted organization.

Ironically, Pumpsie had a brother, Cornell, who was a tremendous athlete, the 5 time Pro-Bowler for the Dallas Cowboys. He made five Pro Bowls at two different positions - cornerback and strong safety. Green never missed a game in 13 seasons with the Cowboys (1962-74) and played 168 games, including 145 consecutive starts for the Cowboys between 1962-1974.

Absent Obama’s general collegiate records, indicating his course work, written grade scores and SAT’s etc., we don’t know how smart this guy is ... but I’m going out on a limb and saying he is more like Pumpsie Green than Cornell Green...he’s just the “first” to come along...

Anybody, even someone of little talent can become famous and be a “first” or a celebrity...but the guy who shows up on game day and straps it on is the guy who will be remembered for being someone special.


24 posted on 09/02/2010 1:25:11 PM PDT by jessduntno ("There's only one true Christian liberal in the country and that's Mike Huckabee." - Ann Coulter)
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To: Deb; rrrod

“The GOP has plenty to offer, but you have to be able to see and hear to understand it. Try paying attention.”

Well, Deb, now that you have finished your huckstering for the Grand Old Potty, I hope they get flushed even more. You are calling us uneducated because we disagree? That kind of hubris is why the Grand Old Potty needs to be flushed.


25 posted on 09/02/2010 1:43:31 PM PDT by jessduntno ("There's only one true Christian liberal in the country and that's Mike Huckabee." - Ann Coulter)
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To: jessduntno

Your ignorance knows no bounds and is obviously your choice. Fortunately the willfully uninformed won’t be necessary for us to win.


26 posted on 09/02/2010 1:47:19 PM PDT by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
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To: Deb

Isn’t that special.


27 posted on 09/02/2010 2:11:08 PM PDT by jessduntno ("There's only one true Christian liberal in the country and that's Mike Huckabee." - Ann Coulter)
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To: Deb

nice try fool.


28 posted on 09/02/2010 3:28:22 PM PDT by rrrod (at home in Medellin Colombia)
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To: jessduntno

right on!


29 posted on 09/02/2010 3:29:08 PM PDT by rrrod (at home in Medellin Colombia)
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To: rrrod

That’s it? That’s all you got? Sheesh.


30 posted on 09/02/2010 4:11:58 PM PDT by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
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