# What is public opinion on who is to blame for the shutdown? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 8, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722 "2013-10-08T21:29:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/81 "2013-10-10T12:43:08Z")
I mean, is nobody actually interested in data on this board any more? Or are we more interested in spouting rhetoric on both sides? Geez. Is Elections one of those “non-reality based” boards? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/82 "2013-10-10T13:19:20Z")
> [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > I mean, is nobody actually interested in data on this board any more? Or are we more interested in spouting rhetoric on both sides? > > Geez. Is Elections one of those “non-reality based” boards? Sorry - I thought we’d already cited the polls. Must have been another thread. But there’s the Gallup poll that shows the Republicans plummeting from 38% favorability to 28% in _one month_. The Democrats are falling too but much slower and only down to 43%. Also, I don’t have the full breakdown to hand but Republicans are falling in favorability across all groups to varying degrees, while Democrats are mostly falling among the Republican voters. So it does seem that more blame is accruing to the GOP at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/83 "2013-10-10T13:33:55Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > But there’s the Gallup poll that shows the Republicans plummeting from 38% favorability to 28% in _one month_. Which means that Republicans are as popular nationally today as Alan Keyes was in Illinois in 2004. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/84 "2013-10-10T13:37:52Z")
Tabby, You say that like this is something new? Political discussions here have always been dominated by those who are more interested in rhetoric emesis than data analysis. Just like most everywhere else. (Even 538’s discussion threads were heavily hit by those sorts of folk.) Gyrate, yes, there has been data brought here, including that linked to by Tabby Cat. There are some stabs at factual answers to what this is doing to public opinion in different segments of the politial spectrum and the fact that partisams tend to see this in a manner consistent with their partisan perpsectives in unsurpising. In this case however the effect on the public opinion of those who are not as partisan (so called “independents” who tend to usually be former Republicans; “somewhat conservatives”; and “moderates”) is to blame the GOP more than the Democrats or Obama. At this point in time. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/85 "2013-10-10T14:35:01Z")
Speaking of the 2004 Illinois Senate elections, [Mike Ditka is taking responsibility](http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/10/10/obama-mike-ditka-illinois-senate-2004-race/2957775/)for Obama being President today, since he would have won if he’d run. Better stick with the “NFL Today” studio gig, Coach. 😉 ETA: Does this belong in the Stupid Republicans thread in the Pit, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/86 "2013-10-10T14:54:22Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > At this point in time. I think this is quite a key point. As things change through the effects of the shutdown or the progression of the “negotiations” or what-have-you, the public view could very easily shift to blame someone else. There’s still a long way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/87 "2013-10-10T14:59:51Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Speaking of the 2004 Illinois Senate elections, [Mike Ditka is taking responsibility](http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/10/10/obama-mike-ditka-illinois-senate-2004-race/2957775/)for Obama being President today, since he would have won if he’d run. As confirmed by the numbers from [Bill Swerski](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Swerski's_Superfans) Polling. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/88 "2013-10-10T15:29:02Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Speaking of the 2004 Illinois Senate elections, [Mike Ditka is taking responsibility](http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/10/10/obama-mike-ditka-illinois-senate-2004-race/2957775/)for Obama being President today, since he would have won if he’d run. > > Better stick with the “NFL Today” studio gig, Coach. 😉 > > ETA: Does this belong in the Stupid Republicans thread in the Pit, maybe? N.B.: Ditka means only that he could have been a **senator.** But POTUS? Maybe some time after Jesse Ventura’s second term. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/89 "2013-10-10T15:30:46Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Then leave it on those boards. Don’t drag that nonsense over tothe SDMB. > > [/Moderating] Of course it’s nonsense, but it’s nonsense **relevant** to this particular thread. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/90 "2013-10-10T15:37:46Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > N.B.: Ditka means only that he could have been a **senator.** But POTUS? Maybe some time after Jesse Ventura’s second term. He’s saying if Obama wasn’t elected to the Senate, he wouldn’t have been elected President. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/91 "2013-10-10T15:51:02Z")
