Clinton vs. Obama: Who will the Democrats choose in 2008?

[BubberMiley]

No I wouldn't....polls don't mean anything, except for the one on election day. But if it makes you feel better, a McCain win in November will not be as satisfying as President Bush's win in 2004. Some Canucks are still whining about that one.....while I still gloat.

I guess polls only count when you like the results. But more Americans are whining about the Bush administrationthan Canadians. Isn't over 80% who feel the country is on the wrong track? Oh yeah, another poll that says something you don't like. Must dismiss.

[bush_cheney2004]

I guess polls only count when you like the results. But more Americans are whining about the Bush administrationthan Canadians. Isn't over 80% who feel the country is on the wrong track? Oh yeah, another poll that says something you don't like. Must dismiss.

They don't like the US Congress either...more than they don't like Bush. Yet it is your government that can fall on a moments notice confidence measure.....right or wrong track, whatever that means.

Edited February 9, 2008 by bush_cheney2004

[BubberMiley]

Yet it is your government that can fall on a moments notice confidence measure.

Excellent point, although its relevance eludes me.

[bush_cheney2004]

Excellent point, although its relevance eludes me.

The relevance that escapes you is the meaningless purpose of opinion polls while not a single member of the US government is affected, while your government teeters on the whim of confidence measures.

[BubberMiley]

The relevance that escapes you is the meaningless purpose of opinion polls while not a single member of the US government is affected, while your government teeters on the whim of confidence measures.

Still don't get it, other than it appears you have a need to bring up Canada whenever the U.S. is discussed, even if it makes absolutely no sense in context. Very well.

[bush_cheney2004]

Still don't get it, other than it appears you have a need to bring up Canada whenever the U.S. is discussed, even if it makes absolutely no sense in context. Very well.

Hey, it's a Canadian forum. What did you expect...Tonga?

And of course there was this:

"....But more Americans are whining about the Bush administration than Canadians"

Cheers

[August1991]

Wishful thinking. If McCain was on his way to victory, you'd think he'd be ahead in at least one of these polls of head-to-head match-ups between McCain and Obama:

Time (Feb 1-4)

Obama 48 (+7)

McCain 41

CNN/Opinion Research (Feb 1-3)

Obama 52 (+8)

McCain 44

Cook Political Report/RT Strategies Poll (Jan 31-Feb 2)

Obama 45 (+2)

McCain 43

ABC/Washington Post (Jan 31-Feb 1)

Obama 49 (+3)

McCain 46

Fox News (Jan 30-31)

Obama 44 (+1)

McCain 43

Rasmussen (2/04-2/07)

Obama: 47 (+5)

McCain: 42

Good on, Bubbler - except that Hillary had better numbers six months ago against Obama. IOW, what goes up, can go down.

Will Obama's numbers hold for the next few months and influence the remaining primary votes?

----

BTW, John McCain is not a new person on the scene. And I reckon Democratic voters know that.

Edited February 9, 2008 by August1991

[maldon_road]

They don't like the US Congress either...more than they don't like Bush. Yet it is your government that can fall on a moments notice confidence measure.....right or wrong track, whatever that means.

In the Parliamentary system the government is responsible to Parliament and if the government loses the confidence of the House then the GG either appoints another party to form a government or there is an election. I think it works well. We have a minority House but it is over two years since an election and I don't see the Dionites anxious to force one at this time. In the US there are Congressional elections every two years which are more frequent than is the case in Canada.

[Guest American Woman]

I think b_c04 is referring to both the House and the Senate when he says "they don't like the US Congress either."

We do have Congressional elections more often than Canada does, but only a third of the Senators are up for re-election during any given Congressional election since Senators' terms are six years while Representatives' terms are only 2 years. But since we elect both Senators and Representatives, this is also different from Canada, where Senators are appointed-- and they're appointed for life, aren't they?

So while you can have elections in off years by calling for a 'vote of confidence,' maybe it's because we have elections more often; though of course it doesn't affect the POTUS. We're just stuck with him for four years regardless of how the people feel.

But yes, Congress is getting lower approval ratings than Bush is right now as b_c04 said, but that's not unusual. People are usually more critical of Congress as a whole than they are their own Senators and Representatives; likewise, Bush is getting the undying support of a certain percentage of his party. So while Congress as a whole may suffer lower approval ratings, individual Senators and Representatives don't necessary suffer the same fate. In other words, the majority of individual Senators and Representatives may have higher approval ratings than Bush does; or at least more than the polls strictly dealing with Congress as a whole would indicate.

Edited February 9, 2008 by American Woman

[maldon_road]

But since we elect both Senators and Representatives, this is also different from Canada, where Senators are appointed-- and they're appointed for life, aren't they?

So while you can have elections in off years by calling for a 'vote of confidence,' maybe it's because we have elections more often; though of course it doesn't affect the POTUS. We're just stuck with him for four years regardless of how the people feel.

The Canadian Senate is not democratic. Unfortunately, there is no consensus as to whether to democratize it or scrap it. My preference is the latter. It's not quite life - until they are 75.

In the US politicians can be impeached, perhaps the equivalent in a crude way of "no-confidence".