MyDD :: New Poll Should Have Congressional Republicans Panicking

New Poll Should Have Congressional Republicans Panicking

by Matt Stoller, Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 06:29:52 PM EST

In an ominous election-year sign for Republicans, Americans are leaning sharply toward wanting Democrats to take control of Congress, an AP-Ipsos poll finds. Democrats are favored 49 percent to 36 percent.

The poll was taken this week as Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to tax evasion, fraud and corruption charges and agreed to aid a federal investigation of members of Congress and other government officials.

President Bush's job approval remains low - 40 percent in the AP-Ipsos poll. About as many approve of his handling of Iraq, where violence against Iraqis and U.S. troops has been surging.

"I don't think anyone is hitting the panic button," said Rich Bond, a former Republican National Committee chairman. "But there is an acute recognition of the grim environment that both parties are operating in."

No panic button? There's a lot of opinionating in politics, and there's not a lot of real data. One piece of real data is recruiting - can party leaders convince their horses to take 11 months of their lives and dedicate it to the campaign trail? The answer for Republicans is, well, see for yourself. There are dramatic Republican recruiting failures in Nebraska, North Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Florida, Vermont, Michigan, New York, and Washington. For more see this release from the DSCC.

Blood is in the water. The House Republicans are eating each other alive. McCain is gunning for the reform mantle. Newt is gunning for Delay. Jeff Flake is gunning for everyone.

This is meltdown time.

If you're a Democrat and you're on the fence about whether to run for office, get in now. Ignore the Democratic leadership in Congress, it has little bearing on your chances. Jump in. It's your best shot since 1998, and we probably won't see another opening like this for awhile.

Reddhedd at Firedoglake has more on some ill trends for the R's connected to Abramoff.

Tags: Republicans (all tags)

Permalink :: 12 Comments :: Post a Comment

Republican Abramoff (none / 0)

I'm glad the article mentions Abramoff's political affilation. I've seen too many news stories and articles where this isn't mentioned at all.

Worse, some try to make it sound like he's in bed with both parties, as opposed to not saying anything at all. John Stewart even pushes the "Abromoff is connected to everybody" meme.

TAKE BACK OUR PARTY: Democracy Bonds

by LiberalFromPA on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 06:51:45 PM EST

Re: Republican Abramoff (none / 0)

I used to think John was on our side. Now I'm not sure. I do think though, that John is on John's side. Nothing illegal about that, to be sure, but to this Dem, disappointing.

by keepinon on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 10:37:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Republican Abramoff (3.00 / 1)

I think he calls 'em as he sees 'em...sort of. Stewart seems to me to basically detest the whole Washington insider bunch, and so he sometimes gets a bit too caught up in the "both parties are equally bad" meme that Republicans have somewhat successfully been able to push.

Overall, however, I do think he's squarely in our camp.

TAKE BACK OUR PARTY: Democracy Bonds

by LiberalFromPA on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 12:35:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Dems (none / 0)

Yeah, the dems are likely to take some seats away from those that are named in the corruption scandals. But just taking the seats away is not enough.

Most Dems, with relatively few exceptions like Conyers and Murtha, see clearly what is happening to our nation. The treasury is looted, the Constitution gutted, our military ground to a husk, and our future sold to sleaze. But most Dems are not willing to do anything but "keep their powder dry" for some pie in the sky scenario.

I threw enough money away on Kerry and the rest last time around. They are going to have to convince me that they have some kind of a platform and some willingness to lead. Otherwise, I won't waste my time, money or vote.

by AlphaHydroxy on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 06:59:38 PM EST

Your vote (none / 0)

is a privilege that people died for, and not a thing that anyone will thank you for using. Sometimes it needs to be mentioned.

The history of the left is a history of purists betraying the progressive movement so that they can feel good about their righteous selves.

by Populism2008 on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 07:14:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Your vote (none / 0)

By not wasting a vote, I meant not wasting it on a "go along to get along", or a neofascist-lite. A politician who runs on the Democratic line, but is a half step to the left of Bush, Cheney or Lieberman does not represent choice. There are third parties.

