Ha Ha, Newt Gingrich.

The New York Times has an interesting piece on the front page today, about the leftward drift of the younger generation.

Young Americans are more likely than the general public to favor a government-run universal health care insurance system, an open-door policy on immigration and the legalization of gay marriage, according to a New York Times/CBS News/MTV poll. The poll also found that they are more likely to say the war in Iraq is heading to a successful conclusion.

They have continued a long-term drift away from the Republican Party. And although they are just as worried as the general population about the outlook for the country and think their generation is likely to be worse off than that of their parents, they retain a belief that their votes can make a difference, the poll found.

More than half of Americans ages 17 to 29 — 54 percent — say they intend to vote for a Democrat for president in 2008. They share with the public at large a negative view of President Bush, who has a 28 percent approval rating with this group, and of the Republican Party. They hold a markedly more positive view of Democrats than they do of Republicans.

Now would be a good time, I suppose, to trot out the over-used Churchill quote that a young person who is not liberal has no heart, an old person who is not a conservative having no common sense, or something to that effect. That wouldn't do this justice, however.

Quinnipiac released a new poll today, showing governor Spitzer regaining 12% in approval, to a 60% approve, 22% disapprove split.

"Gov. Spitzer got his mojo back, regaining some of his approval rating, which tanked during budget negotiations," said Maurice Carroll, Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "But there's not much enthusiasm for the governor's self-described role as some kind of 'steamroller.' Voters aren't sure whether he is or isn't but most think it's less likely to be an effective tactic than to tie up the Legislature."

So how is the legislature doing?

Voters give legislative leaders very low marks, a negative 29 - 33 percent approval for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and a negative 26 - 34 percent for Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. The State Legislature gets a negative 31 - 49 percent score.