"Number Of Liberal Americans Growing, Number Of Conservatives Dropping, Says Gallup"

[applegrove]

Number Of Liberal Americans Growing, Number Of Conservatives Dropping, Says Gallup

by David Badash at the New Civil Rights Movement

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/number-of-liberal-americans-growing-number-of-conservatives-dropping-says-gallup/politics/2013/05/24/67452

"SNIP....................


The number of Americans who describe themselves and their beliefs as “liberal,” either on social or economic issues is growing significantly and reaching new highs, or meeting earlier ones, based on data from a just-released poll by Gallup, a generally conservative organization. Accordingly, the number of Americans who describe themselves and their beliefs as “conservative,” either on social or economic issues is dropping.

Gallup reports “the trend suggests that ideological attitudes in the country may be shifting. Social liberalism has grown by six points since 2001 and now attracts half of rank-and-file Democrats and Democratic leaners.”

This new survey shows changes in Americans’ ideology: economic conservatism is at a five-year low, while social liberalism has registered its highest support…

Gallup reports finding “the percentage of Americans describing their social views as ‘liberal’ or ‘very liberal’ has achieved a new peak of 30% — in line with Gallup’s recent finding that Americans are more accepting on a number of moral issues. Thirty-five percent of Americans say they are conservative or very conservative on social issues and 32% self-identify as socially moderate.”


...................SNIP"

[applegrove]

1. The word 'LIBERAL' is back too!!!

[Politicub]

13. +1

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

18. Hooray!!

That's the last time we let Conservatives (or should I use the more appropriate term - right wing nut job) damage our branding as LIBERALS!!!!

[liberalmike27]

42. Yes, we allowed them to trash the word

As we've allowed numerous other issues, without argumentation. I've always wretched a bit when I hear "progressive," as it represents a giving ground of sorts.

Con-servatives will pound away--look at the abortion issue, resolved we thought in 1973, but they keep pounding, using different hammers, and tools to shift it their way. You've got to give them credit for this tenaciousness of steel.

But part of it has been giving ground on the death penalty, drug wars, welfare, and other issues near and dear, rather than making an 'impassioned' argument. Yea, I put quotes around the word because that too, it seems Democrats have given ground on, as our politicians don't seem to have the verve anymore to do the job. Hapless voters might not understand everything, but they do see the passion in republicans, and sadly a lot of people vote based on that, as they like someone who believes in their policies fervently.

[CrispyQ]

52. I dislike the word progressive too, for the same reason.

Democratic politicians backed away from the word liberal, because a two bit actor poked fun at it. Soon after, they started backing away from liberal policies as well. It made the dems look weak & it enabled the repubs, who have been acting like spoiled brat bullies for too damned long, now. It has led to this:

[thesquanderer]

59. Who was the two-bit actor?

Reagan?

[CrispyQ]

63. Yeah, liberals let a guy who said that ketchup is a vegetable, mock them.

[Mnemosyne]

91. Don't forget those stinking polluting trees! The chimp was a better actor. nt

[CrispyQ]

92. Certainly more entertaining!

We're not going anywhere - we recorded the damage

[Mnemosyne]

93. I actually meant Bonzo, but certainly understand the confusion!

Glad to see someone keeping that war criminal's record out there!

[CrispyQ]

96. Confusion? Confucius?

DubyaSpeak.com - a bookmark on my browser since I discovered it.

Love this one too!

http://www.palinaspresident.us/


I love when they keep these sites up!

[Mnemosyne]

100. I got lost at dubyaspeak! Wow, so many things I'd forgotten. That war criminal really, really needs

to be arrested, tried and sentenced at the Hague.

I still can't look at anything Palin, we truly dodged the stupid bullet on that one. She makes dumbya look almost smart!

[caseymoz]

101. I thought it was GHWBush

. . . with his "card carrying member of the ACLU" campaign. Thus using McCarthyist tactics to attack liberalism, and bringing Cold War tactics into US party politics. Reagan laid the groundwork, the defeat of Mondale in 1984 was pivotal, but the elder Bush was the one who made liberalism shameful, and for political advantage, not ideological reasons. There was no limit to his opportunism.

[Courtesy Flush]

44. Ironically, it's conservatives who have poisoned the word "conservative" as well.

They've made conservatism look ugly and heartless. We didn't even have to help.

