I'm not a fan of calling American voters stupid...but Jesus effing Christ...

[WilliamPitt]

New polling data:

http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2011/04/bad-news-for-congressional-republicans.html

Taegan Goddard's breakdown:

A new Public Policy Polling survey finds that House Republicans "have fallen so far out of favor with the American public that it's entirely possible Democrats could take control of the House back next year."

Key findings: 43% of voters think that House Republicans are doing a worse job now than the Democrats did, compared to only 36% who think the GOP has brought an improvement while 19% think things are about the same.

Stunningly, independent voters now say they'd vote Democratic for the House by a 42% to 33% margin, representing a 28 point reversal in a span of just five months.

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/04/12/voters_sour_on_house_republicans.html

Despair. "Independent voter" is fast becoming a kind euphemism for "Blithering idiot."

:banghead:

[cali]

1. I'm a big fan of the truth. American voters are largely idiots

the wisdom of the American voter is an oxymoron.

[Deep13]

4. +1

[whathehell]

80. So you're volunteering to be counted as another "stupid American", huh?

or, like the rest of the self-haters,

is this your sad way of saying..."But not me", LOL.

[Deep13]

113. I don't think anyone is claiming that every American voter is stupid...

...just the ones who vote against their own interests for stupid reasons.

[whathehell]

115. Then they should say that. Instead they are

using words like "most", "largely", etc.

[intheflow]

120. Your name is apt.

What the hell is your problem? Saying "most" or "largely" are perfectly acceptable ways to indicate that not all voters are idiots. Your demand that everyone post in the exact wording you would use is both pointless and unreasonable and seems only designed to stir the pot.

[whathehell]

122. My name can be interpreted in any number of ways....That you would translate it negatively

says more about you than me.

"What the hell is your problem"?....I find it almost funny that you think

it is my wording that seems "pointless and unreasonable" and "..only designed

to stir the pot".

What do you call constantly denigrating one's own countrymen

as "stupid" if not a juvenile, essentially pointless way

of calling attention to oneself with the inference that the

poster is NOT "stupid"...Duh.

[harmonicon]

124. I read it as "what he hell", because that's what it includes. nt.

[whathehell]

138. I have no idea what "what he hell" means...

Perhaps you can illuminate us.

[harmonicon]

142. Neither do I, but it's your screen name. nt.

[russspeakeasy]

130. That's what "thinking" is for.

to interpret..

[whathehell]

139. Really?....I thought that's what having a vocabulary and being able to use it was for.

[krabigirl]

22. I agree, and so many more don't even bother to vote.

[Poboy]

25. Easily manipulated and prone to propaganda.

[whathehell]

77. Not easily at all until Reagan did away with the Fairness Doctrine, which, with our "free speech"

commitment, opened the door for 24/7 Right Wing propaganda.

[Enthusiast]

103. Key point....nt

[whathehell]

116. Yes it is.

Thank you.

[Enthusiast]

121. We need to say it every chance we get.

Many pretend that it didn't do a thing. The loss of the fairness doctrine and consolidation of the media has effectively destroyed freedom of speech for those outside the official establishment position.

[Snoutport]

33. because they stand back while education gets cut. if Americans are stupid it is our own fault

[whathehell]

63. Again...speak for yourself.

All Americans aren't repukes.

[whathehell]

62. Speak for yourself.

Unless you can illuminate us with your in depth

knowledge of the world's voters..duh.

[russspeakeasy]

131. Having a bad day?

[Name removed]

76. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rhett o rick]

90. I hate to say it, but once again I find I agree with you. Did the earth shift on its axis? nm

[livefreest]

91. be nice

[whathehell]

119. They "largely" voted for Obama in '08...Were they (and you) idiots then?..Duh.

[peace frog]

133. +2

Anyone surveying the landscape of recent US elections, national or otherwise, honestly cannot escape the fact that too many American voters are MORANS.

[Liberalynn]

144. I agree with this.

Most have no real knowledge of history, economics, or even basic common sense.

