This may be a local thing, and it certainly only represents my limited circles, but here in southwest Ohio, all the Independents I know are really very loyal Republicans who think calling themselves Independents is cool. So I'm not sure I find this chart all that reassuring.
Barrysays
It's *somewhat* reassuring, because that means that a the name 'Republican' is now embarrassing.
TheBadnesssays
This may be a local thing, and it certainly only represents my limited circles, but here in southwest Ohio, all the Independents I know are really very loyal Republicans who think calling themselves Independents is cool. So I’m not sure I find this chart all that reassuring.
I have the same experience with people whose (stated) voting patterns trend to straight-ticket Democratic. In Chicago.
David Csays
I really liked this piece. It's always good to know how various individuals think about the issues.
The most disturbing part was when they reported on the size of the Glenn Beck crowd:
"The conservative Republican base represents almost one-in-five voters in the electorate, and nearly two out of every three self-identified Republicans."
On the other hand…
"Even after a description of the health care reform plan in our recent polling, these conservative Republican base voters reject it by a 59-point margin, with nearly two-thirds (64 percent) strongly opposed to reform (77 percent total opposed)."
They managed to get nearly a quarter of the Beck crowd to say they were unsure or in favor of health care reform after it was properly explained to them?
BroDsays
These people felt connected to the mainstream under Bush: now, suddenly, they feel marginalized–estranged from America. That it seemed to happen so fast is disorienting. Perhaps this is good news in terms of electoral politics but there is real danger here: there are zealots among them.
Ohio Mom says
This may be a local thing, and it certainly only represents my limited circles, but here in southwest Ohio, all the Independents I know are really very loyal Republicans who think calling themselves Independents is cool. So I'm not sure I find this chart all that reassuring.
Barry says
It's *somewhat* reassuring, because that means that a the name 'Republican' is now embarrassing.
TheBadness says
This may be a local thing, and it certainly only represents my limited circles, but here in southwest Ohio, all the Independents I know are really very loyal Republicans who think calling themselves Independents is cool. So I’m not sure I find this chart all that reassuring.
I have the same experience with people whose (stated) voting patterns trend to straight-ticket Democratic. In Chicago.
David C says
I really liked this piece. It's always good to know how various individuals think about the issues.
The most disturbing part was when they reported on the size of the Glenn Beck crowd:
"The conservative Republican base represents almost one-in-five voters in the electorate, and nearly two out of every three self-identified Republicans."
On the other hand…
"Even after a description of the health care reform plan in our recent polling, these conservative Republican base voters reject it by a 59-point margin, with nearly two-thirds (64 percent) strongly opposed to reform (77 percent total opposed)."
They managed to get nearly a quarter of the Beck crowd to say they were unsure or in favor of health care reform after it was properly explained to them?
BroD says
These people felt connected to the mainstream under Bush: now, suddenly, they feel marginalized–estranged from America. That it seemed to happen so fast is disorienting. Perhaps this is good news in terms of electoral politics but there is real danger here: there are zealots among them.