Poll: Americans want Democrats to work with Trump

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill

BY JONATHAN EASLEY - 02/18/17 12:30 PM EST

A strong majority of Americans say Democrats should look to cooperate with President Trump to strike deals, according to the inaugural Harvard-Harris poll provided exclusively by The Hill.

The survey found that 73 percent of voters want to see Democrats work with the president, against only 27 percent who said Democrats should resist Trump’s every move.

The findings are significant as Democratic leaders in Congress are under growing pressure by their liberal base to obstruct the president's agenda. The poll shows the party is divided on how to deal with Trump: 52 percent of Democrats polled say they should cooperate with him on areas of agreement and 48 percent saying they shouldn't.

Those figures are nearly identical when the question is flipped – 68 percent of those polled say that Trump should be willing to compromise and find ways to work with Democrats in Congress. Thirty-two percent said Trump shouldn’t bend at all, even if it means finding ways to achieve his agenda without congressional approval.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/news/320229-poll-americans-want-democrats-to-work-with-trump

[AllaN01Bear]

1. i dont think so. after 8 years of foot dragging w pres. obama , i dont think so

[Alice11111]

57. Forget the tit 4 tat, though there is that, he is dismantling freedom& the press, will start WWIII..

I question the reliability of the poll. If it were all Americans, maybe, as the average American has become quite stupid, as evidenced by fact that DT was elected, sort of

[pat_k]

75. Poll questions are utter bullshit Cooperate on "areas of agreement"... "issues they support"...

It's designed to elicit responses that support the bullshit notion that Americans want "bipartisanship" between the sane people "on one side of the aisle" and the insane people on the other.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141706680#post73

[Alice11111]

79. Obstruct! Delay! Obstruct!

They wouldnt say yes when Obama gave then 100pc.
In that respect, we can be different. but Unless they give us what we want, obstruct, delay, protest, sit on the floor, howl in unison, draw attention to what they are doing.
Dont give in! If you can't win with votes, at least go down fighting! I call my senators, and say, quit being a piece of furniture. I expect you to do more than just left your finger to vote. One is doing better, but the other just wants his pay.

The poll is a POS. They do those polls with underlying assumptions that no one could disagree with (It would be wrong to abuse your child), and make compound questions. The instructions say pick the best answer, even if you don't totally agree.

Im on Dolt45s mailing list. They send out lots of polls and take comments. At first, I thought they were clever...getting feedback.
I know they don't read them because I've sent back exactly what I thought , in the most obscene terms, and they keep me on the list.

[dhill926]

2. there is no compromise with trump....

so fuck 'im....

[DK504]

20. "Compromise" with Trump scream collusion.

[retrowire]

3. It's my understanding

that for the Dems to work with Trump, it is essentially asking us to sit there and let it happen?

Am I reading this wrong? I mean, Trump and his crew doesn't seem to be one of compromise. It's one of bullheadedness and wreckless ideals, dragging even their allies along with consulting with one another as a whole.

I don't see how "working with him" could even work.

[forgotmylogin]

23. Exactly. We see how he "works with" people who disagree with him.

I could understand how someone who doesn't follow politics closely would certainly go "Yes, everyone should work together!" but don't realize, exactly like you said, "working with" 45 essentially resolves to "get out of the way" because he's not open to alternative ideas nor compromise. That's what Democrats and liberals do.

[pat_k]

78. All the polls says is...

"We would like it if everyone in DC were rational and sane and could work together to hammer out good policy."

Of course, don't we all want that?

That is all these polls showing "Americans want bipartisanship" have ever shown.

What the polls DON"T say is that Americans want some "in the middle" legislation that's halfway between insane and utterly destructive policy on the one hand, and rational policy on the other.

What Americans want is for "their people" in Congress to STOP the policies they see as bad, and go all out for the policies they see as good. Different Americans have different definitions of "good" and "bad," but each and every one of them want their elected officials to obstruct "badness" and fight for "goodness."