They only think short term and believe almost everything they hear on the "t.v." with no critical thinking of their own.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Buyers' remorse has set in really fast.

edited to add 'h'

[Initech]

31. That's what happens when we let a lunatic fringe news network do our thinking for us.

[Renew Deal]

3. Accidentally unrecced

:dunce:

But the "likely voter" pool will be much larger in 2012 than 2010.

[forty6]

58. Well I cancelled out your vote with MY rec, but really, I think we need

to feel some pain in the next two years to get more voters to the polls in 2012 than in 2008.

Many DU folks are in despair over Obama's giving in with his "compromises"

Will they not vote in 2012? It scares me, even tho I don't agree with Obama's "compromises" at all, the alternative is MUCH WORSE!

[Renew Deal]

59. Obama is doing what he needs to do to keep this country moving.

Obama took a hit by letting the tax cuts for high earners continue, but he got DADT, a second stimulus, the START treaty, the defense authorization, and the food safety bill. Obama is not governing in a vacuum. He can't force someone like Lieberman to keep their word.

I think most people will come along just fine. I don't think they're willing to risk President Romney or Gingrich or whoever.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. Does anybody remember

whether or not Newt & co. bombed this fast? Or did they last longer because the Republicans hadn't been in power in Congress for so long at that time? :shrug:

[HughBeaumont]

8. I dunno, but The Fortress of Fascist Govs isn't helping the GOP out any.

The Koch War On Labor will go down in history as one of the all-time most astronomical backfires this country has seen.

[Brickbat]

6. I've never understood how or why anyone who paid attention could identify themselves as an

"independent" voter. I've become convinced that people who say they're independent are hoping for some kind of media interview with the "independent voter on the street or at the local diner" -- you know, the stories NPR LOVES to put together to get a "feel" for "what's going on" "outside" "the Beltway."

[KamaAina]

7. Many of them are just ashamed to admit they're repukes

as well they should be.

[RKP5637]

Around here Independent Voter = Republican. n/t

[hifiguy]

19. "Independent voters are the stupidest people

on earth." - Brian Griffin

[border_town]

26. Oh come one now

I have been an independent voter since the 1990's. Yes, I vote mostly Democratic, but have, on occasion voted for a few Republicans. Lou Dobbs really dumb down the independent category.

[hifiguy]

30. Just making a joke

and quoting "Family Guy." But there is some truth in it. People who don't know where they stand on basic issues and why are not the brightest bulbs on the marquee.

[Shiver]

34. Independant doesn't mean they don't have beliefs.

It usually means they hold views from both sides. They may be socially liberal but fiscally conservative, or strongly pro-war but just as strongly pro-equal marriage.

[provis99]

86. dead wrong. I study Independents for a living.

You are confusing Independents with moderates.

People that identify as Independents are quite a bit more ignorant than those who identify as Democratic or Republican. Since Democratic and Republican voters tend to cancel each others votes out, elections are largely decided by massively ignorant Independent voters.

The ignorance of Independent voters has been widely accepted as fact in political science since the groundbreaking work of Campbell, Converse, Stokes and Miller in the 1950s.

[Shiver]

89. Yeah, I probably am.

I also tend to confuse the words 'amused' and 'bemused'.

[russspeakeasy]

134. Really ? Studies in the 1950's also said that blacks shouldn't

be able to vote.."an accepted fact". Wow, arrogance
abounds.

[whathehell]

61. It would help, of course, if we had a party and a president who actually "took stands"

on issues and who actually represented traditional democratic values.:eyes:

[disillusioned73]

109. Thanks, I'll add that to my collection of quotes..

:dem:

[enlightenment]

37. I've been an 'independent' (or 'unaffiliated') voter

for over 30 years - and a life-long social and economic liberal.

I could give a rat's arse for being a media target - or for belonging to a political party. I don't need a party to tell me what to think or give me some sense of community or whatever the hell it is that causes people to join political parties.

What does it mean to say "I'm a Democrat", anyway? That you belong to the club? In actuality, all it gives you is the 'right' to vote in primary elections. Over the course of my voting life, I have successfully voted in many primaries by temporarily changing my affiliation - when I have seen the need to do so.