[PatSeg]

50. I love the irony

What goes around, comes around. Now "conservative" is synonymous with reactionary extremist. To win elections, the republicans woo the fringe of society and then they get stuck with them. Somehow they'll never learn. If you will do anything to win, you will eventually pay a price.

[CrispyQ]

53. ~lol.

Sometimes there is a little justice.

[City Lights]

55. Haha, good point! nt

[Chaco Dundee]

90. manners

If somebody shits in his own bed,sooner than later the smell gets to him or her.good time to change habits and convictions.

[freshwest]

57. Never forget:

[thesquanderer]

58. Reminds me of another recent graphic I saw

something like, just because someone puts it on a graphic doesn't make it true. (i.e. That's not from Roget's.)

[freshwest]

66. Your criticism is duly noted, but nonetheless, it is from Roget's:

Tired of conservatives lying when they try to define what a Liberal is?

Fight back... with the TRUTH!!!



And the explanation here:







So here's what you do... Buy the shirt, mug, etc. and print out this page and keep it handy. When an uneducated conservative challenges you, saying that you're lying, that it's not true, shove this page in his face and prove how HE is the one that is lying!

(And yeah, I see that "inexact, lax and careless" are three non-flattering definitions of Liberal as well... But I'll take those over "narrow-minded, bigoted and prejudiced" any day of the week

Have fun!!!

http://www.politicalstrikes.com/thesaurus.html

A quick google using the search terms Roget's Thesaurus, liberal and conservative yields:

http://thesaurus.com/browse/liberal

http://thesaurus.com/browse/conservative

Please post proof of your assertion that it is not from Roget's Thesaurus. TIA.

[thesquanderer]

68. Your proof is in your links.

As you referenced: http://thesaurus.com/browse/conservative

Most of the words associated with "conservative" in the infographic do not appear there.

Also, in the image of the page from the book, you can see that "Liberal" is assigned 4 categories of usage. There's a reason they put the different words in different numbered sections., and the word "Conservative" is only an antonym for the second kind of usage . So while you could arguably say that Roget's considers "reactionary" and "regressive" to be somewhat synonymous with "conservative" (because they are all antonyms for the same usage of "liberal&quot , the other listed words are shown as antonyms for other usages of "liberal" to which "conservative" is unrelated.

[freshwest]

75. No, the proof is in the source, Roget's Thesaurus:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10681#download

If you want to go through the entire book there, you will find paragraphs grouped similar in the case of liberals to those on the graphic. For example:

6. Liberality -- N. liberality, generosity, munificence; bounty, bounteousness, bountifulness; hospitality; charity &c (beneficence) 906.
V. be liberal &c adj.; spend freely, bleed freely; shower down upon; open one's purse strings &c (disburse) 809; spare no expense, give carte blanche
[Fr.].
Adj. liberal, free, generous; charitable &c (beneficent) 906; hospitable; bountiful, bounteous; handsome; unsparing, ungrudging; unselfish; open handed,
free handed, full handed; open hearted, large hearted, free hearted; munificent, princely.

The pages and links I posted on the graphic indicate there was editing. The entirety of Roget's Thesaurus or internet results will not fit on a graphic, they are always edited to fit.

You have disregarded the source and preferred the links I gave you which are bare, in order to squander my time as you want to discredit a graphic. The short definitions are a google search.

This thread supports liberals over conservatives, is not a scholarly writing and to be neutral. If negative references to conservatives on a progressive, liberal website offends you, or you find fault with the desire of DUers to see an upsurge in support for liberal values, I must bid you adieu. Have a nice day.

EOM.

[Marr]

69. Conservatives were decrying the dictionary as having a "liberal bias" a few years back.

Do you remember that? Some of them started their own "Conservapaedia" and conservative dictionary as a result.

Completely loony.

[freshwest]

73. The poster above you appears similarly offended. I'm giving him the liberal source but it won't help

[Skidmore]

32. Some of us ha e never forsaken the word and

tried to reinvent ourselves.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

78. that is right

I have always told folks that I'm one of those bleeding heart liberals everyone around these parts are so afraid of.

[otohara]

2. Not A Dirty Word - Yeah

America there's hope

[earthside]

3. In part, thank the Tea-publicans ...

... and the gun worshippers.

They have become so reactionary and extreme that the 'conservative' side simply does not provide a reasonable alternative for moderate, centrist Americans.