So, 73% want "both sides" to "work together" to make the "good things" happen, even though they realize such a thing is a fantasy because one side defines X, Y, and Z as "good" and the other defines X,Y, and Z as bad. Surprising? Not at all.

The poll is so transparent. Work together on "areas of agreement" and "issues they support" is not "I want compromise on policies I think are horrible."

"They want us to work together" is one of the most INSIDIOUS and irrational rationalizations democrats invoke for giving away the store.

DON'T let your Rep or Senators fall for it!!!

[BeyondGeography]

4. The same Americans who rewarded R obstruction of Obama

whom they ended up giving 60 percent approval ratings while consistently polling liberal on the issues. They're either full of shit or confused. IOW, easily ignored on this question.

[pat_k]

89. They aren't confused. Generalized bipartisanship polls are meaningless.

The only polls that are at all useful ask about specific policies, and even those can be slanted if question is too generalized or with slight wording changes. And opinions change wildly when the public is in the midst of an actual debate on the subject.

For example, saying "No" to "I want Congress strengthen unions." is not the same as saying "Yes" to "I want Congress to destroy unions." Unless you get into the specifics of what is being proposed, you don't learn much of anything. What is worse, is asking something like: "Should members of congress dedicated to strengthening unions work with members of congress dedicated to destroying unions?" Most Americans will say "Sure, they should work together." (But what they are thinking is "Sure, they should work together, as long as they get what I want out of it.&quot

As I posted earlier, all this poll, and others like it, captures is the prevailing sentiment that "We would like it if everyone in DC were rational and sane and could work together to hammer out good policy."

Of course, don't we all want that?

What Americans actually want is for "their people" in Congress to STOP the policies they see as bad, and go all out for the policies they see as good. Different Americans have different definitions of "good" and "bad," but each and every one of them wants their elected officials to obstruct "badness" and fight for "goodness."

"They want us to work together" is one of the most INSIDIOUS and irrational rationalizations Democrats invoke for giving away the store.

DON'T let your Rep or Senators fall for it!!!

[dalton99a]

5. Democrats will get zero reward and 100% blame.

Let the GOP help him "succeed".

[Alice11111]

58. Yep! Yep!

[bluetexas]

6. So they think he will be in office long enough to make deals?

They need to obstruct like the republicans have done for the last 8 years.

[Afromania]

7. They want to break it, let them do it alone.

The Democrats need to let them bring the house down on their heads and stand by and watch it happen. It's the only way the Republican voter is going to learn. The big reason nothing is going to get done is that the Republican politicians are punks, flunkies and cowards.They are on the make looking for somebody to pin this bullshit on when it fails. I think its ONLY big reason Obamacare hasn't been "repealed and replaced".

[forgotmylogin]

25. Yep. It's the Democrats job to clean up after the Republican kegger.

And we'll do it cause we'd like the country back when they're done with it.

[Afromania]

31. Yea, well hopefully this election blew the dust off

and next time we don't give them the keys back until they learn how to behave better.

[dawg]

8. That makes me want to puke.

[Eugene]

9. Inaugural online survey exclusive to a right-leaning news source?

Interesting, as long as you read the conditions they gave very carefully.
I'll wait for a more established poll to support the general conclusion.

[dalton99a]

16. +1

[zentrum]

18. Yeah, but

...third way will grab onto this.

[pat_k]

94. Support for generalized notion of bipartisanship is meaningless.

Doesn't matter how established the pollster. More here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028676272

[fountainofyouth]

10. What's so ridiculous about this

Is that Trump has a majority in both houses already. He doesn't need the Democrats to do anything except confirm the SCOTUS nominee. Why should they do anything for him?

[Corgigal]

11. Did I miss my phone ring?

No, didn't think so, work with Trump. How is that done when all he does is write EO's?

[DFW]

12. Don't overlook the key phrase

52 percent of Democrats polled say they should cooperate with him on areas of agreement . One more time: ON AREAS OF AGREEMENT.

