The End of a Revolution

Sunday, Oct. 08, 2006 By KAREN TUMULTY
Sex, lies and power games are just the latest symptoms of a Republican Party that has strayed from its ideals.
HEADS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: DAVID HUME KENNERLY / GETTY; SCOTT J. FERRELL; BROOKS KRAFT / CORBIS FOR TIME; STEVE LISS FOR TIME; REDUX
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(7 of 7)
• Disapprove 57% • Approve 36%

THE CONGRESS

Disapprove of the job the U.S. Congress is doing

• 57% disapprove • 31% approve • 12% Don't know Say they would vote for a Democrat if the congressional election were held today*

• 54% vote for a Democrat • 39% favor a Republican • 7% Other party/ don't know

Think the country would be better off if the Democrats won control of the House

• 49% agree • 38% disagree • 13% Don't know

THE FOLEY CASE 78% of poll respondents were aware of the scandal involving former G.O.P. Congressman Mark Foley. Their views:

Do you think Republican leaders in Congress handled the Foley situation properly, or do you think they tried to cover it up?

• Handled properly 16% • Covered it up 64%

Did the disclosure about Foley's sexually explicit instant messages to teenage congressional pages and the handling of this situation by the House Republican leadership make you less likely to vote for the Republican candidate in your district, more likely, or did it really have no effect on how you will vote?

Less likely 25% More likely 4% No effect 68%

Do you think Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert should resign as Speaker because of his handling of the Foley case?

• Yes 39% • No 38% • Don't know 23%

This TIME poll was conducted by telephone Oct. 3-4 among 1,002 adult Americans by SRBI Public Affairs. The margin of error is 3 percentage points. "Don't know" responses omitted for some questions. *Asked of registered voters

With reporting by Mike Allen, Melissa August, Perry Bacon Jr., Brian Bennett, Timothy J. Burger, Massimo Calabresi, James Carney, Ana Marie Cox/ Washington, Jeffrey Ressner/Simi Valley