Pressing The Flesh

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

The results of a new Washington Post-ABC News poll were released today, and it tells us a lot that we already knew, and a lot that it seems the American public knows, but the Congressional majority has yet to figure out.

First, the things that seem obvious. President Bush is not supported by America. His approval rating of 33% ties his career low in this particular poll. 68% of Americans disapprove of Bush's handling of the war in Iraq. 57% disapprove of the way Bush is handling the U.S. campaign against terrorism. 61% disapprove of his handling of the economy. 64% disapprove of his handling of the federal budget deficit.

Old news.

Onward, to the news that Americans have been trying to tell Congress. Twenty-nine percent of Americans approve of the way Congress has been handling it's duties. That's a full four percentage points below Bush's approval rating. Although Congressional Democrats tend to fare a bit better (38%) than Republicans (29%), this is damning, all the same. Although 55% of Americans see the blame for Congressional inaction falling to the laps of President Bush and Congressional Republicans, Democrats have not been as strong as most Americans would like them to be.

Congressional Democrats were swept into power largely on the idea that America needed a new direction, and new leadership. Failing that leadership in the White House, they looked to provide it in Congress.

55% of Americans want Congressional Democrats to more strongly challenge Bush's Iraq policies - a majority.

59% of Americans do not believe that the Iraq war was worth fighting - a majority.

54% of Americans believe that troops should be brought home from Iraq - a majority.

63% of Americans believe that Congress should not fully fund the $190 billion in additional funds that Bush has once again requested - a majority.

In addition to this, there's a proposal to increase federal spending on children's health insurance by 35 billion dollars over the next five years. 72% of Americans support this increase - a majority.

Add to all of this the fact that Democrats are in the majority of both houses of Congress. In addition, Americans favor Democrats over Republicans on just about every major issue in the United States today - 49%/34% on Iraq; 56%/26% on health care; 51%/33% on the economy; 52%/29% on the deficit... in fact, the only place where the Republicans fall within the margin of error is over terrorism - 41%/40%.

Given ALL of this information, one MUST ask the question of why it is so incredibly hard for Democrats to manage any meaningful movement in Congress? They have the support of a majority of Americans. They have a seeming mandate for change. They have poll after poll stating the will of the American people.

What is it they don't have? One could argue that it's the will to change, or a spine.

Posted by FleshPresser at 10:23 AM /

2 Comments

Terri posted at 11:09 PM
Hey PTF - who's your candidate today? Still on the Obama band-wagon? REady for your star-turn as a delegate?

FleshPresser posted at 10:59 AM
I'll be posting about this later in the week, but I only know one thing for sure... I am NOT on the Hillary bandwagon. I don't agree with a lot of the positions she's taken, and I do not believe her to be a viable candidate outside of the Democratic party.

I'm still torn between Obama and Edwards, and I guess if I had to choose, once again based on viability at this point, I'd be more than happy to see Obama as the Democratic candidate.

Do you have a connection I should know about in terms of a Obama Delegate Golden Ticket? :)