[grasswire]

4. Their desperation will bury them.

Yippee!!!

[Eleanors38]

17. The biggest increase in gun owners in the last 2 years is among

...Democrats and women Same polling organization.

[Triana]

5. Tealiban will have to work even harder to suppress liberal votes. n/ t

[Ilsa]

6. Extremists like that Fox reporter calling for violence

against voters have caused the scales to tip.Good people don't want to be affiliated with hate like that.

[BlueCaliDem]

65. I believe she's a talk show host for America's hate radio airwaves. eom

[AlinPA]

7. I read a lot of obituaries about people whom I knew. The old conservatives are dying, folks. I also

work and socialize with a lot of young people. Very few are right wingers.

[liberalmike27]

43. True

But a lot of hippies in the 60's and 70's ended up voting republican over, and over, and over later on--can't trust people to hold onto their ideology. The longer they are on the planet, the longer they are subject to brainwashing by the corporate left and the corporate right in our media.

They also get further away from a more liberal education in college, where they oftentimes hear a more fair view of both sides of the argument, than in our media.

[bvar22]

70. Can you document that myth?

...that "Hippies ended up voting Republican over, and over"?

My Wife & I are two old Hippies who have never voted for a Republican, and we have remained in touch with our "hippie" friends from the 60s,
and none of them have ever voted Republican.
It is hard enough to get them to vote for a Sell Out, War Mongering Democrat.
Vote for a Republican?...LOL...never.

Like any other movement, there were many wannabe Hippies who hung around for the weed and sex who were never really hippies.
They still lived with Mom & Dad, and only showed up on the weekends.
That must be who you are thinking about.
Being non-judgmental, we let them hang around
seeing this as an opportunity to plant the seeds of Free Thought,
and every now and then, someone clicked, and was changed forever.

And then there were those Establishment Conservatives (now running the Democratic Party) who always hated and blamed The Hippies with a bitter passion.
They never passed up an opportunity to malign or discredit the movement.
Are you one of those?



--bvar22 & Starkraven
living well on a low "taxable" income
and stuff we learned in the 60s




If you're ever in the neighborhood,
drop in for some Corn Bread & Green Beans,
but bring your Work Clothes and your own weed.

[xtraxritical]

79. Really, where does he pull that jive from? My first vote was for McGovern in 1972

and I've voted straight Democratic tickets ever since.

[socialist_n_TN]

86. Probably from personal experience. .....

I've known Mike a long time and I do believe that he's had some friends from the 60s/70s that did go conservative. There were even a few that I knew that have gone conservative. Now some of them are coming back after their kids are grown and as they're nearing retirement, but they spent a lot of their lives voting Republican. And that was the whole basis for the "yuppie" meme that popped up in the '80s.

Who knows whether they were true "hippies" or not. As Bvar said there were a lot of people who glommed onto it for the sex and the drugs and probably never fully bought into the entire lifestyle. Even I never considered myself a "hippie". My counterculture niche has always been as a radical/revolutionary socialist, even when I was 18 years old. I'm still in that niche now. I've just got a better theoretical basis for it now.

[xtraxritical]

94. Hippie is a generic term meaning little.

[bvar22]

95. There were many movements that "Came Together" in the late 60s and early 70s.

The Largest Movement was the Anti-Vietnam War Movement.
We (Hippies) shared many of the same symbols, music, and habitats with the Anti-WAR movement, and we sheltered more than a few Draft Dodgers,
but the actual "Hippies" were a relatively small number.
After the Vietnam War ended in '73, most of the Anti-War movement went home,
and perhaps that is what confused the poster above.

I don't blame anyone who wasn't THERE for the confusion,
but me and my Hippie Friends were never confused.
We Kept-the-Faith, and are still here today.
Many are involved in the Sustainable Living and Healthy Food movement,
like my Wife and myself, and we find it amusing and inexplicable that we are still living Rent Free in the heads of so many after more than 50 years.
We just wanted to be left alone.

I will confess one thing,
I'm damned glad I was alive and THERE for the BIGGEST and BEST party of the Century,
and I can understand those who still nurture a resentment for having missed it all.

[socialist_n_TN]

8. Well I still think that these types of "self identifying" polls are mostly useless...

Or at least, MUCH less useful than the polls that judge where people stand on issues. I would almost be willing to bet the mortgage that MOST of those self described "moderates" held the same positions on the issues as the ones that self described as "liberal" did.

