Poll Shouts The Message Massachusetts Voters Were Sending

[grahamhgreen]

Source: Our Future Blog

The numbers in the Research 2000 exit poll released Wednesday by MoveOn.org and Democracy for America speak for themselves: The Massachusetts election was not a call to go back to conservatism. ...

* Generally speaking do you think Barack Obama and Democrats in Washington, DC are delivering enough on the change Obama promised to bring to America during the campaign?
Yes 31%
No 57%
Not sure 12%

* Do you think Democrats in Washington, D.C. are fighting hard enough to challenge the Republican policies of the Bush years, aren’t fighting hard enough to change those policies, or are fighting about right?
Not Enough 37%
About Right 21%
Too Hard 15%
Not Sure 27%

* If the Democratic Congress passed a bill that laid down stronger rules of the road for Wall Street and cut bonuses for the executives of companies that received government bailouts, would that make you more likely or less likely to vote Democratic in the 2010 general election?
More likely 53%
Less likely 14%
No effect 33%

* What would do more to improve our nation’s economic conditions: Decreasing government spending OR tightening government regulation of Wall Street and corporate executives?
Cut spending 43%
Tighten regulation 25%

* Democrats in Washington are more on my side than on the side of the lobbyists and special interests, OR Democrats in Washington are more on the side of the lobbyists and special interests than on the side of people like me.
The lobbyists 47%
People like me 23%
Not sure 30%

* Do you think it goes too far or doesn’t go far enough? (Asked of people who opposed the Senate health care reform bill:)
Too far 23%
Not far enough 36%

* Would you favor or oppose the national government offering everyone the choice of a government administered health insurance plan — something like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and older get — that would compete with private health insurance plans?
Favor 82%
Oppose 14%
Not Sure 4%
...

The bottom line: It ain't that complicated. A progressive populist message on kitchen-table domestic issues is a winning message, even in a time when voters are wary of government and concerned about deficits.

Read more: http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010010320/poll-shouts-message-massachusetts-voters-were-sending

---

I hope you middle of the roaders will carefully consider these metrics!

[clear eye]

1. Nice catch. n/t

[FarLeftFist]

61. Who are these 'Not Sure' people?

Do we still have this many clueless people that can't answer a simple question?

[RoccoR5955]

74. I work with some of these clueless people

They don't watch the news, nor care about anything but their damn selves.
I call them pathological narcissists.

[femrap]

82. That's a good term....

I've been calling them 'willfully ignorant' and tell them they're lucky there isn't a law against being stupid.

It takes them forever to get it. By then, I've walked away and they can't catch me!

[JDPriestly]

89. I don't know if it is still on, but they are the folks who greet you with

the question: "Did you watch American Idol last night?" not occasionally but every time you see them.

[RoccoR5955]

105. I don't call it "American Idol," I call it "Idle American,"

because only those with idle minds watch it!

[bvar22]

93. I have Democratic friends who consider themselves "informed"...

...who still believe that the HCR Bill HAS a Public Option like "Medicare". :shrug:

[xxqqqzme]

99. They are the

elusive 'independent voter'; those who fear commitment to any issue, cause or principle.

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Obama won't listen, but I hope the rest of us do.

We need much better candidates.

[leveymg]

71. On Tues we made him listen. Now, he has to show he hears us.

If he doesn't, he's going to be a one-term President. Here's the message behind Tuesday's warning: "Throw them all out" means Throw Them ALL Out!

[hisownpetard]

76. "we"? Who's the "we" you're speaking of? n/t

[leveymg]

83. Popularity isn't an unlimited resource.

Particularly if you're President. Nor is a second term an entitlement. I believe the people of MA have spoken clearly about the limits of their own patience. As the exit poll shows, while Obama remains more popular than his policies and first-year performance, he doesn't have infinite angels, and the American people have finite patience for failure to deliver real reform.

