I don't like Republicans and I don't like Democrats.....

[JDaveG]

....but since no one wants to vote third-party, I guess I'll root for (but I will not VOTE for) divided government:

New NPR poll has more bad news for Democrats

November's midterm elections are just looking worse and worse for Democrats. A new National Public Radio poll of 70 competitive congressional districts finds that voters prefer GOP candidates over Democrats by 8 percentage points, 49 percent to 41 percent.

The poll generally reflects recent generic ballot surveys that have found voters are more supportive of Republicans this fall. What makes NPR's poll different — and scary for Democrats — is that it's the first to gauge likely voters within the districts that will actually determine control of Congress this fall. Conducted jointly by pollsters Stan Greenberg (a Democrat) and Glen Bolger (a Republican) for NPR, the poll included 70 battleground or "swing" districts — 60 seats currently held by Democrats and just 10 held by Republicans.

Democrats face a toxic mix heading into November: Not only are voters anti-incumbent, but the NPR poll finds that people are generally more receptive to the Republicans' stance on issues like health care and the economy.

And not only do likely voters in these districts view Democratic candidates more negatively; they also give a lower approval rating to President Obama than he has nationally. That number averages just 40 percent in districts currently held by Democrats.

That's another reason Obama shouldn't necessarily jump into every midterm race. He might actually hurt his party's chances.

Another stumbling block for Democrats: As other polls have found, Republican voters are far more excited about voting this November than Democrats are. That distinction is greatest in districts already held by Democrats: In those regions, only 37 percent of Dems are "enthusiastic" about the elections, compared with 62 percent of Republicans.

But the voting bloc to really watch is self-described independents. According to the poll, 52 percent of those likely voters are enthusiastic about the midterm elections. In those Democratic districts, independent voters favor Republicans by 21 points; in GOP districts, they favor Republicans by 17 points. Those are particularly dismal numbers for Democrats — especially when you consider that these are the same unaligned voters who launched the party into power in 2006.

— Holly Bailey is a senior political writer for Yahoo! News.

[Doug Carlton]

End the Fed

[GEORGIAfan]

riight. you dont like republicans.

we know the truth.

[JDaveG]

riight. you dont like republicans.

we know the truth.

Okay, you got me. I actually despise most Republicans.

I wouldn't pee on my congressman (Republican) if he was drowning, much less on fire.

Sorry for speaking in fluent understatement :P

[Doug Carlton]

The Freedom movement is catching on, the Democrats and Republicans time for self-worship is coming to an end

[eatcorn]

It would be much easier to vote 3rd party if the 3rd party ran candidates that were worth voting for.

Maybe bad news for Dems, but it's good news for the US. The US functions best when the Executive branch and the Legislative branch are at odds.

[g-dawg]

I just want the government as much OUT OF MY LIFE as much as possible. I've always voted Republican because they tended to be more fiscally disciplined than the Dems. However, George W. Bush was "soft-n-squishy" when it came to fiscal discipline and caved to the Dems on spending and added a new entitlement on his own accord - because Republicans turned from conservatism to becoming "Democrat-Light" they lost their base of power.

I like the Tea Party as they are more "constitutionalist" and believe U.S. Gov't has really stretched their tentacles accross all forms of American Life where they seized power in over-reach.

Hope the Dems go down hard as this power-grab in DC is ridiculous. To think Washington DC should be telling car companies how to make cars, telling companies how much executives can make, telling doctors how to treat patients, confiscating 55% of estates when someone dies, spending us into bankruptcy for future generations, I mean when does the madness stop???...

Roads/National Defense/Basic services/Oversight that is what US Gov't should be. Not a social experiment - Government is not competant in most areas - the more the US Gov't tries to do, the worse all of our lives will be.

[Sid Vicious]

The Freedom movement is catching on, the Democrats and Republicans time for self-worship is coming to an end

Freedom from what, if you dont mind me asking Mr Samuel Adams?

Taxation without representation? British oppression?... or are you one of those guys stocking ammo in preperation for those evil Marxist revolutionaries in the white house?

[Doug Carlton]

Freedom from what, if you dont mind me asking Mr Samuel Adams?

Taxation without representation? British oppression?... or are you one of those guys stocking ammo in preperation for those evil Marxist revolutionaries in the white house?

I suspect no manner of explanation will suffice your sophistry so let's end with the pleasantries shall we?