I don't do it for every general election, I do it when I see a need to do it. More and more often lately there is little reason to make that effort. Politicians within a party rarely stand out for their differences. They are all cut from the same cloth; only the trim is different. If I find a particular button or ribbon important enough, I'll make the effort for the primary . . .

Bottom line is that I can vote my conscience without being a card-carrying member of anything. It doesn't make me a 'blithering idiot' or an attention whore - I would argue that it makes me exactly what is implied by the terms 'independent' and 'unaffiliated' - someone who doesn't need a pack or herd to make up my mind for me.

Why not try finding out a bit more about independents - including the difficulty of identifying them (see the Pew poll link below)? It's not a perfect poll - their sampling was skewed by including people who belong to 3rd parties, for one - but it's better than just reflexively deciding that all independent voters are idiots - and conservative ones at that.

http://people-press.org/2010/09/23/independents-oppose-party-in-power-again/

I have belonged to DU for at least 8 years (I think - can't recall if it was 2002 or 2003). When I started posting here, DU was a place for people who believed - broadly - in 'small d' democratic, liberal values. Liberals of all stripes, who - again, broadly - supported 'big D' candidates for office.

I had no problem with that then - I have no problem with it now . . . as long as the 'big D' candidates believe and support those 'small d' democratic principles and LIBERAL values that I hold dear.

I do have a problem with self-identified 'Democrats' who use their card carrying status to beat other liberals over the head, suggesting that they are somehow less worthy because they choose not to join the club.

Political parties remind me of college fraternities and sororities - you have to say the right things when you apply; you have to accept the rules and regulations to join; and, once you're 'in', you have to look down your nose at all the 'other' people who don't belong.

The problem with belonging to the 'in crowd' is that it never survives it's own exclusivity; eventually the members turn on each other in their desire to prove their loyalty to the concept of the crowd. I'll keep hanging with the unpopular kids, I think - the only rule they care about is that I think for myself.

[davidthegnome]

56. Excellent post

Deserves it's own thread.


(Edited for spelling. Oops.)

[Pacifist Patriot]

104. I agree.

[mmonk]

101. Excellent synopsis. I've been a Democrat longer than some posters

here have been alive. Watching the promise of 2008 squandered in such a short time showed me the weakness of political parties in America. If progressivism is to stay alive, it must become an independent movement politicians want to seek out in order to win favor and thus, elections on a consistent basis.

[russspeakeasy]

136. I'm 68. I have never seen such an wasted opportunity .

[barbtries]

128. that's one way to look at it

and i don't impugn you or your motives. for me, when someone asks i say i am a lifelong democrat, anti-war, bleeding heart liberal. if there's not enough time for all that, i just say democrat, or liberal.

happy to be liberal. in truth, if i wasn't so worried about republicans taking the prize in a split election, i would probably be a member of the green or peace and freedom parties. if i still lived in CA i could do that. but i'm in NC and to me, that means i must be a democrat.

my point is it's not about being part of a club. it's about a statement of beliefs.

[leftynyc]

46. My mom is registered independent

She was a lifelong Democrat and a major Hillary supporter and became very disillusioned with the caucus set up (something about Nevada really set her off). She left the Democratic party but did vote for Pres Obama.

[hlthe2b]

9. Fickle yes, but at least they appear to be "educable"

Unlike their teabagger compatriots.

[spooky3]

15. This is one reason why it is SO important for Dems. to put out a clear message.

Simple, consistent msg.

The Republicans are much better at this.

[FiveGoodMen]

60. They don't know what their message is.

Haven't for over 30 years.

[barbtries]

129. the republicans get the platform

over and over. it's not that the dems are that bad at messaging, it's that most people never get the chance to hear the message because the corporate media won't let them.

[randr]

10. Time for Democrats to get on board and surf this wave to victory

[Loge23]

11. It's become a comedy

I'm reminded of Chaplin's The Immigrant, where Charlie - at sea - "shares" a bowl of soup with his tablemate across the table as the ship rocks back and forth sliding the bowl to either side in the process.
I'm afraid this circus is all but done. Something has to give.

