A cause for cautious hope

By Creature

While I do get a sense of actual joy from watching the president's poll numbers fall from new low to new low (though not as much joy as a Yankees World Series win or a good episode of Scrubs can bring), it's sad that "a" president (as opposed to this president) has fucked up this country to the extent that these low numbers reflect. And, while I also have been optimistic --based on the poll numbers -- that the Democrats have a real chance of taking back the House (and maybe even the Senate) this November, it's a reserved optimism. We have been burned too many times not to be caution as November approaches. However, with that being said, this paragraph from a NYT piece (and it's a Nagourney piece, no less) regarding the GOP's falling poll numbers really stands as a cause for cautious hope.

By a margin of better than two to one, Democrats were seen as having more new ideas than Republicans. And half of respondents, the highest yet, said it was better when different parties control the two branches of government, reflecting one of the major arguments being laid out by Congressional Democrats in their bid to win back the House or Senate.

First, take note, that in the face of an overwhelming media meme that the Democrats have no plan, the fact that it's two to one in favor of the Democrats as the party of new ideas is astounding. The talking-heads for years now have been repeatedly asking "what's the Democrats' plan?" or "what have the Democrats done?" Both difficult questions to answer under one party rule. So, It's good to see the general public has not swallowed this meme, as they had the Saddam-9/11 one. A cause for cautious hope indeed.

Next, take note, that the general public seems to have learned a civics lesson over the last six years. It bodes well for the Democrats that half of the people polled recognize that it is better "when different parties control the two branches of government." The concept of checks and balances seems to be sinking in. Another cause for cautious hope indeed.

Hope more.

(Cross-posted at State of the Day.)