From as early as the Age of enlightement men have debated the philosophy of liberty, natural law and natural rights. From Plato to Hobbes to Locke and then on to the founders of this republic that based our Declaration of Independance and subsequent Constitution almost verbatim (at least the preamble)was written by Thomas Jefferson to support the notion that all men are created equal and as such have an enate "Liberty" and "Freedom" to themselves.

So this document, this Constitution that LIMITS THE POWER OF GOVERNMENT, was made to guard the people against those that sought to enlarge the limits of government (No matter how good the intent) without the consent of the Governed. This is political illegitimacy....

This Government has been duly elected as was the one before it (Executive & Legislative), however, they continue to look after themselves at the expense of the people who merely delegated them a portion of their power to look after the body politic.

They mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. They have forgotten that WE are the masters.

They have demonstrated that they are no longer bound by the constitution, and it is time to replace them with representatives that will be.

[King ED]

I just want the government as much OUT OF MY LIFE as much as possible. I've always voted Republican because they tended to be more fiscally disciplined than the Dems. However, George W. Bush was "soft-n-squishy" when it came to fiscal discipline and caved to the Dems on spending and added a new entitlement on his own accord - because Republicans turned from conservatism to becoming "Democrat-Light" they lost their base of power.

I like the Tea Party as they are more "constitutionalist" and believe U.S. Gov't has really stretched their tentacles accross all forms of American Life where they seized power in over-reach.

Hope the Dems go down hard as this power-grab in DC is ridiculous. To think Washington DC should be telling car companies how to make cars, telling companies how much executives can make, telling doctors how to treat patients, confiscating 55% of estates when someone dies, spending us into bankruptcy for future generations, I mean when does the madness stop???...

Roads/National Defense/Basic services/Oversight that is what US Gov't should be. Not a social experiment - Government is not competant in most areas - the more the US Gov't tries to do, the worse all of our lives will be.

In case you haven't noticed, those major corporations are begging for those bail-outs(more like demanding), and those executives are laughing their way to the bank. The corporations own Washington.

[g-dawg]

In case you haven't noticed, those major corporations are begging for those bail-outs(more like demanding), and those executives are laughing their way to the bank. The corporations own Washington.

maybe so.....but gov't should not give corporations money no more than they should not give deadbeat US citizens money....

If corporations receive no money from US Gov't then Gov't should have no say over them - as long as no laws being broken.

[King ED]

maybe so.....but gov't should not give corporations money no more than they should not give deadbeat US citizens money....

If corporations receive no money from US Gov't then Gov't should have no say over them - as long as no laws being broken.

That's the thing.

You have rules and regulations for these corporations.

Corporations and politicians who are in the pocket of these corporations want less of them(regardless of the impact) or try to weasel out of them. When you try to enforce or maintain them, they cry to the media about how the government is trying to hurt business and hurl around words like Socialism/Marxism.

People carry on about how government needs to "stay out of business", Capitalism is always right, and that rules and regulations only harm business. Yet they are entirely ignorant of what they are actually suggesting and/or don't even know the definition or context of the words they are using.

Look at BP. They weaseled through regulations(by owning the politicians) and fought them at every turn. A few months ago, if anyone said anything you would have Fox News or some brain washed conservative ranting on about how it is government socialist attempts at take over and enforcing too much regulation. Now look at we have.

It is a balance, and people are too easily swept up into a world of buzz words and throwing around various ideology names to see the obvious.

[JDaveG]

It would be much easier to vote 3rd party if the 3rd party ran candidates that were worth voting for.

Maybe bad news for Dems, but it's good news for the US. The US functions best when the Executive branch and the Legislative branch are at odds.

I agree with that -- when power is consolidated, the special interests aligned with that party win. When power is divided, at least the special interests have to fight each other (in which case we all win).

[pencilpusher. just because]

The Freedom movement is catching on, the Democrats and Republicans time for self-worship is coming to an end

POliticians are all the same. Always have been, always will be. Even if a TRUE independent gets to be prez, we will never live to see the day congress is non partisan.

And if you are speaking of the Tea party, that's just the republican rebranding. Different can, same ol' horse #### inside.

[pencilpusher. just because]

I suspect no manner of explanation will suffice your sophistry so let's end with the pleasantries shall we?