I have always considered myself a Republican/Libertarian/Constitutionalist, and that dates back to the '50s, though I have not voted for a Republican president (or much of anything) for decades. Over the last 50 years both parties have with fits and starts, run far past me with a rush towards the avaricious and militaristic political pole of the corporate state.

It is more than disheartening to watch our rights, freedoms and liberties thrown away like yesterday's trash. Perhaps in this political environment, I should add (semi)Anarchist to my oxymoronic string of self descriptors. But to paraphrase Twain, "Do I contradict myself? Well, I am large and shall survive it."

by AlphaHydroxy on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 09:09:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Democrats need to seize the issue (none / 0)

...and the issue is ACCOUNTABILITY. We believe in it, they don't. Screw bogus "reform" packages that Republicans won't abide by, anyway: They broke the law and they will be held to it.

This is an ideal opportunity to brand ourselves as the party of Accountability, while the other guys are shifty crooks happy to wipe their feet on ethical standards or the Constitution.

by danielj on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 08:02:06 PM EST

Only Because You Can't Hit The Panic Button And (none / 0)

Cover Your Ass At The Same Time!

Although I'm sure that some GOPers are trying...

by Paul Rosenberg on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 08:34:14 PM EST

New Poll Should Have Congressional Republicans Pan (none / 0)

No, they dont panic, they just lie...

http://mediamatters.org/items/200601060005

by Boilermaker on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 10:07:55 PM EST

Maybe I'm just bitter (none / 0)

But it's hard to "ignore the Democratic leadership in Congress" when the DLC/DCCC is busy forcing their hand-picked candidates on districts where they are neither wanted nor needed. Tammy Duckworth in IL-06, Steve Filson in CA-11, Tim Mahoney in FL-16... the list is growing.

And what do these candidates have in common? The fact that no one in their district had ever heard of them until Rahm Emanuel sprinkled a little holy water on them and dropped them down from the heavens above. Hell, Mahoney was a Republican until a month ago.

With friends like the Democratic leadership, who needs Republicans?

by JDinCA on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 11:08:39 PM EST

Polls are for poll-acks (none / 0)

If you acknowledge the central roll of polls you're a poll-ack, or polak for short.

Anyone remember 34% approval rating for Bush? Thats 34% too many people thinking he's doing a good job.

I want this perfectly clear: the advertising creeps are always into polls when = and I do mean when, because statistics are another matter = they are saying that they are WINNING when the poll numbers shift in their favor.

Dean said it best: polls don't matter, only the vote matters. That is winning. That is "ominous".

2006 is a year not to go out and get all happy about a measly scrawny 13 points. A friend of mine did a website called electoral-vote.com, well ok not really a friend but someone I admire and he did a great job of compiling the statistics. 14 points come and go in a month. The thing the democrats never did is win no matter how many points, except for that one shining debate, the first one.

And what the GOP tried so desperately to do is not allow them to win. Thats something the dems really, really need to focus on. Getting a WIN. A clear win. The dems don't stand for gay marriage. They stand for all the things America stands for. And winning an issue big, is what makes the difference, the polls will slide away - it has to be something foolproof.

For my money, impeachment proceedings against Bush are risky but might be a good start.

by turnerbroadcasting on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 12:18:51 AM EST

Impeachment and Independent Counsel? (none / 0)

I think you should pursue impeachment and the independent counsel-if you want to look foolish. Remember the Clinton impeachment??

Let's see, rising fuel costs, less people with health care and pensions and that is your priority?

What about the people's business?

For what it is worth my democratic opponent would not give back his Abramoff money because he said it was "his". Meanwhile he pushed through the bankruptcy bill which is very anti consumer because he was bought off by the credit card companies.

Mike Protack for Senate
www.mikeprotack.com

by MikeProtackforSenate on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 07:02:46 PM EST

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