[RKP5637]

13. Yep, each day is like a SNL skit, anymore. n/t

[juajen]

12. Will, there was a very interesting article on Yahoo today. It seems there's been research

on the different brains of democrats and republicans. I will quote a couple of paragraphs, but am still too technologically challenged to put in the thingamagiggy that directs you to the site.

"Using data from MRI scans, researchers at the University College London found that self-described liberals have a larger anterior cingulate cortex--a gray matter of the brain associated with understanding complexity. Meanwhile, self-described conservatives are more likely to have a larger amygdala, an almond-shaped area that is associated with fear and anxiety.

"Previously, some psychological traits were known to be predictive of an individual's political orientation," lead researcher Ryota Kanai writes of the study in the latest issue of Current Biology. "Our study now links personality traits with specific brain structure."

Interesting, no? I guess God wanted his "chosen people" to be as children.

[RKP5637]

18. Yep, I've read this before and IMO it makes sense. It also validates IMO why

beliefs held are often so rigid and unshakable.

[cui bono]

98. And also validates why the next time Dems control both houses and the White House

they need to outlaw Republican reproduction.

:sarcasm:
(sort of)

[cui bono]

97. Was that real? I saw a thread about it on here earlier but assumed it was a joke. n/t

[aSpeckofDust]

14. Politically we are a very stupid nation.

That, however, does not mean these people themselves are overall moronic. I am an Independent voter, as when I was looking over the core values of both parties, I saw neither aligned themselves to their own beliefs. So I vote on policy, not personality.

[liberal N proud]

16. Much of this is caused by people who are never happy

They will vote Democrat next election and in two years turn around and move the other way.

Some of these people would complain if they were hung with a new rope. We have a good portion of DU that falls into the category of never being happy.

[Greybnk48]

20. I agree with you.

I know people like this. Roseanne Roseannadanna syndrome--"It's always something."

[liberal N proud]

24. If it isn't one thing, it's another

[cui bono]

100. nevermind

[Ikonoklast]

111. And there are as many single-issue voters on this side as the other.

Their political vision is myopic, to say the least.

All Or Nothing.

[Iris]

92. maybe they are never happy but they also never learn

going through life simply reacting to stuff vs. trying to understand what's going on and then acting accordingly is pretty damn ineffective

[cui bono]

99. Yes, but I would bet most of that group is liberal, not those middle of the road indies.

There's good reason for liberals to never be happy with both parties supporting corporate rule.

[Greybnk48]

17. If you want to speak to a large number of idiots in a short

amount of time, work the phones right before an election. People were blowing my head off last Oct., mainly about "Obamacare" and babbling about Nancy Pelosi. As I posted once before, I secretly hope this one woman I talked to lost her job, or is at least suffering in some way. What an asshole she was (Teabagger).

[JitterbugPerfume]

21. the stupid is strong on the so called "news"

and independent voter is just another way of saying dumber than a box of rocks.

[Spider Jerusalem]

23. "The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter."

Fun fact: a recent Newsweek poll of one thousand random American citizens found that 73% couldn't say what the Cold War was about and 44% couldn't define the Bill of Rights.

[Wait Wut]

27. I hate to agree.

Only because so many of my friends claim to be "Independent". But, I live in the reddest spot in Arizona so Independent is a welcome change from Republican/Conservative/Teaper.

It drives me crazy when I ask one of them which agendas/policies they support from each side and they give me a blank stare. Eventually they start spewing whatever they've heard from the MSM...both left and right. No research of their own. Or, they say they don't know and will decide which way to vote 2 weeks from any election. Probably based on political advertising. I can pretty much guarantee the huge majority don't bother to vote. They're also the first to whine about whatever it is they heard on CNN.

[elocs]

28. Really stupid are Democratic voters who choose not to vote, surrendering the election

to the Republicans who just love it when Democrats stay at home on election day.