[kristopher]

3. This belongs at the top of the front page... K&R

[grahamhgreen]

103. Thanks for getting it there!

[Douglas Carpenter]

4. THANK YOU!!

* Would you favor or oppose the national government offering everyone the choice of a government administered health insurance plan — something like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and older get — that would compete with private health insurance plans?

Favor 82%

Oppose 14%

Not Sure 4%

http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010010320/poll-shouts-message-massachusetts-voters-were-sending

[ChiciB1]

Bigger RED Letters Please!!! Just Kidding... But That One Is the One

that most of us should be wearing on our backs every time we go out! Like to the grocery store, dinner, movie.... ANYTHING!!

Tweety was so wrong last night talking with Dean! Americans DON'T like THIS HCR!!! It's not a left/right thing, it's a BAD thing!!!

[FLAprogressive]

5. But it's not a referendum on Obama!!!!

[nini]

6. then why vote for the person less likely to do those things?

:shrug:

They pretty much put a nail in the coffin of what they wanted.

[FBaggins]

10. Which should be pretty clear evidence that this isn't an exit poll.

They obviously didn't do a good enough job of identifying people who had actually voted... and/or had a little too much "push" in their poll.

Either that or the voters of MA are idiots. What do we think the chances of that are?

[nini]

20. a bit of both I'd guess

.

[grahamhgreen]

49. Or the MA voters are too smart to pass a bill this bad, and the senate Dems are idiots. ; )

[JDPriestly]

90. It is probably not intended to be an exit poll.

It includes people who did not go to the polls including those who did not go in order to protest the choice and those who just could not bring themselves to vote for either candidate.

[mike_c]

12. because when people know they aren't being well served by the present leadership...

...THAT'S what their vote means, as often as not. It's a vote AGAINST the status quo.

[nini]

19. wouldn't their efforts be better served working on more liberal candidates

it's starts there.


The election was a statement at what a shitty campaigner she was and how fucking stupid people can be.

If people want liberal candidates they need to get off their lazy asses and work to get the right candidates in place then work to get them elected. Bitching and moaning then picking the worst candidate that will support your ideals is stupid.

[Tailormyst]

58. She campaigned AGAINST the bill

Then she got the nomination and suddenly became FOR it.

[FailureToCommunicate]

65. Her- Coakley's- support changed because bills change as they move thru

Congress from the House to the Senate to the Outhouse -like this "health care" bill did...

[Tailormyst]

67. And that change in support, along with lack of campaigning, cost her the election.

[Ignis]

92. But people aren't suddenly, magically going to wise up.

If we want to win seats and get the planks of our platform passed into law, we need to listen to voters' frustrations.

The high horse might look pretty, but it doesn't get us anywhere.

[truedelphi]

104. Having run for office, I can tell you that in many places in the nation

The DLC PREVENTS the more liberal and progressive people from running as Democrats. We are forced to run as Green Party people, or indies or whatever.

That is why I ran as a Green in 2000, because I am not a friend or supporter of Di Feinstein. Thus she did not give my local Centrist Party Big Shots the go-ahead on letting me be affiliated with "her" party.

And even though my declared party affiliation was clear, the local Dem County Supervisor still came by my candidacy celebration to chide me for running on "HER" party's ticket!!!!!!!

I imagine that Cindy Sheehan would have faced the same type of non-democratic tactics if she had tried to get the official Dem Party's sanctions for her running against Pelosi back in 2006.

[grahamhgreen]

48. Because to repeal the senate crapsurance bill requires a 67 senator vote!

[sabrina 1]

50. What are the Democrats doing about any of those things?

I think the voters, especially Independents and Democrats who voted against the Democrat, were sending a message that they do not want a corporate friendly Helath Care system. Look at the overwhelming numbers of people who want a public health care system. Why are Democrats not listening? Those numbers are pretty close to the national polls on this issue.

And they do not want Wall St. crooks bailed out.

By electing someone who is against the bill, it was the only way voters could try to stop it, because the WH would not listen to them. And the WH did not listen to same huge numbers of people who told them not to bail out Wall St.

