Have the democrats shifted left?

[CARLHAYDEN]

According to Gallup, 29% of Democrats were Liberals in 2000, and 39% in 2011.

Also according to Gallup, 21% of Independents were Liberal in 2000, and 20% in 2011.

Republicans were 6% Liberals in 2000, and 4% in 2001.

So, yes, the Democrats have drifted to the left.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/152021/conservatives-remain-largest-ideological-group.aspx

[CARLHAYDEN]

According to Gallup, 29% of Democrats were Liberals in 2000, and 39% in 2011.

Also according to Gallup, 21% of Independents were Liberal in 2000, and 20% in 2011.

Republicans were 6% Liberals in 2000, and 4% in 2001.

So, yes, the Democrats have drifted to the left.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/152021/conservatives-remain-largest-ideological-group.aspx


Does it occur to you that self-identification based upon the vague and nonsensical terms used in American politics and media might not be the best metric for this, or that ten years might not be the timeframe most germane to the initial question?

I posted data from a respected pollster with a link.

You posted nothing to support your views.

Hmm.

[CARLHAYDEN]

According to Gallup, 29% of Democrats were Liberals in 2000, and 39% in 2011.

Also according to Gallup, 21% of Independents were Liberal in 2000, and 20% in 2011.

Republicans were 6% Liberals in 2000, and 4% in 2001.

So, yes, the Democrats have drifted to the left.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/152021/conservatives-remain-largest-ideological-group.aspx

Does it occur to you that self-identification based upon the vague and nonsensical terms used in American politics and media might not be the best metric for this, or that ten years might not be the timeframe most germane to the initial question?

I posted data from a respected pollster with a link.

You posted nothing to support your views.

Hmm.

CARL. even when given help, you often refuse to consider viewpoints that don't meet your preconceived ideas.  The data you cited from that poll support several equally logical possibilities.

1. The possibility you gave, that the Democrats have shifted left and the Republicans have shifted right, while the center has remained relatively unchanged.

2.  The possibility that Nathan gave, that the center has shifted to the right and the Republicans have shifted even further to the right.  (This could be further broken down into the Democrats have shifted right, but not as much as the center, the Dems have stayed the same, or the Dems have shifted to the left.)

3. The center has shifted to the left, and Democrats have shifted even further to the left.  (This could be further broken down into the Republicans have shifted left, but not as much as the center, the Reps have stayed the same, or the Reps have shifted to the right.)

The reason why all of those possibility are valid under the data Gallup provides is that Gallup provides no information on how what is considered liberal and conservative in 2001 compares to what is considered liberal and conservative in 2011.

The only certain thing we can ascertain from the Gallup data is that the two parties are more polarized in 2011 than in 2001.

Ernest,

Not surprised you disagree.

Of course, you provided no sources to support your suppositions, which seems to be your usual approach.

If you had bothered to check past posts you would have seen where I provided details on the movement of the Democrat party in Congress to the left.

Others have made the same observation.

Here is what Chris Bowers had to say on April 8, 2010, in an article entitled 'Long-term trends show Democrat Party moving to the left.'

“The trend through the decades, and over the last eleven Congress, is unmistakable: the party keeps moving to the left”.

http://www.openleft.com/diary/18195/longterm-trends-show-democratic-party-moving-to-the-left

[CARLHAYDEN]

Well, lets have a look at the exit polls for 2004 (the first done by Edison) and 2008:

In 2004 the vote by ideology was:

Liberal (21%)
Moderate (45%)
Conservative (34%)

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html

In 2008 the vote by ideology was:

Liberal (22%)
Moderate (44%)
Conservative (34%)

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#val=USP00p1

We'll see what the 2012 results will be in a little under five months.

[CARLHAYDEN]

CARLHAYDEN, this is absolutely frivolous.

To some people facts are "frivolous."