Right now I would say I don't know the answer to that question. We seem preoccupied about issues in this country than we do electing good candidates. But yes we should be able to concentrate on a number of important issues and elections at the same time. Issues and elections are intertwined. Yes we can talk about the Supreme Court nomination, the gulf oil spill, the War in Iraq, DADT, the economy and the 2010 elections at the same time. However, I'm afraid we have been too lax in our support of our 2010 candidates and letting voters know that we have great candidates are on the progressive side of these issues. Those that are challenging Democratic incumbents, Republican incumbents and those in open seat races.
When I first started participating in this site in 2008 a lot of my excitement had to do with the great quality of candidate diaries. Right now we are at five and a half months away from the 2010 elections and I don't see that enthusiasm.
But here's a silver lining : news today about an AP-GFk poll says Americans want Democrats to control Congress.
I think that perhaps some of our enthusiasm is waning for good reason. And some have been brainwashed to thinking that it's inevitable that we will lose a number of seats in Congress. But all that has been gained could be lost in a bad midterm election. That we know to be true.
But this news about today's polling information is hella good and it should be waking us into action.
The tenuous 45 percent to 40 percent preference for a Democratic Congress reverses the finding a month ago on the same question: 44 percent for Republicans and 41 percent for Democrats. The new readout came as the economy continued showing signs of improvement and the tumultuous battle over the health care law that President Barack Obama finally signed in March faded into the background.
The other trend I notice in this poll is the throw out the bums mentality of this country. We are not happy with incumbents on either side of the aisle.
Congressional Democrats win approval from only 37 percent, though congressional Republicans score an even drearier 31 percent. Democrats and Republicans are about evenly trusted to handle the economy, an issue Democrats once dominated and one that is crucial at a time when the country's job situation, though brightening, remains grim.
Only 36 percent said they want their own member of Congress to win re-election this fall, a noteworthy drop from the 43 percent who said so in April and the lowest AP-GfK poll measurement this year. Much of the restiveness seems to be among Republicans: While Democrats were about equally divided on the question, Republicans expressed a preference for a new face by a 2-to-1 margin.
So as you see, this country contrary to FauxNews has not put out a referendum on the Democratic lawmakers. People generally are fed up with incumbents on both sides of the aisle. We have time to elect our candidates and use the discussions on the issues that matter to our advantage.
Instead of just talking about the Supreme Court nomination, talk about how having a another Democratic Senator from Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire or Kentucky would move the process along faster and ensure no filibuster.
Instead of talking about oil spill talk about how more Progressive members of Congress will ensure cleanup and holding those at fault accountable.
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