Fine. Find some and there's something to talk about.

Did Jonathan Easley of "The Hill" also mention in his article that a majority of Americans wanted the Republicans to give Merrick Garland a fair confirmation hearing for the Supreme Court, too? Did they suffer in the polls last November because of it? (in case you're not sure, here's a hint: NO) The Republicans said a big "FUCK YOU" to that, all polls notwithstanding. I think that should be our response to McTurtle, Pence, Ryan and Trump, too--on judges, on the environment, on the budget, on fucking everything. Ninety thousand votes from the rust belt may override the wishes of three million other Americans in the Electoral College, but not elsewhere. If they want to drink lead and mercury in Wisconsin, Michigan, West Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, and then receive no health care when they get cancer, let them. The rest of the country shouldn't need to suffer because of it, and at least half of the people in those states don't deserve that fate either.

I don't care HOW much we may look like carpets to them. I am through being walked on like one. It hasn't helped us in ONE election since 2008, polls or no polls. It's time we took that into account, and it's time our elected representatives acted accordingly.

[LakeArenal]

21. Great point.

[forgotmylogin]

26. Give us something to agree with!

Didn't one of the appointees that also served Obama get 100 yea votes?

[Alice11111]

76. That was Veteran's Affairs

[LiberalFighter]

54. Like that observation.

[mountain grammy]

61. +1000

Call me, ask me. 90,000 rust belt votes override 3 million American voters. No compromise, no working with the asshole until he puts Merrick Garland into consideration and promotes Medicare for all.

[LuckyLib]

68. My thoughts exactly. The Repub idea of "working together"

is to snub their noses at the Constitution and expect the Dems to fall in line. That Garland situation should have been the tip-off that the fix was in.

[matt819]

13. Um. . . no

Let's see if I can make this more clear.

Work with 45?

NO.

NO!

HELL NO!!

FUCK NO!@!#@!!

NOW GO AWAY WITH YOUR STUPID QUESTIONS!

[truthisfreedom]

14. Hah.

My bullshit detector is going off scale.

[Jimbo101]

15. If I remember correcly - no republicans helped,..

with passing ACA.

Republicans need to own 100% of the resulting healthcare crash that will result from their dismantling tactics.

[Alice11111]

88. Unfortunately, they will be proud! Enjoy suffering of others

They are the Romans at the games. Give a good circus and the crowds will support you.

[chowder66]

17. Weird. Nearly identical numbers on the flip-side in this old poll

Poll: Americans want Obama and GOP to work together

According to the poll, 72 percent of registered voters say congressional Republicans should work with their Democratic counterparts and the president to get things done, with one in four saying that Republicans should stand firm on their positions even if things don't get done.

The survey indicates a partisan divide on the issue, with 94 percent of Democrats saying the GOP should cooperate with Obama and congressional Democrats, with more seven in ten independent voters agreeing. But Republicans appear divided, with 49 percent saying the two sides should try to reach common ground and 47 percent saying that GOP leaders should stick to their beliefs even if it causes political gridlock.

Fifty-one percent of self-described Tea Party movement supporters say they want Republicans stand firm while 45 percent say the GOP should try and seek compromise.


http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/29/poll-americans-want-obama-and-gop-to-work-together/

[bravenak]

19. Nobody called me

[NRaleighLiberal]

22. Wow. I find that really hard to believe. The country is more crazy than I realized.

[MFM008]

24. fuck them

twice.

[adigal]

27. No. No. No. Americans are full of shit.

When Dems collude in stealing people's healthcare, Medicare, and pensions, we will see how much they want Dems to cooperate. It is all the idiots who really have zero clue about anything in the government.

[guillaumeb]

28. Theory versus reality.

The poll is effectively rendered meaningless because one party shows no interest in any compromise.

[kacekwl]

29. I want trump to work with the Democratic party

and resign.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

30. No way this is accurate unless they only polled Trump voters

He must be stopped. Period.

