Further evidence of the demise of the Republican brand‎

Great polling news out of San Fransisco. Kids these days are not believing the Republicans, don't trust them and most importantly on issues that are supposed to be one's Republicans own like terrorism and taxes. This news applies to Minnesota as well.

A Democracy Corps poll from the Washington firm of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner suggests voters ages 18 to 29 have undergone a striking political evolution in recent years.

Young Americans have become so profoundly alienated from Republican ideals on issues including the war in Iraq, global warming, same-sex marriage and illegal immigration that their defections suggest a political setback that could haunt Republicans "for many generations to come," the poll said.
The startling collapse of GOP support among young voters is reflected in the poll's findings that show two-thirds of young voters surveyed believe Democrats do a better job than Republicans of representing their views - even on issues Republicans once owned, such as terrorism and taxes.
(San Fransisco Chronicle)

While the trending is good news, some of the anectdotal bits are better.

"I think you have to be concerned when you have some (Republican) people who are saying that global warming is a hoax and that status quo for health care is acceptable," said Adam Mendelsohn, the communications director for Schwarzenegger.
...
The demands of the state senators, [Democratic strategist Garry] South said, were so far to the right of the average voter that "the Republican brand in California now is so tainted and toxic that the only way you're going to win is to buy yourself out of the brand."
...
In California, the GOP's relatively weak prospects in the presidential election and in future statewide elections can be traced to what has been an increasingly tone deaf approach to a new set of priorities among voters, particularly the young, said Cal State Sacramento political communications Professor Barbara O'Connor.
...
The poll also suggests the GOP is not addressing young voters' deep concerns about their future economic security. "Young people's economic struggles, more than any other issue, defines their political agenda," she said.
(San Fransisco Chronicle)

Applying these anectdotes to Minnesota politics easily follows. The far right controls the Republican party in Minnesota. The tone deaf approach of the right wing of the Republican Party is going to make it politically painful for Republicans to support a number of issues that young voters in Minnesota support.

The occupation of Iraq is almost single-handedly destroying the Republican Party brand. They have twisted reality so far, that they are no longer believable. So many voters are so disenchanted with Republican's lying about Iraq that they are creating more and more DFL voters by the day.

In addition, Republicans have denied global warming even called it a hoax despite overwhelming scientific evidence. This is another issue that they are no longer believable. If you combine the effects of Republican's Iraq Occupation and global warming stances, arguably the two most important issues for young voters, Republicans have shown they simply cannot be trusted.

Furthermore, the Republicans refusal to fund the maintenance of our infrastructure combined with their lack of trustworthiness, indicates that young voters in Minnesota will see the I-35W bridge collapse as the result of Republican policy. So when Republicans screech that DFLers want to raise their taxes, we can counter that Republican failed policy has caused the infrastructure crisis resulting in the I-35W bridge collapse.

What this indicates is that Democrats ought to stand up for the issues we believe in. We should campaign on investing in our future. Let the voter compare what we want to do with the failures of Republican policies. The young voters are believing us. The future is ours.