Robin Hood Principle
Maybe the problem with the Left is the paradigm that assumes that the sole function of government is to pump money into the voter's pocket from the pockets of other voters, and that elections should be decided on who does this the best.
Your entire post is based on the premise that one should vote for whoever throws the most candy.
"What am I going to get from Bush? What am I going to get from my Senator? Where's my loot?"
Maybe a lot of blue-collar workers don't think like parasites. After all, unlike many academics, they work hard for their money.