[Name removed]

71. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[russspeakeasy]

137. elocs..nailed it. stupid f'ing dems who don't vote.

[Tom Rinaldo]

29. Yeah it's depressing, but....

I think the best spin on it is that many voters were depressed and unhappy about the way things stood last November, and Republicans assured them they would tackle the economy effectively "unlike the Democrats". So they figured, "let's give the other guys a chance and see what they will do".

The positive aspect of that spin is it didn't take them very long to conclude that what they would do is a lot worse than the Democrats. At least they are drawing the right conclusion and not taking long to do it.

[mike_c]

32. voters with NO good choices tend to oscillate between bad ones....

Those same independent voters will oscillate back to the republicans if the dems they elect don't improve things substantially enough to make a positive impression. That's the nature of independents who are not ideologically wedded to one particular party. The pendulum only stops swinging when good leadership emerges and coalesces long term voter support.

[BillyJack]

35. +1

[leftstreet]

38. +1

[smokey nj]

39. Well said!

[JVS]

41. Yup

[Poboy]

45. yes, very sound reasoning.

[WilliamPitt]

53. Well said.

:toast:

[tammywammy]

65. +1 n/t

[progressoid]

36. And they'll change their minds again when gas gets to $4.50/gal

Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.
H. L. Mencken

[JVS]

40. Expecting voters to look smart in our political system is like expecting you to drive well..

in a car that only has an on and off setting.

[Brewman_Jax]

42. The fact that republicans continue to be elected, and now teabaggers

pretty much says it all.

[FlyByNight]

43. Thank you

Makes me wonder if Pres. Obama's courting of the "independents" is worth potentially alienating his left flank?

Sure it may get him re-elected but at what cost to the rest of us? We're starting to see that now with Medicare and Medicaid - maybe - on the sacrificial altar.

I'm finding it real difficult to want to vote come '12.

[w4rma]

50. His tactics of going after "centrist" voters won't help him because there are no "centrist" voters.

Independent voters are just uninformed voters. "Centrist" donors will help him get a bigger microphone, though.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

44. During The '08 Election, I Heard A Good Description Of "Undecided" Voters

I wish I could remember which radio show it was, but I can't. There was a person on the show discussing all the "undecided" voters heading into the '08 election. I think it's kind of appropriate because "undecided" voters are pretty much the same group of people as the "independent" voters. Here's what the person said: "Talking to an undecided voter is like walking up to a person who is on fire and saying, 'Hey, you're on fire. You want to jump in that swimming pool?'.............'Ummmmmm. I don't know.'"

What really pisses me off about the "independent" voters who gave the Republicans back the reins of power this time around is that EVERYONE warned them this would happen, and they didn't listen. It's their maddening NEED to actually TOUCH the stove OVER AND OVER before they learn it's hot. And now they're cradling their burnt hands going, "I wish I hadn't touched it NOW." Well, too late, fuckwads. Now we're ALL going to get burned because YOU have no short-term memory.

Really, what is it that these people can't grasp? They voted Republican, the economy went to shit. The Democrats came in and fixed the economy, they forgot what happened before, they went out and voted Republican AGAIN. And guess what. The economy went to shit AGAIN. So they put the Democrats back in, the economy started recovering, they ONCE AGAIN forgot what had happened only a few years earlier, and they voted Republican AGAIN. And guess what. The economy went to shit AGAIN. Is ANYONE starting to see a pattern here?

[KittyWampus]

57. "touching the hot stove over and over"- reminds me of Homer Simpson.

[w4rma]

47. As soon as you realize that independent voters are just uninformed voters, it all makes sense.

Also, the tactics needed to get them to vote for Democrats also make sense. Note that independent voters are NOT "centrist" voters. "Centrist" voters don't exists. Only "centrist" donors.

[AsahinaKimi]

48. At the way politics are going in America...

Snooki could be elected the next Congresswoman.. O.o"

[zorahopkins]

49. Wrong!

""Independent voter" is fast becoming a kind euphemism for "Blithering idiot."'

