Gallup: Conservatives Finish 2009 as No. 1 Ideological Group

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

Conservatives Finish 2009 as No. 1 Ideological Group
Uptick owing largely to more independents calling themselves conservative

by Lydia Saad

PRINCETON, NJ -- The increased conservatism that Gallup first identified among Americans last June persisted throughout the year, so that the final year-end political ideology figures confirm Gallup's initial reporting: conservatives (40%) outnumbered both moderates (36%) and liberals (21%) across the nation in 2009.

More broadly, the percentage of Americans calling themselves either conservative or liberal has increased over the last decade, while the percentage of moderates has declined.

Since 1992, there have been only two other years -- 2003 and 2004 -- in which the average percentage of conservatives nationwide outnumbered moderates, and in both cases, it was by two percentage points (in contrast to the current four points).

"The proportion of independents calling themselves "moderate" held relatively steady in the mid-40s over the last decade, while the proportion of Republican and Democratic moderates dwindled."The rather abrupt three-point increase between 2008 and 2009 in the percentage of Americans calling themselves conservative is largely owing to an increase -- from 30% to 35% -- in the percentage of political independents adopting the label. Over the same period, there was only a slight increase in professed conservatism among Republicans (from 70% to 71%) and no change among Democrats (at 21%).

...

Bottom Line

Political independents showed increased attachment to the "conservative" label in 2009, boosting the overall ranks of that group so that it now clearly outnumbers moderates in Gallup's annual averages for the first time since 2004. Longer term, the proportions of Americans calling themselves conservative as well as liberal expanded slightly this past decade, largely because of increased partisan attachment to each label. At the same time, the percentage of "moderates" has dwindled, underscoring the heightened polarization of American politics as the nation heads into a new decade.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/124958/Conservatives-Finish-2009-No-1-Ideological-Group.aspx

[sakabatou]

1. Just because you're #1 doesn't mean you're correct

[SpiralHawk]

2. I've got a big problem with with.

If they somehow are equating conservative with republicon, then it's total bullshit.

There is nothing conservative about the borrow-and-spend republicons who flushed America's economy, environment, and honor down the crapper over the last ten years, and who are now whining and pouting, and doing their damdest to tear America down and make it FAIL the way they FAILED.

Republicons are radical Borrow-and-Spend Fiscal & Social Idiots. Not conseratives.

Get a grip, gallup.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

5. Why blame Gallup?

They ask people, "do you consider yourself a conservative." People answer however they want to answer.

I have no idea what you expect them to do... are they supposed to get into debates with people they poll and straighten them out?

[jenmito]

7. You know the Gallup poll that "pro-life" people have been citing for many months that claimed

for the first time, "pro-lifers" outnumber pro-choicers in this country, with a MAJORITY yet? Turns out they got those results by polling 32% Dems. and 32% Repubs.-an over-sampling of Repubs.

[SpiralHawk]

15. I expect the republicons to snap out of their trance and, for once, to act with honor

and integrity -- to publically admit that they are not in fact conservatives, but rather fabulous but small-minded and fear-driven bullshit artists who are covering up for their perverted, hypocritical Family Values, their radical borrow-and-spend fiscal profligacy, and their lie-based chickenhawk war mongering and war profiteering.

I expect no less that honor and integrity.. So I am sitting here waiting for the republicons to demonstrate even a scintilla of honor.

And waiting.

And waiting.

And waiting.

[niceypoo]

23. You are correct, they arent conservatives

They are radical reactionary statists

[CurtEastPoint]

3. Crap. I thought this said CONSERVATIONISTS were #1. n/t

You're right. Conservative does NOT EQUAL the GOP

[ClusterFreak]

4. So Conservatives are trailing Moderates and Liberals by 17%?

57 to 40 percent, right?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

6. There's nothing cute about thinking like a lobbyist or other PR flak.

Liberals trail conservatives and moderates by 27%, if you want to play spin-games with numbers.

[ClusterFreak]

32. Lobbyist or PR flak.

Ouch.

:eyes:

[ericgtr]

8. "for the first time since 2004" Bush won in 2004

When moderates were #1. Just sayin'.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

9. ??? (conservative is the dark green line)

"Since 1992, there have been only two other years -- 2003 and 2004 -- in which the average percentage of conservatives nationwide outnumbered moderates"

[ericgtr]

10. The article says...

"Political independents showed increased attachment to the "conservative" label in 2009, boosting the overall ranks of that group so that it now clearly outnumbers moderates in Gallup's annual averages for the first time since 2004."

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

11. Yes, the article says conservative outnumbered moderate in 2004

"(the group conservatives) clearly outnumbers moderates... for the first time since 2004."

[doc03]

12. This health-care fiasco is creating more and more

new conservatives each day.

[moondust]

13. Bankrupt ideology wins!

Is anybody out there paying attention?

Racism is probably a significant part of this.

[depakid]

14. Oh boy! More propaganda from Gallup

Watch Americans and their media just eat it up.

Nation full of suckers.

[Hippo_Tron]

16. The right wing has been demonizing the word "liberal" for decades, so this isn't surprising

[scheming daemons]

17. Alternate headline: Conservative Ideology down 3 points, Liberals up 4 points.. since 1992

..

