The Bush administration’s problems surrounding the continued war in Iraq, lobbyist Jack Abramoff, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and now Rep. Mark Foley are taking their toll on the Republican power base on Capitol Hill. A recent telephone poll by Rasmussen Reports showed a difference in party affiliation between the 2004 election and 2006. In September 2004, the surveys indicated 37.9 percent considered themselves Democrats, and 37.3 percent claimed themselves Republican. Last month, the numbers showed 37 percent calling themselves Democrats and only 32.2 percent Republicans.
Of course, the bigger issue is not how people identify themselves but how and whether they vote.
Posted by Angie Holladay
18 Comments
And one more factor to consider is – if Republicans are going to steal the election again this time.
Perhaps you should provide some HARD FACTS from Kansas since what you’re suggesting appears to be a myth in Kansas.
Data from the Kansas Secretary of State from August 2004 said this:27.05% Democrat, 0.11% Reform, 0.58% Libertarian, 45.66% Republican, and 26.61% Unaffiliated.
Data from the Kansas Secretary of State from last month said this:26.54% Democrat, 0.09% Reform, 0.55% Libertarian, 46.20% Republican, 26.63% Unaffiliated.
SO, exactly what “shift” are you talking about?
If you would read the article – it is the overall population, not just Kansas. The Democrats in Kansas have always been the minority but we did get a governor in there and the Republicans just cannot stand it.
Oh contraire Meadowlark…do you know how many people tell me they only register as Republicans JUST so they can vote for the more moderates in the primaries? Those numbers aren’t nearly as hard as they may seem.
Another thing is to consider is how many fraud republicans are realy fags that hide in the background and turn over a new page in the name of being a holy roller republican law maker?
Paige,
The count is one Page.As for stolen election. Did the democrats have a different set of elections rules. Or did they sign on for the ones that elected George Bush and then again. No one is clammering for a new election process so I guess you are still on board with it. All I do see is a giant collective tantrum for not getting your way.
I don’t dislike Sebelius, but I think part of her track record can is from the Kansas Legislature and not her own personal accomplishments.
I doubt the appearance of a sudden shift like that is even reliable.
People’s value’s, judgements and etc. don’t change like that unless there is something catastrophic or near to it.
It’s most likely another drum beat, look at me type of campaign hype to ensure some voters will jump the fence before the election. I do recall seeing such trickery in the past.
Speaking of drum beats, I heard all this past week stories on NPR where Republicans are feeling pretty confident about their GOTV (Get Out The Vote) program. That program sounded like it was run by some serious task-oriented people. Volunteers who don’t perform in big ways get replaced.
There has been a good deal of angst about the recent Repubs inability to govern, but it is not over yet, folks…
Political_Mom’s rebuttal of KSMeadowlurk’s post was right on the money. The shifts in the voting blocks in Kansas are between far-right ideologues and moderate Republicans. The latter you can work with, the former, you can’t. Sebelius has always known how to work this wedge and that is why folks like KSM hate her so much.
“And one more factor to consider is – if Republicans are going to steal the election again this time. ”
If? Maybe you mean, will they succeed?
Diebold machines may not be an issue in Sedgwick County, but they are here in Tucson, where the Dem candidate for Congress has a real shot at taking a moderate Repub seat.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/news/opinion/081105b5_kimble
Democracy is still in peril.
Let’s kill off the party affiliation crap, it doesn’t mean damm thing anymore.I am voting for the most sensible.The republicans and the democrats parties are such a mess, you would have to be mentally incompetent retard to supporting those two parties.
KSN has an interesting piece on Kansas republicans. You can read or view it online.
Republicans Separate Themselves from President Bush
http://www.ksn.com/news/stories/15162259.html
BEWARE THE OCTOBER SURPRISE, SERIOUSLY!!!
V.L.R.B!!
I know many people who are registered Republicans who do so to vote in the Primaries. I think what we are really seeing is a reflection of where there are contested primaries and then at least some people voting independently in November. How else to explain Sebelius?
Don’t worry Repukes–you people have more children, remember?
You’re not smart, but damn, you sure are FECUND.
BEWARE THE TEQUILA SUNRISE, SERIOUSLY!!!
S.T.W.B!!!
(SAVE THE WHALES BITCH)
No, people are just losing faith in American politics in general, that’s all.
More great stuff from Pat at Red State Rabble:
Monday, October 09, 2006
Moderate School Board Candidate on Fiscal ConservatismThe so-called fiscal conservatives on the Kansas school board seem to be operating under a double standard. When schools need money for education, the board piously tells them to look for cost savings in their districts, but when the board wants to do something, no dollar figure is too high — just ask Connie Morris’ travel agent.
Now, moderate candidate Don Weiss, who is running against right-wing hypocrite John Bacon in the 3rd District, is asking tough questions about more board spending on one of its pet projects — charter schools. Bacon, you will remember, likes to talk up fiscal conservatism while using taxpayer money to get away from it all in a fundamentalist setting.
“The board recently gave away almost $40,000 in a series of checks for $1,995 to virtually anyone who lined up and said they wanted to start a charter school,” says Weiss. “What controls were on this money? Did it matter if two of the checks went to Alpharetta, GA? What is Kansas going to get for their money? I’d like to know.”
Voter disgust with the right-wingers on the school board cost Connie Morris her job in the primary. Voters in the 9th District who were burned once by Iris Van Meter refused to put their hands on the stove again and declined to elect her son-in-law, Brad Patzer, the drive-by candidate from the Republic of Idaho to replace her.
Moderates will have a majority on the board come January. The election of two more moderates, Don Weiss and Jack Wempe, will ensure that the board stays on track and gets some work done — such as dealing with declining test scores in some districts — over the long haul.
To do sustained work on the state’s schools, the board has to stay focused. It can’t keep popping through the rabbit hole into Wonderland every couple of years with the election of nutty right-wingers. Electing Weiss and Wempe will ensure the board keeps its feet planted firmly on the ground for years to come.