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Writing in the Washington Examiner, Byron York looks at how the Democratic Congress threw away their advantage over the GOP.
Many political observers were stunned by the new Gallup poll showing the Republican party with a 10-point advantage in the so-called “generic ballot” question. Now we have a better idea how that happened.
According to new, more detailed Gallup numbers, Democratic advantages on issues like health care, the economy, and handling corruption in government have simply disappeared. Democratic leads that were enormous when the party took control of Congress in 2006 have dwindled to nothing or have now become Republican advantages.
The most striking example is in health care. Back in October 2006, just before Democrats won control of Congress, Gallup asked the traditional question, “Do you think the Republicans in Congress or the Democrats in Congress would do a better job dealing with [the following issue]…” At that time, Democrats held a 64 percent to 25 percent lead on health care — a 39 percentage-point advantage. Now, after Democrats passed their long-dreamed-of national health care bill, the result is 44 percent for Democrats versus 43 percent for Republicans — a virtual tie. That is an enormous advantage to have thrown away during four years in power.
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Oldskool // Sep 1, 2010 at 10:20 am
Wonder how young Byron headlined (R) losses in 2006. Somewhat differently I suspect.
Not mentioned as the reason is the constant stream of bullshit from people himself, Fox “News”, radio screamers, Dick Armey’s “grassrooters”, etc. Along with their party-first efforts and the recession as bad as it is, they should win both Houses but odds are they won’t.
ktward // Sep 1, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Sigh. It is true that Dems are infamous for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Congress is designed to work inefficiently. And it does. Sometimes it works effectively, but not when the minority Party operates in bad faith with no constructive ideas outside of blatant partisan obstruction. Frankly, it’s amazing anything at all got done in the 111th, however ‘imperfectly’.
Arguably, Obama might have wielded a heavier hand (perhaps the Public Option wouldn’t have been killed off). But I’m reminded that many O supporters — particularly Indies such as myself — were encouraged that he would ultimately prove to be, in his sober, thoughtful way, an effective noise dampener to D.C.’s deafening partisan cacophony. In good faith, I believe that’s what Obama attempted.
We were naive. (Or maybe it was just me.)
‘Pubs simply turned up their volume (particularly via FN & blog theatrics), and Dems continue to pound on Obama for not turning up his.
One thing’s for certain: the GOP on a national level has demonstrated itself to be entirely incapable of crafting effective, cost-efficient governance policy. Frustrated by this inarguable fact, its response has been to splinter into evermore incendiary, meaningless meme-propelled factions: ‘Back to god’ and ’small gov’t’ and ‘lower taxes’ and ‘drill baby drill’, yada yada yada.
Still no solutions, but theatrical rhetoric 24/7.
We have such a short memory.
Candy83 // Sep 2, 2010 at 12:45 am
Democrats had 59/60 Senate seats during the process of getting a healthcare bill. The House had a better version, including a mechanism to compete with private insurance: the public option. Contrary to establishment b.s. (“We’d love to have the public option. We just don’t have 60 votes.”), this is one scam that was impossible to hide.
What we saw was a charade (“Oh, no! That bastard Joe Lieberman is killing the bill — he says he won’t sign on if they don’t throw out the public option.”) that lasted for months, and then individual mandate to purchase from private insurance with no competitive mechanism, no reimportation for drugs, no employer mandate were out.
I remember David Frum’s “Waterloo” — and agree with much of it. The Democrats will be known for being the party that passed another sweeping legislation that is important to millions of Americans. Too bad it’s a watered down bill essentially written by private insurance.
For those who consider themselves progressives, and who voted for Barack Obama to be the 44th president of the United States in 2008, I can imagine the following being uttered: “I apologize for my having unknowingly voted for a Republican.”