[jmowreader]

32. By and large, Americans DO want the two parties to work together

Asking two more questions could have been informative.

Question 1: Do you define "Democrats and Republicans working together" as "members of the two parties sitting down as equals and negotiating solutions that will benefit everyone"?

or

Question 2: Do you define "Democrats and Republicans working together" as "Republicans create solutions with no input from Democrats, and the Democrats approving those solutions without question"?

In the current political environment, "working together" to Trump means "you give me everything I want exactly the way I want it exactly when I want it, or I'll destroy your career with a nasty tweet, go around you with an executive order, then jump on a plane to Mar-a-Lago to sulk." That's dictatorship, not bipartisanship...eventually Trump is going to overstep his bounds far enough that even the Republicans will have to admit he's turned into Idi Amin.

[turbinetree]

33. Really..................I say BS

we now have the further attempt to normalize a group of people that may have committed "treason" and all indications are leading to this end, and then this poll shows up, not buying the kool-aid.

[Percy Cholmondeley]

34. Hell, yes...

Sure, let's let them off the hook. Let's help them outlaw unions, medicare, social security, medicaid. Let's vote for that Gorsuch dude. Right. It's only fair. We do all those things, we sure would be helping our fellow Americans, you betcha...They'd do the same for us - make the dems look better.

[Thekaspervote]

35. Anyone here read or even occasionally look at the hill??

A very right wing paper. Of course they are going to find a poll suitable to their likes. That can't possibly be a cross cut, just more BS!!

[catbyte]

36. I don't believe it. 73% of Americans agree with 45*'s agenda? We're really fucked.

[Demsrule86]

37. I call bullshit on that...and the polls said the same thing when Obama was in office.

Look at the results...the GOP has everything...no and no. Persist and resist.

[elleng]

38. It's the eternal Democratic quandary:

Be nice, as we are naturally, or obstruct, as repugs do naturally. It's a puzzlement.

[Alice11111]

83. LOL. We have our natural tendencies, but Darwin was right

The most aggressive, strongest, and sometimes that is the meanest, will survive.
They have been killing us off by cheating, being aggressive, obstructing, being mean MFs since Bush v Gore or before. Gore, Kerry, Obama (obstructing everything), Hillary.

[elleng]

84. Something like that.

Much to ponder here. Thanks.

[cab67]

39. Americans want all kinds of things.

If and when Lord Dampnut advocates something reasonable, I'll ask my Democratic congressman to work with him. As long as he acts like a lunatic, I will urge him to keep his distance.

[billh58]

40. Bullshit misleading headline.

"The poll shows the party is divided on how to deal with Trump: 52 percent of Democrats polled say they should cooperate with him on areas of agreement and 48 percent saying they shouldn't.

Those figures are nearly identical when the question is flipped – 68 percent of those polled say that Trump should be willing to compromise and find ways to work with Democrats in Congress."

These findings do NOT indicate that "Americans want Democrats to work with Trump," but that they want Democrats to work with Trump on areas of agreement. What in the hell would those "areas" be? The entire Trump right-wing agenda is an anathema to Democratic values and positions on all issues. Only right-wing, bigoted, racist pseudo-Americans want Democrats to work with the boy king.

No, we can't all "just get along" because Trump, and those he has surrounded himself with are criminals who stole our government, and we must fight to get it back.

[iluvtennis]

41. They didn't poll me...I don't want my Dem reps working with the 45th. We gotta fight back nt

[still_one]

42. What kind of push poll was this? How about asking the question "do you want republicans to work

with Democrats"

This was the same bullshit the pollsters did for the last 8 years, framing it in such a way to imply Democrats weren't willingly to work with republicans

F**k them

[mtasselin]

43. why

Why don't I ever get contacted about these polls, because I would have told then to fuck off.

[bucolic_frolic]

44. You do not cooperate with a Dictator

and he won't compromise anyway and they have the majority, how
do we find something to cooperate about?

