Well we finally got some good news for Democrats. In the latest AP-IPSOS poll
it seems more and more are favoring a change in leadership in Congress. As
matter of fact 49% want Democrats to control Congress as opposed to only 36%
wanting Republicans in control. That’s a 13 point margin so you can throw the
MOE right out the window there.
As far as Bush goes, his approval rating remains stagnant at 40%. Considering
the violence in Iraq yesterday (which also has the same approval rating as
Bush), the number will most likely decline when we get to the next round of
polling.
This is good news to start the New Year and we got to hope and push our
Democratic leaders to seize this moment. Focus needs to be shifted in this
country to such things as Abramoff, warantless tapping and the Downing Street
Memos.
Another big bonus for Democrats might come from seniors this year. In the
2004 election, seniors account for approximately 25% of the voter turn out. In
mid-term election that number generally surges to about 35%. Something not being
picked up by the news but I know exists out there is enormous problems with the
new Medicare drug program. People are unable to get prescriptions and those that
can are faced with higher bills at the pharmacy because of flaws in the system.
If you don’t believe me then try to call the AARP insurance hotline. My mother
just spent three days getting through to them and she does this stuff for a
living. I am sure many more seniors out there are finding the same type of
frustrations and they follow politics close enough to know this is because of a
Republican agenda.
Focus must also be given to the lower and middle class families in this
country. While they are not as big of a demographic in terms of voting as the
seniors they are not that far behind. Families are facing one of the hardest
winters ever in terms of finance. Heating bills have soared and the Republican
led Congress has sat idly by allowing it to happen. Also two key bills were
passed last year that add to the hardship. Credit Card companies were allowed to
raise their minimum payment and the Bankruptcy bill present a two-fold problem.
Not only do people have a higher fuel bill every month but now their credit card
bills are skyrocketing. If the numbers get to out of hand they do not have the
last resort of filing chapter 11 that was once there. These are also Republican
agenda items that is destroying our country while supporting no one but big
business.
These issues must start being hammered into the American people now.
Democrats have such a gift right now with the Abramoff scandal and everything
else going on that there is no reason they can not seize Congress next year.
Even one house would be great but we need both. Hopefully they will focus on
issues like these and get the word out.
You can view the AP-IPSOS poll article
here.