Politics: Not a zero-sum game
August 31st 2009 10:17
From CNN:
It would be easy to think that the recent struggles of Obama and the Democrats would elevate the Republicans. As this poll shows, that's not necessarily the case. The GOP would do well to offer some fresh ideas and alternative solutions. If they just depend on voters rejecting the Democrats in the next election cycle, they could face a rude awakening. Voter participation could be depressed across the board. If that happens, all bets are off. Or, viable third party candidates could arise and siphon votes away from the GOP. That happened in the presidential elections of 1992 and 1996 with Ross Perot.
With that being said, the GOP does have a great opportunity right now. Instead of prematurely dancing on the grave of the Democrats, however, they need to be out there offering the country an alternate perspective. They would be wise, though, to drop the Bush-era talking points and come up with workable plans to solve our country's problems. If they don't, they wiill continue to find themselves on the outside looking in.
A new poll suggests that Americans' faith in President Barack Obama to make the right decisions for the country is dropping.
Forty-nine percent of people questioned in a ABC/Washington Post survey released Friday say they have a great deal or good amount of confidence in the president's leadership, down 11 points from April. According to the poll, half of all Americans have little or no confidence in Obama's ability to make the right decisions, up ten points from April.
But the survey indicates that a dip in confidence in the president doesn't mean a rise in confidence in Republicans in Congress. Just 20 percent of people questioned say they have a great deal or good amount of faith in Congressional Republicans to make the right decisions, unchanged from April.
Forty-nine percent of people questioned in a ABC/Washington Post survey released Friday say they have a great deal or good amount of confidence in the president's leadership, down 11 points from April. According to the poll, half of all Americans have little or no confidence in Obama's ability to make the right decisions, up ten points from April.
But the survey indicates that a dip in confidence in the president doesn't mean a rise in confidence in Republicans in Congress. Just 20 percent of people questioned say they have a great deal or good amount of faith in Congressional Republicans to make the right decisions, unchanged from April.
It would be easy to think that the recent struggles of Obama and the Democrats would elevate the Republicans. As this poll shows, that's not necessarily the case. The GOP would do well to offer some fresh ideas and alternative solutions. If they just depend on voters rejecting the Democrats in the next election cycle, they could face a rude awakening. Voter participation could be depressed across the board. If that happens, all bets are off. Or, viable third party candidates could arise and siphon votes away from the GOP. That happened in the presidential elections of 1992 and 1996 with Ross Perot.
With that being said, the GOP does have a great opportunity right now. Instead of prematurely dancing on the grave of the Democrats, however, they need to be out there offering the country an alternate perspective. They would be wise, though, to drop the Bush-era talking points and come up with workable plans to solve our country's problems. If they don't, they wiill continue to find themselves on the outside looking in.
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
I don't know. Hopefully, someone will emerge as a new, fresh voice.