Pollster.com has come out with a poll attempting to get behind the favoring of House of Representatives GOP voting. A summary of their findings:
[I]n our poll, we find that voters generally believe:
1. A GOP majority in the House will improve overall economic conditions;
2. A GOP House would do a better job than past GOP-controlled Congresses (i.e., the party has learned their lesson);
3. But, voters want a GOP Congress to work with President Obama and Democrats, as opposed to pursuing their own agenda.
...
So, what do all of these data tell us? By a significant margin, voters appear poised to vote for divided government, with the expectation that it will improve the economy. But, they also expect that the two parties will work together to solve economic challenges.
It seems like we hear that message from every election. But, I would posit that, in the face of such dire economic conditions, the data show us the limits of either party's pursuit of a "base" strategy have been reached. The Great Recession as an added an "or else" to what seems to be the electorate's biennial electoral plea, and the failure of a party in power (or perceived to be in power ) to heed that message carries major electoral risks.
It's sad that this has come to pass. We probably can thank the inability of many Congresspersons to confront the "angry" demonstrators last year and we all discussed this in depth in Squarestate's earlier version. Yet, a report to the people by a Congressperson is something that should be done in a calm way, not this 1960's style confrontation, funded by former GOP House Leader Armey. Our so-called media helped a lot, too. Sadly, many of our Colorado activist voters seem less than enthusiastic about this election.
We really need to get a grip...unless this anger spawns impeachment and other proceedings. If anyone here thinks that a Republican Congress will be beneficial to the American people or our country or that it will be an easy take-back in 2012, I have a really good bridge to sell them in Minnesota. |
