Voters are anti-incumbent and angry, new poll finds

[Mark E. Smith]

CNN 7:02 p.m, EDT Sept 4, 2006

WASHINGTON - Most Americans are angry about "something" when it comes to how the country is run, and they are more likely
than in previous years to vote for a challenger this November, a new poll suggests.

A majority of Americans surveyed - and a higher percentage than recorded during the same time last year - said things in the United
States are going "badly." Among this year's respondents, 29 percent said "pretty badly" and 25 percent - up from 15 percent a
month ago - answered "very badly." By comparison, 37 percent described the way things are going as "fairly well," and 9 percent
answered "very well."

A majority - 55 percent - said they are more likely to back a challenger in races on this year's ballot. Such anti-incumbent
sentiment is higher than the 48 percent recorded as "pro-challenger" in a similar survey in 1994, when the GOP took control
of both houses of Congress.

Democrats lead Republicans by a 10-point margin, 53 to 43 percent, among likely voters asked which party's congressional candidate
they would support in November, and Democrats held a 56-40 lead on the same question among registered voters.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/04/poll.election/index.html

[muntrv]

1. But can we herd them to the polls more than the repukes?

That's what remains to be seen.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

4. Alert. Hispanic Americans are at risk of being disenfranchised.

They will be challenged due to the red herring of "illegal immigration."

It's still happening with Black Americans and now this. Keep a close eye on voting requirements. MKJ

[applegrove]

2. There ALIVE!! Americans are ALIVE!!! Apathy and Frozen solid with fear

gone!

:woohoo:

[The Brethren]

15. LOL

.....wait, I feel a pulse. Their fingers are moving. Quick get them off the table before Dr. Frankenstein returns.

[bdamomma]

3. it's about time that some people come out the fog and

open their eyes, we are the only ones to change all this, it will begin with that vote in November, and this time let's kick some ass.

[bemildred]

5. That's the ticket. Throw the bastards out. nt

[stepnw1f]

6. Y-E-S !!! (nt)

[otohara]

7. Let It Be

true!

I want this GOP nightmare to end, change needs to happen or we're fucked.

[onehandle]

8. Sixteen years of a Republican House is sixteen too many, nt

[KansDem]

32. Actually, it's been 12 years...it may seem like 16, though.

Or more...

The "Gang Of hyPocrites" came to power in 1994 under Newt Gingrich and the "Contract on America." I often wonder what they've done in those 12 years, other than lie, cheat, steal, and wreck havoc and death and destruction on the world. I often wonder what they've done that's really positive for the nation. I'm still wondering...

[onehandle]

36. See! 12 years of Republican rule has ruined my math skills!

Ok. Maybe it was the two glasses of Cabernet I had last night.

FRENCH Cabernet!

[KansDem]

37. "See! 12 years of Republican rule has ruined my math skills!"

With the way Repubs have spending money ($8-9 trillion debt + $11 million an hour on Iraq alone), they could use a little refresher themselves...

[razors edge]

9. keep two incumbents

one from each party who actually stand for the convictions of their party and shitcan the rest.

dennis kucinich

ron paul

send the rest packin.

having got that of my chest, I know it can't happen so I am gonna vote dem as always and hope for the best.

[Bridget Burke]

22. Speaking as a Democrat, I'll have to disagree.

Let's get rid of as many Republicans as possible--THEN "purge" the Democratic party.

By the way--you do realize that Ron Paul is a Republican? At heart, he's a Libertarian, so he's criticized some Republican policies. But he's not a Democrat. Are you?

[RawMaterials]

27. I think thats why

he said "one from each party"

[razors edge]

34. Yes, I understand he's more Libertarian thats why I like him,

they can't stand the neocons either.

In my previous scenario I proposed keeping one of each party, sort of a Noah's Ark and a warning to all who follow. One dedicated to the needs of the people and one dedicated to preventing excessive central government.

I also realize such a scenario could never take place and if you read all of what I posted you would not have questioned if I was a democratic supporter, or at least I would have hoped not.

That said if my only choice was between lieberman or or paul and i were to cast the deciding vote, well, sorry joe.

[Greeby]

10. But what if the incumbent is a Democrat?

I know there's plenty who don't pack the gear to serve in Congress. But replacing useless Democrats with Republicans is like treating dandruff with decapitation (hat-tip Frank Zappa)

[AX10]

12. The GOP will feel the brunt of this storm because they are the imcumbent..

party.

[pnwmom]

14. But a recent survey showed that MANY Americans do not understand this.

They don't realize that Republicans control the House and the Senate, that they have for years, and they are largely responsible for the mess we're in. We have to do more to educate people about this.

[demo dutch]

29. That's seems simply amazing! Americans are truly dumb!

[AnneD]

38. They are not dumb

just misinformed. Remember, the MSM is a subsidery of the GOP. My mom is amazed at some of the things I tell her, she has no computer. But then, your judgement is only as good as you information. That is why Freedom of Speech and Press was so important that the founding fathers put it in writing.

[Captain Hilts]

11. But they like their own rep. Everyone else's cause the problems,nt

[ovidsen]

13. "It's the economy stupid!"