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

"George W. Bush" is, and always will be THE euphemism for "Blithering Idiot".

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

51. I voted for the Republicans Just to See What Would Happen

... and it was even worse than the time I got into the bathtub with the plugged-in blow dryer.

Look, most of the country is just so peripherally engaged its disgusting. They watch a few minutes of cable news (mostly Fox), talk with their friends down at work and they think that they're brilliant.

[MattBaggins]

52. You nailed it--- Independent = Blithering Idiot

Every single "independent" I know is the same. One person says the world is round and another that it's flat and independents will insist it's football shaped; sort of round yet sort of flat.

Dem: 1+1=2
Repub 1+1=3
Indy 1+1=2.5

[Fly by night]

54. Without verifiable voting systems, don't expect voters' preferences to match election "results" ...

... any time soon.

[Juche]

55. LOL. That would be the 4th election in a row they voted for the party 'out' of power

2006 and 2008 were rebellions against the GOP, 2010 was against the dems, and if that article holds true 2012 will be against the GOP and tea party.

How long are people going to keep voting against the party in power like it'll make a difference? Come 2014 won't they just vote GOP again?

[whathehell]

64. .Instead of insulting ourselves, shouldn't we just be glad that opinions are changing in our favor?

:eyes:

[whathehell]

66. How much of this is fallout the Gop's state union busting?...Something they did NOT campaign on?

Or is it just time for the two minutes self-hate?:eyes:

[Name removed]

67. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[undeterred]

68. I wish you'd take a class on making up titles for posts

Because I find yours are so annoying that I don't even want to read the content.

[Name removed]

74. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WilliamPitt]

84. Then don't

I'll enjoy being spared replies like this.

Tit. Tat.

[Zoeisright]

69. Sorry, many of them ARE stupid.

And in low turnout years, stupid prevails.

[whathehell]

79. Sorry, but that's a stupid, absolute statement....What is your experience in other countries?

Cross cultural studies, maybe?


Oh gee...I guess you were just talking

about the people you know, huh?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

70. American voters are complete idiots.

Otherwise they would be so easily manipulated by an obviously non News Channel like Fox. :shrug: They lie, are present with evidence that they are lies, and they say the evidence is obviously manufactured. Of COURSE no one would lie to them for profit. :rofl:
Americans do not value education. They have started to value religion over all else. This leads to ignorance and idiocy.
It's a simple equation.

[whathehell]

123. I doubt you've got more than a green card...Beyond that, I'm glad you're good with icons

because your spelling sucks ass.

"Otherwise they 'would be so easily manipulated'.."...."They lie..are 'present' with evidence'".:rofl:


Your bad English tells me you come from some post communist shithole.


You need to go back there and learn English, if not manners..duh

[YellowRubberDuckie]

143. Why are you such an asshole?

I was typing quickly. Normally I'm a total spelling and grammar nazi, but I was pissed. What the fuck?
I am not the one who needs to learn manners. Jesus Christ.

[Maraya1969]

72. Maybe we're the stupid ones. Like putting up anti-Obama thread all over the place and rec-ing

them up to the top spots on this board like they are as important as if a rethug got caught killing soemone. It sure looks like we don't like Democrats and don't support the President of the United States. You don't see this kind of shit with the teabaggers.

If we are going to win elections we need to frame our complaints as policy complaints and not personal complaints. Most people do not spend the kind of time that we do reading and learning about what is going on in this country's political realm.

I am still so pissed off at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x870600

and how it is wayyyy up there like people think our president is about the same as bush.

[TK421]

81. you left out the sis-boom-bah n.t

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Rex]

75. I blame mass communication and mass consumerism.

We've become inattentive adult idiots, with no deeply rooted feelings outside our immediate surroundings and NONE older then a decade. Our world is all about appearance. America is all about the perception of our appearance as a nation. We've gone from living in a material world, to giving it all to the 1%ers.

