Nice article from the WSJ showing data for the 4 year period January 2007 to January 2011. When asked to describe themselves as Liberal, Moderate, or Conservative, the numbers are essentially constant. The interpretation: people grew sick of Bush and the GOP's behavior, and they gave Obama and the Dems a shot. Then the Dems did what the GOP did when they had an unstoppable majority: they confused movement away from one party as an endorsement of their party. The data shows we were and we are a center-slightly-right country. There was no Liberal mandate, and if New Jersey and Virginia didn't convince you in November, stand by for a message today (Tuesday).
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703626604575010902564177746.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_PoliticsNCampaign_9
My personal takeaway: One party rule leads to over-reaching, which is good neither for that party nor for the country. The Founders were right to make major legislative change difficult; it gives The People time to clarify their message to those who are supposed to represent them, not rule them.
Hags
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5 comments:
For all the talk of Obama's problems, his poll numbers are essentially the same as Reagan's as this point in his presidency.
When you inherit a mess, it doesn't clean up overnight. The American people are rather fickle - a year down the road they forget how they got into the mess and simply blame the folks in power.
Fortunately, Obama has three years remaining and the worst case scenario tomorrow is a Senate with 59 Democrats.
With respect to the founding fathers - the Filibuster rule is being abused by the minority (both parties) and it was never intended that 60% supermajority would be required to pass legislation. Getting two houses together with simple majorities plus a president is tough enough. I had hoped the GOP would go "nuclear" regarding court appointments. A court test would have thrown the whole Filibuster rule out - not just regarding appointments.
Oops.
Bax, have you got time to re-read the article? The very clear point is that the American people are very steady. They are just trying to find some group capable of governing according to the preferences of the populace as opposed to some party's whacked out agenda.
The people don't want socialism and the people don't want laissez-faire capitalism. If YOU don't get that the Reid-Pelosi axis is not aligned with the American Public's preferences, and you strike as a pretty smart guy and not immune to actual events and data, then I suspect that the folks around Obama will also fail to get it, which, for me, will be OK because November will be a sea of red on the election board.
You better hope Obama knows how to reach across the aisle and get something done because the electorate won't accept "I didn't make this mess" and "they won't let me" as excuses. Obama was hired to make things better, and it is hard to measure much progress.
All the best!
Hags
I read the article and I agree with much of Jerry Seib's analysis - such as the need for big government action in the face of the collapse. Much that was needed - TARP, the Bail Outs, GM, big spending are unpopular. It doesn't change the fact that they were needed. Even the GOP agreed while Bush still held office, then quickly pivoted to loud opposition after Obama's inauguration.
Leadership doesn't mean doing what the polls suggest is most popular. The right used to criticize Clinton for his heavy use of polling (by Dick Morris). The governing party must govern. If they can't, then they fail the first test. I agree that "I didn't make this mess" and "they won't let me" won't work, especially the latter. They have the power, they need to manage it. That said, as we clean up this huge mess, it is fair to point out from whence it came. It is galling to hear the GOP wail about the mess they created.
I'd like to see Obama "triangulate" as did the very successful President Clinton. However - there is no reaching across the aisle with this extremely partisan and right wing opposition. We have the numbers in Congress - we need to use them.
Non-truth-teller!
"Even the GOP agreed while Bush still held office."
Do you not remember the Reps. standing infront of the capitol and opposing the TARP bailout?
You do, you just "forgot".
I remember it well. The Republican establishment - the Republican Congressional leadership - was four square in favor of the Bush Administration policies. Were there any right wing opponents like Shelby of Alabama? Sure. There were also House Democrats that voted against Health Care Reform, but it is fair to say that the Democrats support it (including the author).
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