It's very interesting to see that this survey shows more people rank the nation's stumbling economy as the top issue, and Iraq comes in 2nd.

That's undoubtedly because while the war is a disgrace on moral and philosophical as well as geopolitical levels, it doesn't affect most of us so close to home as rising prices and shrinking incomes do. I'm not for an instant trying to marginalize the deep concern of people who have friends and family in the Persian Gulf or Afghanistan or any other hot-spot. It's just that the dismal Wal-Mart economy affects all of us, day in and day out, like the migrane that just won't go away. That's powerful stuff.

And here we have a clueless President who not only says the war on "terra" is progressing (while we have overwhelming evidence it isn't), but who also claims that the economy is STRONG and FLOURISHING when we all know damn well from PERSONAL EXPERIENCE that just the opposite is true.

These are the twin traps that the Bush cabal has set for itself. I believe they will put the House in Democratic hands 2 months from now. With hard work and a little luck it will put the Senate there as well.

I can't wait.

[Silvermint]

16. Voters Are Anti-Incumbent and Angry (CNN)

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/04/poll.election/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Most Americans are angry about "something" when it comes to how the country is run, and they are more likely than in previous years to vote for a challenger this November, a new poll suggests.

A majority of Americans surveyed -- and a higher percentage than recorded during the same time last year -- said things in the United States are going "badly." Among this year's respondents, 29 percent said "pretty badly" and 25 percent -- up from 15 percent a month ago -- answered "very badly." By comparison, 37 percent described the way things are going as "fairly well," and 9 percent answered "very well."

Of these people, 76 percent said there was "something" to be angry about in the country today. By comparison, 59 percent felt that way when polled in February.

*****

Democrats lead Republicans by a 10-point margin, 53 to 43 percent, among likely voters asked which party's congressional candidate they would support in November, and Democrats held a 56-40 lead on the same question among registered voters.

The survey has a sampling error of 3 percentage points among the full group and 4 percentage points among likely voters.

Nearly half of the respondents -- 49 percent -- said they considered the GOP the party of strong leadership. But 56 percent said they considered the Democrats the party of change, with 49 percent considering them the more forward-looking party.

*****

Some interesting statistics if you read the whole article, but I think one thing that's missing is whether this is anti-incumbancy in general (which can hurt both sides), or anti-Republican-incumbancy specifically. Thoughts?

[TexasLawyer]

17. "No Incumbents!"

A bumper sticker I saw the other day.

[acmavm]

18. 37% said 'fairly well'? What the hell is wrong with those people?

Iraq, NOLA, the economy, the deficit, the IP issues?

Amazing, simply amazing.

[Silvermint]

20. I guess those are...

... the tried and untrue wingnuts, 'eh?

[demo dutch]

30. Yeah and they're the ones who VOTE!

[NVMojo]

19. good news but I worry about my fellow Nevadans ...clueless about

the real issues in this country most of the time.

[krispos42]

21. They are the ones that don't give a crap about government

they are the ones overly concerned with morality, that making sure American citizens are living a moral and righteous life, and that the government is doing its damndest to enforce that.

They don't care if the economy collapses, as long as abortion is stopped. The don't give a crap about the Constitution as long as homosexuals can't get married.

[varun]

23. CNN: Voters are anti-incumbent and angry, new poll finds

Now translate that "Anger" into some action. Vote this coming election!


http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/04/poll.election/index.html

Most Americans are angry about "something" when it comes to how the country is run, and they are more likely than in previous years to vote for a challenger this November, a new poll suggests.

A majority of Americans surveyed -- and a higher percentage than recorded during the same time last year -- said things in the United States are going "badly." Among this year's respondents, 29 percent said "pretty badly" and 25 percent -- up from 15 percent a month ago -- answered "very badly." By comparison, 37 percent described the way things are going as "fairly well," and 9 percent answered "very well."

Of these people, 76 percent said there was "something" to be angry about in the country today. By comparison, 59 percent felt that way when polled in February...

[Captain Hilts]

24. They still like their own Reps. OTHER people's reps are the problem. nt

[Eurobabe]

25. B-b-ut what about Asshat's poll numbers?

Aren't they going to bounce from all the awareness of Islamofascists and new safety screening on airplanes? Just wait until he gets on his bullhorn September 11th. I bet all those disgruntled sheep will come around.

[sendero]

26. It can be dangerous to ..

... read too much into polls, without knowing exactly how they were conducted.

But I've felt for a while that you are seeing a redux of the "anti-incumbent" fever that we experienced a couple decades back.

Fact is, people are damn sick of the Republicans, but the Dems keep sitting on their hands and I really just don't get it.

[demo dutch]

28. Great! Repugs are tuning out and won't vote. All the better for the Dems

in November!

[lonestarnot]

31. I'm fight'n Irish mad! Throw the bastards out!

Even though I have not been asleep, it's good to see others ARE paying attention.

[bdamomma]

33. hey when could we send in those tea bags to WH, is that still being

considered? just asking.

[Chemical Bill]

35. Diebold to the rescue. n/t