evolution - political views and party associations

[DosEquis]

Found this on a different message board but I found it pretty interesting.

In 1992, Republicans enjoyed a slight edge in party identification among 18-29 year olds, 47% to 46%. Four years later, Democrats claimed a six-point edge, 50% to 44%. By the time of the 2000 election, Democrats’ lead had expanded slightly to eight points, 49% to 41%. In 2004, Democrats’ lead among young voters’ party ID expanded to 11 points, 51% to 40%. And in 2008, the margin became a landslide ? Democrats 58%, Republicans 33%.

Part of me is confused as to why it is flowing in that direction. I don't feel the country drastically moving to the "liberal" side of things. Some go back and forth. I understand being frustrated with the republican party, but if your values are conservative it doesn't make sense to switch to the democratic party. Then again I guess I have never understood a majority of republican "logic" anyway. Perhaps this is some temporary bandwagon thing where people want to jump to the side that has been winning lately, like NY Giant/Eli Manning fans? I am not sure but the political situation is really confusing as of late.

[thewise1]

It's not moving more liberal, I don't think (though we may see a slight shift per normal cycles this election), but the republican party is actively pushing away anyone who won't spout the party line in its entirety.

You're pushed away from anything to do with the party if you don't vote straight ticket.

I know - I tried to get involved because of Ron Paul and was completely shunned. The leadership of the local republican party has written hit pieces on all sorts of the younger people involved, calling them out for not being morally upstanding enough (because some painted nude paintings, were tattoo artists, etc).

It's unbelievable and I can see why people would flee that idiocy.

[Thorgrim]

The "moderate" ideology is extremely flighty

Howard Dean always said "The GOP wins elections on gays, guns and God (he forgot race)" take those out of many southern elections and you'd have blue states...why do you think they always used to vote Democratic..."those guys with confederate flags on their pickup truck want universal healthcare for their kids" and it's true

In the 90s, the GOP created a "culture war" redux...trying to imply the 1960s were happening all over again...in 1993...whatever...by 1994 the recession was over and people were voting against their economic interests because they didn't feel threatened, as myths about Clinton grew...Right-wing talk radio took hold, fox news took hold...people either lost interest in politics or started to believe the hype...since the economy was a success in the late 90s people could completely focus on "what kind of sexual relationships will the next president have?" as the key factor on who we should elect next in 2000

However, while finding a scapegoat for all your problems in nameless "liberals" felt good, eventually people realized even by the summer of 2001 that the GOP hadn't delivered in Congress...and President Bush past his tax cuts really didn't have much of an agenda they liked...the voters finally woke up and all signs were to a new democratic era...

then 9/11...which, yes *cliche* changed everything

It gave the GOP a second breath of air, and they managed to screw it up really quick and in only 6 years went from full power to on their asses

Now,
-People have absolutely no desire to give Congress back to the GOP, they want the Democrats to continue to control it...and we'll gain seats ontop of that...
-By 20pts people want the next president to be Democratic
-By overwhelming margins, people prefer the liberal side on basically every issue...universal healthcare, pulling out of iraq, global warming, other energy issues, changing the way we conduct the "war on terrorism", etc etc

The truth is, people were always more liberal...liberal just became a dirty word so they stopped associating themselves as "somewhat liberal" yet people have no problem saying they are "somewhat conservative"...also voters got distracted with non-issues

If we had a liberal male with little background problems, he'd win in a landslide as long as he was able to bowl

[motivez]

Originally Posted by thewise1

It's not moving more liberal, I don't think (though we may see a slight shift per normal cycles this election), but the republican party is actively pushing away anyone who won't spout the party line in its entirety.

You're pushed away from anything to do with the party if you don't vote straight ticket.

I know - I tried to get involved because of Ron Paul and was completely shunned. The leadership of the local republican party has written hit pieces on all sorts of the younger people involved, calling them out for not being morally upstanding enough (because some painted nude paintings, were tattoo artists, etc).

It's unbelievable and I can see why people would flee that idiocy.

You would think they'd embrace an infusion of energy like that into their folds instead of pushing it away over disagreements

[DosEquis]

Originally Posted by motivez

You would think they'd embrace an infusion of energy like that into their folds instead of pushing it away over disagreements

They simply made Paul look like a crazy guy in combination with being a pansy for his Iraq policy. When he would say something in a debate they would all give him the look and kind of snicker. Everyone saw it and was liek "hehe that guy is crazy.