@ouguoc Drum inspired this thread to a degree. I think he’s badly mistaken overall in his take, both in his characterization of perceptions (the polling he presents in the post you link omits the plurality of people who claim no party ID, for example, which might complicate his story) and of substance (he touts good levels relative to the past to ask why so glum, while omitting consideration of direction and rate of change). He’s right stuff’s not hopeless, but IMHO much too sanguine.