When the government won't listen, you find a way to get their attention. Brown has only two years. Thinking about it, I believe it was the right thing to do. To elect someone who may stop the bill from passing, and see if the Democrats and the WH learn a lesson. If they do, people can throw Brown out in two years. It really was a very good strategy on the part of the people, I'm beginning to think.

[Tailormyst]

54. Because They wanted to stop HCR- after Coakley switched sides they felt that was the only way

Those I have spoken to wanted a STRONG public option or Single Payer. Instead they were getting a giveaway to the Insurance companies they would end up costing them MORE. They tried yelling, screaming etc but no one in DC fucking listened. SO they told them in the ONLY manner that would get them to listen. They stopped something they felt was going to hurt their families in the only way they knoew how.

THAT is the message that I have gotten when I asked my Democratic friends and relatives how they could have voted for such a person.

I suggest Obama, Reid and Pelosi start fucking LISTENING to the people that put them in office.

[GOTV]

55. Because you've been told it's this or nothing and you feel this is worse than nothing ...

... which is how many feel.

[Tailormyst]

57. Bingo- that is exactly what I have been hearing

From Wakefield, to Dedham, to Hyde Park and Waltham. That was the reason I was given. All want this bill killed and real health CARE reform done.

[GOTV]

62. Maybe if Obama had been saying "We need more DEMs to help fight for real reform" ....

... instead of "This is the best we can do and if you don't support this you get nothing" Obama voters would have come out to see he gets what he needs.

But why get out of bed to send ammo to a guy who won't fight?

[Tailormyst]

64. Yup

I feel incredibly betrayed and pretty darn stupid for buying into the whole "hope/change" crap.

[alberg]

70. Because in a 2 party system voters have limited options to express their outrage.

If you listen to the buzz around the country, what you hear repeated is the message: "Vote whoever is in power out, and maybe they'll get the message that we aren't happy and want things to change in a fundamental way." It was this sentiment, "Change", that got Democrats elected in 2008. It's this sentiment that will remove them, unless they show the voters that they are sincere in working for real change between now and the next election. People are really pissed off this time. It's not going to go away. Unless a strong Progressive voice emerges on a national level that aligns with the outrage people feel about HealthCare, Jobs and Wall Street we are destined to suffer major electoral defeats. Obama will have one more shot at turning this around. Unless he uses the State of the Union address to acknowledge past mistakes and make a new start, we are in real trouble. He could start by firing Summers and Geitner, proposing a federal jobs program and opening up Medicare to everybody. Sound drastic? Yet that is precisely the kind of message that will regain the support of 70% of the electorate. It's a fool’s game to try and win over the other 30% - they are the same folks who supported Bush no matter what and believe Global Warming is a myth.

[AlbertCat]

81. Exactly

Talk abut cutting your nose off to spite your face. They don't think the Dems go far enough, so they take a giant step backwards!

" We'll show those Dems! We'll elect a Palin-esque fool nude model to represent us for the next 6 years! That'll show 'em!"


Stupid won....again.... just like in 2000. Massachusetts idiots.

[Tailormyst]

87. No- it wasn't that they thought the Dems "didn't go far enough"

They felt the Dems went in completely the wrong direction, ending in something that would harm their families in the long run. Whether or not you agree with them, this IS what they were thinking. Sitting back and screaming " you are stupid" is not going to fix what went wrong in MA on Tuesday.

[pundaint]

91. Nothing went wrong on Tuesday, the People found something to compromise on.

A majority of the People saw that it was in their best interests to force some Change, and they did. Remember how it works, Parties give us choices, and we look at what's been going on and decide which choice we prefer. I didn't have all the choices that I wanted, for instance an unrelenting liberal would have been even more attractive than killing the bad bill. But with the choice of killing the bill and voting in the referendum against the current use of a majority, and approving of a string of actions which have caused me further harm, kill the bill was my best option, and I am pleased that I had the opportunity to withhold power from the DLC.

Now, do we have any candidates for MA 2, please if there's a Liberal Democrat out there who wants to beat a corporatist target, take out primary papers and let us know.