[Imagevision]

78. And if your not stupid there's always the "Diebold" antics...

[Name removed]

82. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[w8liftinglady]

85. Let me show you the intelligence of ONE Texas County

Representative

Jeb Hensarling REP 14,346 77.27%
Tom Berry DEM 3,845 20.71%
Ken Ashby LIB 374 2.01%
-----------
Race Total 18,565
----------------------------------------
Governor
Rick Perry REP 12,342 65.39%
Bill White DEM 5,957 31.56%
Kathie Glass LIB 444 2.35%
Deb Shafto GRN 101 0.53%
Andy Barron W-I 28 0.14%
-----------
Race Total 18,872
----------------------------------------
Lieutenant Governor
David Dewhurst REP 14,255 75.73%
Linda Chavez-Thompson DEM 3,972 21.10%
Scott Jameson LIB 462 2.45%
Herb Gonzales, Jr. GRN 134 0.71%
-----------
Race Total 18,823
----------------------------------------
Attorney General
Greg Abbott REP 14,521 77.22%
Barbara Ann Radnofsky DEM 3,881 20.63%
Jon Roland LIB 402 2.13%
-----------
Race Total 18,804



And THESE are the same uninsured (25% adults/24% children) , Medicaid (28% children and 33% elderly), children in poverty (24%).

and they keep voting for fucking Republicans.
Oy.

[cynatnite]

87. I just hope it fucking equates to the douches losing the house on the next cycle. n/t

[unkachuck]

88. "...a 28 point reversal in a span of just five months."

....we are a dumb lot, aren't we?....Republicons have been around for quite a while, fouling the nest....

....you would think everyone would know by now what to expect when we elect one....

[glinda]

93. Maybe true but how do we repair the elections to true and accurate?

[MilesColtrane]

94. Not stupid, but woefully, and in a lot of cases, willingly ignorant

[Keith Bee]

95. Hey, Truth is Truth

K&R

[AndyTiedye]

96. It's the Faux "News" on the Tee Vee

Once they start watching that stuff, they get hopelessly brainwashed. :cry:

Maybe some day we can find a cure.

[mwb970]

102. Most Americans seem willfully stupid and out of touch to me.

Over 20% in a recent poll couldn't name the VP (but they all know every contestant on Dancing With the Stars). Americans think 5% of the US budget goes to NPR (it's hundreds of times lower than that). Over half of self-described republicans believe that our president is a Muslim from Kenya.

Here in Ohio, our braindead voters elected a really, truly terrible governor (the worst I've ever seen here). Now that it's too late, they say they regret it. His approval rating is below 30% already. Polls show that if the election were held today, his opponent would win in a landslide (now that we have seen them both in action).

We are a nation of idiots. And it's getting worse.

[Enthusiast]

105. Taft was just as bad

as Kasich but in a different way. And Florida Governor Scott might be the very worst choice of all, even worse than Kasich or Walker of Wisconsin. All of them are damaging the Republican brand and I love that.

It's amazing that the Ohio voter would elect Republican Kasich after Taft. I believe Taft set the all time record for unpopularity of a state Governor at 9%!

[Time for change]

106. What I don't understand

Why, given the poll numbers you give above, do Republicans hold such a large and consistent lead in the generic Congressional ballot polls?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/generic_congressional_vote-901.html

[disillusioned73]

107. This country is beyond stupid...

I have come realize why the saying that politics & religion are taboo discussion amongst everyday folks..


"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." ~ John F. Kennedy

[Name removed]

117. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[krispos42]

108. William, let's not forget...

...the GOP is currently dominating the state governments right now.

And it's redistricting time again. For the 2012 elections.

:-(

[Imajika]

110. Many Republicans and "Independent" Tea Party people...

..view the Republican party negatively because it isn't radical and gutting programs enough.

These polls consistently miss this. The GOP has been polling poorly for a very long time now, and this is precisely because so many movement conservatives and teabaggers view it as too timid and not fanatical enough. So these sorts of polls capture the disapproval, but do not capture the fact that while many of these types of people disapprove of the GOP they are STILL going to vote Republican over any Democrat.

