Quote:Pollster Pat Caddell: One-Third of GOP ‘Hanging by a Thread from Bolting’

“The alienation among Republican voters is so high,” says Caddell, that conservatively “a quarter to one-third of the Republican party are hanging by a thread from bolting.” Caddell argues that GOP voters’ attitudes are “so anti-establishment,” and they give Republican leadership poor ratings.

The revelation comes on the heels of polling data supervised by Caddell Associates and reported on Friday by Breitbart News that a stupefying 60% of Republicans who voted in the November elections either definitely or probably want someone other than Ohio Congressman John Boehner to be the Speaker of the House.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/...m-bolting/

I can 100% see that. I honestly think the Republican party could end up with a third of the Democratic base and 80% of the independent base with a small number of changes in their stances.

I doubt it. Democratic voters are much more loyal to party politics, IMO

(01-06-2015 01:43 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  I doubt it. Democratic voters are much more loyal to party politics, IMO

There are a lot of fiscally conservative socially moderate Democrats that would switch parties if the Republicans gave up some of their social stances and truly embraced fiscal conservatism.

(01-06-2015 01:46 PM)mlb Wrote:  

(01-06-2015 01:43 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  I doubt it. Democratic voters are much more loyal to party politics, IMO

There are a lot of fiscally conservative socially moderate Democrats that would switch parties if the Republicans gave up some of their social stances and truly embraced fiscal conservatism.

I fall into this category. While I support government spending on things hardcore fiscal conservatives would not, I would like to see a lot of reforms to spending habits in the country.

The day that the Republicans take control of Congress with the largest majority in the House in 80 years and they are hanging by a thread? Sorry, always will be disagreement in the party. Is there a need for a third party, I can agree with that. Will it happen, no it won't. Change needs to happen within the party. Democrats are waking up to the destruction the far left has done to their party. If Republicans are hanging by a thread, then Dems are hanging by the same thread.

Every two years we go through this. The GOP is riding high on midterms with a historically low voter turnout. In 16 we will have a high turnout and the D's will think they are in the cat bird's seat. We have short memories and every two years we are validated. BOTH OF US!!! on opposite ends of the spectrum!!!!

(01-06-2015 02:10 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Every two years we go through this. The GOP is riding high on midterms with a historically low voter turnout. In 16 we will have a high turnout and the D's will think they are in the cat bird's seat. We have short memories and every two years we are validated. BOTH OF US!!! on opposite ends of the spectrum!!!!

But We never had a real far left Democrat party before now. It's way different than before.

and I say...

We never had a Koch infused and dominated fascist Republican party before now. It's way different than before.

Both of us are scared sh*tless and are emboldened every two years. Both parties are being run by the extreme.

(01-06-2015 02:45 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  We never had a [tin foil hat conspiracy raving] and dominated [utterly misused label to describe, of all things and ironically coming from a Democrat, heavy handed government] Republican party before now. It's way different than before.

Figured I'd offer a translation there.

at first the came for the unions...
and I didn't speak for I wasn't in a union.........

(01-06-2015 02:53 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  at first the came for the unions...
and I didn't speak for I wasn't in a union.........

You may have had a point 100 years ago when there were real working condition issues. Today? Most unions are ultimately anti-consumer. ALL govt unions are anti-taxpayer.

(01-06-2015 03:14 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(01-06-2015 02:53 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  at first the came for the unions...
and I didn't speak for I wasn't in a union.........

You may have had a point 100 years ago when there were real working condition issues. Today? Most unions are ultimately anti-consumer. ALL govt unions are anti-taxpayer.

I hope you're not expecting an answer on the failures of Unions from Mach...

And your point on unions is rather prescient.

(01-06-2015 01:33 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

Quote:Pollster Pat Caddell: One-Third of GOP ‘Hanging by a Thread from Bolting’

“The alienation among Republican voters is so high,” says Caddell, that conservatively “a quarter to one-third of the Republican party are hanging by a thread from bolting.” Caddell argues that GOP voters’ attitudes are “so anti-establishment,” and they give Republican leadership poor ratings.