[grahamhgreen]

106. 'Stupid' is allowing mandatory insurance without a public option. MA voters know this.

[pundaint]

88. Because otherwise the bad healthcare bill would pass for sure, and more Democrats

would have to lose in November to send the same message. We were just showing the Donkey the 2 x 4, now the Donkey gets to decide who it gets used on in November. The Donkey is so stupid that it was blaming Coakley, when the President of the free Donkey actually made it a referendum on his healthcare giveaway to insurance and pharma. We say bring back the Donkey of the People, don't make us have to whack the bad Donkey to get it's attention.

[Tesha]

115. This was actually a "pretty cheap" election with which to send a message.

It only cost us 1 Senator, and a two-year term at that.

The alternative would have been that the Democrats go roaring into
the November midterms fat, dumb, and happy, only to *THEN* be
persuasively taught that people are REALLY, REALLY PISSED OFF.

AND WE ARE.

Tesha

[FBaggins]

7. This being the same polling firm that said the election was a dead heat or Coakley up by eight?

The only polling firm to show a Coakley lead after the 11th?

And now a push poll that isn't really in any way an "exit" poll?

No thanks.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

8. K&R

[myrna minx]

9. K&R n/t

[Mithreal]

11. Thank you very much for posting these.

Seems like some even in Progressive media are trying to twist the take home message from this election saying it was not about health care because MA has Romneycare and isn't that something. Shame on them.

[Flying Dream Blues]

13. Thank you! nt

[Faryn Balyncd]

14. K and R . . . .important. . . Thanks.

[RedCloud]

15. Give us hope, give us strength. Time to take our mandate back!

[amborin]

16. K$R and email Pelosi and say NO senate version w/ a patch, PO or nothing:

http://www.speaker.gov/contact/

[MaineDem]

17. People are impatient for change

It's hard to change 8 years of mismanagement in 12 months.

And Massachusetts has nearly universal health care. I don't thing this was about HCR. It was a set of unique problems in Massachusetts.

[Johonny]

21. I agree

It seems like people voted out of spite and anger, but not with any clear define direction. Clearly their choice makes the things they "want" less likely to happen. Voting out of spite rarely works.

[sendero]

45. That's what people..

... do when they feel desparate.

[Barbara2423]

25. I agree.

[donheld]

47. Especially if you

Call on the ones who caused the problems to fix them.

[Tailormyst]

56. But it was about HC

With every person I know that voted for him they said it was HC. They hated this bill THAT much. They were/are convinced this will cost them more, not less. No one in DC was listening.

Each told me that if Coakley had stuck to her original opposition to the bill they would have voted for her.

[GinaMaria]

59. From what I've read about MA health care is

that many are not happy with it due to how much it costs. I've read HCR was important to voters on Tuesday b/c the right national plan could relieve some of their financial pain.

[Marr]

68. It's especially hard to get there when you move in the wrong direction.

It's not a matter of speed. People are angry at Obama because he's moving in the wrong direction.

[rpannier]

113. According to my friends in Mass

Part of it was in response to it

There was a concern that this would negatively impact their insurance program

The give-aways to onr of the least progressive Democratic Senators in one of the least progressive states made people nervous about what the Admin was willing to sacrifice to get Benjy's vote and any future votes from conservative Dems

[Krashkopf]

18. K & R +1000!

[Jefferson23]

22. I e-mailed this to the WH, not that they should be shocked.

[Wizard777]

23. The democrats need to play hardball or they will be tossed out of the park.

IT'S REALLY THAT SIMPLE! :banghead:

[humbled_opinion]

24. LOL

I said myself I would vote against this crap legislation they have in the Senate. Mandates and no accountability to insurance companies... Lets start over and get it right...

Single Payer nothing less let the Pukes fight against that and see how popular they really are....

and Obama needs to hold Bushco accountable...

Those two things will gurantee Democrats win in elections.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SammyWinstonJack]

31. +1

Nuts isn't it? :crazy:

[eowyn_of_rohan]

27. hmmm... so this gave them reason to vote for a repub?

