Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues Politics In General High Voter Turnout, Democratic Party advantage or an old wives tale

Yeah, Reagan was unassuming, a totally nice guy, one who never held a grudge. Even his most avid political opponent would say a bunch of nasty things about him, he'd smile, tell a self-depreciating joke and have everyone laughing. I think after awhile, even his opponents gave up. Reagan was the total opposite of Trump.

What was it Tip O'Neill said about, that he hated his policies, but Reagan was such a nice guy, you couldn't help but like him. Something akin to that. With Reagan, politics ended at 1700. Here's something I save on Reagan and O'Neill

Reagan and O’Neill: A political friendship worth recalling

https://www.ajc.com/news/opinion/re...-worth-recalling/sjbyaGCQcropVcAwYk0GBI/

Reagan averaged a 55% approval rating for his two terms, Even Democrats gave him a 31% approval, independents a 52% approval while Republicans 89% on average. 26% of democrats voted for Ronnie in 1984, 62% of independents and 93% of Republicans.

I think Reagan's biggest asset is he made you feel good and very comfortable. Completely the opposite of Trump.

Just saw the last line

I will say that is precisely how Trump supporters feel ... a voice ... their voice .... fighting back .... kicking azz ... 110% unconditional support ... knowing he will jail all the baby eating pedophile Democrats and return America to the ignorant

perspectives

Actually, I was talking America as a whole, not just one's party base. Especially when it came to independents, the non-partisan, non-affiliated. There's no doubt Trump supporters love him. But they don't make, perhaps around 30% of all America. Reagan's likability factor among independents was right around 57% for both terms. Their approval of Reagan was 50% for the first term and 55% for his second. Yet, even some of those who didn't approve of Reagan's policies, they liked him as a person. A good majority of folks were just comfortable with Reagan as president. Even close to half of all democrats.

Trump never had that. Not only were Democrats uncomfortable with Trump, so too were independents which showed in both the 2018 midterms and 2020 presidential elections. On average 71% of Republicans liked Trump as a person, but only 31% of independents and 5% of Democrats. The question was, regardless of what you think about Trump's policies, do you like or dislike Trump as a person? No love there for Trump except from Republicans.

One last thing, Reagan's overall job approval ranged from 21% low to 51% high from Democrats with an average of 35% of all Democrats approving of the job Reagan did. This also showed up in the 1984 presidential election when 26% of Democrats voted for Reagan. Trump's overall job approval ranged from 3% low to 12% high from Democrats with an average of just 6%. Only 5% of Democrats voted for Trump. Independents, 1984 Reagan won them 62-36 over Mondale, Trump lost independents to Biden 41-54.

So I feel confident the numbers show most Americans, America as a whole and not just one's party base felt comfortable under Reagan whereas they didn't under Trump.

Biden has that comforting demeanor. Many republicans are saying he's not as bad as they were led to believe. But the cult like worship of Trump trumps everything else on the political horizon right now.

Biden is walking back most of the things he promised. Like Obama he'll become a well liked president who never signed anything into law because Republicans filibustered them all.

DeSantis is kind of a surly prick who makes everyone around him uncomfortable. A perfect choice for 2024.

I totally agree, it seems quite a lot of folks are comfortable with Biden. That in itself bodes well for 2022 and perhaps beyond. That fact alone was one of the main reason Biden was able to crush Trump among independents 54-41. Like it or not, it was the coach sitting independents who decided 2020 presidential.

I'll admit I always like Biden, both as VP and as a senator. I think if Biden has his druthers, the filibuster will remain because Biden is old school, from a different political era where compromise was always possible. Biden was a senator when Baker and Byrd, followed by Dole and Mitchell, followed by Lott and Daschle. Pre-modern political era of polarization, the great divide and the mega, ultra high partisanship that exists today. Respect for the other party was there, realization of the goal of each party was a secure, free and prosperous America. Only the path to get there was different.

Yes, most are comfortable with Biden. But they're not with the present day leaders in congress. 2022 is all about congress. So we'll see what happens there.

