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The GOP is Winning
Townhall.com ^ | October 10, 2013 | Jack Kerwick

Posted on 10/10/2013 11:48:39 AM PDT by Kaslin

The Republicans are winning the fight over the government shut down. This, at any rate, is the conclusion that must be drawn from both the latest Associated Press poll as well as the terms in which it is described.

The headline of the AP article is: “Poll: GOP gets the blame in shutdown.”Yet in the very first paragraph, the very first line, it is said that while Republicans are being held as “primarily responsible” for the (partial) shutdown, “public esteem” has soured on every player in this “struggle with no heroes.”

In the following paragraph, we are told that, just as in 1996, Republicans “may end up taking the biggest hit” from this standoff.Immediately afterwards, however, the piece states that nine days into the shutdown matters are “fluid,” with “plenty of disdain to go around.”

One would think that if the GOP was really faring all that badly, then the AP shouldn’t have had any problem mustering up quotations from any number of people who would’ve been eager to have spoken to that effect. Yet the only two people that it quotes are Martha Blair, an “independent,” and Barbara Olpinski, a self-identified Republican. Both explicitly blame Democrats as well as Republicans for the current situation.

“Asked if she blamed Obama, House Republicans, Senate Democrats, or the tea party for the shut down,” the article reads, “Blair…said yes, you bet. All of them.”Olpinski is quoted as saying: “People don’t know how they are going to pay for things, and what will be covered.” She adds: “Everybody is kind of like holding their wallets.”

Another interesting tidbit to be gotten from this poll is that Ted Cruz—you know, the Texas Senator whose 21-plus hour charge to defund Obamacare was supposed to have done permanent damage to the Republican brand—scarcely even registers with those polled: most Americans, supposedly, aren’t aware of who he is.

The poll also informs us that in spite of Obama’s promises that Doomsday will descend upon the world if Congress fails to raise the debt limit, less than one out of every three Americans favor raising it.

The President’s characteristic fear mongering is failing him.

As for the Tea Party, the AP has just now learned from its own poll that it is not the “gang of malcontents” that has been “portrayed by Democrats.” Instead, “it’s a sizable—and divisive—force among Republicans.”Moreover, “4 out of 10 Republicans identified with the Tea Party [.]”

The most interesting thing about this poll—a poll, let’s not forget, that the AP is promoting to establish that the GOP is losing the public relations war vis-à-vis the shutdown—is what it reveals about the politically perilous condition of Democrats.

The Republicans were blamed overwhelmingly for the shutdown of ’96.That state of affairs isn’t even close to being replicated today.

First, consider that the very poll that the AP seeks to use against the GOP reveals that Congress—the Democrat-controlled Congress—has a historically unprecedented low approval rating of five percent.

Secondly, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid has an approval rating that is no higher than that of House Majority leader John Boehner.Considering that most people continue to derive their (mis)information from the overwhelmingly Democratic-friendly “mainstream” press, this is quite remarkable, for even in the midst of an unpopular so-called “shutdown”—a shutdown for which, allegedly, Republicans are held to be “primarily” responsible—a lackluster Republican like Boehner fares no worse among the public than one of the country’s leading Democrats.

Third and most significantly, Obama’s approval rating is at an all-time low.Only 37 percent of Americans approve of his job performance, versus 53 percent of Americans who disapprove of it.

This is staggering.

Whether the Republicans persist in holding the line against Obama and his party is left to be seen.The skeptic in me is doubtful.But if this AP poll suggests anything, it is that the GOP is winning.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: abortion; cruz; deathpanels; obamacare; partisanmediashill; partisanmediashills; zerocare
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To: Graewoulf
My thing is-they have been through similar situations and learned this lesson before. It's not like they don't have precedent for understanding that when they stand strong, especially opposing things unpopular with a majority of Americans (and if CommieCare is unpopular now, it's only going to get worse), they win. Not just with Republicans, everyone except hardcore leftists approves (or at least in the media, is unable to treat them with their usual contempt) when they show the courage of their convictions opposing an unpopular govenrment expansion. Why must they learn this lesson over and over, and be dragged to the schoolroom to learn it by a few brave souls, when we're lucky enough to have a few? Why do they always immediately revert to get-along go-along mode? One would think (sarcastically speaking) that the majority of them are only there to collect a paycheck and perks, and to make connections for future use in enriching themselves. They don't work to raise all that momey and spend it to get elected, for nothing, and it doesn't seem to be to represent the people who voted for them, usually.
21 posted on 10/10/2013 12:29:27 PM PDT by mrsmel (One Who Can See)
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To: Kaslin

If the GOP wants me to start answering my phone again, they better not cave this time.


