LYNN BERGMAN: MICE IN BIG TENT SCARE ELEPHANTS, A FEW RABID!
The Monday, October 26, 2009 Gallup Poll article can be found at:
http://www.thehotjoints.com/2009/10/26/gallup-poll-40-of-america-is-conservative-20-liberal/
The results of the above referenced poll were examined and placed in the following format to provide clarity to the results. The matrix combines potential voters into two sets of criteria. The first criteria (top row of descriptors) identifies the percentages that are Republican, Democrat, Independent (leaning Republican), Independent (leaning Democrat), and Others (those so disinterested or disillusioned that they rarely vote). The second criteria (left column descriptors) identify those that label themselves Conservative, Moderate, Liberal, and Other.
October 26, 2009 Political Matrix of the United States
Republican Democrat Ind (leaning R) Ind (leaning D) Other Total
Conservative 19.4% 7.7% 5.2% 4.6% 3.1% 40%
Moderate 6.5% 13.7% 6.4% 5.6% 4.8% 37%
Liberal 1.0% 13.0% 2.7% 2.3% 1.0% 20%
Other 0.1% 0.6% 0.6% 0.6% 1.1% 3%
Total 27% 35% 15% 13% 10% 100%
Matrix Observations
40% of potential voters describe themselves as Conservatives; 19.4% are Conservative Republicans, 9.8% are Conservative Independents, and 7.7% are Conservative Democrats. 20% of eligible voters describe themselves as Liberals; 13% are Liberal Democrats, 5.0% are Liberal Independents, and 1.0% are Liberal Republicans.
The Mathematical Winning Combination
The combination of voters that most easily achieves a majority is those that term themselves either “Conservative”, “Republican”, or Independent (Leaning republican), yields 53.5% of total voters (see below). The math says that a “Conservative Republican” has the best chance of winning. On the other hand, the math says that a “Liberal Republican” can count on only 3.7% (1% + 2.7%) of the vote. The political matrix screams out to the Republican Party “A Conservative Republican candidate has a 14 times better chance of winning than a Liberal Republican candidate”. Even if ALL Liberal Republicans leave “the fold” because they are not availed of the opportunity to run for office, so be it… losing 1% of the 27% of Republicans is not the end of the world; the winning combination is reduced from 53.5% to 52.5%! The decision to avoid running Liberal Republican candidates (that drop out and support the Democrat opponent) must be made by the Party PRIOR to candidate selection, not after! NY23 must NEVER again be allowed to happen!
Self-described political affiliation in numerical order by percent (excluding “Other” categories)
Conservative Republican 19.4%
Moderate Democrat 13.7%
Liberal Democrat 13.0%
Conservative Democrat 7.7%
Moderate Republican 6.5%
Moderate Independent (R) 6.4%
Moderate Independent (D) 5.6%
Conservative Independent (R) 5.2%
Conservative Independent (D) 4.6%
Liberal Independent (R) 2.7%
Liberal Independent (D) 2.3%
Liberal Republican 1.0%
Conservative or Republican Total 53.5%
Liberal or Democrat Total 34.6%
Republicans In Name Only (RINOs)
RINOs are few in number; the term “Liberal Republican” is practically an oxymoron, representing only 1% of potential voters. These “mice in the big tent” are scary to the elephants but the real problem begins to materialize when the “mice in the big tent” are placed on the ballot! RINOs in office, working clandestinely and/or openly with Democrats would ultimately destroy the Republican Party “brand”.
So Why Would Anyone Run as a Liberal Republican?
The answer is simple… a candidate with a liberal voting record that chooses to run as a Republican wishes, above all, to get elected in a predominately Republican district where the term “Democrat” is somewhat toxic to getting elected.
So-called “Liberal Republican” Officeholders and “Liberal Republican” Candidates are limiting Republican Party success, not the number of Liberal Republican Party members. The Republican party must do what the Democrat party does to increase the possibility of success, invite all citizens to join the party (the “big tent”) but select candidates that adhere to the party platform.
Education and Enlightenment
The best way to reveal politicians that are less than honest concerning their political views is a comprehensive voting analysis that reveals their votes on the measureable issues of the day.
A coming issue of the Dakota Beacon will reveal such a study. If you wish to see that the upcoming Dakota Beacon featured study is printed in every large ND newspaper, read the next Dakota Beacon.