The most useful bit of info in this article is where, at the end, they reveal that members of Congress of BOTH parties, overstate the conservatism of their constituents. That's not a surprise to me or most of us here, but for Gallup to say it, means it's sinking into the minds of the general public. That's where it's going to make a difference.

[Dragonfli]

26. I couldn't agree more, the third way deceptively uses "self Identification polls"

To claim that "moderates", what they then claim falsely are financially conservative centrists, are the largest voting constituency for Democrats to go after. They completely ignore issue polls that clearly show their Heritage Foundation based "centrists" policy recommendations are extremely unpopular. The issue polls show a public to the left of both parties. They lie with ease and pretty graphs and are a propaganda arm of the rich that has given us a right wing party and a fascist party with little to vote for that would reflect our collective wishes. We are stuck in a binary system with two right wing parties and nothing resembling even a center left party let alone any truly leftist parties promoting policies for the working class.

The worst thing that happened politically in this country was the vilification of American Communists while at the same time encouraging the fascist element to burrow into the mainstream. Of course we skewed so far right after that. FDR could not have passed center left solutions that stopped the bleeding without the influence of the left to ofset the right.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

31. After some reflection...

...I came to this conclusion: do people even know what what liberal positions are? I bet if they did some investigating, they'd reclaim "moderate."

[socialist_n_TN]

41. You're probably right......

And that's why these self-identifying polls are pretty well useless. HOWEVER, these polls DO show a overall trend developing. Even in self-identifying people are moving left.

[bvar22]

74. ..but they are identifying with the "New Left", as defined by the...

New Democrat Centrist Party, which, on the issues, is where the old Conservative Republican Party was in the 70s.

The brands are useless.
Many here believe that anyone who votes for a Democrat is a Liberal.
Nothing could be farther from the truth (as I see it).

I've always been "Issues Oriented".
It is easier to maintain the Moral Compass if one is an Issues Advocate
instead of an acolyte of Political Personalities or blind cheerleaders for Political Parties.
Those with an orientation to The Issues avoid that Morally Awkward situation of being AGAINST something when a Republican Does it,
but FOR It when a Democrat does it.

I wouldn't be able to sleep at night under those circumstances.
That would turn me shallow, hostile, defensive, and just plain rude.




You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their rhetoric, promises, or excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[socialist_n_TN]

84. But that still means they are moving left........

even if it's DINO left. I think that the trend is that the ENTIRE population is moving left, which means that the ones that are on the actual left are moving further left too.

And I agree that issues are what count. Labels are only a way to find out, as I said, general trends and find out if there are any groups out there that you would feel most comfortable with.

[bvar22]

88. No. It merely means they have designated the "Center-Right" as the "New Left"

Only the words have changed.
"They" haven't moved anywhere.

There are conservatives here who support
the Drone War,
the Unitary Executive
Secret Kill Lists
Mandatory For Profit Insurance
Anti-LABOR Free Trade
... and call themselves "Liberals".

[socialist_n_TN]

89. And that's why I've said that self-identification polls are mostly useless.....

It IS where they stand on issues that counts. But it still shows a trend. Because there are a HELL of a lot more people who will now identify as "socialist" or even "communist" now than there were 10 years ago too. It's the ENTIRE population that has moved left and the self identification merely confirms it.

[bvar22]

98. I guess we agree.

At least it is more socially acceptable to identify ones self as a "Liberal",
even if they are to the right of Reagan on the Political Spectrum (attacking "entitlements&quot .
Things could be worse.

[font color=firebrick][center]"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone [/font][/center]
[center][/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]

[emulatorloo]

51. So in other words, only DU'ers can define who is a "True Liberal"?

Or am I misunderstanding you?

[socialist_n_TN]

83. Call yourself whatever you want........

Your stands on ISSUES will tell everyone what you ACTUALLY are. That's why self-identifying polls are so mushy and almost useless. They DO show trends in the general population, but that's about all.

[truebluegreen]

82. I always try to send people to politicalcompass.org

there's a test they can take--with positions, not labels--to find out where they are. Then they can compare themselves to Our Leaders and their positions.

Oddly enough, everyone, including the moderates and the bubbas, turned out to be MORE liberal than they thought. One Bubba--that's actually his name, and he inspired the name of the group, who were his friends--who was the most bigoted, tea-partying, gun-loving, gay-fearing, mooslim-fearing, liberal-bashing, poor excuse for a citizen that I have ever had the misfortune to encounter--wound up dead-center on the graph. Right in the crosshairs.