[Clio the Leo]

18. But HOW can you be an idealogical group....

... if you dont have any ACTUAL ideas. ("Obama kills babies!" isn't so much an idea as it is a claim.)

[andym]

19. Explains a lot of what happens in politics

This number explains so many things about how difficult progressive change has been and will be in the near future.

[stevenleser]

20. I was just going to say the same thing.

This is overall around the country too. Where a lot of the blue dogs have to win elections, it is probably considerably worse.

[Yavin4]

21. There Is No Identifiable Liberal Party Nor Leadership Nor Media

The Democratic leaders are moderate to conservative. There is no Liberal alternative to Fox News. Liberals are isolated in urban areas and college campuses.

Without strong identifiable leaders and a political party, it's surprising that Liberals polled so well.

[HughMoran]

22. Sad reality that I can see many don't want to accept

Most reading this will quickly push it from their minds and go back to assuming that Americans are liberal and chomping at the bit for progressive reforms. It's just not true. Getting as far as we have in such an unfriendly environment speaks to the unpopularity of the Republican party and the benefits of being properly positioned on the issues that matter to people. Don't ever assume it's easy or that Blue Dogs are an anomaly - sadly, they accurately represent the people in their districts. Political reality is going to quickly hit people over the heads and Obama might not seem quite so moderate in comparison to the real reality is that he is facing.

[struggle4progress]

24. Over the last two decades, conservatives are down a few points, moderates are flat, and liberals

are up a few points

And the curves aren't very smooth: they're kinda jiggly

So what?

[divideetimpera]

25. I am seeing this trend of increased conservative feeling where I live, too

I am pretty sure it has something to do with a black president being elected. Obama being elected has triggered a renewed interest in politics in white people who don't usually vote. These are mostly white males and older white females.

Many older white americans are shocked. I visited my dad a few months ago and he was taken aback by the the election of a black president: "A N***** president!", he exclaimed angrily to me.

Obama's election has triggered a backlash among and a radicalization of previously nonvoting whites. This is one of the things I was afraid of. I urged you to draft James Webb, a decent leftist, as opposed to the corporatist Obama, who has now not only shown his true colors, but also triggered the backlash evident in the graph above.

But you wouldn't listen to me. Now we will reap the whirlwind.

I see that many of you here are in denial on this. Typical.

I can only hope that the new white voters (who have been radicalized by the election of a black president) will vote for politicians who are pushing the small government, anti-washington plank of the tea party agenda. That at least will do some good, as I would argue that this part of that particular agenda is actually a Leftist-friendly agenda.

[Imajika]

26. So basically, your Dad is a racist?

Your saying because we have some leftover racists in the country, including your Father, we can't elect an African American President?

Your post is bizarre and kind of stupid.

Edited to add: Jim Webb is not running for President, he will be lucky to hold on to his seat in Virginia.

[divideetimpera]

27. anti-racism uber alles?

ve should imprison dees racists and conform zem to our vay of zinking, no?

[Imajika]

29. Blah Blah Blah

Your post was just dumb. Because your Dad is a racist doesn't mean we can't elect an African American President.

Jim Webb is not a contender in any way, shape or form. He will be lucky to hold on to his seat in Virginia and everyone in the state knows it. He is busy tacking to the right on issues like Cap and Trade and others, so no, he is not some mighty progressive voice - far from it actually.

BTW, I voted for Jim Webb. He is about the best we can get out of Virginia, but he had zero chance of becoming President in 2008 and it will take everything we've got to keep him in office during his election cycle.

[divideetimpera]

28. webb would dominate any candidate

if he is in danger of losing his seat, something is going on.

And btw since he was elected in 06, he would not run again until 2012. Kind of a long way to be saying he is in danger of losing his seat, to say the least....

[Imajika]

30. Your delusional...

Webb has no national following. At all.

He is a barely known Senator from VA who, had he run for President in 08', would have been one of the handful that run in every election that are barely noticed and quickly forgotten.

Again, I voted for him and will again. The best we can hope for with Jim "Born Fighting" Webb is to keep him in the Senate.

Now, go talk some sense into your racist Father.

[Kaleva]

31. I don't think Webb will have any trouble holding onto his seat.

[Lilyeye]

33. Are you serious?

You're actually saying that people shouldn't have voted for Obama because it made racist whites angry? People are suppose to vote based on some old fucking racist fossils views? You showed your true fucking colors with that post.

Edit:added something.

[divideetimpera]

35. should have drafted webb

I said above that dems should have drafted webb. Did you read what I wrote? I said what I meant. ANd I mean what I said.

[Lilyeye]

37. AND

you said that we shouldn't have voted for a Black President because it pissed off racist white people. Who gives a fuck if they're pissed off. Your comment was as dumb as the previous poster stated.

[divideetimpera]

38. tsk tsk. Personal attacks etc

cognitive dissonance, much?

[Lilyeye]

39. You can spare me the psycho babble.

[TomCADem]

34. I Think Many Liberals Lose Sight Of The Fact That A Majority Of People...

Do not consider themselves to be liberal.

[and-justice-for-all]

36. I call BS..nt