anti-incumbent sentiment at record levels
[check out the lovely one-word descriptions of the two parties - can’t copy because they’re graphics]
http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=275
Public Disillusionment with Congress at Record Levels Anti-Incumbent Sentiment Echoes 1994 Released: April 20, 2006
The American public is angry with Congress, and this is bad news for the Republican Party. The belief that this Congress has accomplished less than its predecessors is markedly higher than at any point in the past nine years, and by a wide margin Republican leaders are blamed for this. Many more voters than in the recent past say the issue of partisan control of Congress will be a factor in their vote in November. And as has been the case since fall, voters are significantly more inclined to vote for Democrats than Republicans - by a 51% to 41% margin.
The public’s strong appetite for change in Washington is seen both in the majority of voters who say they would like to see most members of Congress defeated in November (53%), and in the sizable minority who wants to see their representative turned out in the midterms (28%). Both measures reflect anti-incumbent sentiment not seen since late in the historic 1994 campaign, just before Republicans gained control of Congress. In recent elections, far fewer voters evinced a desire for change; in October 2002, just 38% said they did not want to see most members reelected and 19% said that about their own representative.
The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted among 1,501 Americans from April 7-16, finds that the Democrats maintain a large advantage in voting intentions for the fall. The Democrats’ current 10-point lead is little changed from February (50%-41%), but there has been only a handful of occasions since 1994 when either party has held such a sizable advantage in the congressional horse race.
[…]
The Parties in a Word
Top-of-the-mind expressions of opinion about both parties tend to be more negative than positive. When asked what single word describes their impression of each party, pluralities for each party responded a negative or critical term. But the most common words mentioned tend to be descriptive rather than evaluative. By far, the single most common word for the Republican Party was “conservative” and for the Democratic Party, “liberal.” Following these ideological labels was “fair,” a term that some respondents meant as “even-handed” and others evidently meant to be tepid praise, if that. Similar numbers described each party as “good” or “very good.”
Thematically, negative terms about the Republican Party largely address its perceived support for business and the wealthy, while those for the Democratic Party tend to highlight the perceived weakness and disorganization of the party. The GOP is associated with being “greedy,” “rich,” “business,” “crooks,” “corrupt,” “money,” and “for rich people.” The Democrats are seen as “weak,” disorganized,” and “confused,” with a few mentions of “slow” and “struggling” tossed in. Several people also described the party as “too liberal,” and a few others mentioned “socialist” and “communists.”
[…]
September 22nd, 2006 at 2:23 pm
VATI VATI
AS MIGHTY ROME FELL, AMERICA COULD DIE.
WHETHER IT FAILS OR NOT, IS UP TO YOU AND I.
I worried and stewed, but by—and—by,
came up with a plan, where you and I,
can put America the a road, to a brand—new high.
Just blame the politicians, get blood in your eye,
and Vote Against The Incumbents. Vati, vati.
Now just voting won̓t do it, we̓ve got to vati.
That̓s v, a, t, i, with a long “a”, and a long ‘i’.
Vote against the incumbents, and you vati.
Things will never get better, until we vati.
Vote against the incumbents, Vati, vati.
This is no time, to just set and sigh.
America will fail, without you and I.
The time has come, we must do or die.
We must all vote, and we must vati.
Vote against the incumbents, Vati, vati.
Things won̓t just get better, by—and—by.
Unless the apathetic voters, you and I,
hit those poles with blood in our eye.
And not only vote, but wisely vati,
Vote against the incumbent. Vati, vati.
We dare not buy, some political lie,
the America we love, is about to die.
Politicians no longer, serve you and I,
but all acquiesce, to the powers that buy.
Vote against the incumbents. Vati, vati.
The newly elected may want to serve you and I,
until that powerful pac—money catches their eye.
Then party loyalty becomes, their big lie.
As they vote with the pac, for their piece of the pie.
Vote against the incumbents, Vati, vati.
Congressmen and Senators, are nigh as apt to die,
as meet defeat at the poles, by you and I.
They know we’ll vote for’em, they don’t have to try.
America is declining as democracy goes awry.
Vote against the incumbent. Vati, vati.
Waxing fat on the apathy, shown by you and I,
Politicians became hogs, and Washington̓s a sty.
But we can change all that, in the blink of an eye,
if we just get off our apathy, and dutifully vati.
Vote against the incumbents. Vati, vati.
If just one out of twenty, of us would vati,
we̓d get nigh a third of that Washington sty.
Now that might be to few, to help you and I,
But we’d darn sure make the rest of them shy.
Vote against the incumbents. Vati, vati.
And when; “Foul, foul,” the politicians cry.
And charge that; “Great careers will sadly die.”
Stand up and look them, straight in the eye,
And vow; “Losing only makes the truly-great try.”
Vote against the incumbents. Vati, vati.
From the County Coroner, to that Washington sty,
if you don’t love the incumbent, always vati.
Help turn America toward, a brand—new high.
Teach your kids and your friends, they must vati.
Vote against the incumbents. Vati, vati.
If the state of America, makes you want to cry,
then help start a revolution, no one has to die.
Our party loyalty sent elections go so far awry.
And we can fix that error, just revolt and vati.
Vote against the incumbents. Vati, vati.
Part your 2nd and 3rd fingers; that “v” means vati.
Send this to a friend, who you think will comply.
Let’s all band together, and give̓em a black eye.
Vati, vati, and hearty bye-bye.
If you like this, copy it and send it on.
Grandpa Nate @ Rawlins, Wyoming.