:eyes:

[WyldRogue]

33. Some MAY have voted for Brown...

... and will say that more than likely, it was the Dem/Indy female vote that he got because 'he's so hot' is what was spoken prominently.

The rest stayed home because they don't believe in the 'lock-step' mentality. So please don't go the 'the Dems voted for Brown excuse when most REAL Dems and Indies are furious/disgusted with the direction Obama's Administration has taken. Nad now there is word that are are wanting to strip even more out of the already stripped HIR Bill (Health INSURANCE Reform as HCR was allowed to die)??

What an odd position to take. So the solution is to cater to more of the moderates/conservatives?? I think this Administration is out of touch and concentration on those that did NOT vote him in office, thereby ignoring those of us that did vote for him

[FBaggins]

35. Half of those in the poll voted for Brown

the other half stayed home.

[SlingBlade]

28. K & R

[MissDeeds]

29. K&R n/t

[fascisthunter]

30. They Probably won't If they are Invested in the Current System

[FBaggins]

32. Whoa! This really isn't an exit poll

I just assumed that based on the questions asked, the source, and the knowledge that there weren't any exit polls.

But it's important to understand that the poll doesn't even TRY to identify why MA voted the way it did. They didn't poll people who voted yesterday and ask them who they voted for and why... they polled people who voted for Obama last year and either stayed home or voted for Brown this year.

That's going to have an incredibly high margin of error.

It is in no way honest to pretend this is an exit poll.

[Hello_Kitty]

34. This question only makes sense if they're polling independents

If the Democratic Congress passed a bill that laid down stronger rules of the road for Wall Street and cut bonuses for the executives of companies that received government bailouts, would that make you more likely or less likely to vote Democratic in the 2010 general election?
More likely 53%
Less likely 14%
No effect 33%

Frankly, I'm in the "no effect" column because I'm voting Democratic in 2010. Certainly the Dems going after Wall Street would make me a much happier voter and very enthusiastic about volunteering, but it wouldn't make me more or less likely to vote Dem.

[TxRider]

42. I would say

Those who answered more likely were independents
Those who answered less likely were republicans
Those who answered no effect are democrats

Meaning about 100% of independents would be more likely to vote dem if Obama goes after Wall street.

[Hello_Kitty]

44. Oh definitely.

The 14% who said less likely are Wall Street bankers and Joe the Plumber and his family.

[Tailormyst]

73. No- not really

1/5th of Democrats voted for the republican in a general ( special) election.

Also most Indies in MA slant liberal and mostly vote Dem.

If the Democratic Party refuses to see what happened in MA then we had all better get ready for a huge hit in November.

[defendandprotect]

36. K&R . . . weird when you get a msg the thread "has been locked" --!!! Wow!!

[defendandprotect]

37. Right -- 82% for MEDICARE FOR ALL . .. and White House never knew.... ????

:rofl: :rofl:

Looks like the White House was listening to Corporate-Rahm again????

[CTyankee]

100. I know! That makes me crazy!! 82%!!!

[depakid]

38. DCL Republicrats have never cared about metrics-

nor are they interested in winning.

[BrklynLiberal]

39. K&R

Wonder if anyone with any authority will see this..

[DisgustedInMN]

40. No surprises there....

..think anyone at the WH will listen?

[Little Star]

41. 82% favored HC insurance like medicare. But remember

the Massachusetts loss was not about HCR! Denial is a wonderful thing. Will they hear the wake up call from MA?

[TxRider]

43. And the message is

Start delivering more campaign promises.

Lay down the law on Wall Street, prevent the risk speculation that got us here and break up the big firms if you need to.

Cut spending.

Pass a simple public option to compete with the insurance companies and call it HCR or pass nothing. Keep it simple.

Cut the lobbyists out of the process while drafting it. Do it all on CSPAN.

Spend much more time and effort on policies to make job creation possible.

Enjoy the reelection.

