Sub-par ratings for both major political parties, with most open to independent challenger in 2012

[alp227]

Source: Wash. Post

Fewer than half of all Americans express favorable opinions of the country’s two major political parties, with majorities across the board supporting the idea of an independent challenger in the upcoming presidential election, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Some 48 percent rate the Democratic Party favorably, marking a big drop from the lead-up to President Obama’s election and the party’s first sub-50-percent read in polling since 1984. At the same time, public views of the Republican Party continue to be even more negative: 53 percent see the Republican Party unfavorably; 40 percent favorably.

Independent voters are broadly critical of the two sides: 55 percent have unfavorable views of the Democrats and Republicans alike. Again, with a notable fall-off for Democrats from August 2008 when 51 percent of independent voters had positive views of the party, 41 percent negative ones.

More broadly, the parties’ current ratings are close to their all-time lows. The 40 percent rating for the GOP is down 11 percentage points from March 2006, when the party controlled both the White House and Congress. The low point for the party came in late 1998, just after the Republican House voted to impeach President Clinton.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/sub-par-ratings-for-both-major-political-parties-with-most-open-to-independent-challenger-in-2012/2011/11/01/gIQAPtyRdM_blog.html?wprss=behind-the-numbers

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poll results: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postabcpoll_103011.html

[opihimoimoi]

1. The Post still trying to put both Parties into single Category...a BULLY TRAIT

When caught....bullies like to say ..."Both are guilty"

Its a way to diffuse.....

[a simple pattern]

6. The bully's little sidekick who encourages him

and taunts the victim is certainly guilty

[Cirque du So-What]

2. The limiting factor: MOOLA

Our political system has devolved to the point that it takes big bucks to make inroads beyond local elections. Sure, there are rare exceptions such as Bernie Sanders, but the unique demographics of a Vermont make election of a socialist possible.

[Firebrand Gary]

3. 3rd party idea is stupid.

We don't need a savior, we need a constitutional amendment banning rights for corporations that were designed for people.

[quakerboy]

5. And which of our current parties would pass such an ammendment?

Which of our current parties would even propose such an amendment?

Or more specifically, of the current presidential primary candidates of both major parties, which would be willing to propose or support such an amendment

I don't see a single one. I am not sure that there is even a single one who would be willing to even just sign such an amendment into law if others did all the other work of getting it passed. If I did, I would agree with you. But I don't, and that's a big part of why even though I personally plan to vote a straight democratic ticket, I do see a fertile field for if the right 3rd party candidates were to step forward.

[olleander]

4. Corporate control

Considering the actual state of the people and the direction
of the country. it is amazing that 48 percent view Ds
favorably and 40 percent views Rs favorably.  We are a long
way from fixing our problems if 88% of the country can
favorably rate the corporate controlled political
establishment simply because they are wearing red or blue and
are the team they root for.

[harun]

7. We're conditioned from a young age to root for the home team

regardless of the teams merits or positions.

[Scuba]

8. At the Federal level, Dems will look at this and say "ooh, we'd better move further right". Wrong!

[closeupready]

9. Was just going to post that.

nt