The revelation comes on the heels of polling data supervised by Caddell Associates and reported on Friday by Breitbart News that a stupefying 60% of Republicans who voted in the November elections either definitely or probably want someone other than Ohio Congressman John Boehner to be the Speaker of the House.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/...rd-of-gop-hanging-by-a-thread-from-bolting/

Republican Voters have no VALID choice to "bolt to". Sure, they want to "bolt from". But there's no valid place to go where their vote would make things better. So they're stuck, and not going anywhere. And my guess is more less-liberal Democrats will vote Republican.

We have what we have, which is mud. No clear distinctions between parties. Just a heavier and lighter shade of mud.

They aren't going anywhere. They'll shut up and continue to vote for whatever moderate candidate the party nominates.

Remember Reagan Democrats? I think the Republican party has a growing number of Clinton Republicans. Not that they would say they supported Bill Clinton, but their political leanings are like that of Bubba Clinton. While a plurality if not a majority of Americans say they are conservative, the Republicans have allowed the center line to slowly be moved to the left almost to the point their agenda looks like the democrats 1990's agenda.

The GOP only need to find wedge issues that appeal to independents. They don't need Democrats. I am amazed that none of the GOP leadership seems to understand that independents are the key to holding power.

(01-06-2015 08:36 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  The GOP only need to find wedge issues that appeal to independents. They don't need Democrats. I am amazed that none of the GOP leadership seems to understand that independents are the key to holding power.

Romney won independents in 2012 but lost Republicans, at least that's how it's been reported.

I think 2016 will be a year that Republicans can paint democrats as weak on crime and hostile to law enforcement. Everyone wants to feel safe, they just need to make people feel like democrats won't protect the peace, without using a Willie Horton type message.

(01-06-2015 08:44 PM)THE NC Herd Fan Wrote:  

(01-06-2015 08:36 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  The GOP only need to find wedge issues that appeal to independents. They don't need Democrats. I am amazed that none of the GOP leadership seems to understand that independents are the key to holding power.

Romney won independents in 2012 but lost Republicans, at least that's how it's been reported.

I think 2016 will be a year that Republicans can paint democrats as weak on crime and hostile to law enforcement. Everyone wants to feel safe, they just need to make people feel like democrats won't protect the peace, without using a Willie Horton type message.

That's some truth. The problem is that the GOP doesn't control AS MUCH of the media as the left does. They have FOX News and some other small time news channels that aren't on basic cable. So to get that message out, paint it in your terms, will be difficult for them at best. If they can successfully do that, they'll get a lot of votes.

Personally, I agree with you as well. While a lot of news outlets ran stories about how the Tea Party has shot the GOP in the foot for the last several years in terms of party cohesiveness, one could argue that Al Sharpton is doing the same thing to the Dems. If he keeps up his divisive rhetoric and outright dangerous protests he could seriously wrench up the Democratic party. A lot of independents are middle-class voters. Middle-class voters tend to enjoy "safety" in all aspects of the word. If we keep hearing about innocent police and law enforcement officers being harassed, shot at, and killed it's not going to bode well for the Dems. Case in point, look at what Mayor De Blasio is going through in NYC right now. His political career is in shambles due to his reactionary attempt to align with Sharpton for votes. Votes that one could argue, he would have had regardless just having a (D) by his name. Now he's lost a lot of independent voters and the respect of the police in NYC and nationwide.

(01-06-2015 01:54 PM)EagleRockCafe Wrote:  The day that the Republicans take control of Congress with the largest majority in the House in 80 years and they are hanging by a thread? Sorry, always will be disagreement in the party. Is there a need for a third party, I can agree with that. Will it happen, no it won't. Change needs to happen within the party. Democrats are waking up to the destruction the far left has done to their party. If Republicans are hanging by a thread, then Dems are hanging by the same thread.

What was the raw vote for US House? And US Senate?