Comments on: Pols, Polls and Pushback

By: GrannyS

GrannyS — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:54:40 +0000

The Republicans are not meeting the needs of its party members. (yes, I’m a Republican conservative leaning toward becoming an independent) They seem to embrace Rush Limbaugh instead of distancing themselves from him and other extremists like him. Newt is a very visible spokesperson for the party but how can anyone respect a man that dumped his wife for someone else while she was in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. We don’t need jerks like that at the top of the party. Get some people in with common sense, people that are in touch with what the party members need and want in leadership. People criticized Palin but she was a breath of fresh air. When I think of Republicans, I think of wealthy, stodgy old men in an exclusive club oblivious to the world around them. We need fresh air, we need youth. Otherwise the party will continue to wither away.

By: Rick McDaniel

Rick McDaniel — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:04:32 +0000

Perhaps the real issue, is that identifying with either of the major political parties, actually labels you as a blind follower, instead of a free thinker.
It is time for Americans to demand more from government, than we are getting, from either of the political parties.
We need more parties, to dilute the power of these power mongering parties we have now, and to try and find some candidates who are serious about doing good for citizens, instead of lining their own pockets.

By: Rick McDaniel

Rick McDaniel — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:26:26 +0000

The backlash on the GOP, makes almost anything written about them, unreliable, at this time.
Everyone from Obama on down, wants to keep talking about Bush, and no one wants to talk about Obama.
Well, Bush is over and done, and in fact the congress has now been Dem for 2 1/2 yrs. So, they can blame Bush all they want, but I know the truth to be…..the Dems are not doing much of anything, and the public is getting tired of waiting.

By: DaveM

DaveM — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:22:51 +0000

I am certainly no big fan of polls. Generally, they just take the temperature of how people feel at that certain moment in time, and that can’t be accurate for the big picture. However, when multiple polls show the same trends over an extended peiod of time, one must inevitably bow to their accuracy. The GOP still hasn’t learned their lesson.

By: Mim Song

Mim Song — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:19:34 +0000

I doubt most of the new independents are disenchanted Republican conservatives. Some are, but many more were disgusted by Bush arrogance, incompetence, cronyism, hawkishness, and ignorance. They see the GOP in lockstep — no free thought or action within their party, all decisions made high up and far right. Most voted Democratic last time around and will continue to do so until the GOP returns to the mainstream. That may mean a return to true conservatism in fiscal and international affaris. But there has to be a positive GOP agenda of some kind, not the pandering fear-and-hate campaigns they’ve been running recently.

By: Noisefree

Noisefree — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:44:26 +0000

You may be distorting the facts, but the way you report them makes a big difference. In this case, you had the option of 1) saying that the Republicans have lost ground, 2) saying that the Democrats have maintain fairly constant support, or 3) saying that Independents have gained ground. We are registered (NYS) Conservatives – who are disenchanted with the Republican party in the wake of John McCain’s dismal showing in the last election. With your question, we would probably say we are Independents – and Republicans would lose 2 supporters.

By: David from WI

David from WI — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:05:08 +0000

I, also do think the spike in independents are from people that identify with being ‘conservative’ and will vote conservative ‘regardless of party.
The far left Dems that are just ‘wee weeing’ themselves at the low GOP numbers had better look closer at those numbers or they will be in for more disappointment come 2010 and 2012 than just the election of a the first FAILED black president. Why couldn’t they have elected the first black man the the office that could really DO a good job?
Wow this will be blamed on Bush and the GOP too?
I wonder if the Dems and far left have realized it yet, that the new INDEPENDENTS don’t care that much if you bash the GOP or Bush and the Dems look foolish and are wasting their energy.
If the Dems and far left could ACCOMPLISH things OF VALUE they wouldn’t have to BLAME ANYONE. But that is the far left since the 60s. Blame other people and when you get in power make a mess of things (the more local you get the worse it can get). The idea is you look good if you make the other guy look bad. Yup hows that working for the white house?
I thought so.

By: Sunnyr

Sunnyr — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:21:21 +0000

Sorry, but your poll is bogus! There are tens of thousands of Conservatives who switched to Independent to send a message to George Bush and the Republican Party that they no longer represented true Conservatives. You can bet we will never vote for a LIBERAL and will go back to the Republican Party when they get their act together.

By: Russ

Russ — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:18:08 +0000

I have watching ABC News for 50 years and I have never known it to be anything other then fare. Newt just can’t take it. One of the reasons is his right wing of the party stinks, nobody likes them. Well ABC maybe you should have just put in some different numbers for Newt and his right wing nut’s. Thank you
R. N. Utoft
Mpls. Mn.

By: NickP

NickP — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:32:08 +0000

Charlie, you’ve got it all wrong.
From the Rasmussen website:
“Rasmussen Reports determines its partisan weighting targets through a dynamic weighting system that takes into account the state’s voting history, national trends, and recent polling in a particular state or geographic area.”
Voting history seems out of date,
You say: “Rasmussen collects party affiliation then weights the remainder of the data using the party affiliation.” That is a circular argument. Collect party ID and then weight by party ID. Huh?
Please be more specific.