Economic Worries Aren't Resonating on Hill

[radfringe]

Economic Worries Aren't Resonating on Hill
By Jonathan Weisman and Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writers -- Thursday, April 21, 2005; Page A01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6118-2005Apr20.html

Inflation and interest rates are rising, stock values have plunged, a tank of gas induces sticker shock, and for nearly a year, wages have failed to keep up with the cost of living.

Yet in Washington, the political class has been consumed with the death of a brain-damaged woman in Florida, the ethics of the House majority leader, and the fate of the Senate filibuster.

The disconnect between pocketbook concerns of ordinary Americans and the preoccupations of their politicians has helped send President Bush's approval ratings on the economy down, while breeding discontent with Congress. The problem has yet to grow into a political wave that could sweep significant numbers of lawmakers from power next year, but both parties face risks if they fail to pivot their attention to economic issues.

[radfringe]

1. Bush's Job Approval Ratings Drop -- Concerns Over the Economy

http://americanresearchgroup.com/economy/

Bush's Job Approval Ratings Drop
As Concerns Over the Economy Continue to Increase

More Americans now disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president than approve according to the latest survey from the American Research Group. Among all Americans, 44% say they approve of the way Bush is handling his job and 50% disapprove. When it comes to Bush's handling of the economy, 38% of Americans say they approve and 56% say they disapprove.

Among Americans registered to vote, 45% approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president and 51% disapprove. As for Bush's handling of the economy, 39% of registered voters approve and 56% disapprove.

A total of 53% of Americans say the national economy is getting worse, up from 46% in March, 44% say they expect the national economy to be worse a year from now, up from 38% in March, and 50% say the financial situations in their households are getting worse, up from 39% in March.

The results presented here are based on 1,100 completed telephone interviews conducted among a nationwide random sample of adults 18 years and older. The interviews were completed April 16 through 19, 2005. The theoretical margin of error for the total sample is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points, 95% of the time, on questions where opinion is evenly split.

Overall, 44% of Americans say that they approve of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president, 50% disapprove, and 6% are undecided.

[The Flaming Red Head]

5. I have yet to meet one person who likes Bush even among Republicans

I don't get it. Who are they polling and aren't polls irrelevant after the last election, anyway? I don't think his numbers are even that high. Everybody I meet hates him.

[TheFarseer]

6. I don't get it either

I know alot of hardcore repubs and all of them hate bush. A few of them voted Kerry but most of them voted bush anyway.

[priller]

8. Oh, I have.

One of my best friends acts like a cult member when Bush is mentioned. She always says he's a "good Christian man" and I should not criticize him. In every other way she's perfectly rational, but mention Bush, and it's like throwing a switch.

[Kmarx]

9. There are many who love Bush

The polls don't lie. Just look at the Southern and Midwestern regions of this country. Bush's hardcore support came from the undereducated, simplistic, semi-literate types whose biggest fears in life are gays, the absence of prayer in school, and wild-eyed northern liberals. The more important issues of the day are far too complex for their black/white way of viewing this world.

[Skidmore]

2. Too many millionaire in government now.

How can you connect with the pocketbook concerns of the working class when you can come and go as you please and don't have to worry about budgeting for the essentials.

[fasttense]

3. It's not just politicians

I don't watch much corporate news but my husband does and I can't fail to notice it. I don't see much on the economy. It's like most everyone I know is talking about their tanking stocks, lost jobs and high gas prices but the corporate media goes blissfully onto the Pope, Michael Jackson, Bidden. It's almost as if politicians and the corporate media live in a different world from the rest of us.

[raccoon]

4. They do. nt

[brook]

7. As raccoon said...

people with comfortable incomes don't relate to those who struggle to keep their heads above water.

I have worked for some notables who were/are millionaires. They are surrounded by people who depend on them for their jobs - so nobody says "No" to them. In fact, they do their best to shield them from anything upsetting. It creates a 'pleasantville' unreality. (I did not enjoy a reputation of being especially diplomatic and was subjected to some degree of hostility on occasion when I did make it my business to 'tell it like it was').

I was thinking about this yesterday and am tossing the idea around of doing a "Reality Check" newsletter - telling a story each day of an average person's struggle under *- and blasting it off to Senators and Representatives to try and force them back in touch with the real world of their constitients. My big problem is finding the time to do it.

[Digit]

10. kick