It's a somewhat valid argument (4.00 / 2)

He just can't check phrase it correctly due to the current political situation.

Essentially the valid argument goes like this.  "Do you really want one party to totally control the house, senate, presidency, and supreme court appointees?  Remember the last time that happened?  It was really bad."

But oh yeah.  The last time it happened it was Bush in the presidency with McCain pitching in from the Senate.

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by: jello5929 @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 18:53:00 PM UTC

Agreed (4.00 / 1)

For example, I'm a Democrat living in NY, where it is possible that the Democrats may finally take control of the state senate, in addition to the state assembly and the governorship.  And as much of a die-hard Democrat as I am, I admit that I am somewhat squeamish about the idea of one party dominating, as I've always assumed that could lead to corruption.

Of course, I'll still vote Democratic, but I can see how this argument would appeal to some people.  I'm just not sure it would affect their votes on a presidential level.

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by: ThomasPaine @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 19:17:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The McCain Closing Argument (0.00 / 0)

What are the latest polls w/r/t desire for "divided government"? How does that correlate w/"soft" Obama supporters & potential ticket splitters?

If that desire has passed, then McCain's closing argument does work for us.

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by: tietack @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 18:53:39 PM UTC

Never seen a poll on that (0.00 / 0)

I have never seen a poll on that subject. Not sure one was ever taken. I think the supposed American desire for divided government was simply invented by pundits without an corroborating evidence. Go figure.

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by: Chris Bowers @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 18:57:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The whiplash of '94 and '96... (0.00 / 0)

...when the electorate veered from an epic GOP landslide in Congress to a smoothly decisive re-election campaign for Clinton certainly seemed to reflect support for the concept of divided government, although it may just have been an artifact of the times.  

The electorate has been a lot more willing to elevate or punish one party across the board in the last few years, from Republicans' comprehensive victory in '04 to the Dems' landslide in '06 and probable landslide this time around as well.

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by: Haggai @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 19:05:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

See NYT poll Question 31 (4.00 / 2)

Currently 41% favor divided government, but looking at the historical trends it looks like the responses have to do more with the political situation at the time than an abstract principle held by a large portion of the American electorate.

Link

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by: dreaminonempty @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 19:11:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think the desirability (4.00 / 1)

of divided government is primarily a Repug meme, since it fits in with the idea of minimizing the power of government.  I have only ever seen it espoused by Repugs or self-described independents who evidence Repug orientation in their framing.  I wonder what proportion of the voting public can accurately distinguish between the concept of divided government and division of powers in a poll question.  

The current situation doesn't seem well suited to the idea of divided government.  People want action, and effective action, on a wide variety of issues.  Divided government militates against that.

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by: Querent @ Sun Oct 26, 2008 at 07:16:25 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Generic Congressional ballots have favored Dems all year (0.00 / 0)

So that would seem to be the basic evidence of the widespread desire to keep Republicans away from any levers of national power.

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by: Haggai @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 19:00:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

"All the rest of us are gonna lose, so elect me" (0.00 / 0)

TPM got that quote about the Republicans' new campaign theme from a Democrat after the NRSC ran an ad in NC saying that Dems would have a "blank check" if Hagan wins, obviously implying an Obama victory.

"Divided government" is maybe the best of a terrible bunch of possible slogans for McCain these days, but the abysmal approval ratings of Congress were never going to be easy for them to run on, since much of that disapproval is driven by Dems and independents who are down on Congress not for being a bunch of liberally liberal liberals, but for caving in to Bush on almost everything of consequence.

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by: Haggai @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 18:58:33 PM UTC

there's a certain disbelief in the GOP at this point (0.00 / 0)

You can see it on the conservative blogs as well as even in the MSM to a certain extent: they just can't believe that the country is going to elect a black man who doesn't think "spreading the wealth" is a bad thing. Socialism!

I think this remark is a slip, in other words: McCain is essentially saying: "you can't truly be serious that you are not going to vote for me -- this must be a fit of pique. Don't forget your temper tantrum will have consequences!"

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by: sdedeo @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 19:34:14 PM UTC

The fear card (0.00 / 0)

I'm kind of afraid that this "be afraid of a total Dem majority" message may get enough traction to adversely affect the down ticket races. Even though a lot of White people will vote for Obama, this particular fear message could play on subconscious (or not so subconscious) fears of him becoming too powerful. Because, you know, it's the end of the world for White people if "the Blacks" "takeover". In order to get anything done, Obama's going to need as many Dems in Congress as possible, but a lot of people just aren't going to think it that far through.

And of course, the corporate media is on the Repub's side on this one. There's nary a peep when the Repubs control all 3 branches of govt. But they can't jump on the "bipartisan" bandwagon fast enough if it looks like the Dems might control even one branch.  

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by: Oaktown Girl @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 19:53:39 PM UTC

I wish this chart would go viral (0.00 / 0)

this is the excellent economic chart dr. anonymous posted in quickhits:

http://www.nytimes.com/interac...

it should be required viewing for Americans, imho

if you mouse over the chart, it shows party control of Presidency, Senate and House for each year.  seems relevant.

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by: sisterfish @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 20:02:08 PM UTC

Dude, I don't even get a Hat Tip? (0.00 / 0)

Okay, we came at it from completely different angles.  Mine was much more negative.

Vote McCain . . . Or He Might Lose

Great minds and all, eh Chris.  

How pathetic is this GOP campaign.  I've seen more professionalism from third grade dance recitals than what the Republicans have put on display.  How on earth did they ever win anything before.  It's embarrassing to think they actually do represent a great deal of Americans.

Just awful.

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by: Mark Adams @ Sun Oct 26, 2008 at 01:50:54 AM UTC