Obama followed your advice during his first two years and then became a lame duck for his last six. Who knows what Obama might have accomplished if he had put the ACA on hold until it was accepted by America as a whole. He got the ACA and that was it. We'll never know what else he could have accomplished., It just goes to show you that it doesn't pay to go against the wishes of America as a whole. Not election wise anyway.

Biden seems a bit different, the relief bill was mighty popular. So too is the infrastructure bill. Illegal immigration is a thorn in Biden's side, he's down to just a 39% approval on immigration. Inflation could also become a worry for him and the Democrats in congress along with the rise in crime currently going on.

But Biden is lucky, the Republicans are still fixated on Trump with no good ideas or possible solutions. They're in trouble that way. Here.

Trump's grievances cloud Republican agenda heading into 2022

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trumps-grievances-cloud-republican-agenda-135038084.html

Sometimes elections aren't as important as legislation. Obama succeeded where many before had failed. It wasn't a perfect bill but it will pave the way for the eventual Medicare For All.

Republicans basically made fools of themselves with their TEA Party antics just as they have done with Trumpism. They invited more and more fools to the party until there is barely a sane one among them.

As far as current leadership goes McConnell will continue to do what McConnell has always done...obstruct everything.

I don't feel like Schumer is particularly hated. He keeps kind of a low profile He's almost an NPC in the game, all his responses are pre programmed and and pre-dictable. A gatekeeper of sorts.

Pelosi gets a lot of flack but she's good at what she does. Getting rid of a lot of these wrinkled old faces will go a long way towards healing the country though.

I don't understand why these people don't retire...ancient relics of a different age...ancient wrecks who should be playing shuffleboard and golf in Florida, doing high dollar speaking gigs and rubbing shoulders with the stars.

I think we've talked about fresh faces before. Margery Taylor Greene was a fresh face...but so was AOC and the Sudanese girl, more will be coming along soon and the changes are going to be mind boggling to the surviving Boomers...I'm trying to be one of them.

Republicanism has lost it's way and serves mostly as a vehicle for hate now.

It's unsustainable.

Democrats seem as though they might have found a purpose, but the silverheads are getting in the way.

I agree that sometimes legislation is more important. But it sure put a big halt to anything else Obama and the Democrats would have like to have done. Making fools of themselves in 2010 as you put it, gave the GOP control of the House until 2018 and stopped anything Obama would have like to have done in his last six years. Actually, the ACA was rushed through, it wasn’t ready. The Democrats had their 60 votes for cloture, they knew Scott Brown awaited in the wings to be sworn in giving the GOP 41 votes for a filibuster. I don’t think the Democrats at the time even thought about losing the house. That they thought they could fix anything wrong with the ACA in the future. They wanted it then and now when it was possible. They had no idea that the passage of the ACA in 2010 would result in a 63-seat loss for them. It shouldn’t have surprised them, not when 55% of Americans opposed the ACA vs. 40% in favor.

But looking back, if the Democrats hadn’t passed the ACA then, ready or not, they probably would have never had another chance during Obama.

And yes, McConnell is the most disliked of any of the 4 current party leaders in the senate. McConnell 25% favorable, 60% unfavorable. Schumer and his low profile, 34% favorable, 44% unfavorable. Pelosi 29% favorable, 51% unfavorable and McCarthy 28% favorable, 38% unfavorable. Amazingly, 34% of all Americans are in the column of haven’t heard enough or don’t who McCarthy is. Another 23% haven’t heard enough or don’t know who Schumer is. There’s a couple of leaders who keep a very low profile. 13% of all Americans fall into the haven’t heard enough or don’t know who McConnell and Pelosi are.

I agree, the leadership needs to change. Not to Greene or AOC. I personally would like Tammy Duckworth from Illinois to replace Schumer. She has spunk. I really wanted her to run for the presidency. When she didn’t, she was my choice for VP. The rest, I don’t care, just get these old fogies out of there.

In a way, it seems the Republicans want to become a permanent minority party or they’d ditch Trump and like we’ve been talking about, come up with fresh ideas and fresh faces. Do they really believe Trump will lead them back to the promise land in 2024? Rhetorical, of course they do.