Poll Shows Dissatisfaction With Democrats, Republicans

[whatelseisnew]

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0817-05.htm


What's the difference between party politics and reality television? Arguably not much, but here's
one: In politics, even if the voters don't like the party contestants, they're stuck with them.

Both the Republican and Democratic parties are getting lackluster reviews from the public this
summer, according to a Washington Post poll that tested their favorability ratings. Neither party
was able to break 50 percent on the measure: 48 percent said they had a favorable view of the
Republicans, and 46 percent had a favorable view of the Democrats.

In both cases this is 8 to 10 percentage points lower than the last measurement eight months ago.

The news is particularly bad for the Democrats, who haven't scored this low in at least a
half-dozen years. (Republicans are a little more accustomed to minority support, having seen their
ratings move into net negative territory as recently as 1999.)

Add to this the fact that Democrats seem to have disappointed their own following: In the poll,
Democrats rated their party 13 percentage points lower than they did last December (72 percent,
compared with 85 percent). The party also dropped among Republicans and independents, but by
a somewhat smaller margin.

[xchrom]

1. you won't gain in popularity

by trying to be the other guy -- as my mother would say -- be who you are and be proud of it.

[bearded_cat]

2. That's what I think too

Dems look at the way their representatives have caved on every important issue - Homeland Security, The "Patriot" Act, and others, and have slowly lost confidence. I've always been a democrat, but have been for the first time been giving serious consideration to supporting third party candidates. It may be the only way to get this country back on track. If enough people agree, there can be real change.

[wryter2000]

3. I sympathize, bearded

But my hope is that we'll get a democratic candidate for president who'll get in George W. Bush's face. Dean can be very good in this regard, and Kerry's starting to make the right noises now, too. Gore's speech set a good tone. I think we can rebound if we take a firm stand.

I do believe we have the power to take our country back.