Independents Are Having Buyer's Remorse

[maddezmom]

The Schiavo case has led many swing voters to turn their backs on the GOP

Just nine months after giving George W. Bush the crucial swing votes he needed to best John Kerry, political independents are bolting out of the Republican Big Tent. Angered by GOP meddling in the Terri Schiavo right-to-die case, reeling from record gasoline prices, and depressed by the escalating cycle of violence in Iraq and Afghanistan, unaligned voters are suddenly lining up with Democrats to give Bush the lowest ratings of his Presidency. The disenchantment extends beyond the White House to the GOP Congress: Only 31% of independents say Congress is in touch with their concerns, according to a June 14-15 Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. Amid such dismal data, the only good news for Republicans is that the chronically disorganized Democrats have not convinced swing voters that they are any better -- at least not yet.

But that's cold comfort to the GOP. A June 24-26 Gallup Poll shows independents turning thumbs down to much of the President's second-term agenda, including his stay-the-course stance on Iraq, partial privatization of Social Security, and a pro-drilling energy policy. Equally worrisome: Just 15% of indies approve of Bush's handling of the economy, a June 19-22 American Research Group Poll found -- down from 44% last November.

To gauge the depth of independent anger, talk to Alan Rego Jr., an assistant supermarket manager in Cleveland. Rego, 23, twice voted for George W. Bush. The unaligned voter viewed Bush as a champion of small business and a stalwart in the war on terror. But he now sees a President bogged down in a Mideast quagmire and a Congress obsessed with a Religious Right agenda he does not share. "Congress is involved in too many social issues that it shouldn't be, like Terri Schiavo," he says. "It doesn't want to tackle the issues that it should be fixing, like tax reform, unemployment, and job creation."

For Republicans, an exodus of voters like Rego could have profound repercussions. Because 67% of independents think Bush will appoint a Supreme Court justice whose religious beliefs will inappropriately influence judicial rulings, according to Gallup, Dems may be emboldened to dig in for a long showdown (page 38).

more:http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_29/c3943060_mz013.htm

[shoelace414]

1. the planets are aligning for a

huge win for dems in 2006.

[ClassWarrior]

2. Dems SHOULD be emboldened to dig in for a long showdown!!

NGU.

[TheFarseer]

3. How did they not know this 8 months ago?

This sh*t pisses me off. They only listen to the BS he says on the campaign trail and don't pay attention to his record. These are the same people who will be fooled by the republican slime machine in '06 and '08.

[peacetalksforall]

4. Yippee ay o...keep Rove, Bartlett, Card, Hughes, and Cheney

involved in their cover-up attempts on the Plame outing. Keep them occupied with all the other stuff so that they can't address the Independents.

(imo, indpenednet should have become more wise following Iran-Contra - it was all down hill imperialism, born again religion in-your-face, lies, thefts, and scandals - ever since.

[stopbush]

5. Right. * has done such a 180 from what anyone could have

expected.

Such BS.

[Mari333]

6. Alan Rego, 23, voted for Bush twice? shouldnt he enlist?

anyone who voted for Bush and whines now because they are having a hard time, well, dont play your violin in front of me.

To Alan Rego: Enlist...Put up or Shut Up.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. Thanks a heap, you jerks

I can excuse someone voting for the SOB the first time, in 2000, because his handlers did a good job of misrepresenting him. Well, his handlers and the compliant press that did their bidding.

But anyone who voted for Bush after he'd been in office for his first term -- there's simply no excuse for that.

Expressing regret isn't enough. They should be scourging themselves naked through the streets.