Party Affiliation Gap in U.S. Narrowest Since 2005

[Go2Peace]

I have been bringing this up for months now, that the Democratic Party is hemmoraging, and that skews other statistics and makes it look like liberals/Traditional Democrats are more satisfied than they really are.
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PRINCETON, NJ -- The advantage in public support the Democratic Party built up during the latter part of the Bush administration and the early part of the Obama administration has all but disappeared.



http://www.gallup.com/poll/127499/Party-Affiliation-Gap-U.S.-Narrowest-2005.aspx

[kirby]

1. When it comes to corporate interests, the parties have converged. n/t

[Raine1967]

2. Let me be the first to say that gallup should have called me:

I am, and always will be a PROUD DEMOCRAT.

[Frances]

3. My sentiments exactly

Dems aren't perfect, but, as a group, they are SO much better than Repubs!

[Go2Peace]

5. That isn't what this poll shows though

I am not posting to put down Democrats. I want the party to be stronger. But if instead of dealing with reality we post other polls and "Spin" them to make it look like all is "OK", we eventually all loose.

Instead of spin we should take a look at what is happening. Further analysis will show that not everyone leaving the party is becomming a Republican. I believe most of the uptick in Republicans in this pole is tea party types moving from independent to "R".

But at the same time the Democratic Party is loosing more traditional but more liberal Democrats to an independent status.

I just think we need to be real and not just throw out data that is inconsistant with our perceptions.

[Gaedel]

11. It looks like an either/or graph

Only Rep, leaning Rep, Dem, and leaning Dem were the choices. There is no room left for "fiercely independent" or "other".

This pretty much mirrors the electorate since 2000.

I agree with you though on the responses you get. Anyone who posits that Al Gore or John Kerry might have made some tactical errors in their campaigns is quickly overwhelmed with "it was stolen" or "everything was rigged" and further thoughtful discussion becomes impossible.

[Go2Peace]

4. I am also registered Democrat. But I would prefer to know what is happening

I know that there are some here who like to fight and argue and bitch and moan.

But I honestly posted this because I think we have to be very careful to sort out "talking points" from what is really happening. We can only get back to a healthier state if we are transparent and honest and don't see everything as a partisan fight.

"Talking points" over truth used to be mostly a Republican strategy. Now it is being used by our own side. The Democratic Party is loosing transparency. In the interim we have problems that would be better solved through transparancy and outside of hatfield vs mccoy style of political viewpoints.

[Frances]

8. I never questioned your motives Go2Peace

or the graph either.

I was just stating my position.

[Go2Peace]

10. Thanks for the clarification

When I was talking about the spinning it also was not regarding your post.

[Peacetrain]

6. No one called me..Still a Democrat.. yep yep yep

[Go2Peace]

7. so science isn't your thing?

They didn't call me either. I am a registered Democrat.

As I have said. The point is not to fight. This is an incredibly important statistic. It shows a serious change. I know that does not fit an ideological fight here. But like you I don't want to see the country fail.

What is wrong with science and transparency? Can you admit that there is an issue? In one year enough Democrats have left the party that we are back to levels at the middle of Bush's rein. That should be a concern for every democrat don't you think?

[BzaDem]

9. This is quite common.

When one party has total control (such as Democrats right now), it is common for some Democrat-leading independents to lean true independent, and for some true independents to become Republican-leaning independents (or vice-versa).