Grand Old Popularity confusion

According to a recent report from the Pew Research Center, the Republican Party is rapidly regaining popularity among American voters. Among independent voters, Republicans hold a 50-49 advantage in favorability rankings.

Among overall registered voters, nearly half hold a favorable opinion of the GOP, their highest rating since 2005.

These numbers suggest that the Republicans are gaining traction at the perfect time. They also suggest that a large chunk of American voters are smoking something other than turkey.

Although I’m not surprised by these numbers, I’m nonetheless disappointed by them. After Iraq, Katrina, a string of ethical scandals, and the worst economic landscape since the Great Depression, how can anyone with an IQ higher than 10 have a favorable opinion of the GOP? With the possibility of a McCain presidency that promises permanent war, the expansion of neoliberal institutional arrangements, and gross abuse of the environment, how could anyone hold this party in remotely high regard?

This isn’t to say that the Democrats deserve much praise either, as their political fumbles over the past two years have only encouraged the American people to lose faith in their ability to offer a progressive vision and realistic action plan for the nation. Still, the notion that half of all registered voters have a favorable opinion of the GOP is downright depressing.

There are several reasons for this disturbing trend. First, the selection of Sarah Palin has energized the Republican base in the way Fred Thompson was supposed to. Also, the current economic crisis has caused many Americans to buy into the GOP’s pro-drilling agenda despite its economic, environmental, and social wrongheadedness. Finally, the increasingly realistic notion of an Obama presidency has caused many voters to retreat to the comfort of the familiar. The notion of a black president is such a radical idea to Americans that many are starting to say “maybe this whole Bush/McCain/proto-fascism thing isn’t so bad after all. Does this represent most Americans? No. But it may be just enough to put McCain in the White House.

Marc Lamont Hill is a FoxNews commentator and assistant professor at Temple University.