Outnumbering moderates, doubling up on liberals

There are twice as many self-identified conservatives in the U.S. today as self-identified liberals.

PRINCETON, NJ – Conservatives continue to outnumber moderates and liberals in the American populace in 2009, confirming a finding that Gallup first noted in June. Forty percent of Americans describe their political views as conservative, 36% as moderate, and 20% as liberal. This marks a shift from 2005 through 2008, when moderates were tied with conservatives as the most prevalent group.

That’s according to Gallup.

I had started to wonder whether those self-identifications changed, depending on what party is in power at the time. Were there more liberals during the Bush administration? More conservatives during Clinton?

But take a look at this chart:

It’s not unusual for conservatives to double up on liberals. It’s normal. The unusual thing is for conservatives to outnumber moderates – this is only the third time since 1992 that that’s happened.

Caveat: polls suck. But if this is true, I have to ask: what the hell? Why can’t Republicans hold more power? Why do Republicans so frequently seem to move left, when clearly most Americans are center-right?

Via Memeorandum