Basically, the Republican brand is weak even for Republicans, so were seeing polling that shows the GOP should be doing much worse than it actually does when it comes times for an election.

[CanonRay]

112. Independent

is a euphemism for pay no attention to anything until it bites you in the ass. They mostly are morons.

[Douglas Carpenter]

114. The Family Guy - undecided votes

link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YOh-rpvjYg

.

[fredamae]

118. I want to do something Bold: Is it possible?

I would like to see We, the People, file a Class Action Lawsuit against the republican party. Their Own bills demonstrate an egregious power grab and an unprecedented shift of power and financial resources to the small minority of the wealthy and corporations.

This should be under the law and perhaps even the constitution a direct conflict of interest.

We are being held hostage under a constant threat of insecurity and loss of control, use and benefit of our own tax dollar contributions.

I always believed the gov't was formed to protect and provide for the people and Not the minority of the wealthiest individuals and corporations.

Is it not past time to go on Offense, Dems?
So I am hoping those with a deeper grasp of federal laws and the constitution might offer some insight as to the feasibility of this idea.

We are being "Walkerized WI Style". I object.

[xxqqqzme]

125. I ran for state assembly last year.

I met all sorts of voters when I was out on the ole campaign trail. I came to the conclusion that the 'independent voter' is the least informed, least curious and least involved. Which ever flyer or slate postcard they received right before they walk out the door to vote, is how they will vote. Which ever commercial was least objectionable after 500 airings gets their vote. Give me a partisan voter. At least I know they stand for something. I might not agree w/ it but at the very least they are engaged.

[rhett o rick]

126. I am confident you'll get over it. nm

[barbtries]

127. most people do not pay attention

all they get is the crap that passes for news on television. they just don't know, or just don't care. not sure which. i try to raise the consciousness of my own sons all the time and frankly believe that i am failing in that attempt. not that they'd vote for republicans, but they likely won't vote at all. and get active politically? no way. my oldest son who is 35 asked me the other day why i always put political stuff on my facebook page, and when did i get this way? i told him when gw became president. and why am i like this? i said you can't unring that bell and suddenly quit paying attention.

i just don't know the answer, or what it will take, to get people to just fucking pay attention. and i don't mean to the evening news, i mean to what is going ON.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

132. most people are pretty stupid. american or otherwise. nt

[Swede Atlanta]

135. What did the "Independent" voters think?

First of all I have yet to meet an "independent" voter. I have met people who claim to be "independent" but at the end of day not sure any of them are really sincere.

I guess we have three possible positions in this country:

Those that believe in discrimination, shipping jobs overseas, more money to the rich and powerful, abolishing the middle class and sticking it to the least among us and oh yeah believe in the flag, apple pie, guns, NOT GAYS, and God (their God of course who believes the same things they do). I think we can agree those are the conservatives and Repukkkes.

Those that believe in equality, good paying jobs for Americans, a system that provides for a strong middle class, support for the least among us, opportunity, but not unbridled, for those that want to be rich, strong true family values and justice. Those are the liberals, progressives and Democrats.

Those in the middle must be the truly "me, me, me". They will vote totally dependent on what's in it for them. They aren't driven by an ideology but rather around me, me, me. I consider those the Independents.

[madamesilverspurs]

140. Giving "credit" where it's due --

Some of those independent voters probably came to DU seeking information only to have their confusion compounded. Much as we pride ourselves on our 'not marching in lock-step', our routine cannibalism is something that just does not happen within republican ranks. Nasty and evil though they may be, their message unity keeps it simple for just enough voters to make a difference.


-

[Corruption Winz]

141. Frankly, most Americans are stupid. Period.

I mean, if you're not interested in the statistics that clearly prove this issue, than just look at the priorities that most Americans have and the people we elect.

Independent has always been a euphemism for idiot, as these are simply the people who make up their minds last. Claiming that they need to learn more about the candidates when they could simply do a little digging and find out all they need to know about these candidates.

So, in essence, they are people that believe candidates when these politicians are trying to sell themselves as opposed to studying their previous actions. Obviously, they are morons.