Rasmussen Sees A Republican Rebound

Surveys in 2006 saw an erosion in Republican Party affiliation that opened the gap between the major parties from 1.6% to over 6%, favoring Democrats, by the end of the year. Twelve months later, the performance of the Democrats while controlling Congress has almost completely reversed the trend. Rolling into 2008, Rasmussen shows that Republicans have their highest share of affiliation since January 2006 and only trail Democrats by two points:

The realignment comes at a "startling" time, Rasmussen notes. The report also suggests this as a reaction to the performance of Democrats in Congress. Nancy Pelosi has only a 38% approval rating, compared to 49% at the start of the year, suggesting that independents have lost confidence in her leadership, and possibly some Democrats. They note the sharp increase in December as a corollary to the improving confidence in the war on terror, which also suggests that the electorate may exact a price on Democrats for their strident defeatism throughout most of 2007.

It could mean something else as well. The past year gave voters a good look at the Democratic primary challengers, a thoroughly inexperienced lot. Given that the three Democrats with any chance of winning the nomination comprise less experience in national office combined than John McCain and no executive experience at all, some disenchantment may have set in with voters. It certainly doesn't give Democrats a reason to think that they have momentum for a general election -- in fact, this survey shows the opposite.

Independent affiliation has also dropped. This looks like former Republicans returning to the party. Self-described independents only make up 29.5% of the electorate, which is the first time since June 2006 that number has been below 30%.

After losing their first national election in four cycles in 2006, it looks like Republicans could rebound in 2008. They have the momentum, and they have closed the gap almost to where it was in November 2004. A few more months of Democratic incompetence in Congress could close the gap altogether.

From wikipedia:

With the other candidates (besides Bush and Reagan) in single digits, the Nashua Telegraph offered to host a debate between Reagan and Bush. Worried that a newspaper-sponsored debate might violate electoral regulations, Reagan subsequently arranged to fund the event with his own campaign money, inviting the other candidates to participate at short notice. The Bush camp did not learn of Reagan’s decision to include the other candidates until the debate was due to commence. Bush refused to participate, which led to an impasse on the stage. As Reagan attempted to explain his decision, the editor of the Nashua Telegraph ordered the sound man to mute Reagan’s microphone. A visibly angry Reagan responded “I am paying for this microphone, Mr. Green!” (the editor’s name was in fact Jon Breen).[1][2] Eventually the other candidates agreed to leave, and the debate proceeded between Reagan and Bush. Reagan’s quote was often repeated as “I paid for this microphone!” and dominated news coverage of the event; Bush did not make an impact with the voters.

You're right.

The last time I crossed over and voted for the least electable candidate--HE WON THE ELECTION!

The last time I held my nose and donated to a Democrat politician, he was my state senator and had offered to help me with a very difficult problem. I was the unwitting victim of a severe injustice. He was a rock-bottom sleazebag (typical of Democrat politicians). After months went by, I realized he wasn't going to help--as he had promised to do--(he didn't even bother to let me know)--and was a complete scumbag. He fully intended to exploit me and my unhappy circumstances to his advantage (typical of Democrat politicians) and was only interested in what he could get out of it all for himself (typical of Democrat politicians). I vomited.

Then I called a state rep., a Republican, to whose campaign I had donated. I had attended a fund-raising party on his behalf. He was also a sleazebag--but at least he told me he wasn't going to help.

A distant relative contacted a Republican politician, a "friend" of his, in my behalf. However, when I spoke with this Republican politician, he was insulting and told me that he would not help me. He was also a sleazebag, but, again, at least he told me to get lost--unlike the vastly more sleazy Democrat.

Then I finally contacted my state rep., whom I didn't know--and Independent. He was a first rate, first class, absolutely wonderful man, who turned out to be one of my heroes. He still is. He helped me. He solved my problem quickly and justly. Afterward, when I asked him--in all confidentiality--how I could repay him (I was careful to ask him in utter privacy, and I thought, from my experience with the Democrat and Republican politicians, that he might just name his price), he said that my happiness and good citizenship were the only repayment he wanted. He will always be one of my heroes. Needless to say, he was not re-elected in the next election.

There is more good than evil in human nature. However, politics attracts degenerates, sociopaths, the greedy, and other undesirables like a magnet and skews the population of elected officials toward evil. Only a moron or a fellow sleazebag would want to empower these scumbag politicians further or to increase the size, reach, appetite, and power of the governments that are their instruments for exploiting the general population.

But of all the scumbags I encountered during this ordeal, the heroes (there were others too) were like brilliant suns. I revere them. They are like Scott Beamer. The world is full of heroes--most of them average people like you and me--lost in the crowd.

But politics attracts anti-heroes, sleazebags, degenerates, sociopaths, and other assorted undesirables like a magnet.

A Presidential candidate who appeals to a broad range of Republican voters could help bring Republican Congressional candidates along, too. I think Fred is that man.

The Democrats only won their majority by very slim margins in some places, so they are vulnerable. The fact that they acted so arrogantly after they took the majority in Congress only helped turn folks against them.

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