Was proud of his moderation in all things--right up until I pointed out where his fearless leaders were. Then it was all a mistake...clearly.

But in all seriousness, I think everyone should check it out. It is--can be--an eye opener.

[BlueStreak]

9. I would feel better if Gallup had gotten anything right the past 10 years.

[rocktivity]

10. Candidate for this year's "You Call This NEWS?" awards

Not that I'm complaining.

Keep up the good work, Rethugs! RAH RAH RAH!


rocktivity

[libdude]

11. Well, perhaps

not only is the word " liberal " finding more appeal as it frames changing attitudes towards social and economic issues, but perhaps the word socialist will also find new appeal as the need for all of us to work together to build a country that benefits everyone, not just a few at the top.
Bottom up socialism, rebuilding the economic orientation, providing for the basic needs of all the people in all critical areas. Addressing the needs of infrastructure, transportation, protecting the environment, etc.
Since the realization of the spread and depth of the " great recession " and that there has been a fundamental change in people's economic safety net, the gap between the haves and the have nots has grown and the gap has been filled by a group of had at one time, would like to have but never will.
All of this situation can be attributed to the greed of a few which has been accomplished through their political team the Republican party and their conservative/tea party agenda all to serve the top 1-2% of the population.

[xtraxritical]

80. Now your talking, Socialism is the most ethical of all positions.

[socialist_n_TN]

87. For some reason I find myself agreeing with you here......

[AgingAmerican]

12. Bad news for the Third Way and the GOP

But GOOD news for America and the Democratic party!!

[Auntie Bush]

14. I hate to ask but...What is the Third Way?

[socialist_n_TN]

15. A VERY influential group that identify as Democractic, BUT.......

hold neo-liberal positions on economic policy. They are generally more tolerant on social issues. Because they carry water for the capitalists and the corporations, they are VERY well financed. Third Way is their way of characterizing their position as being between the left and right. Economically though, for the vast majority of the working class, they are the same as Republicans.

I just call them capitalist toadies.

[bluestate10]

24. So. You influence someone by making insulting comparisons. How utterly brilliant, NOT!!

being between left and right is called moderate-progressive, moderate and moderate-conservative - an overwhelming number of people and voters fall into those three categories, I would say far more than subscribe to your philosophy. Capitalism, when done right, has brought about more positive change than socialism. You can choose to understand something and thereby change it, or you can blindly hate. It is clear to me from reading your post what your choice is.

[cprise]

29. The only thing that motivates Capitalists to do it right

...is to have Socialists gaining in the polls.

In 2001 a reporter asked Jimmy Carter what it was like to be the last Liberal in America. Don't recall the response, but the question and the attitude illustrates why Liberalism (as we Americans know it) cannot exist without a radical element on its flank.

Here in the 21st century, the only "capitalist" systems worth a hill of beans to their people are the ones that form liberal-socialist alliances. Outside the US, these systems are called "mixed economies" or social democracies.

[socialist_n_TN]

35. And their comparisons of FDR Dems (which I'm definitely NOT BTW)...

as "fringe" are not meant to be insulting???

Anyway, I make NO secret of where I stand. I'm a proud Marxist and a Bolshevik-Leninist. That is how I view economics, politics, and society and quite frankly, NOTHING that has happened over the last few years (really since the fall of the degenerated workers' state that was the USSR) in those areas has changed my view. If I "hate" capitalism it's because capitalism is bad for the masses of people.

Finally, it makes no difference whether more people subscribe to Third Way policies than subscribe to Marxism. At this time, BOTH Third Way and Marxism are minority views. BUT the important thing is that the public overwhelmingly REJECTS the policies of the Third Way and the people are actually moving left, even in these nearly useless self-identifying polls. As I said in another post, when they're polled on ISSUES, they become even more left economically. THAT means that they are coming closer and closer to MY view than the Third Way.

[socialist_n_TN]

36. And another thing......

IF the Third Way policies positions were truly between the left and right of where the people stood on the economic issues, they would NOT lobby for neo-liberal policy positions because THOSE positions are the ones that are extreme right wing compared to what the public wants. Ergo they are NOT "moderate-progressive, moderate, or moderate-conservative", they are actually RW positions. They just self-identify as a middle ground, they are NOT actually a middle ground.

