From MyDD: Democrats Pissed At Leadership; Ready to Vote For Dems Anyway

[Pirate Smile]

Democrats Pissed At Leadership; Ready to Vote For Dems Anyway
by Chris Bowers

Pew has a new report out on Congress approval which, among many findings, confirms the 12% generic ballot lead found by Newsweek earlier in the month.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Sept. 8-11, 2005. N=1,279 registered voters nationwide.

Reps Dems
All 40 52
Men 42 48
Women 38 55
18-29 39 57
30-49 41 51
50-64 42 50
65+ 36 52
Reps 89 8
Dems 3 96
Inds 27 55
Married 49 43
Unmarried 28 64

Yes, these polls matter.

That two-to-one advantage among Independents is eye-popping, but not terribly surprising given our earlier finding that Independents are closer to Democrats in all fifty states. Republicans must also be more than a little bit worried that their Social Security ploy completely failed to win them their hoped-for loyalties among younger voters. In fact, at this rate, Generation Y, or whatever it is called, seems poised to become a lifelong Democratic voting block in much the same way the 1980's caused Baby Boomers--especially younger Boomers--to become a lifelong Republican voting block. (More info on those trends can be found here)


One of the most interesting findings of the study is that while Democrats are unbelievably united when it comes to voting for a Democratic candidate for Congress in 2006, they actually don't like their leaders very much. According to the graphics on the right, only 3% of Democrats, whether they are liberal, moderate or conservative Democrats, plan to vote for a Republican in congressional elections 2006. However, while Democrats are far more united than they even were in 2004, and while they are more united than Republican in the generic ballot, Democrats give their leadership very, very low ratings. While Republicans give their leaders in Congress a fifty-six point approval spread, Democrats only give their leaders a seventeen point approval spread. While only 16% of Republicans disapprove of their leaders in Congress compared to 32% for Democrats, Democrats are holding fast in terms of voting intentions while moderate and liberal Republicans are actually poised to break from their party in large numbers. I guess that is what you get when you put movement conservatives in control of every leadership position in Congress.



There is one more thing I want to comment on here. Considering the similarity of these polling numbers to the general outlook of the progressive netroots, I have to wonder about the role of blogs in all of this. Just like the Democrats in this poll, the progressive blogosphere is often pissed off at leaders of the Democratic Party. However, like the Democrats in this poll, it is rabidly partisan, and it isn't taking its votes anywhere in a general election for public office. Also, by overhwelming, two-to-one margins, Democrats do not feel the Party is standing up for its traditional values, a regular online complaint. Further, the younger the voters in this poll are the ones most pissed off at Republicans and most likely to vote against them. As I have previously reported, the progressive blogosphere is a larger source of news for younger Americans than all of the cable news networks combined (and the progressive blogosphere has more than doubled its audience since I made that report). This could all be coincidental, but it could mean that the progressive blogosphere is becoming the heart and soul of the rank and file opposition to Republicans nationwide. People often accuse me of overstating the power of the netroots and the blogosphere, but perhaps even I have been dramatically understating it. I mean, if the blogosphere plays a central role in the political life of over two million of the most politically active progressives, and those people tend to be the influentials in their family and social circles, how could we not be basically driving the progressive zeitgeist nationwide? Progressive are flowing into the blogs, as noted by our astronomical increase in audience size over the past two years. Something persuasive, influential and meaningful must be happening here, and it is starting to really look like it is transforming the Democratic Party from the bottom (or at least the middle) up.

http://mydd.com/story/2005/9/18/124827/568

[Arugula Latte]

1. Thanks. I'm glad someone posted this.

I saw it earlier and what struck me was the number for the young people -- I think that is great news that the Dems have such an advantage there.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Well I am not gonna vote for DiFi

ok my choice is a Republican or a Republican in Sheep's clothing, I hope the greens run somebody good

[OzarkDem]

4. Isn't anyone else challenging her in the primary? n/t

[Tiggeroshii]

5. A Republican would not be better than Feinstein.

At least Feinstein still votes along party lines most of the times.... Though I don't prefer a Republican over her, I do wish she were more liberal. But she'll support impecahment proceedings, and right now that's all we need really. NO Repug will do that, because party loyalty is too strong, it's sickening.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. I've hard it with our so called democrat

so no I won't vote for her, as I said I hope the greesn run somebody competetent

[Pirate Smile]

12. IMO, control of the House and Senate are the most important thing in 2006.

We need to take over control so we can hold Hearings and Investigations with subpoena power.

