After steering the landmark health-care reform bill through Congress, the Democratic Party's leaders have emerged mostly unscathed, according to a new Washington Post poll, but they have not received a notable boost in approval ratings.
The title was even funnier.
Health-care overhaul leaves Democrats in stable condition
In medical terms, 'stable' is not actually a condition, even though we often hear doctors refer to someone as 'critical but stable'. Your condition can be undetermined, good, fair, serious or critical. Considering that another article today is reporting that Congressional disapproval ratings are at late 1994 levels (when Democrats tool a fifty seat beating...), I'd say that the Democrats are in critical condition.
Its an interesting way of reporting the state of the party, especially in light of the Democrat's pre-Obamacare vote, in which office-holders were told, over and over again, and in no uncertain terms, that passing healthcare would improve their reelection prospects. I suspect many who voted affirmatively have that cold knot in the pit of their stomachs now, realizing that they zigged when they should have zagged. Rep Steve Driehaus (D-OH) was getting the message over the weekend.
Outside his Cincinnati home, a few angry protesters wouldn't allow him a full escape from the raw and vitriolic discussions that have embroiled the health-care debate for more than a year. They showed up to decry the freshman congressman's vote for the overhaul, standing in the chilling rain most of the afternoon Sunday holding signs that read: "Driehaus Voted to Destroy Our Children's Future" and "Remember in November."
Frankly, I expected the Democrats to get a little bump, even if was only short term, but polls show disaffection to have increased slightly.
Right now, after a year of stimulus plans, bailouts and now nationalized health care, driving deficits to historically high levels, 70% of voters are angry with the policies of the federal government. That includes 48% who are very angry.After all, just before the House of Representatives passed the health care plan last Sunday, 41% of voters nationwide favored it, but 54% were opposed. These figures have barely budged in recent months. Now that President Obama has signed the legislation into law, 55% favor repealing it. In terms of Election 2010, 52% say they’d vote for a candidate who favors repeal over one who does not. Forty-one percent (41%) would cast their vote for someone who opposes repeal.
I had guests over last night for some dinner and with no prompting from me (I try to avoid starting political discussions in the real world...), the talk soon turned to politics. I was a little surprised to hear people not normally predisposed to such discussions, passionately arguing politics, announcing their caucus participation and their plans to get 'more involved'. I found myself in the strange position of arguing for moderation! Just from my anecdotal evidence, its seems that the Tea Party is entering an expansion phase, not leveling off.
For Democrats hoping now that everyone just goes back to sleep, things don't look particularly good.