[woo me with science]

56. +1000000

Excellent posts in this thread, and good to see people clearly identifying the cancerous infiltration within our party.

[Chan790]

37. Seems like Socalist n TN is entitled to a Zenger defense.

The truth is still, after-all, an absolute defense against claims of libel.

[socialist_n_TN]

39. Thanks Chan, I like that........

[liberalmike27]

45. Despicable people deserve our hatred

Republicans have become despicable, and democrats have been steered along to the right, by our corporate media. We've got a corporate left and a corporate right in this country, and as Soc-n-TN says, real people are to the left of what our media feeds to steer the herd. And they do steer, and the rabble sadly follow.

The labels make ideology more difficult than it needs to be. I look at it as a spectrum, and I mostly look at economics. The social issues are a tool for the media, and con-servatives to manipulate, usually influencing only a small portion of us, but it gives them useful fodder to gin up hate, to keep the focus off of discussing the real battle raging, the class war being waged by the rich, on the middle class, and the POOR in this country over the last 60 years.

So, what do you do when you want to win the tug-of-war? Do you stand--try to hold your ground? Or do you pull, do you pull with every method, device, and bit of will to change it back? I'd venture to say if you're trying to hold the ground, you're going to lose. In chess we say, if you're not trying to win, you'll soon find yourself losing. The Democratic Party has demonstrated that over, and over, and over again.

So, we've had this steady migration to the right, pushed by a media that no longer has a mandate for equal time for all opinions, as Reagan did away with that in 1987, his FCC destroyed the Fairness Doctrine. It was put in place, of course, as the powers realized at the time that the media was largely a rich-mans device, and it needed some regulation for fairness. Without it, FOX news sprung up, Rush Limbaugh played profitless for 5 years before he finally found enough rednecks to pay the bill. So much for the idea they put on what people want to hear. They air what they want people to believe, and the people, apparently, will watch anything.

Moving back to the left, with the ratchet theory in operation (Republicans tighten, Democratic cycles at best click repositioning the ratchet, but not moving ideology), is going to be very difficult. Bulwarks are now in place, as I mentioned the largest being the media. Some still believe it's free, somewhat accurate, and is actually honest--even FOX!? Then there is the Criminal Justice Complex, inhabited mostly by right-wing appointees, topped by a still right-wing SC--hell, even if we did get another judicial appointment with Obama, they'd still be a pretty con-servative court. Plus you've got scores of brainwashed minds to deal with.

So yea, I see some hope in the fact that people are at least now, with Republicans heading into WILDLY insane territory of thought, finally calling themselves independent or Democratic. But there is still rough terrain ahead. We see we're really dealing with terrorists in the Republican Party. For 5 years during the Obama administration, they've demonstrated that they will wreak all sorts of hardship on Americans to keep democratic solutions from happening, nearing 400 filibusters. They've kept Obama appointments to a minimum unseen in the past for this number of years. Look for a tough trek back.

[Dragonfli]

27. Excellent description

What some might call insults the third way itself takes pride in. They are not shy about being financial conservatives and openly, even proudly, admit that they mix right financial policies with left social policies.

Their apologists don't pay attention to what they themselves proudly admit.

[Marr]

38. Yep-- I remember Clinton proudly calling himself an "economic conservative" when

campaigning against the first Bush.

I felt like I'd already lost at that point, no matter who won.

[xtraxritical]

81. Thanks for the explanation. I always wanted to ask but never had the stones.

[davidthegnome]

16. Don't feel bad

I've been wondering the same thing... I could guess, but I'd rather not.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

21. Why guess? Read all about it, starting with the Board of Trustees...

http://www.thirdway.org/trustees

[davidthegnome]

22. Huh.

Looks like a bunch of rich assholes to me - that would've been my guess, too.

[Dragonfli]

28. And proud of it

More Wall St ties than any group outside of the RNC which only has a very slight advantage, They also share the same donor list as many Koch and Peterson groups.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

20. Seriously?

http://www.thirdway.org/

[Tarheel_Dem]

62. Anyone who doesn't kiss the ass of Michael Moore, Ralph Nader & Julian......

Assange, according to DU standards. The shift, if you want to call it that, is much more about people's disdain for what has become of the modern day Republican Party. There are progressive Republicans, who are scared shitless that their own party has been overtaken by rightwing zealots (The Tea Party), I know this because I worked with them in '08 & '12. I don't know that they'd identify themselves as "liberal", but they certainly aren't voting Republican at the moment.