From as early as the Age of enlightement men have debated the philosophy of liberty, natural law and natural rights. From Plato to Hobbes to Locke and then on to the founders of this republic that based our Declaration of Independance and subsequent Constitution almost verbatim (at least the preamble)was written by Thomas Jefferson to support the notion that all men are created equal and as such have an enate "Liberty" and "Freedom" to themselves.

So this document, this Constitution that LIMITS THE POWER OF GOVERNMENT, was made to guard the people against those that sought to enlarge the limits of government (No matter how good the intent) without the consent of the Governed. This is political illegitimacy....

This Government has been duly elected as was the one before it (Executive & Legislative), however, they continue to look after themselves at the expense of the people who merely delegated them a portion of their power to look after the body politic.

They mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. They have forgotten that WE are the masters.

They have demonstrated that they are no longer bound by the constitution, and it is time to replace them with representatives that will be.

Yeeeeeeeah, it would have been more believable that he actually BELIEVED all that had he not owned slaves. Maybe it's time we replace him in using him as an example of wisdom or decency and as an example of good government.

[Doug Carlton]

Yeeeeeeeah, it would have been more believable that he actually BELIEVED all that had he not owned slaves. Maybe it's time we replace him in using him as an example of wisdom or decency and as an example of good government.

See John Locke, as I said, Jefferson nearly copied the text. I will not defend an abuse against man such as slavery. Clearly it was an inhuman and debasing practice, But again, we're talking about Locke philosophy, not Jefferson.

[=abrahamburger=]

I don't like snails or toads or frogs or strange things living under logs but mmmm, I love this:

[Doug Carlton]

POliticians are all the same. Always have been, always will be. Even if a TRUE independent gets to be prez, we will never live to see the day congress is non partisan.

And if you are speaking of the Tea party, that's just the republican rebranding. Different can, same ol' horse #### inside.

Men who love liberty and freedom are what's needed, not politicians. I pray we will live to see the day and I belive the first matches have been struck that will light the fire that ignites a new, freer republic.

The Freedom movement isn't an organized party. It's a groundswell of people who are finally understanding how things were, and ought to be.

[pencilpusher. just because]

See John Locke, as I said, Jefferson nearly copied the text. I will not defend an abuse against man such as slavery. Clearly it was an inhuman and debasing practice, But again, we're talking about Locke philosophy, not Jefferson.

well assuming that he copied the text to support the notion of liberty as you said, one would have to assume he put it out there as something he was comfortable having people accept as his beliefs.

What I am saying is it's time to stop deifying some of these fathers as being so high and mighty and as men of virtue and as someone who not just talked the talk, but lived it.

Jefferson clearly did not truely believe a word of it.

Unless we are to assume he believed men were BORN equal and was quite alright with the governments actions to make sure they didn't stay that way.

[pencilpusher. just because]

Men who love liberty and freedom are what's needed, not politicians. I pray we will live to see the day and I belive the first matches have been struck that will light the fire that ignites a new, freer republic.

The Freedom movement isn't an organized party. It's a groundswell of people who are finally understanding how things were, and ought to be.

Things WERE better for many back in the day, but hundreds times worse for others during the same periods. So how they were isn't fully how they ought to be.

[Rambler]

Ask a conservative if he would like to see a 3rd party and he might say "yea". Ask a Liberal if he would like to see a 3rd party and you will get an enthusiastic "heck yea".

Popular 3rd party candidates usuall spell doom for any conservative as a independents typically lean slightly right. Just like Ross Perot handed Bill Clinton the Presidency, a 3rd party would be the equivalent of a Hail Mary to Democrats.

[=abrahamburger=]

And thanks to Dems and Republicans, we will never see an independent speak at the debates again.

[JDaveG]

Ask a conservative if he would like to see a 3rd party and he might say "yea". Ask a Liberal if he would like to see a 3rd party and you will get an enthusiastic "heck yea".

Popular 3rd party candidates usuall spell doom for any conservative as a independents typically lean slightly right. Just like Ross Perot handed Bill Clinton the Presidency, a 3rd party would be the equivalent of a Hail Mary to Democrats.

The most probable benefit from a strong 3rd party would be a stronger Republican party.

But the status quo isn't good enough. It's not enough to say "well, if you vote 3rd party Democrats will win," because to those of us who recognize the corruption of both parties, that's really not all that different in kind than Republicans winning.