A new poll from the Pew Research Center shows that support for the Tea Party — and with it the Republican Party — has dropped precipitously in the last year. Now just 20% say they agree with the Tea Party, less than the 27% who disagree. But the news gets worse for Republicans: their favorability has dropped even further in Tea Party districts.

This is part of an ongoing trend, with polls this year consistently showing a narrowing of support for the Tea Party movement. In April, Pew found that as recognition of the Tea Party grew, their favorability declined. Specifically, disapproval rose 15 points between March 2010 and April 2011. Reported in September, according to a CBS/ORC Poll, fully 53% of the public had an unfavorable opinion of the Tea Party compared to a meager 28% with a favorable view. By October, the Occupy Wall Street movement had a higher approval rating than the Tea Party.

Despite this trend, the new numbers represent a new low not only for the Tea Party but for the Republican Party. Whereas before, the growing disapproval of the Tea Party came from Democrats, moderates, and even moderate Republicans, these numbers show that Republican favorability has fallen steeply in Tea Party districts, 41% favorable to 48% unfavorable. Just a few months ago in March, GOP approval in these districts was a much higher 55%.

Last November, when Republicans swept up dozens of seats to take the House of Representatives in the midterm elections, the Tea Party’s favorability was way up, meaning today’s numbers do not bode well for Republicans trying to hold the House in 2012. Moreover, during the last election cycle, approval of the Tea Party in these 60 districts — including 17 freshmen elected in 2010 — had outstripped disapproval, now approval is about the same as disapproval, 25% to 23%. And while Tea Party disapproval has steadily increased across the board, the debt-ceiling debacle this summer seems to have been a turning point in public opinion both of the Tea Party and the Republican Party. This fall, Republican intransigence against Obama’s jobs plan didn’t help them either. As all eyes turn towards 2012, Republicans need to shake off what appears to be buyers’ remorse in these key district

And finally, the fact that everyone looks at this as a win-win for the state in revenue might be right, that depends on how you spend the money if it comes in. But you can bet the Governor will be a “kid in a candy store”. The more money you give a liberal, the more he wants. With so much red ink in Frankfort, and a fiscal liberal running the state who can’t add, well, here’s a sure bet, there is going to be a whole lot more ‘new’ spending taking place in Frankfort if any gambling bill passes.

Mike Nemes’ (R-Lou) bill is pretty good. I like the county-by-county option. His bill accounts for the tracks. I only wish it would give localities a little more flexibility as far as how much they want to expand in a community.

I’m not one who gambles at casinos, but up here in NKY, we see the folks willing to drive 45 minutes to a casino. And with a casino going in directly across the river in Ohio, I have serious concerns for the economic future of NKY (which currently provides more tax revenue to Frankfort than we get back). NKY currently is the “entertainment” district for the area. The casino in Cincinnati could reverse all of that, and in a hurry. At least give the people of NKY the option.

From the political side, I’d also like to be allowed to do things like Texas Hold’Em tournaments for political fundraisers. LP Indiana has been quite successful with these type of events. They are currently illegal in Kentucky.

1) The 2010 mid term elections, which has resulted in a 9% Congressional approval rating, the lowest ever recorded…and…

2) Fox News clown Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” march on Washington…big turn out, yes…but the fool lost his show because of his psychotic ramblings and now he’s reduced to minor internet celebrity.

…and that’s it.

One GOP presidential nominee after another has been exposed as a complete and utter incompetent, meanwhile, the one guy who could possibly beat the President (Mitt Romney) can’t even get the backing of his own party.

OWS protesters have been called out for disturbing the peace and getting arrested, but that’s because they are actually a threat to the establishment. Unlike the impotent Tea Party, who in their prime couldn’t muster 24 people to meet at a Denny’s.

Not a fan of Obama, but I still can’t wait for the 2012 elections…since he doesn’t have to worry about getting elected again, he can do what he wants and maybe we can finally put this 12 years of conservative tax cut trickle-down nonsense to bed for good.

One last note on the waning influence of the Tea Party…the only couple guys who actually pay attention to your web site just comment on how wrong you are…

Your dearly held “principles” were created in 2008 when Barak Obama became President.

You’re not fooling anyone with your hypocrisy. The teabaggers 19% approval rating in latest the WSJ/CBS poll clearly reflects that.

Please,please,please republiclowns, keep teabagger “principles” close to your hearts in every election.

Nothing could make me happier.

As far as your definition of Socialism, I’m like, so what’s your point? Socialism works in the framework of American Democracy…after all, you can’t fire your boss, but you can vote out of office whoever you feel isn’t doing a good enough job managing the country…you probably weren’t alive for WW2 but America was totally about Socialism then…if you weren’t drafted, you were subject to rationing on items like meat, rubber, gas etc to insure there were enough for the war effort…government regulated factories to only make munitions for the war effort, which is why you won’t drive any automobiles from that era…Ford was too busy making tanks. Last time I checked, this kind of “Socialism” defeated both the Nazis and a Great Depression….

Sigh…and I dole out all this wisdom and enlightenment on my lunch break at work…which is the “Socialist” activity of administering medication to the elderly veterans who fought for your freedom.

Socialist: (websters)

any of various economic (your Keynesian Model) and political(Marxist) theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods

Seems the cats out of the bag…………….

It about America……………..saving it.