What I learned from DU polling.

[Scuba]

I conducted two polls earlier today (links below) and found the results worth sharing.

The first was on the question of how to hold the Republicans accountable now that they won the House. The number of jobs created was the metric most wanted to see used, although only 10 members voted in this poll. Maybe the results are too obvious, but three other metrics also received one vote each.

The second poll generated much more interest, and perhaps provided some insight to DU.

The second poll asks why the Republicans are so vehement about limiting President Obama to one term. A number of members pointed out this was a silly question, which in some ways it was. Of course the Republicans want to beat him in 2012.

However, 58 members voted in the poll (as of this writing), and a full page of comments were provided. Why? The first choice in the poll was because "they're racist pigs" and 35 members (60%) choose this answer.

What does that tell us? More than one member didn't want to be associated with this.

One member pointed out that he/she believes all racists are Republicans but not all Republicans are racist. I would tend to agree.

Perhaps I was too focused on the race-baiting in the campaign when I prepared the quiz.

Perhaps the voters were suffering from morning-after anger towards Republicans.


But the best response came in a reply from TheKentuckian, who helped me crystalize my thinking about the Presidency:


"They'd rather have the Presidency than both houses because they don't care about much in the way of legislation. If they can appoint judges, undermine the regulatory regime, set up crappy trade agreements, control the military, and randomly enforce laws they are good."



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9460493

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9461071