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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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You cant fix stupid.
1 posted on 09/02/2010 12:24:03 PM PDT by freespirited
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To: freespirited

It was not an advantage attained by committed execution of the lies they used to attain that advantage. Had they told the truth about what they wanted, there would have been no advantage. We don’t need to parse it in any more detail than that.


2 posted on 09/02/2010 12:26:50 PM PDT by Gaffer ("Profiling: The only profile I need is a chalk outline around their dead ass!")
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To: freespirited

“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.”

And you can’t hide incompetence. On both sides. It’s a tie, and that should embarrass us. The Grand Old Potty needs to get flushed and we need some rock ribbed conservative leadership.


3 posted on 09/02/2010 12:27:51 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: freespirited
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.

The witchhunt of Tom DeLay fell flat (it's only now coming to trial in Austin where the judge admits the citizens are biased against Republicans and especially DeLay).

Foleygate and the other "sex scandal" blew up in the faces of the DNC (who knew far more about Foley than the GOP and shared what they knew with the media with the instructions to sit on it until the fall election).

Nancy Pelosi was a fraud. Does anyone think this is the most ethical congress ever as she promised?

DRAIN THE SWAMP

4 posted on 09/02/2010 12:29:13 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (I want IMPROVEMENT, not just CHANGE.)
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To: freespirited

all this and the GOP still doesnt get it. Folks are turning to the GOP because of the RATs not for anything the Republicans have to offer. Shame.


5 posted on 09/02/2010 12:29:35 PM PDT by rrrod (at home in Medellin Colombia)
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To: freespirited
The only issue on which Democrats hold the lead today is the environment.

Because the public is still told that man is causing global warming and that the proposed solutions will apply to all nations, not just the US.

6 posted on 09/02/2010 12:30:34 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (I want IMPROVEMENT, not just CHANGE.)
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To: freespirited
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 Fort Hood massacre was entirely preventable. Political correctness led to the deaths of a dozen people and the injury of dozens more.

7 posted on 09/02/2010 12:31:54 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (I want IMPROVEMENT, not just CHANGE.)
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To: freespirited

They crawled out from under the rocks and now Americans are on a massive SNAKE hunt!


8 posted on 09/02/2010 12:32:33 PM PDT by Marty62 (marty60)
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To: freespirited
So in other words, people trusted the Democrats on the issues until they actually implemented their idiot policies and then, people could see that all of them are antithetical to their values, prosperity and freedom.

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

Let them pass their stupid cap-and-trade legislation and we can fix this too.

9 posted on 09/02/2010 12:32:56 PM PDT by Cincinatus (Omnia relinquit servare Rempublicam)
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To: freespirited

Recovery summer. I don’t think any DemonRAT has said that term applies to the economy. I think it applies to member of Congress like Patrick “Patches” Kennedy who have substance abuse problems.

We need to make certain we know how those who use terms are using them.


10 posted on 09/02/2010 12:36:41 PM PDT by MIchaelTArchangel (Obama makes me miss Jimmah Cahtah!)
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To: jessduntno
The Grand Old Potty needs to get flushed and we need some rock ribbed conservative leadership Palin can do it. The country club Republicans are just as worried about her as the dems are. Millers win in Alaska is the shot that but Paid to the Potty,and Palin having survived the gauntlet of Rahm Manual and the entire MSM media attacks now has to survive the GOP elitist country club attacks, which are just beginning. And she will survive them. The people want Sarah Palin.
11 posted on 09/02/2010 12:39:43 PM PDT by Candor7 (Obama . fascist info..http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/ic05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html)
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To: freespirited
I don't care about how they squandered their advantage over the GOP, so long as they did and won't be able to recover from it.
12 posted on 09/02/2010 12:41:19 PM PDT by American Constitutionalist (The fool has said in his heart, " there is no GOD " ..)
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To: jessduntno
“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.”

And you can’t hide incompetence. On both sides. It’s a tie, and that should embarrass us. The Grand Old Potty needs to get flushed and we need some rock ribbed conservative leadership.

Keep in mind that Gallup is fond of polling "all adults" rather than likely voters. There are enough non-registered moochers in the group to significantly sway the numbers in favor of RATS, their lifeline. But these folks dont vote.

Gallup probably doesnt have the cojones to do the same poll with likely voters.

13 posted on 09/02/2010 12:43:57 PM PDT by freespirited
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To: freespirited
I was so impressed that the Republicans held their ground and fought back incredibly against healthcare with the polls seeming to say the 'Rats were miles more popular.

It was real unacknowledged courage.

14 posted on 09/02/2010 12:46:21 PM PDT by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
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To: zot

Generic ballot ping.


15 posted on 09/02/2010 12:48:22 PM PDT by Interesting Times (For the truth about "swift boating" see ToSetTheRecordStraight.com)
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To: rrrod

No longer cool to be a broke maggot infested Democrat living off everyone else. Money is tight. Work is scarce.


16 posted on 09/02/2010 12:49:56 PM PDT by screaminsunshine (m)
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To: jessduntno
Wow. Really? Where were you during the hearings and the votes? The Republicans were massively outnumbered and still fought long into every night against the healthcare bill. They tried every parliamentary maneuver and tactic they could muster (even Snowe and Collins), but didn't have the numbers to stop it.

How does that make them "incompetent"?

17 posted on 09/02/2010 12:51:52 PM PDT by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
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To: a fool in paradise

Nancy Pelosi ought to be impeached. The first thing she did as majority leader, was to set up an agenda for the main stream press with her “Culture of Corruption” Speech.

The ruling against Ted Stevens was thrown out after the judge discovered that he had been framed. The prosecution of Tom DeLay for “money laundering” was specious and based on a technnicality.

The Democrats are the the Party of Pork, but the press even succeeded in pinning that label on the Republicans. Even now, the Dems are running on the idea that they are the professional politicians who will “bring home the bacon”, so why vote for Republican “amateurs”.


18 posted on 09/02/2010 12:55:12 PM PDT by haroldeveryman
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To: rrrod

Apparently you’ve never heard of Paul Ryan or Eric Cantor. The GOP has plenty to offer, but you have to be able to see and hear to understand it. Try paying attention.


19 posted on 09/02/2010 12:57:03 PM PDT by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
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To: Interesting Times

Thanks for the generic ballot ping.

The RATs sold glowing promises. Now they are delivering what they really meant by those promises, and a lot of people don’t like it.


20 posted on 09/02/2010 1:04:07 PM PDT by zot
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