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Sylvia A. Smith: Tea Party activists weren't voting Democratic, anyway

by: Thomas

Mon Mar 29, 2010 at 09:29:47 AM EDT

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I present this week's edition of "Yeah, what Sylvia said!"

Some truly believe the government-takeover/socialism/unconstitutionality argument. It's highly unlikely any of them voted for those three Democrats in the past. Thus, Ellsworth, Donnelly and Hill won't lose many former supporters over their health insurance votes.
For many, many voters, the hoopla over this bill will be forgotten. What will be on their minds and shaping their votes is what it always is in shaky economic times: their pocketbooks and their jobs.

It would be foolish to think that this year will be easy for our Democratic incumbents -- at the same time, though, I don't expect 2010 to be particularly gentle with any incumbents on the ballot in November.

The reason Republicans couldn't kill health care reform is that they didn't have any alternatives. In the end, Americans will take an imperfect idea over a non-existent one.

Unless the national Republican party manages to break out of their now-stale "NO" talking points -- and considering how much they are being forced to kowtow to the Tea Partiers, it seems unlikely they will -- it may not be the landslide year that hyper-conservatives have been predicting since President Barack Obama was sworn in.

Thomas :: Sylvia A. Smith: Tea Party activists weren't voting Democratic, anyway

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Sylvia A. Smith: Tea Party activists weren't voting Democratic, anyway | 1 comments

Voter enthusiasm. (0.00 / 0)

Passing health care reform has helped break the Democratic Party base out of its malaise for the moment.

This is astonishing. Three weeks ago, 40 percent of Democrats were likely or definitely going to vote, compared to 51 percent of Republicans -- an 11 point "intensity gap". Two weeks ago, as the battle for health care reform heated up, and GOP obstructionism came in full view, the numbers were 45 percent for Democrats, 56 percent for Republicans -- both sides equally riled up.
This week, the numbers are 55 percent for Democrats, 62 percent for Republicans. While both sides saw big spikes in their numbers, Democrats were particularly energized, with that intensity gap narrowing from 11 points to a far more manageable seven.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/...

Mid-term elections are historically difficult for the party in power. I still think we are likely to lose seats in both houses of Congress, but I think the decreasing enthusiasm gap will help alleviate those losses if they hold through to the election. Still a lot of time between now and then, though...

I really think the Scott Brown win in Massachusetts had one silver lining. It woke the White House up. Since the first of the year, President Obama has seemed much more engaged. I still wish he would talk more about jobs, but I like the energy Obama and the White House have shown so far this year. The recess appointments also show strength and I think the base will respond well. More of this please, Democrats.

"It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority." --Benjamin Franklin

Yes, even Democratic authority.

by: Daily Activist @ Mon Mar 29, 2010 at 13:07:34 PM CDT

Sylvia A. Smith: Tea Party activists weren't voting Democratic, anyway | 1 comments

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