The public is plainly STUPID

[RandySF]

45. People wanted Republicans to work with Obama, too.

[OKNancy]

46. "cooperate with him on areas of agreement"

If Trump agreed to not mess with Medicare, Social Security as he said, then fine. However, I really don't see many areas of agreement. So it's a moot point.

[secondwind]

47. Democrats ARE Americans...

[coco22]

48. I don't believe it.

Time to shame Dems again with go along to get along bullshit.

[paleotn]

49. Horse shit!

The clown has an approval rating in the low 40's, high 30's. Who did they poll? Russians?

[bucolic_frolic]

50. If Democrats go down this path they are finished as a party

Nothing has changed if they go wimpy on us

We need spine, not just for our party but for America

[JDC]

51. I've got two words for that sentiment: No Fucking Way

[Liberalagogo]

52. The Hill

is a RW rag.

Not worthy of any consideration.

[Ford_Prefect]

53. More faked news, it was an ONLINE survey.

The online survey of 2,148 registered voters was conducted between Feb. 11 and Feb. 13. The partisan breakdown is 39 percent Democrat, 30 percent Republican, 27 percent independent and five percent other.

[George II]

55. "The inaugural Harvard-Harris poll". They need to fine tune that poll (like trump's "machine")...

....until its accurate. I'd like to see an experienced pollster's numbers.

[TomCADem]

56. Also, There Is No Need. Republicans Hold Both Chambers...

...the Republicans have zero incentive to negotiate with the Democrats anyways.

[WinkyDink]

59. Yeah? Well, tough noogies. There is no "compromising" with this Fascist.

[Lanius]

60. So what? How many of these people were OK with the obstruction of Obama?

My only fear is the Dems get weak in the knees and give in after reading this.

[DeminPennswoods]

62. This doesn't surprise me at all

Nearly the same % want Ds to work with Rs and visa versa. I've always believed that Americans don't "hate" government. They actually like the things gov't does, but they don't like excessive bureaucracy or red tape or gov't messing around in their personal lives. Americans want good gov't, efficient gov't and responsive gov't. That's why I believe a simple message like "I will treat your money like it's coming out of my wallet" and "I will work to identify and solve problems of inefficiency" would carry the day in an election.

On the political scale, I believe most Americans are liberal with a libertarian streak.

[lark]

63. I think this might be fake news,

but maybe not. If you add up R's who want Dems to roll over and Independents who just want us to get along, maybe that is a majority, but I don't give a shit, it's wrong. A majority of americans also supported going to Iraq and they were 100% wrong too.
We need to do exactly the opposite, oppose the r's at every turn, say no and mean it and never get to yes with them. They won't do anything good for America, so they aren't hurting us with their obstruction but trying to save us.

[JHB]

99. It's the more common variety of misleading news... spun, not fake

And who's going to pay attention to a poll that has results that surprise nobody. So tweak the presentation...

Is this an off-season for pollsters, with the election being several months past? Do they need to drive clicks?

[cstanleytech]

64. Hey I want them to work with him as well but so far he hasnt presented anything that I would support

them working with him on as his cabinet picks have been absolute shit on a stick and he isnt draining the swamp rather hes pumping in raw sewage with those picks.

[humbled_opinion]

65. I call B.S. biased poll

Any Democratic lawmaker that works to help this idiots agenda should be shunned by the entire Democratic party. I certainly will never support any turncoat politician that fall in line with his hateful agenda.

[doc03]

66. Like the Republicans did the last eight years I guess nt

[ananda]

67. Seriously?

I don't believe this.

[Fred Sanders]

69. When did an online survey become a poll? Meaningless fake news with biased questions to boot.

[EarthFirst]

70. 68% of Americans would be well-served to stop consuming their current events via social media...

140 characters at a time.

They might learn that this would not be in their own best interest.

[curiouso]

71. You've got to be kidding!

What was the ratio of Americans that wanted Republicans to work with Obama ...?

