how do you KNOW??

[bevoette]

how is it possible to KNOW if:

1) Dems are losing b/c the Obama agenda is too 'liberal' and independents/moderates are running scared, or
2) Dems are losing b/c the Obama agenda went too far to the center and progressives are pissed off


how can that be determined? how can you measure which of these is closer to the truth?

DU itself is split all over the place over this...there has to be a way to determine what's happened and FIX it...there HAS TO!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. it's not about Obama's agenda

it's about our darling members of congress so they had better start shaping up

[treestar]

2. You know it is 1 because they choose a repuke.

they sent a repuke to the Senate. It means they don't want anything as far left as has been proposed.

[Clio the Leo]

3. Well, there's a poll that supports one of those claims...

http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/01/inter-party-turmoil.html

[virtualobserver]

4. I think that both are true

some voters are being convinced of 1) and others of 2)

divide and conquer

[Jennicut]

6. It is both. Indies are scared he is too liberal and liberals are pissed he is too moderate

You can never please everyone. I think you have to please the base first and then build out from there.

[demwing]

5. If the purple states are turning back to red

Then Obama went too far left.

If the Bluest of all Blue states are kicking out the Dems...

well, you can fucking figure it out

[bevoette]

9. so given the recent results (VA, NJ, MA)...i guess it's #1 then

i hope somebody is paying attention

[Loge23]

7. Clearly #2

If the WH had stood firm on it's agenda, the majority of this country would have rallied around him.
When everyone sees the obvious backroom dealing, it becomes more of the same and that's exactly what we voted Obama in to end - at least that's what we thought would happen.
People who voted D are pissed. They may yet rally to prevent a total meltdown in '12, but we need some meat - not the washed out paplum that we've been getting. Certainly no one can successfully argue that the pukes are better for this country. But an argument can be made that the Dems can't cut it either.

[virtualobserver]

8. so, they are voting conservative republican to end the backroom dealing, are they?

n/t

[Loge23]

11. Sadly, yes. They are.

I'm not suggesting that this is the answer - but in American politics, that's the way it goes.
Voters - particularly Indy's - simply shift across the room when things don't go their way.
People do not see enough of what Candidate Obama intended. So yes, they are choosing column B.

[Hippo_Tron]

10. Anybody who claims they know is pretty much full of shit

Yes people can speculate and theorize but nobody really knows this soon after the election.

[robcon]

12. If Dems abandon him: too far to the center. If Independents abandon him: the opposite

From what I understand, Independents abandoned Obama (if Massachusetts is a guideline.)

So I'd say Obama has to regain the center.

[TankLV]

13. Totally agree - Obama has to stop MOVING TO THE RIGHT with this "BIPARTISAN" crap!!!

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. People spout off here with no data and no theoretical framework to interpret data

It's all bullshit and speculation. Maybe some more informed than others, but very little in the way of actual evidence.

Deal with it. It's a discussion board, not a peer-reviewed journal. People select the set of facts or imagined facts that fit their already formed opinions and repeat those ad nauseum. If you're looking for measurement, look elsewhere. You're not going to turn this place from a forum for mere opinion into anything serious. People generally don't like having to be that serious. It's all parlor game.

[lunatica]

15. When results make no sense no matter how long you've been watching

I would question the results rather than assume the results are factual