Support for Democrats in Iowa fades as anti-incumbent sentiment grows

[alp227]

Source: Peter Slevin, The Washington Post

MASON CITY, Iowa -- Republican Terry Branstad's lines have a familiar ring as he campaigns to return to the governor's office after 11 years away. He blasts the incumbent Democrat for "mismanagement," promising an "economic comeback" and the end of "more government than we can afford."

The pitch is working. Early polls show Branstad, who served four terms, with a lead as large as 20 points over Gov. Chet Culver (D), who is battling a poor economy and the frustration fueled by Capitol Hill vitriol that incumbent politicians are not delivering.

The state that launched Barack Obama toward the presidency just two years ago is looking like a tough sell for Democrats in 2010. Culver is in trouble, Rep. Leonard Boswell (D) is threatened and Obama's own popularity has dropped by one-third since he took office.

Since the beginning of 2009, unemployment has risen by half, to about 6.5 percent -- high for Iowa, although lower than the national average. Tax revenues are down and social service needs are rising. The legislative news from Des Moines, where both chambers are controlled by Democrats, is often gloomy.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/07/AR2010030701528_pf.html

[DJ13]

1. Even center of the country Iowa doesnt like centrist policies

Wake up Dems before its too late.

[USA_1]

10. Victory is a choice

Democrats will win but only if they want it.

If they lose again, it is by choice because they refuse to fight for political seats.

[rfranklin]

2. Yes, leaders have to lead, not ask the opposition what to do....

which too oftern seems to be the modus operandi of the Obama administration. Bush never asked, he just campaigned relentlessly for tax cuts, invading Iraq, and a few other things. And they got that stuff into law without kowtowing to the the Democrats. In fact, they bullied the Democrats at every opportunity.

[ztlore]

3. "Obama determined to force Americans to buy health insurance from private insurers

at prices they cannot afford"

is what I'm hearing all over everywhere I go.

[Naturalist111]

13. You should be used to being forced into things by now

Let us look at forced purchases, non purchases and or behavior. Forced purchases: car insurance, home owners insurance, flood insurance, property tax, real estate tax, income tax, sales tax etc. Force non purchases: vaccinations. Forced behavior: drink alcohol or go to jail for marijuana, smoke tobacco or go to jail for marijuana, voice your opinion here not there or get arrested. Supposedly these laws or rules are what the majority wants. The majority dictates to others what they can and can not do. This is how a democratic society works. The sad thing is, if the majority of the people don't take the time to investigate matters to decide for themselves what is the truth, then they are not really making their own choice on the matter. The other side to all of this is the haves and have nots. will never see things the same way. The different races will never see things the same way. It is all a matter of perspective or perception, call it what you wish. What is truly amazing is the belief that this is a wonderful democratic country and with that same perception, the government is evil and out to get it's citizens on behalf of corporations. If it is your government, then you only have yourself to blame. I blame all my fellow Americans for this mess by being lazy, uneducated on matters, greedy and selfish. Yes you. Your the problem.

[Bluzmann57]

4. One problem with that east coast article

It says nothing about Branstad being involved in a primary with two other guys, both of whom consider Branstad a bit too liberal. And Boswell is one of the centrist Dems who just sticks his finger out and checks out which way the wind is blowing. In other words, he is gutless. And so is Branstad. One more thing, Branstad's son got away with murder. A friend of mine was driving while drunk, killed a man while driving, and got five years in prison, deservedly so. Branstad's youngest son did the same thing and got.... waiting...waiting...HE GOT NOTHING!!!!!! This will be brought up and people on this side of the state don't like that stuff.
In other words, if it's dirty sleazy stuff they want, we can merely tell the truth and then let the chips fall where they may.
Also, don't believe all the east coast stuff you read about Iowa. We have little use for them. Real true independence lives here in Iowa.

[SnakeEyes]

6. The DUI story won't matter

It happened back in 1990 when Branstad was Governor. He still got re-elected. If it didn't matter at that point then why would it now?

He got nothing because it was never legally determined if he was drunk or not. He didn't get tested immediately.

It also won't matter because he's not going to be the nominee. The far right is going to show up for this one, inspired by the tea party hype of the last year, and nominate Vander Plaats and Vander Plaats won't win. He's too far right.

[RedCloud]

5. Yes vote for the party of certain death from Wealth care and pollution, but vote!

[bvar22]

7. Gee. Who coulda predicted that...

...letting Lieberman and The Republicans write the Health Care Reform Bill would piss off so many Democrats? "shrug:

A Blood Bath is coming in 2010, and its already too late to do anything about it.
Obama & The "Centrist" Democrats have WASTED a once in a generation opportunity.

They could have NOT fucked it up worse if they were working FOR the Health Insurance Industry.
.
.
.
Hey.
Wait a minute.

[totodeinhere]

8. Your words are sad but true. n/t

[DeSwiss]

9. K&R

"You can never change things by resisting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the old model obsolete." ~ Buckminster Fuller

[tomhayes]

11. America is filled with Goobers

Voting against the party that has the interest at heart MORE. Not perfect, but far, far, far better policies than the Republicans.

Because that's what *EVERY VOTE* is - voting AGAINST the party with the worst policies and trying to make things go incrementally better.

So now they'll vote even more rabid right wing republicans into office and expect things to get better?????

But hey, 2004 was decided by goobers against gays/gay marriage.

[Iowa]

12. Nonsense...

"Voting against the party that has the interest at heart MORE."

That makes no sense. It isn't even a sentence.

"Because that's what *EVERY VOTE* is - voting AGAINST the party with the worst policies and trying to make things go incrementally better."

That may be what the plutocrats want you to believe, but it's nonsense. Voting isn't simply a matter of throwing in your lot with the lesser of two evils and being a good little soldier - no matter what they do. Such thinking facilitates a race to the bottom.

"So now they'll vote even more rabid right wing republicans into office and expect things to get better?????"

Not necessarily. Perhaps some will vote for an independent candidate that more closely adheres to progressive views. Others may try to modify the bad behavior of sell-out Democratic reps by throwing the worst ones out of office, while simultaneously expecting things to get worse before they get better. Others may become so cynical and disgusted that they simply give up on a system they view as hopelessly corrupt, and don't vote at all. Others may write-in a candidate in an effort to send a message. There are any number of actions that desperate, angry voters might take that does not necessarily involve the false choice you have laid out...that choice being: 1) rubber-stamping some useless corporate tool because he chooses to use the Democratic brand name (as you so arrogantly espouse in your post), or 2) "vote even more rabid right wing republicans into office and expect things to get better" (to use your words).

"America is filled with Goobers"

No, America isn't "filled with Goobers"... America certainly does have some Goobers though. They are usually the ones who think everyone is a "Goober" except them.

[Blandocyte]

14. Corporate Hate Radio

is telling the dumbasses what their opinions should be. Surprised?