Frankly, one Senator's sometimes annoying votes pale in comparison to winning back control.

I'm focused on picking up Republican seats and holding Dem seats.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. If the green gets it, yuo can bet he will caucus with the Demos

if Difi stays in, she will continue to vote the Repubican way,. She should just amke it official and switch party affiliation... harsh, perhaps, but this is the way many of us who do have a vote, feel now... and I doubt this will change by 2006

[Pithy Cherub]

9. Your faith is very misplaced in DiFi.

DiFi has sold out to corporate interests and republicans at almost every opportunity. CAFTA, Medicare vote, IWR and on and on. Not getting my vote. Looking for a good Green candidate...

[Tiggeroshii]

11. I guess I would vote green if they ran someone good

but she's still better than a republican. you know that "anybody but bush" rhetoric in 04? Next year it needs to be "anybody but a Repug," cause even if she buys into some of their crap, she's different enough to fight for our cause in the biggest battles. If she has a clear victory, I'll vote green, if a repug looks like they have a chance, any dem needs to vote for her. Our best chance for our cause is to push her out in the primaries but i doubt that'll happen.

[Pithy Cherub]

13. DiFi is a wasted vote.

Past performance is indicative of future behavior. She has firmly sided with the corporate cabals. I will vote with the people.

[K-W]

14. The lesser of two evils is less evil. EOM

[Pithy Cherub]

16. LOL! Debase thyself by voting for evil? uh, No. n/t

[K-W]

17. Debasing youself? Oh come on.

Why not vote in a way that is most likely to make peoples lives better rather than pretending that you are noble for refusing to exercise what little power you have to make a difference in the system.

While you are busy not 'defacing' yourself, republican policies are causing more suffering and destruction in this world than Democratic policies would.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. And Diane has voted for every one of them

every one of them

Dime on the dollar she votes to confirm Roberts if not at the committee level where the light is harsh, when the floor votes occurs...

Her pattern, everhing that will benefit her hubby, (Carlyle member) and not the people

[K-W]

21. Every one of them? Yah, right. EOM

[OzarkDem]

3. This may present a golden opportunity

to replace some of our Dem leaders who have been shown to be weak and interested in their own self preservation.

It could almost be interpreted as the same climate that existed for Republicans in 1993-94 during the Gingrich Revolution. The only difference being instead of Dems needing to shift its representation based on ideology, its shifting based on quality of leadership, skill and vision for the future of the party.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Interesting. Seems like "not-Republican" is a popular incentive for voting

[rockymountaindem]

7. Talkin' bout my generation...

It's gonna be good times when the millenials take over this country and fix our parents' mistakes.

[katinmn]

10. Progressive Dems are the grassroots. Traditional and long-entrenched

Dems are putting up a fight to keep progressive Dems out of the process.

They lost one battle when Dean became head of the DNC.

The next battle will be over delegate selection leading up to the 2006 elections.

[Tiggeroshii]

15. Dems can't afford to try and tkae advantage of this

They need to campaign as if they aren't the preferred party at the time. I think if we play the game hard, then we can win, but 04 has shown us that we can't trust these kinds of polls. The REpublican lie machine has orchestrated itself in a way that if the current situation isn't convincing repugs, then they'll change it arounda little bit till it does. Unless Fitzgerald brings out indictments, this isn't a time to sit back and watch the dems take over cause it just won't happen.

[TheStates]

20. I say, try to vote every corrupt demo out in the primaries.

Everyone should be focused on that completely, and then afterward, support voting for all the democrats who are left like Hackett.

[Pirate Smile]

22. kick.