RE: Gays in the Military (4.00 / 2)

Congress needs to step in and fix this problem. It's the right thing to do.  Also, not only does it have majority support, but if Republicans oppose it, Democrats can attack them for a) being hypocritcal about morality b) not really caring about security c) being divisive.

As always, its easier to influence Congress on such things than it is the executive branch. And Congress is supposed to handle issues about military policy.

Taucher's bill has 137 co-sponsors - there does not appear to be a Senate version:
http://www.opencongress.org/bi...


Who are the best keepers of the people's liberties? The people themselves. The sacred trust can be no where so safe as in the hands most interested in preserving it.
James Madison

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by: David Kaib @ Mon Apr 13, 2009 at 16:52:04 PM CDT

Polls are Irrelevant. Politicians Only Give Lip Service to Them, These Days. (0.00 / 0)

I think polling today is irrelevant.

The Parties, Republican and Democrat really don't pay attention to polls anymore.

They pay attention to organized voting blocks. Like Christian Groups, AIPAC, Corporate and Financial Groups....wherever money can be found.

They aren't appealing to individuals...and people who happen to share the same opinions.

Nobody cares about the individual...they care about BIG MONEY coming from organized groups who can collect the money.

That's why you have a continuation of many of Bush's policies. The organized moneyed interests are behind them in an overwhelming way.

That's why the bailout for the Financial "industry" and NOT the car companies who are less organized in terms of donation...and who use UNION workers which are an anathema to the Extreme Capitalists who are running and ruining the nation.  

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by: Stu Piddy @ Mon Apr 13, 2009 at 17:20:09 PM CDT

You're totally right (0.00 / 0)

Polling of the general public can be irrelevant in determining political strategy. There's a marketing corollary, called the Pareto principle that applies, which postulates that in any given constituency, 20% of the population influences 80% of the outcome of a particular endeavor. In other words, getting the backing of "organized voting blocks" becomes more important to leveraging power than broad appeals. However, what's important to remember is that this is just a rule of thumb and not an ironclad strategy for success. And I think that the central argument that Chris is making is the perception gap between what politicians are saying and what people actually support is stark and cause for potentially more progressive policy initiatives.  

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by: jeffbinnc @ Mon Apr 13, 2009 at 21:48:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I don't buy the Bernanke numbers ... (0.00 / 0)

I can see why he'd drop among Republicans .. but an exact corresponding increase from Democrats?  I highly doubt it

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by: Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle @ Tue Apr 14, 2009 at 00:07:39 AM CDT

Murtha (0.00 / 0)

Yes. Murtha's district was the only one to go for Kerry and McCain but the switch from 51% to 49% was pretty mild.

More than 30 districts cast a higher percentage for Kerry than Obama including all four in Arkansas.  While no district so the Democratic percentage drop by double digits 9 point drops happened in AR-1 (47 to 38)and AR-4 (48 to 39) and an 8 point drop occured in KY-5 (39 to 31).  Nearly three quarters of these districts are held by Democrats.  

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by: David Kowalski @ Tue Apr 14, 2009 at 13:27:20 PM CDT