I have been trying to curb bluntly partisan posts, but I am compelled to react to this new poll of 2000 self-identified Republicans. The poll was commissioned by left-wing site DailyKos, but it’s a scientifically valid survey with statistically significant results.
It’s nearly impossible to imagine that President Obama will ever get any cooperation from a party that must answer to the constituents described by these poll results. Years ago, I thought of the two parties as having distinct ideologies, where I definitely had a strong preference for one party over the other. I may have had a strong dislike for the other party, but I’d occasional remember that, deep-down, most in the other party were well-intentioned and cared about the well-being of the country. In 2010, I’m afraid a majority of that party, the GOP, is just bat-shit crazy. If Obama continues to seek bipartisanship, I’m afraid his presidency is doomed. And the next decade or two or ten are doomed. Ironically, this is the same opinion that most Republicans have, but based on the premise that Obama might get something done.
Highlights:
Should Barack Obama be impeached, or not?
Yes 39
No 32
Not Sure 29
Do you think Barack Obama is a socialist?
Yes 63
No 21
Not Sure 16
Do you believe Sarah Palin is more qualified to be President than Barack Obama?
Yes 53
No 14
Not Sure 33
Should openly gay men and women be allowed to teach in public schools?
Yes 8
No 73
Not Sure 19
Should public school students be taught that the book of Genesis in the Bible explains how God created the world?
Yes 77
No 15
Not Sure 8
The Atlantic‘s Andrew Sullivan hopes for bipartisanship:
I do not believe that, given the fiscal and healthcare crisis we are in, that we should simply surrender to the basest impulses of partisanship. And I believe that was the core message of the Obama candidacy. And if this opportunity is simply thrown away, the bitterness will deepen, the polarization will widen, the public cynicism will explode and the country will truly pass the point of no return on its core and pressing problems.
Meanwhile, the President has submitted his 2011 budget, which Noble-winner Paul Krugman finds “depressing” and is indicative of “how sick our political system is”.
What we’re witnessing is an awesome national failure.
Why do I follow politics? There’s never any good news.*
* End of DADT is a good thing. It’s a stupid, offense policy.
UPDATE Apprently, pesky Al Qaeda is going to be attacking us on our own soil soon. Heard that one before, but not in a long, long time. Just terrific. Obama will be blamed if anything happens. Then we can really abandon all hope.
