‘Top Line’ — Do Democrats Face an Enthusiasm Gap?
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein reports: The recent string of Democratic retirements from Congress reflects a worrisome trend for the majority party: a growing anti-incumbent sentiment that’s making life less hospitable for Democrats on Capitol Hill. With so much organizing energy on the conservative side, with Democrats be able to generate their own enthusiasm in 2010? “The bias here is against incumbents, is against Washington,” Ana Marie Cox of Air America told us on ABC’s “Top Line” today. “I mean, that’s the energy is an anti-Washington energy, and that’s why you’re seeing Republicans having trouble even harnessing that for the people that they’ve picked, much less for the people who are already incumbents.” Cox noted that some of the most enthusiastic Democrats these days are liberals — who aren’t thrilled with the direction set by the Obama administration. “What’s interesting to me is the energy that I do see on the Democratic side is actually more properly called the progressive side or the liberal side, and it’s a similarly angry energy, it’s a similarly anti-incumbent energy. It’s a lot of disappointment in Obama and that is — that is not something the Democrats can really harness either,” she said. Watch the segment with Ana Marie Cox HERE.
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You can call it what ever you want, but the party in the Whitehouse is just about ALWAYS hammered in the off year election. Throw in a recession and the Democrats are guaranteed to lose seats.
Posted by: jhw539 | January 6, 2010, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
Ya and pass a health reform behind closed doors that the majority of the voting public does not want, but shove it down our throats just to show you stupid voters whose in charge, that should get sombodys enthusiasm going, you are on your way out, thats how stupid we are.
Posted by: earl | January 6, 2010, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
earl
I think people will be happier once health care reform passes and voters get to see how the bill actually works. “The proof is in the pudding”, so to speak.
The bottom line is, under whose leadership will the direction of the country improve? I think the Democrats will be better at governing than the Republicans were.
Posted by: Amy in Maine | January 6, 2010, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
Amy So sorry, but when you have to bribe members of your own party to vote for something that has to be worked out behind closed doors even you have to smell a rat. If the house pulls that bribe they gave to Nebraska will Ben then not vote for anymore.
Posted by: earl | January 6, 2010, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
Arnold pulled his support , soon as he was able to read the whole thing. Even he can spot a crook when its out in the open. Health reform is really really needed, but this behind closed doors tax you for four years before you get any benefit is just wrong, why would we not be striving for legitimate reform that benefits the people not the insurance companies like this monstrosity.
Posted by: earl | January 6, 2010, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
Yes, Dems will lose some seats but that was bound to happen. A lot of Dems are dissappointed that healthcare bill does not have a public option or that Obama didn’t do more about the bill (what more he could have done is a mystery to me). I am amazed at what short memories people have. Although I wish the pace of change was faster, 2009 was a lot better than 2008.
Posted by: Jim | January 6, 2010, 7:08 pm 7:08 pm
Actually, they’re getting pretty close to Rebellion City Within The Party. The various aspects of what they have created are unfair and unjust and they have managed to offend almost everyone but the minority who comprises the Obama base.
Posted by: jan | January 6, 2010, 8:05 pm 8:05 pm
No one can blame the liberweasels for jumping ship. Most of the liberals had no idea that Obungle would be as stupid as he is. And yes, a person can be well educated and still be stupid, Odumbo is living proof of that.
Posted by: Obungle whumper | January 7, 2010, 4:45 am 4:45 am
Lie to me once shame on you, lie to me twice shame one me, But lie to me 8 times unforgivable, let us see these behind closed door corrupt deciever antics.
Posted by: earl | January 7, 2010, 7:42 am 7:42 am