[NorthCarolina]

46. It is sad that so many pundits cannot

wrap their heads around the message this poll actually sends, and continue to insist MA voted for a Conservative so obviously that means MA voters want the Dems to be more conservative. Tweety, for one, simply could not grasp the message of this polling data during his segment earlier today with Dean, even after Dean explained it to him 3 or 4 times. I was truly amazed that he was so obtuse.

[Maghetti]

51. These polls

Give me a bit of hope for the future. But i still feel that the democrats will get slaughtered because of the crappy two party system.

[nofurylike]

52. "What would do more to improve our nation’s economic conditions:"

Cut spending 43%
Tighten regulation 25%


so progressive, ah?
not.

[GinaMaria]

60. cut spending on wars and wall street

direct some money toward health care. It's not that difficult to figure out.

[Zoeisright]

84. That wasn't the question.

Cutting government spending during a recession is just plain stupid. I doubt the respondents thought of wars and Wall Street specifically. It's a knee-jerk reaction to think that cutting government spending is a good thing, brought to you courtesy of dimwits like Bush, Cheney, Limbaugh, and BlecKKK.

[GinaMaria]

95. I think the wars and the wall street bailout are on a lot of people's

minds. We are hemorrhaging money in those wars.... money that should be focused some where else. The mounting debt/deficit scares people. We should not be stretched this thin. That money can be used for jobs, new technology, infrastructure replacement. That is the kind of recovery most people are looking for in this recession. We are wasting money on things most people don't see a need for. Look at people's top priority list. Economy, Jobs and Health care. This is where our energy and money should be focused.

[h9socialist]

53. So what is it they expect a Tory Republican to do?

Hand out Bibles at the Welfare office? Or at the triage desk at the public hospital?

[TexasObserver]

63. Now, if the president will read that poll, instead of remaining in his echo chamber.

If he is so out of touch with his own voters that he can't see why he's losing his supporters, he's headed down that long, lonely path of lame duck one term presidents. I hope he will start following in the footsteps of great Democratic presidents and use his majorities while he still has them.

[Tailormyst]

66. I doubt he will ever see that poll or be told what is in it.

[icee]

69. I think this poll is baloney.

[Tailormyst]

72. Anyone in MA who is paying attention can tell you the poll is right on the money.

If you choose to be in denial, I don't know what to tell you.

[icee]

79. All my wife's family is from Massachusetts. We talk to them all the

time. They all despise Obama, which is the main reason they voted for Brown. I don't despise Obama; I just think he got too subservient to DLC wishes. With respect to jobs and employment, I think with his attack on wall street, the markets will drop and employers will abruptly reverse their hiring goals, whatever they had. The stock markets have been controlling the economy for about ten or so years now... That needs to be reversed again. But trying to do it too fast will result in the disaster we are about to witness.

[Tailormyst]

85. I do agree the DLC is moving us in a very bad direction

At this point I am beginning to see that both parties are not really interested in "we the people" and both sides use social issue fears to control votes. This needs to be changed from the inside out.

[Doctor_J]

75. To those who think the left has much influence on the party

fuck. off.

[louis-t]

77. Again, repugs still say "Americun people want...."

and they have no idea what American people want. One glitch in this poll: "Decreasing govenment spending" still has people baffled. Can you say "Great Depression II"?

[AlbertCat]

78. What would do more to improve our nation’s economic conditions:

Cut spending 43%
Tighten regulation 25%



YIKES! They want to cut spending instead of tightening regulations? Only a quarter get it?


Sounds like they want to go back to Repug land to me!

[grahamhgreen]

107. Like cut spending for wars!!!

[Zoeisright]

80. Cutting government spending is the stupidest move we could make.

Economic conditions are so bad we needed to spend our way out of this recession. Anybody who thinks that cutting spending over regulation is a good thing is stupid.

[slackmaster]

86. Democrats aren't working hard enough toward their own goals, so MA elected a Republican

Makes sense.

