[Volokh] David Kopel: Left/Right bloggers: Huge split on defict; smaller split on Obama's on-line mobilization:

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Posted by David Kopel:
Left/Right bloggers: Huge split on defict; smaller split on Obama's on-line mobilization:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2009_03_22-2009_03_28.shtml#1238170435


   In this week's National Journal [1]poll of political bloggers, the
   first topics was "How should Congress respond to the recent deficit
   projections?" The first question thereunder produced a rare perfect
   split between the Left and the Right. One hundred percent of the Left
   said that Congress should "Pass something close to President Obama's
   budget," and 100 percent of the Right said not. The options of "Delay
   some major Obama initiatives" and "Cut the growth in entitlements"
   also yielded huge splits, although not quite 100% vs. 100%. "Cut the
   growth in defense spending" got 80% support on the Left, and 35%
   support on the Right.
   My comment: "The congressional majority's handling of the 'stimulus'
   -- particularly in forcing votes before the conference report could
   even be read -- evoked the last days of the Roman Republic, with a
   legislature abdicating governing responsibility to an all-powerful
   executive. At the least, the rank and file of both parties should
   insist on proper legislative procedures when the budget is considered,
   so that every legislator (or his staff) has time to read the budget
   before every vote."
   The second topic was "What effect will Obama's online mobilization
   effort have on Democratic efforts to pass the budget?" On the Left,
   94% said it would help either a lot or a little. Forty-two percent on
   the Right felt the same way; within both groups, "a little" was by far
   the leading choice. I voted "a little", and commented: "Because the
   budget promotes even more of the same old failed policies of D.C.
   (wasteful pork spending and reckless deficits) rather than the change
   that Obama promised, it will be interesting to see whether the Obama
   online network is so devoted to the cult of personality that they will
   mobilize in large numbers."

References

   1. http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/no_20090327_2334.php