22 posted on 10/10/2013 12:32:52 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (The DemocRAT Pahtay! Spending our grandchildren's future, today!)
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To: Kaslin
I have heard that it is bad form on this forum to enter vanity posts, so I don't know how to spread the word other than posting this here and hope that it spreads . . . .

I just sent the following to all of my federal representatives. I would encourage everyone else to do the same. You may freely copy what I have already composed . . . .

_____________________

If the federal government can be this petty, how much more damage can it do to private citizens when it gets full control of our health care?

http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-obama-blockade.html

Please, please, be resolute. We are in another Cold War. The communists have infiltrated Congress and the White House via the Democrat party. I'm just a simple law abiding, patriotic, and voting citizen who is dependent on YOU to defend the Constitution and the original founding principles of this Republic. If you are unwilling to bear the slings and arrows of bad press, then it may be time to vote for someone who is.

We cannot keep spending more than we take in. We cannot allow the federal government to control our health care. We cannot allow millions of law breakers citizenship. You must begin to reign in the abusive control of us by the federal government via the IRS, NPS, DHS, NSA, EPA, BLM, and a myriad of acronyms that all add up to more control over us plain citizens. Stop the madness NOW!

23 posted on 10/10/2013 12:34:32 PM PDT by Conservative_Rob
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To: Hattie
YES, THE PUBBIES ARE CAVING...
24 posted on 10/10/2013 12:38:36 PM PDT by Old Sarge (And Good Evening, Agent Smith, wherever you are...)
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To: Conservative_Rob

EXCELLENT LETTER!


25 posted on 10/10/2013 12:43:35 PM PDT by kitkat (STORM THE HEAVENS WITH PRAYERS FOR OUR COUNTRY.)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

32-35% is about the bottom of the bell curve where those left are die hard lib goobers and stupid as the day is long.


26 posted on 10/10/2013 12:48:07 PM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: Conservative_Rob
good letter post it as a vanity

and add

Hold the line Republicans.Keep the Useless government shut down. and do not give in to media pressure to raise the debt ceiling . the media is lying saying the U.S. will default if the debt ceiling not raised. it's a total lie to get Republicans to cave. keeping gov shut down is the best thing ever because Americans might finally see that government is not needed as gov shut down and nothing has happened.

27 posted on 10/10/2013 12:49:19 PM PDT by rurgan (only taxes allowed 5% federal sales tax, 3% state ,2% local. no income, no property tax)
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To: apillar

IPOSOS/Reuters

Obama approval 40% and disapprove at 54%

Party ID

Democrats 40
Republicans 28
Independent 15


28 posted on 10/10/2013 12:53:59 PM PDT by 1035rep
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“IPSOS/Reuters poll”


29 posted on 10/10/2013 12:55:10 PM PDT by 1035rep
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To: 1035rep

Wow that is about where the AP poll was and that is with 40% Rats.


30 posted on 10/10/2013 12:57:43 PM PDT by hawkaw
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To: hawkaw

Exactly. Also 4% of that only “leans” towards approval so yes about the same.

Makes me wonder what that 4% told the pollsters. Well, umm, no, yes, maybe just a little :)


31 posted on 10/10/2013 1:03:11 PM PDT by 1035rep
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To: Kaslin

If the words “tiger blood” are used, I will know we have lost.


32 posted on 10/10/2013 1:18:06 PM PDT by jim_trent
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To: jim_trent

I have not seen it used in the article. So now what?


33 posted on 10/10/2013 1:34:45 PM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Newbomb Turk

I do have my doubts too, because I do not trust that arrogant pos occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, but we have no other choice then to wait and see what happens


34 posted on 10/10/2013 1:45:16 PM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Conservative_Rob; Louis Foxwell
The article was posted here by Freeper Louis Foxwell

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3077130/posts

35 posted on 10/10/2013 1:51:54 PM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Louis Foxwell
If they cave the Tea Party will coalesce into a new national political party.

Yes, and Ted Cruz has tipped his hand that he's ready to lead it. Which is why they HATE him.


36 posted on 10/10/2013 2:02:16 PM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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