Of course the country's becoming more progressive. It's the reason why Obama the Kenyan, Muslin, Marxist, Socialist has won two national elections, and Jill Stein, Rocky Anderson, Roseanne Barr, and Gary Johnson were all sent home in tears & embarrassment.

[Jamaal510]

99. Moderate Democrats, basically.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_way

[Cha]

19. Imagine that..Good, some Logic!

thanks applegrove

[Aristus]

23. I credit the Republicans for helping me to embrace the term 'Liberal'.

The only good thing to happen as a result of sElection 2000.

For years, I had waffled with my ideological beliefs. Called myself a 'moderate'. "I can see both sides" - Shit like that.

When the Extreme Court appointed the Clown Prince to the Presidency, I had enough.

I said: "Fuck it! I'm a LIBERAL!"

I said it with pride then, and I say it with pride again now.

Liberal till I DIE, motherfuckers!

[marions ghost]

33. +++

[alp227]

25. And that'll keep happening as the right wing "ideology" gets wackier and off the rails. nt

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

30. Fox News and Limbaugh are working!

No, I'm serious. They fuel the Tea Party and the Tea Party scares moderates.

I know people want to get Rush off the radio, but I think he helps liberals by hurting Republicans.

[hoosierlib]

34. Agreed...

I occasionally listen to Rush and some other RW whack-a-doodles just to keep tabs what they are spinning and scheming. Amazingly they all seem to read off the same script, as if it were planned...hmm.

[liberalmike27]

46. If TEA PARTY people scare you

Then you'd better get into the tug-of-war, and start pulling along with the liberals.

What, you think it'll hurt you more if we get a wee bit more liberal, or if we progress onward to an official corporate government, as depicted in the future in Continuum (syfy)?

My guess is you're closer to the bottom than the top, and the Republicans have done very little to make your life better.

[Marr]

72. I think he helps the *Democratic Party* immensely, but he's horrible for liberals.

Limbaugh and others like him give more influence to the radical fringe of the right, just as you said-- but that allows the Democratic Party to walk rightward. People who would've once found themselves the Democratic Party's base or somewhere on it's left side are left more or less without representation.

[davidn3600]

40. Every political affiliation is rising, except conservatives who is dropping.

Even libertarianism is rising.

The reason this is happening is the tea party is driving a wedge within the GOP. So everyone who isn't a social conservative and far-right winger is starting to distance themselves from that rhetoric by referring to themselves as something else.

Now the question becomes is do these disenchanted groups suddenly start voting for Democrats? Or will they continue to hold their nose and vote for GOP nominees whoever that might be? Only time will tell. A lot of these people have a reason they are not a democrat. That part of the equation hasn't changed any. Democrat candidates would have to go to the middle to have a chance at grabbing these voters.

[vkkv]

47. Now, "if we can only shrink the GOP to a size that it can be drowned in a bathtub"

Now, to paraphrase Grover Norquist, sort of:: "if we can only shrink the GOP to a size that it can be drowned in a bathtub".

[BenzoDia]

48. Love the news but weary of gallup after last year's Presidential race polls nt.

[Zorra]

49. Hallelujah! The vaccine seems to be working. (Graphic, pic heavy expose of conservatism)

Someday, conservatism will become as rare as the black plague smallpox, TB, and polio

Keep inoculating, and someday, children everywhere on the planet will be free from risk of being crippled for life by conservatism, the deadly disease that withers and deforms the heart, mind, and spirit of all who are afflicted by it.

In the photo below, a young woman is shown in the process of neutralizing the classic Stage IV Conservative Zombie who abused her:


We've all witnessed the horrible, devastating effects of conservatism as its victims regress into permanent madness:


Before: Stage IV Conservative ---After: Stage V Conservative



Here is a genuine photo of an innocent child victim of former humans who have transformed into Terminally Uncool Conservative Zombies after their hearts, minds, and spirits were been eaten away by the the disease of conservatism.


Conservatism is a disease that is more expensive to treat than all other diseases combined, and it causes almost everyone to suffer, not just those who have this crippling disease. Everyone is affected by the deadly pathogen of conservatism.

