Voter Anger Might Mean An Electoral Shift in '06

Washington Post ^ | 11/6/5 | Dan Balz, Shailagh Murray and Peter Slevin

[SmithL]

One year before the 2006 midterm elections, Republicans are facing the most adverse political conditions of the 11 years since they vaulted to power in Congress in 1994. Powerful currents of voter unrest -- including unhappiness over the war in Iraq and dissatisfaction with the leadership of President Bush -- have undermined confidence in government and are stirring fears among GOP candidates of a backlash.

Interviews with voters, politicians and strategists in four battleground states, supplemented by a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, found significant discontent with the performance of both political parties. Frustration has not reached the level that existed before the 1994 earthquake, but many strategists say that if the public mood further darkens, Republican majorities in the House and Senate could be at risk.

One bright spot for the Republicans is the low regard in which many Americans hold the Democrats.

[SmithL]

Washington Post trying to create news.

[jess35]

Why is it that there is never fear of a liberal backlash from our friends at the WaPo?

[Prime Choice]

Looks like the WaPo cretins have been drinking the sour grapes the Dems are selling...

[Toddsterpatriot]

One bright spot for the Republicans is the low regard in which many Americans hold the Democrats.

You can say that again!!

[JLS]

Exactly and the riots in France might cause a shift in the electorate demanding that the constitution be once again ammended so Bush can run again in 2008. But heck we can not expect the press to cover the news when they are daydreaming on paper about the Dims back in power.

[kingu]

After nearly six years of bashing Republicans at every turn, the best that they can come up with is a near toss up between the two parties?

Wow, what a non-news item.

"Which party do you expect will raise taxes?"

"Are taxes an important consideration when voting?"

"Do you believe that students should be taken out of school without their parent's knowledge in order that they might get a secret abortion?"

"Do you believe that your children should be taught proper techniques for oral and anal sex in school?"

"Which party do you think supports the previous two ideas?"

Yeah, there's discontent in this country - no clear message by a Republican is allowed to get out in the media, and what messages that Democrats can put together sounds like whining children in the corner.

[goresalooza]

I fail to see how the Congressional rats polling at 22% will suddenly give them a massive swing vote in 06.

Last time I looked, the rats still had nothing to offer.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Washington Compost is trying to sway public opinion by trying to " SHEEPLE " ( = brainwash/dupe ) the sheeple.

Public dissatisfaction of the IRAQ is only in their ( Libs/MSM/DEMS ) minds and delusions.

The problems with hurricane Katrina was made into a political soap opera by the MSM and the DEMS, and I think most reasonable people really know the truth to put the blame were the blame really belongs.

The problems with the rising fuel prices is the result of 30 - 40 years of the Liberals/Envirowackos environmental strong arm tactics / EnviroNazi tactics and has prevented us from building new refineries, and so ? our capacity to refine fuel is stagnated.

I sure hope most of the " MAIN STREAM " of America knows the truth, or can I say, knows what is going on contrary to what the Liberals/MSM/WASHINGTON COMPOST/Dems want us to believe.

The Liberals/MSM/Dems must be crying in their beer now since fuel prices are going down in the run up of a election year.

It's the very thing they ( MSM/DEMS/LIBS ) don't want, to not be able to blame the Republicans/Conservatives for the rising fuel prices ( even though, the problem was really created by the Liberals/DEMS/Envirowackos.

It must be very hard and sad for the Liberals/MSM/DEMS to reply on manufactured news, and manipulating the publics perception instead of relying on the truth and what works.

[DoughtyOne]

Can anyone tell me what grade school the Washington Post eminates from?

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Sorry about the typos.

[familyop]

It has very little, if anything, to do with the Iraq situation. It has much more to do with the expensive array of anti-family social engineering programs and other continuing policies that the Democrats also push. Our elite are willing to continue financing their Sodom (our enormous bureaucracy) while keeping wages down with a large, international labor pool.

[jwh_Denver]

A fully funded government one.

[CALawyer]

The MSM has been singing the same tune now for how many election cycles? Remember 2002, when the opposition party always picks up seats in off-year elections. Wrong. Remember 2003, when Schwarzenegger was going to lose by double digits in California. Wrong. Remember 2004, when Bush couldn't win since we had passed the magic "1,000 troops killed in Iraq" number and were in a "quagmire". Wrong. When does the MSM ever predict that Republicans will pick up seats?

Bush and Congress have blown many opportunities to drive a final nail in the coffin of liberals. However, 2006 is still a long way away, especially since most voters have an attention span shorter than a Larry King marriage.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"One bright spot for the Republicans is the low regard in which many Americans hold the Democrats."

Another bright spot for Republicans is the low regard in which many Americans hold for the print media. On Monday the Audit Bureau of Circulations will release its semiannual figures on circulation, and we await the results.

What wasn't reported widely was it's May figures, average daily circulation had dropped 1.9% in the six months ended March 31 from a year ago.

Additionally more Americans get their news online: 30% of adults in 2004, compared with almost none in 1996.

The MSM likes to talk about the President's approval ratings. When it seems that it's own approval ratings are spelling the greater doom and gloom.

[wickedpinto]

"one bright spot for the Republicans is the low regard in which many Americans hold the Democrats. The public sees the Democrats as disorganized, lacking in clear ideas or a positive alternative to the GOP agenda, and bereft of appealing leaders."

And they aren't even in power, all they have is hatred and vitriol, they have no path of leadership, and accomplishment, only the ability to confuse the public with rhetoric and politicized disinformation. The democrats are in fact nothing more than a party of propaganda. This is ironic, but the Best statement I have heard about how to win a fight wasn't from one of the more than 5, so can I say several? manuals about the way to wage war, but rather from a fictional book.

"numbers, and fervor don't win wars, it is discipline" I think. That is from a character Jon Snow, in a series of books called "the song of ice and fire" by George R. R. Martin. While the democrats proclaim fiction as truth (the rathergate scandal, and the libby indictment being a proof of The President of the United States lying) It is easier to see the truth of fiction.
that is a distinction that the dems have a problem indentifying and understanding.
I need to get over this whole rambling non-sequitor thing.

[CyberAnt]

WP is trying to make us believe that the left's voters are so angry they are going to the polls and wipe us out.

ROTFLOL!!

If you want to see "real" anger .. the issue of Meirs took care of that. And .. we're still angry enough to show up and vote these stinking democrats out of office.

[Kryptonite]

One bright spot for the Republicans is the low regard in which many Americans hold the Democrats.

That's not just one bright spot, it's the whole ballgame.

[DoughtyOne]

No doubt...

[300winmag]

Last time I looked, the rats still had nothing to offer.

Oh, they have plenty to offer. Just nothing they can say in front of voters.

[goresalooza]

LOL..you have a point!

"We secretly plot to turn the USA into a Marxist nation" wouldn't go over well in most of America.