:crazy:

[bvar22]

94. Nothing new here.

"When given the choice between a Republican, and a Democrat who acts like a Republican, the voters will choose the Republican every time." ---Harry Truman

QED



"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[ooglymoogly]

96. The demographic we are missing here in fact everybody seems to be missing

is the elderly and the fact O is taking half a trillion from their safety net (one half +/- of the medicare budget) to pay for his worthless exchanges with the lie that it will not effect them and to sweeten the pot he has a bridge to sell them. That half trillion in government parlance could easily turn into a much larger amount. Dr's and medical services are already refusing medicare patients because they don't get paid or don't get paid enough for what they do. This demographic cuts across all party affiliations and would easily make the elderly vote for anyone against this absurd bill because it is their lives in the balance here. As evidenced in Ma. that is a very dangerous Oman for Dems. This is an underhanded way to kill medicare and the elderly get it and it is only one of the many poison pills in this bill effecting other important demographics. And they are miffed by the Ma election. They either need an ear piece or we need a bigger megaphone

[amborin]

114. +1000

[rgbecker]

97. Cut spending or Regulate?

* What would do more to improve our nation’s economic conditions: Decreasing government spending OR tightening government regulation of Wall Street and corporate executives?
Cut spending 43%
Tighten regulation 25%


Everyone is listening to Rush, Glenn and the other right wing nuts.

[mzmolly]

98. K and R. That last question says it all. I'm disappointed that HC

legislation is "dead" but perhaps something better will come of it?

We do have to keep in mind that this poll reflects the views of Mass. voters, however. And, how do we honor the wishes of these voters to cut the budget while expanding Medicare?

[Skidmore]

101. Now, if the media would just report it accurately and Congress would just

read it and quit spinning, perhaps we could get somewhere.

[Eric J in MN]

102. Those poll results are for people who voted for Obama in 2008 and Brown in 2010.

http://pol.moveon.org/brownpoll/

[YOY]

108. They know what they have to do.

The question is if they can find the balls to do it.

[customerserviceguy]

109. I guess I read the above data differently

For starters, there's the glaring message that almost twice as many people feel that cutting spending would improve our economic condition more than tightening regulation on Wall Street and the banksters. As for challenging Republican policies, once you eliminate the not enough's and the too hards on the extremes, you have a whopping 48% in the mushy middle, and that's not enough to motivate an anger.

Also, it's a matter of how you interpret the word 'change'. If you mean progressive ideals, then the 57% no figure leads you to your conclusion, but if you interpret it to mean something else (such as increased bipartisanship, and an end to the fighting in the media between the two parties), then the conclusion that a leftward turn on the part of the President is erroneous.

What's clear from the results above is that there are a LOT of people who are simply confused and bewildered by what's going on, and they're easy prey for the 'do nothing' message that the Repukes are selling. If the process of writing the stimulus package and the HCR bills were done in a more public, less underhanded way, with the President looking like a leader rather than someone willing to rubber stamp anything the power barons in Congress want, then we probably would be talking about Senator-elect Coakley today.

[Zenlitened]

111. I think that's very true:

What's clear from the results above is that there are a LOT of people who are simply confused and bewildered by what's going on, and they're easy prey for the 'do nothing' message that the Repukes are selling. If the process of writing the stimulus package and the HCR bills were done in a more public, less underhanded way, with the President looking like a leader rather than someone willing to rubber stamp anything the power barons in Congress want, then we probably would be talking about Senator-elect Coakley today.

[nomaco-10]

110. So, let me get this straight....

dems are now voting against their own self interests just like the pubs have been doing for years now, only our reason is noble and theirs is due to stupidity.

What makes more sense to me at this point (as if anything about the mass election makes sense) is that mass already has a pretty good health care system in place and mass voters don't want to foot the bill for the rest of the country for better health care they already accomplished on their own.

Other than that, maybe it just boils down to the admin being bad at communicating it's policies and the tea baggin', fear mongering asshats on the other side have been sucessful at spreading their lies and propaganda.

[grahamhgreen]

116. I think they are saying the MA insurance scam sucks and they don't want to inflict it on us all.

[fl00ridaG33k]

112. this is 1994 all over again :(