US continues move to the right; Dems don't get it

[Drake Tungsten]

The GOP needs to hitch its wagon to fiscal responsibility and ride that issue back into office. Obama has set them up perfectly with his insane deficit spending.

[Arrian]

That's the best path, I agree, though they've made it really difficult for themselves with their recent record. They need: 1) new blood; and 2) some time for people to forget.

I'd like to see a new group of fiscally responsible, ideologically moderate republicans step up. I think it will take some time, though.

-Arrian

[Drake Tungsten]

That's the best path, I agree, though they've made it really difficult for themselves with their recent record.

Obama solved that problem for them. His deficits are so much worse than Bush's that no one will remember the GOP's lapses on fiscal responsibility in four years.

[chequita guevara]

Who will ever believe them?

[chequita guevara]

1) The electorate is moving right. This is shown by surveys of self-identification. Conservatives now are over a third of the population. Liberals are about 20%. Believe it or not, this never used to be the case. What's your evidence that this isn't the case?

So what this shows is that liberals are growing while conservatives remain the same. Because 1/3rd of Americas have been self reporting as conservative for over two decades. Last time I checked, on 16% of Americans self-identified as liberals.

[Arrian]

1) The electorate is moving right. This is shown by surveys of self-identification. Conservatives now are over a third of the population. Liberals are about 20%. Believe it or not, this never used to be the case. What's your evidence that this isn't the case?

You appear to be hanging your hat on self-identification based on two nebulous terms (conservative & liberal). Those terms have obvious limitations. Plus, I thought the liberal self-identification had been making a small comeback. I can't remember where I'm getting that from, though.

I'm thinking about people's positions on issues, rather than what they label themselves. So you brought up abortion & gun control. I posted on the abortion numbers - suffice it to say I see stagnation where you see rightward movement. I didn't look into gun control. There are, of course, other issues one could use. I've brought up a few.

The Dems are moving left. Conservative dems in office are so few (contrary to your claims), that it seems proper to discount them.

I don't agree. I see the conservative/moderate Dems as influential. Meanwhile, the Republicans appear to be doing what they can to kick their moderates/liberals to the curb.

Obama's the first liberal president in a generation, after all!

The guy was labeled "most liberal senator" and "socialist" and a few other things besides. He won the election and, to this point, has a very solid approval rating. So, either the public: a) believes Obama isn't much of a liberal; or b) sees him as liberal and likes him anyway.

-Arrian

[DanS]

Because 1/3rd of Americas have been self reporting as conservative for over two decades.

What's your source?

[DanS]

There are quite a few and they're influential.

Names please.

[Arrian]

Who will ever believe them?

1. Stupid people.
2. People who know what the GOP did, but look at what the Dems did and once more chose what they see as the lesser of two evils.

The GOP probably will get mileage out of the deficits Obama & Co are running, Che. They're huge.

-Arrian

[chequita guevara]

What's your source?

This article shows social conservatism actually losing ground over the last decade.

This study just shows you're wrong.

And this shows my assertion was correct (although the numbers differ very slightly)

[chequita guevara]

1. Stupid people.
2. People who know what the GOP did, but look at what the Dems did and once more chose what they see as the lesser of two evils.

The GOP probably will get mileage out of the deficits Obama & Co are running, Che. They're huge.

-Arrian

Most people aren't likely to care about the deficit if the economy turns around quickly and credit Obama for it. When you're worried about losing your job or home today, what will happen in twenty yeras isn't that much of a concern. And people will likely continue to see this as a problem of the GOPs making, and as long as the GOP is obstructionist, the Dems can blame them for the economy continuing to fail if it does, while taking full credit if it comes back.

As long as people think of him (quite wrongly) as the 2nd coming of FDR, they are going to give him a lot of time to turn things around.

[DanS]

Interesting. I'll take a look.

[Arrian]

Names please.

Senate:

Bayh's group of 15.

House:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Dog_Coalition

-Arrian

[Drake Tungsten]

And people will likely continue to see this as a problem of the GOPs making

Obama owns this economy and the deficits now.

[Arrian]

I recall some posts on 538 about conservative/liberal self-identification, but I may be conflusing that with Republican/Democrat/Indie identification.

-Arrian