Two despised frontrunners, two dying parties and a deeply broken system: How did we get here?

[DisgustipatedinCA]

I wish I could have excerpted more, but I'd urge people to read the article. Here are a couple of paragraphs:

Of course polling data is not sacrosanct, and ambiguous perceptions like “favorable” and “unfavorable” tend to wobble around even more than voter preference. But by any standard the CBS/New York Times poll published three weeks ago was remarkable. It sort of blew through the news cycle and then out again, like an indigestible fast-food meal: more weird and crazy numbers in a weird and crazy year. But just take a whiff, and tell me it doesn’t smell like democracy dying on the vine. Donald Trump was viewed favorably by just 24 percent of the voters surveyed, and unfavorably by 57 percent, making him by far the least-liked major-party frontrunner since CBS began asking this question in 1984.

Who’s in second place, in this historic sweepstakes of hate? Hillary Clinton, in the same poll: She was viewed favorably by 31 percent and unfavorably by a mere 52 percent. I see you in the back of the room waving your slide rules, eager-beaver Democrats. And yes, you’re right: Every national survey so far, including that one, shows Clinton beating Trump easily. Math was never my strong suit, but 31 percent is more than 24 percent, as I understand it. But are you guys really going to act like that’s a cause for high-fives and #WeGotThis retweets and celebratory glasses of Sonoma Chardonnay? If that’s a silver lining, it’s made out of aluminum foil from the bottom of the cat box. We’ve got the second least-popular candidate ever — that’s what time it is! Winner-winner chicken dinner!

Just to review, those Trump and Clinton numbers are the two highest unfavorable ratings in the 32-year history of the CBS poll, and also the two largest “negative net ratings,” meaning the difference between the positive and negative numbers. The only previous candidate to come close was Bill Clinton in March of 1992, when he was surrounded by allegations of multiple extramarital affairs. (He came back from that minus-17 nadir to win the election, of course, but even at his low point his negatives were nowhere near as high as Trump’s or Hillary Clinton’s are now.) In the previous eight presidential cycles, there has never been a poll showing both major-party candidates with negative net favorability ratings, let alone double-digit ones.



http://www.salon.com/2016/04/17/two_despised_frontrunners_two_dying_parties_and_a_deeply_broken_system_how_did_we_get_here/

[vi5]

1. Let's be clear here....

Their presumptive nominee and frontrunner is despised by their establishment leadership because he is appealing to a core and vocal segment of their base. Ours is loved by our establishment leadership because she is ignoring a core and vocal segment of our base but despised by.....well....a lot of different groups and constituencies.

It's not an apples to apples comparison other than both having high unfavorables by the general public.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

3. I think I agree with everything you've said.

But the article does seem to concern itself with the high unfavorables both candidates have.

[elleng]

2. the two highest unfavorable ratings in the 32-year history of the CBS poll, and also the two largest

and also the two largest “negative net ratings,”'

GOT IT???

[4139]

4. It misses one thing, the repub dumped Bush... We haven't dumped Clinton.

Severe antiestablishment movement across the spectrum

[CorporatistNation]

5. People More Than Ever Before Understand The Inherent "Skew" Of The System...

Consequently they understand that the powers who actually control the process act in a manner that is wholly inconsistent with the principles that purportedly govern a truly democratic paradigm. Sick isn't it? But that is, WHAT we have...

Bernie Sanders is the ONLY candidate NOT BOUGHT who EXPLICITLY STATES THAT HE IS WILLING TO TAKE SERIOUS STEPS TO ADDRESS AND BRING A DEGREE OF RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM THROUGH THE BULLY PULPIT OF THE PRESIDENCY IF NOTHING ELSE... IF WE CAN ONLY OVERCOME THE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO ELECTING A MAN OF INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE FROM THE SIC (Scum in Charge) OF THE SYSTEM!

[Lone_Wolf]

6. The article makes it clear that the 'New Democrats' caused this

Finance was chosen over manufacturing which hurt middle class voters. Economically, it wiped us out. People are upset and want the system changed.

[appalachiablue]

7. +1 DLC, New, Third Way Triangulating Dems. Continued Goldwater-Reaganomics and MORE!

Free Market/Voodoo, Neoliberal Economics, Globalization = WIPEOUT FOR WORKING PEOPLE!

[Buns_of_Fire]

9. Aw c'mon America -- can't you hold your nose just one more time?

Sure, we know that, more often than not, you've had to vote for the candidate who rates lower on your Gag-O-Meter. But this time, it'll be different! We promise!

And so we hear, year after year, election after election. This year, though, there are indications that the Great Unwashed Masses aren't buying it anymore.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

10. I've learned to really hate that phrase over the years. But in all prior years, I followed along.

Not anymore.

[tokenlib]

11. Yet the DNC, Hillary supporters, Skinner on DU..they have all made clear..

..they assume once again that Dems will all fall in line and support the lesser of evils. After twenty-five years of Third Way abuse they should realize at some point there will be a major reckoning. I think the chance to save relevance for the Democratic Party is staring them in the face. However, by rigging things for Hillary, and by being so eager to repay their "political" debts to the Clintons, the DNC and the super delegates... they are going to have an big surprise. Either Bernie pulls this off, or Hillary turns around and a large mass of Bernie supporters are going to be nowhere to be found.