Democrats now viewed more favorably than Republicans.

[Julien Sorel]

Finally, in one bit of presumably good news for a party that is looking for it, Americans now have a better opinion of the Democratic Party than the Republicans: 54 percent said they had a favorable view of Democrats, compared with 39 percent holding an unfavorable view. By contrast, 49 percent have a favorable view of Republicans, compared with 46 percent holding an unfavorable one.


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/22/politics/22cnd-poll.html?pagewanted=2

It's a Nagourney/NYT piece so of course it has to be presented snidely, but the fact itself is good news.

[progdonkey]

1. I'll say it again...

Bush goes into the election with a 45% approval rating.

The Republican Party itself has a 49% approval rating.

And we're supposed to believe Bush got 51% of the vote?

[tavalon]

8. Drink the Kool Aid

It really does make sense, then...........

[hughee99]

23. Are approval ratings and this poll

conducted among "likely" voters or just the general public? It may show that we have a vast untapped voting block out there that becomes silent come election time.

[Eurobabe]

2. WTFRC what some stupid NYTimes/CBS "poll" says!?

(who the fvck really cares) article quote from clueless GOPer female:

"Pat Gilbert, a Republican from Battle Creek, Mich., said, "The two sides will be as far apart as can be forever..."I'm sure there are different pockets of voters who voted for Kerry, but I think they believe more in society in general - if you're not hurting anybody it's all right to do it," Ms. Gilbert said, adding: "I don't think they have a firm belief system that they base decisions off of. It's whatever today's climate is. In the long term, you'll have a society of chaos."

What is THAT supposed to mean? Sounds like she went to school at the GWBu$h School Of Manglish.

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. I know exactly what he's saying.

It's what I've been trying to tell all of you these last few days. Define your convictions. What are the parameters of your morality? "Do no harm" is not good enough, It's too broad a concept for people who need something tangible and something sure in life.

[punpirate]

3. Then why, oh, why...

... wasn't this reflected in the vote?

Either it was, and the vote was defrauded, or this opinion poll is based on errant data.

Neither option is good news.

[DenverDem]

5. We won the damn election by a landslide.

The vote count is the biggest FRAUD in human history.

[tavalon]

10. Actually,

we won it by a fairly slim margin. That is the thing that weighs heavy on my heart. That they stole the election is not a surprise. That so many people voted for the moron such that they were able to swing it so easily, that hurts.

[DenverDem]

19. It wasn't that close.

Between voter intimidation, voter supression and outright criminal fraud we had a wide margin that was stolen away. All the new voters that registered did not do so to vote for status quo.

[tavalon]

21. You're speaking to the choir here

But the exit polls were probably right. Therefore, the split was about 48 - 51, but Kerry got the 51% "mandate", not Bush. But it isn't a mandate for him anymore than it is for the Chimpy.

[Julien Sorel]

7. Or a third way:

however people view Democrats, they don't trust us with national defense. This was actually pointed out in the article. If people trusted Democrats with national security, Kerry would be president-elect right now.

[punpirate]

9. It's a point...

... but I think one which goes back to basic premises about the extent to which the Repugs manipulate the news and use fear to accomplish their aims.

Truth doesn't trump fear without some bald-faced facts. And, I think, Kerry lost primarily because he tried to seem more competent on issues related to that fear, rather than calling those issues what they were--manipulations.

Had Kerry said, politely or otherwise, that Bush was playing the public for fools, he would have done better than he did. He chose not to do so. *sigh*

National defense has been a ruse, nothing more, for continued spending which benefits defense contractors. No Democrat, including Kerry, has been willing to say so, and to offer statistics to back up the claim (there are plenty of statistics to verify that assertion).

National defense is the greatest hype perpetrated on the public in modern times. Saying so is a political liability.

[xultar]

12. Wesley K. Clark n/t

[LynnTheDem]

4. MAJORITY; invading Iraq was a MISTAKE.

There is continuing disapproval of Mr. Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, with a plurality now saying it was a mistake to invade Baghdad the first place.

Too bad the US State StenoMedia didn't bother doing their jobs BEFORE the invasion & occupation of Iraq; the majority would have known this was a mistake BEFORE the invasion, and a whole lot of men, women, teenagers & kids would still be alive today.

Some more "good news" though, I guess...the US majority finally waking up to some reality regarding Iraq.

The poll reflected the electoral feat of the Bush campaign this year. He won despite the fact that many Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy, foreign affairs and the war in Iraq.

A majority of Americans continue to believe the country is going in the wrong direction...

Yep, I think bush's current 51% approval rating is gonna be his high point.

[Julien Sorel]

6. I bet you it won't.

The economy looks good in the short run, and now that the election is over, the lingering anger over the 2000 elections will abate some. I bet it goes to the mid 50s within 6 months. I don't think it will go much higher than that because the country is polarized, and Iraq, and Bush's decision to go to war there, is a huge drag on his image. But with the election behind us, I think people are looking for something to feel good about. We will see.

[okieinpain]

20. until 9/11 redux. it's coming that's why osama was on tv before the

election, looking like some head of state. the sob was setting things up so he can say, see I warned them but they still want war. bush's invasion of iraq will turn out to be the biggest mistake in the history of the country.

[mazzarro]

11. I will believe it when see it

The think that irks me the most is the TEPID and VERY COMPROMISED leadership of the Democratic party due to the absurd DLC policy of pursuing the so-called middle ground of politics. This has led to our party being stigmatized as standing for nothing in particular. And we get clobbered in any election for that. Somehow I am beginning to believe that our leaders, just like the chimp*, do not read news papers anymore. Instead they rely on their political consultants to get their "unbiased news"; and that is our problem - we have a country that wants the Democrats to be bold and stand up for what it believes, rather we are led by a group of SPINLESS, WHITE FLAG WAVING, and CLUELESS leaders.

[Cheswick2.0]

15. some are clueless , some are complicit on purpose

Think about it. There is a large percentage of democrats who would rather be a slightly poorer version of the corporate party than to fight for real populist ideals. Fighting for what is good for people might not "look good" to swing voters. It's a risk. Once they are entrenched in power, they don't want to lose it. Having lesser power and money is better than having no power and money at all.

But the DLC is also an attempt by right wing think tanks to pull the democratic party to the right. The fact that lots of democrats are or were DLC members doesn't change what is happening now. Some of the DLC head honchos might as well be republicans....... ooops, forgot, some of them are.

[markus]

13. Welcome to 1968

eom

[Cheswick2.0]

14. this happened quite a while ago

There were similar polls almost a year ago.

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. Now we'll make it 3 pre-election misinformations & post correction.

(1) Pre election: The Economy is good.
Post election: The Economy is bad. (Greenspan)

(2) Pre election: The crime rate dropped.
Post election: The crime rate actually increased by 4%

(3) Pre-election: Republicans are viewed more favorably.
Post election: Democrats are viewed more favorably.

No offense, media, but GO FUCK YOURSELF!

[American Tragedy]

18. Well, they don't see to like them enough to actually vote for them.

[geek tragedy]

22. Not surprising, given the arrogance the Rethugs have displayed since the

election.

Newsflash to Democrats: People hate whoever's in power, especially in DC. The Dems need to make the Republicans the party of big, oppressive government.

[liberalpress]

25. That should not be too hard

[Zorra]

24. I'm just freakin' speechless. Speechless. Anyone got some kool-aid?

Or did people drink the entire national supply before the election?