Polling: how go the Independents?
A new Quinnipiac poll highlights some recent trends on hot-button issues such as illegal immigration and the Ground Zero mosque. On most of the questions, there is a huge disconnect between Republicans and Democrats.
This is unsurprising; it’s the stance of Independents that is of most interest, because as Independents go, so goes the nation. And for the most part right now, Independents are going with the Republicans. That there is the story.
Look at the data. On question 9, approval/disapproval of Obama’s handling of the oil spill, Independents are where you’d ordinarily expect them to be, about evenly split between the Democrat and Republican positions of approval and disapproval. But on most of the other policy questions, including several concerning illegal immigration, and on whether Ground Zero mosque is a good idea and approval of how Obama is handling it, Independents stand on the Republican side of the equation.
However, staying true to their descriptive title, Independents don’t always side with the Republicans. On questions related to Islam in general, such as whether in its mainstream—as opposed to extremist—form it is a peaceful or a violent religion, Independents are squarely with Democrats.
The trend seems pretty clear, and it may indeed be the difference that makes a difference in the 2010 election: on policy questions, Independents come down fairly consistently on the Republican side of the equation. Seven weeks from today, that has a good chance of translating into Republican victories at the ballot box.
Amen, Neo… thats very close to what I’ve often felt and and occasionally said . Independents are, yes, “independent,” but they are closer to the Right (and the GOP) than to the Left (and the Dems) on a huge swath of issues. If those on the consevative side of the spectrum play this right, they can create a strong, broad Center Right to Hard Right coalition which will keep the wacky left as an alienated (albeit influential, due to control of the media, Hollywood, academia, etc) minority. Its important to think tactically… think like Reagan… be uncompromising when one need be, but occassionally be willing to be flexible.
By the way, heres a bit of trivia which has been forgotten: before 9/11, Muslims in the United States were not necessarily antagonistic to the GOP… they voted 78% Republican in 2000 . It after the start of the War on Terror and Bush’s strong tilt toward Israel, that they shifted more strongly toward the Dems. Let me emphasize that I support both of those Bush policies. My point is simply that had 9/11 not occurred, even this group of “independents” may have been part of the coalition of conservatives, notwithstanding Obama’s Muslim name. Its just an interesting point that has now been forgotten.
In any case, I’d enjoy seeing the Jewish community shift to the GOP . . . maybe we could do a trade off.
With people making things like this on their own, we know the way its going to go as far as formal lines, its the informal by other means things that worry.
New Republican Ad – Author Unknown!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PvYGG22N7o
I consider myself an Independent thinker….
…. but never do I find myself agreeing with the Democrat politicians…
Conservative pundits are fond of saying we are a center right country. That would put many independents right of center. Obama succeeded by presenting himself as a centrist. It’s amazing how many “smart people” fell for it.
Mr. Frank,
‘smart’….
…. or fearful of the boogie-woman (Palin) ?
Re: my above post…
I’m thinking I should have treated the second half of the post (about Muslim voting patters) as a separate “off topic” post… it really doesnt go with the top portion agreeing with Neo regarding her assessment about Independents.. . . it also gives the impression that Im trying to make a point about Islam/War-on-Terror/Obama that I am not. Its more a bit of useful or useless info.
People who call themselves independent are kidding themselves.
Who is going to be “independent” when all of the Democrat’s laws and taxes go into effect?
Nobody. You can’t run and you can’t hide from this kind of government.
Adding my $0.02 to the informal poll here . . .
I am best described as someone who WILL NOT vote for a Democrat (under foreseeable circumstances). I WILL NOT vote for a political structure that routinely insults my very integrity as a human being. It’s not just the Michael Moores and Al Sharptons that insult me (they’re fringe, they can insult me all they want), it’s all the way to the top (by definition not fringe)– the Reids, Pelosis, Obamas, Howard Deans, and so on. I WILL NOT vote for that political power structure. Period.
(And that’s before I stop to consider what they’ll do to my meager accumulated assets and health care.)
BUT — that does NOT mean I’ll vote for the Republican. (In that sense I’m definitely independent.) I may not vote, especially if the vote is a foregone blue conclusion anyway [my dear state of Maryland is blue-blue-blue — although darned if the chap running for governor may have a fighting chance in this, an anti-Democrat year; so I guess I’ll have to get myself to the polls]. Or I may vote for a minor party candidate, which throws away my vote but it feels good to give the finger to both major parties. I voted for Perot in 1992 because the choice that year was among a liar and a fraud and a dissembler — but a vote for Perot was a primal scream. Therapeutic.
I like the slogan I saw once: Don’t vote for them, it’ll only encourage them!
But sometimes, we have to hold our nose . . .
Some independents are just “Democrats”.
Like this one:
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2010/09/14/brooks-tragedy-if-republicans-reject-more-government-higher-taxes
One of my High School classmates (class of 1954) said I had:
“VERY EVIDENT DEMOCRAT LIBERAL ATTITUDE ON POLITICS”
And later, others accused me of being:
“RIGID REPUBLICAN”.
So I figure I MUST be doing things right as there is no way I can be both a “Liberal Democrat” and a “Rigid Republican at the SAME time.” In my view, they choose to label me as neither can best me by their using logic and knowledge of the facts.