[dawn frenzy adams]

72. Ah hell nawl!

No way! I don't believe it.

[pat_k]

73. "areas of agreement"

Last edited Sun Feb 19, 2017, 02:45 AM - Edit history (1)

What a bullshit poll!

They should cooperate on "areas of agreement" and "issues they support." Surprise, surprise.

Problem is, what would those supposed "areas of agreement" look like?

I hope the Dems in the House and Senate aren't stupid enough to fall this latest try to push the bullshit "Americans want bipartisanship" meme.

Sure, Americans want bipartisanship to hammer out rational proposals. They DO NOT want compromise with an insane group of people out to dismantle every decent thing enacted by previous congresses.

Give me a break.

[JCanete]

81. right? That was my takeaway too. nt

[southerncrone]

74. Sounds like fake news/poll.

[cstanleytech]

82. I suspect its real as the question wasnt "should they

roll over and vote for whatever Trump wants to pass?" rather the question was should they look to cooperate and if Trump offers up an idea that makes sense then yes, they should look at cooperating.
I dont see him offering up anything though so far that the Democrats should look at cooperating with him and considering the way Trump is going I doubt that there will be much that the Democrats should look at cooperating with him on as he is doing a fine job on his own at building a case for invoking the 25th amendment.

[C_U_L8R]

77. Harvard-Harris Poll? Baloney.

They don't even have a web site.
This seems like a some republican bullshit
where they just mashed up two trusted names
and assumed no one would fact check.
Just more republican nonsense.

[Alice11111]

91. Good work

[JCanete]

80. Oh Hill.... this article is misrepresenting what it is that the liberal base wants obstructed.

The pole literally asks whether we should cooperate with him on areas of agreement. Of course we should. There just isn't likely to be any. Say he wanted to do something good though, like raise the minimum wage. It would be petty and harmful to people who need that boost for our leaders not to support him in that effort for some political gamesmanship..but again, that shit is fantasy land.

And of course people want their government to be functional. Too many people
aren't aware of just how bad Trump's policies and noms have been and will be. Take any specific issue and I think the numbers would be greatly lower, and his personal pole numbers kind of suggest that this isn't about them thinking he's got some sort of mandate.

[cstanleytech]

87. Exactly.

Of course the Dems should give a great deal of consideration in cooperating with the Repugnants on invoking the 25th amendment but even then I would hesitate at agreeing with them not because I believe Trump is mentally fit but because hes doing a fantastic job at helping expose the real ugliness at the core of the Repugnant party.

[orangecrush]

85. To Trump voters and this poll -

[Blue Idaho]

86. Bullshit Poll and bad reporting.

But I'm sure the GOP money behind it is real enough.

[nocalflea]

97. blue cali

Koch alert !

[COLGATE4]

90. That's all well and good

except Dumbo's idea of Democrats 'cooperating with him' is "Play ball with me - and I'll shove the bat up your ass". No thanks.

[Progressive dog]

92. Democrats should work with the psychopath

when hell freezes over. We shouldn't be complicit in handing our government to Putin.

[wisteria]

93. Nope.

Not with this POS.

[mdbl]

95. How ridiculous

That strategy has really kept the Dems in control of the house and senate! Oh wait, no it didn't. It made them a bunch of pussies for Trump to grab.

[Cha]

96. Bullshit

[Orsino]

98. Resisting Trump and working with him are not mutually exclusive. n/t

[JHan]

100. You can't negotiate or work with crazy and chaos - it's not possible.

[WhiteTara]

101. I don't believe it. nt

[Blue_Tires]

102. Nobody asked this Dem, so fuck that poll

[lagomorph777]

103. Bullshit.

You don't cooperate with dictators.

[Kimchijeon]

104. Yeah right

suggestive wording to confused old coots who still have a landline? such valuable intel! LOL

[UT_democrat]

105. I don't

ever want to deal with this turd