Keep your children, friends, and neighbors informed ~ conservatism will make you permanently stupid, corrupt, evil, and tragically, irrevocably uncool:



Conservatives, in Stage IV Evil Zombie Terminal Uncoolness:


Two packs of predatory Stage IV Uncool Conservative Zombies, one past, one present, attempting to destroy love on the planet. Notice the similarity among members of the two herds?


Conservatism kills, and conservatives kill. Inoculate early and often. Protect your children, friends, and neighbors.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".

Conservatism is a disgusting, disfiguring, tragic disease that affects everyone. The threat is real. Help stop the spread of conservatism, and save our children and all future generations from the widespread, horrible suffering caused by this devastating disease. We're winning.

Let's wipe conservatism off the face of the planet forever.


This message brought to you by non-members of the Occupy/Anonymous Freedom Workers Non-Coalition for Equality and Economic Justice

[Initech]

54. Woohoo!!! Good news!!!

People are finally starting to see that Fox News and their brain dead viewers don't represent the people, they represent the greedy billionaires.

[Dawson Leery]

60. Liberal +10, Conservative -10, Moderate Unchanged

[DevonRex]

61. But 35% say they're conservative? 32% moderate.

This was a way for Gallup to make it look like there are more conservatives than liberals.

[burnodo]

64. Is this the same Gallup...

That people say is usually biased and untrustworthy?

[Zorra]

77. Yeh, but since it's usually biased towards conservatives, these stats are probably

seriously underestimating the decline in the number of conservatives.

It's time to face the facts ~ the country is waking up to the fact that conservatives are generally greedy, violent, ignorant, and flat out all around icky, and decent, compassionate people don't identify as, or with, conservatives.

[olddots]

67. They call us starry eyed idealists and bleading heart liberals

I'd kill myself if I woke up not being a starry eyed idealist and bleeding heart liberal -----they wake up being turd maggots .

[Marr]

71. I wonder how much of this has to do with changing attitudes toward homosexuals.

They've been increasingly accepted as normal people, instead of the simple stereotypes to be made fun of and despised. The hate rhetoric of the political right towards gays in particular is striking an increasingly sour note as time goes by.

[Bonx]

106. I think it sways a lot of people

I remember when my cousin's partner died after they had been living together for 20+ yrs. They, like a lot of us, hadn't planned for this. But they didn't have a marriage to protect their rights. Cousin had to buy out 1/2 the house they had purchased together & lived in for most of this time from the partner's relatives who 'inherited' his property by default. Made me sick to my stomach.

[bvar22]

76. All this poll shows is that the word "Liberal" is more acceptable in mixed company.

This is probably a result of the word "Conservative" being damaged by the idiots in the Tea Party.

The labels are useless today.
The only thing that matters is where someone STANDS on the individual Issues.

[font size=3]
Centrism!!!....because its so EASY!
You don't have to STAND for ANYTHING,
and get to insult those who DO![/font]





You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their promises or excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[Lobo27]

85. Like I always say this country for the most part is liberal.

The biggest problem is that many of those that conservative are really cray cray. And they tend to be the ones that are heard the most often, and tend to also be a the people with a lot of power. Look at the gun issue 91% want back ground checks, oh yeah well like 4mil say no, to hell with the majority.

[B Stieg]

97. Not Fast Enough...

[Kath1]

102. Good news!

I think this trend will continue. My daughter, 24, is very liberal and so are all of her friends. Even older people are "getting it." I was floored when my ex's mother called me after the election to say how happy she was with Obama's election. This was from a former Fox-addicted Bush supporter!

[tavernier]

103. My conservative (read fuxgnus)

daughter freaks out when I tell her that I am a PROUD card carrying Liberal!!

[blkmusclmachine]

104. "Liberalism" keeps getting shoved to the Right, watered down beyond meaning, so yeah,

I can see how "Liberalism" would overtake the Centrists and Right-of-Centers eventually.

[another_liberal]

105. Who with half a brain?

Why would anyone want to be identified as a Conservative? Who with half a brain would want to be know as someone "like" Rand Paul, Ted Cruz or Paul Ryan? You would definitely never have a date you hadn't paid for, and I don't mean picking up the tab for dinner and a movie either.

[IrishAyes]

107. Be still, my heart.

Wonderful news. That grin on my face grows by the minute. (soon I'll look like a cheshire cat!)