Tea Bagger Support Going Limp

The latest CNN Research Poll measuring political party popularity is a mixed sack for Republicans.

When measuring favorable ratings of the GOP, ratings grow 2 points from Dec. 2010, from 42 to 44.

Since November 2008 here's how the spread looks for both parties.

CNN/Opinion Research Poll

As you can see Democrats are still viewed more favorably by voters, and have been for quite some time.  The only hiccup occurred in the Fall of 2010. 

Since January 2010, CNN has been keeping track of Tea Bagger favorables.  I think something like this is pointless because essentially it's picking a subset of the GOP and asking how the public views them.  The equivalent would be slicing out people who support banning guns in the Democratic Party and tracking them like they are separate from Democrats.

Anyway, when you measure the three separately you quickly see Republican tea baggers are going limp.

CNN/Opinion Research Poll w/ Tea Baggers

They do make a pill that helps with the dysfunction.  We'll see if they use it to regain their firmness since we are approaching summer and that seems to be tea baggers most favorite time.

The interesting thing of the whole poll is if you place the Tea Baggers back into the GOP and quit treating them like they are a separate group, GOP support amongst the public really hasn't changed at all since November 2008.  Take a look.

CNN/Opinion Research Poll w/ GOP and Tea Bagger Combined

The previous noted hiccup in the Fall of 2010 disappears.  It's fair to state GOP popularity rose with the Tea Bagger movement.  Naturally it's because tea baggers are Republicans.  They run on the GOP ticket, they caucus with the GOP once in office and when they win elections it's the GOP that picks up the seat.  Allowing them to separate from the GOP when it's convenient for them, like when talking about how the GOP has absolutely no track record of ever shrinking government or cutting spending, grants the Republican Party a free pass that no one else in America gets to enjoy.