All I know is that I’ve seen some anti-Republican stuff from people who are pretty conservative. Like them spreading the meme that, since the shutdown, they no longer feel the need to pronounce Boehner’s name correctly. Or something else I’ve mentioned where people are saying things like “Just go ahead Obamacare happen, and they’ll see it’s horrible. Stopping the government isn’t going to work.” I mean, I’ve seen some general anti-Obama stuff in the meantime, but nothing that has anything to do with the shutdown. Almost forgot: I’ve also had at least one person say they supported the shutdown because they think it’s what the country needs to get back into financial shape. So that person clearly thinks it’s the Tea Party’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/92 "2013-10-10T16:34:40Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Almost forgot: I’ve also had at least one person say they supported the shutdown because they think it’s what the country needs to get back into financial shape. :eek: Oh, the dumbanity! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/93 "2013-10-10T16:50:17Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > He’s saying if Obama wasn’t elected to the Senate, he wouldn’t have been elected President. Da Bull! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/94 "2013-10-10T17:45:02Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Of course it’s nonsense, but it’s nonsense **relevant** to this particular thread. I’m backing Tom up here. Just because you hear it someplace else doesn’t mean it belongs here. You may say it’s relevant, two mods say it’s not. Use some judgement, for God’s sake. Don’t do it, or anything like it, again. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/95 "2013-10-10T17:49:12Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > “Just go ahead Obamacare happen, and they’ll see it’s horrible. Stopping the government isn’t going to work.” The Republicans said that about Social Security. They also said it about Medicare. Those programs seem mildly popular amongst Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/96 "2013-10-10T22:58:26Z")
New [WSJ/NBC News poll](http://stream.wsj.com/story/the-fiscal-cliff/SS-2-87944/SS-2-351813/) > [@](#): > > Participants in the poll gave the Republican Party overall its lowest marks in the history of Journal polling, which goes back to 1989: More than twice as many hold a negative view of the GOP as a positive one. By contrast, the number of Americans viewing the Democratic Party positively or negatively was nearly equal, at about 40%. > > In all, 53% of those polled blamed Republicans for the shutdown, compared with 31% who blamed Mr. Obama—numbers that showed the GOP taking a worse beating than the party did 17 years ago during the last extended shutdown, under President Bill Clinton. > > Asked about the current budget battle, 70% of participants faulted Republicans in Congress for putting their political agenda ahead of what’s good for the country. In a separate question, 51% said Mr. Obama was more concerned about his agenda than the good of the country. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/97 "2013-10-10T23:08:23Z")
Here’s the [full results](http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/A_Politics/_Today_Stories_Teases/Oct_poll.pdf) of the poll. Might last longer than the WSJ link. PDF Format. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/98 "2013-10-11T01:30:51Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Interesting cites, and analysis **DSeid**. > > So, what should Obama do about this? Can he twist the knife even more and push these numbers higher by changing his rhetoric? Without changing his position on anything, he could soften his language about not wanting to compromise and agree to meet with Republicans just not give in to anything they actually want. This might help the independent voters view him as not at fault even more? > > Or is Obama playing this well with his current strategy? It seems like he has switched the wording from “won’t negotiate” to “won’t let you hold the country at ransom”. Which does sound better. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/99 "2013-10-11T02:11:35Z")
From a [story](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/10/poll-republican-shutdown_n_4080942.html) about the same poll Jophiel is citing: > [@](#): > > Voters were 8 points more likely to say they’d prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress over a Republican-controlled Congress, a 5-point shift toward the Democrats since last month. Support for the new health care law, the touchstone of the government shutdown, rose a net 8 points from September, while the belief that government should do more to solve problems was up 8 points from June. ETA: I bet Silver is kicking himself for not being ready to talk about this issue right now. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722/100 "2013-10-11T02:31:44Z")
Where the heck is Silver anyways? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722.md?page=6)