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“In Beck’s segment tonight a New Gallup Poll says 40% of Americans consider themselves conservative, 36 say they are moderate, just 20% describe themselves as liberal. Last year 37% of Americans said they were conservative and 22% liberal so the left seems to be shrinking in the age of Obama.” (FOX News)

The Democrats have the White House and a majority in the House and Congress, but some media think being the underdog is the best policy right now.

We’re looking at perspectives from FOX News, MSNBC, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Washington Post, and the New York Times.

Let’s start with FOX News analyst Mary Katherine Ham, who explains why independents are moving toward conservative views.

“I think because a lot of people are feeling very conservative with their own money, they are sort of threatened by the economic environment, and they’re saying they are sort of afraid of what Obama is doing, the sort of huge spending, the outlandish new regulations. And that’s where they’re seeing losses, I think the liberal mindset is losing.”

On MSNBC, Time Magazine’s Mark Halperin said while conservatives may have an opportunity to take power, there is no clear candidate to take advantage.

“There’s an extraordinary opportunity for somebody to come forward with a sunny disposition and concrete ideas to solve America’s problems that is conservative. I don’t see who that person is but there is certainly an opening.”

Jay Bookman of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution thinks The Obama era is the best time to be a conservative, since there is no risk in voicing extreme viewpoints.  

“Because by its nature, modern American conservatism is not well-suited to govern. That is not where it is happiest; that is not the environment in which it thrives... Being in opposition is just a lot more fun, which is one reason the ratings for Fox News and Rush Limbaugh are so high.”

Washington Post writer Bill Kristol says the power of political change in the U.S. lies with individuals such as Palin, Huckabee and Gingrich, as well as personalities like Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh.

“Over the past year, as those voices have dominated, conservatism has done pretty well in the body politic, and Republicans have narrowed the gap with Democrats in test ballots.”

An Editorial Piece in the New York Times disagrees, saying Republicans continue to criticize the left and avoiding the true political atmosphere.

“The party continues to deny the Obama ascendancy with an agenda of naysaying when creative ideas and candidates, not right-wing zeal, are the obvious way to get back in the game of democracy.”

So what do you think? Is it good to be a conservative during the age of Obama?