She further said, quote:
” — your corrupted sense of what is right for all of us. It would be nice if you could tone down your very evident Democrat liberal attitude on politics.”
In response I replied:
First of all, I am pro the Iraq War & I have voted for many more Republicans than I have voted for Democrats. It was the Republican party which changed, not I.
Second, I am neither a “Democrat” or a “Republican” nor am I a “Conservative”
or a “Liberal”. Rather, I am what I term
a “Moderate Independent”
On some issues, I support what some would label a ‘conservative’ stance and on others, I support what would be called a
‘liberal’ stance.
While others MAY consider things to be either “Liberal” or “Conservative” I do NOT as those are mere labels and have nothing to do with validity of a position held on an issue.
Rather, I consider ALL issues and to be:
A. Rational, or not rational,
B. Logical, or not logical,
C. Intelligent, or not intelligent.
D. Can one side substantiated by facts?
E. Can one side be proven?
F. Is it being NOW BEING done in other countries?
If so, what are their experiences with it?
G. Are there more pluses than minuses with what they are doing?
One example is the issue about having very Comprehensive Sex Education in our schools.
On one side of it, you have the Christian Programmed Religious Robots who just really DO NOT CARE what the most effective course of action is as long as their religious beliefs are adhered to.
On the other side, you have those who are only interested in the best way to reduce un-wanted pregnancies, VD rates and Sex Crimes.
Countries which DO have Comprehensive Sex Education, have LOWER S.T.D. rates as well as Sex Crime Rates plus, LOWER Un-intended Pregnancy Rates than we do in the United States.
Thus PROVING very Comprehensive Sex Ed. IS the CORRECT course of action. Thus, only the Illogical, Irrational and/or those who minds are so befuddled by their religious upbringing would be against it.
My views depend on what my many very varied experiences, (many more than most my age have had and I am 75) my research and other factors prove to me what is, at the time, the most intelligent, logical and rational course of action to follow.
I leave it to the irrational and illogical to label them. And of course, the label they place on it has absolutely NO effect what so ever on the validity of it.
The Democrats are most certainly wrong on guns, the death penalty, Iraq, drilling for oil, defense spending issues and some other things. They lie and they call those who disagree with them Racists!
(And as person who put my life on the line
FOR Black Civil Rights & one who has always supported, and worked for the Civil Rights of ALL people, it really pisses me off when some ignorant jerk calls me a racist.)
Still, the Republicans are wrong on many things as well. They have NO right to tell others who to love or to marry, to DENY science and facts, as well as shoving their religion on all others.
The Republicans seem to think they have the right to tell others how to live their lives and they ARE TOTALLY WRONG!
The reason so many stopped supporting
Republicans is because those on the Far Right took over control. MOST Americans support Choice and are tired of far Right Christians thinking they can tell the rest of us how to live our lives.
And UNLESS they get a clue, they will continue having problems getting elected.
Debate. Gotta love it. We can all sit and poke holes in anyone else’s stance. Knowledge is based on perception more than fact, unfortunately.
My favotire book in the Bible is Proverbs. It speaks of wisdom and knowledge. It is never out of style. Ignored, perhaps. But never out of style. As long as human nature remains the same (oh, 10,000 years and counting) how could Proverbs ever go out of style?
Well BR549
Mayhap YOUR Knowledge is based on your perception more than fact only this may not be true for all and it certainly is not true for me.
And FYI, humans have been around on our 4.5 Billion year old planet for many hundreds of thousands of years.
Please, Take Care!
Neil
Labeling yourself a Moderate Independant while decrying labels and labeling others negatively (“Christian Programmed Religious Robots”) persuades me your true label should possibly be Senile Ranter. It is probably too late in your life for you to get a grip.
Gee Tom, what a typical lame Christian response, Attack the messenger instead of the facts.
1. Come tell me I am senile to my face Tom, and I will put you on your ass!
2. Next, OH CLUELESS ONE, if you had a logical brain in your body, (Fat Change) you would know labelling POSITIONS ON SUBJECTS is NOT THE SAME as labelling Peoples actions.
DUH!
3. MILLIONS & MILLIONS & MILLIONS of FORMER PROGRAMMED RELIGIOUS ROBOT CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DE-PROGRAMMING THEMSELVES WILL ATTEST I AM CORRECT!
Tell me Tom, IF your religion is so great, just why are people LEAVING IT IN DROVES?
As people like Madlyn Murray O’Hair, H Ruth Green and MILLIONS of others have left it after their reading the Bible from cover to cover, I URGE ALL you Believers to do the same.
Reading the Bible Tom, is what caused
another Tom who, unlike you, had a fully brain, say something to the effect of:
“The Christian god is Cruel, Capricious, Vindictive and Un-Just”
FYI Tom, his last name was JEFFERSON
4. And CHILD. the ONLY reason you are the religion you are is because of WHO raised you!
Had YOUR parents been Jews, YOU would be a Jew, had YOUR parents been Moslems, YOU would be a Moslem.
And had YOUR parents been Hindus, YOU would not only be a HINDU, YOU WOULD BELIEVE in MANY GODS!
Many gods with NO more proof they exist, than does the one you believe in has.
(Did you know there are 25,000 gods humans have invented, named & worshipped so far?)
Last Loser, go play in your sandbox with the rest of your little retarded friends and leave the thinking to those of us who actually do!