The top issue in 2008 is going to be

[cali]

the economy. It will dwarf all other issues- even the war.

From today's Rasmussen Daily Tracking Poll. (forget the horse race for a minute)

"As the campaign for President moves on, consumer confidence continues to decline. The Rasmussen Consumer Index today fell to its lowest level in four years. Just 13% of Americans believe the economy is getting better while 68% say the opposite. Fifty-five percent (55%) say either that the country is in a recession or that a recession is coming soon."

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_2008__1/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Things are not going to improve under the "stewardship" of bushco. This is extraordinarily bad news for the repukes. The voting public already trusts dems on the economy over repukes by a significant margin.

This is only one reason why I think the dem candidate- whoever it is- has a very good chance of winning by a large margin. bushco has tainted the repub brand across the board.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. By a long shot. It will be worse than 1992... more like 1982

[maddiejoan]

3. More like 1929.

[KittyWampus]

13. do you think people with catch the role corruption plays?

[Atman]

2. The Swimsuit Issue

It's always the top seller.

.

[Vincardog]

4. The Democratic candidate needs to run against the failed "CONservative" policies.

If we get a populist presidential candidate we can sweep the rePIGlickers from our government and regain control of our institutions.If we elect a Corporatist triangulating candidate we slip into the police state under another cover.

[cali]

5. I don't think any of the dem candidates will move us closer

to a police state. In fact, I believe all of them would move us away from it.

[Vincardog]

9. ASk if any if them have repudiated the gestapo powers of jr? HRC said she would think about it.

[cali]

12. HRC said she would consider

jettisoning the powers accrued by bushco. I'm not aware of what others have said. But no, I don't believe that any of the dems are going to continue the fascistic march of bushco, should they reach the White House. And it's not just because they're dems.

[Vincardog]

20. What is there to "consider"?

[sampsonblk]

6. National Security

As long as there are Americans being shot at, that will be the top issue by election day. If either candidate chooses this to be the main issue of their campaign, then its the main issue in the election. If they both choose to drop it (which I doubt), then other issues can dominate.

[cali]

10. Oh no it won't. Don't think for a moment that if Americans

are being foreclosed on in ever larger numbers, if they're paying $4 bucks a gallon for gas, if food prices keep sky rocketing, that Americans will have the war as the top issue. A very small number of Americans are directly connected to the war. Tens of millions are deeply impacted by pocket book issues. It's axiomatic that people look to their own self-interests first- and it's dead true.

[sampsonblk]

15. Self-interest = don't get blown up on your way to work

For a lot of voters, if you tell them the other candidate is weak and is going to get you killed, well that makes a lot of difference. More so than gas prices or mortgage payments.

Its a neat trick the GOP had going. Scare everyone to death. It worked great in the past. But in 2008, I guess that does remain to be seen.

[cali]

16. no. it didn't work in 2006

and with dramatically worse economic conditions, it clearly won't work in 2008. When the economy is bad, it's INVARIABLY the number 1 issue, historically. Absent some devastating "terrorist" attack- and believe me, I don't put it past them, the economy is THE issue.

[sampsonblk]

24. Yep...same stuff I heard in 2004.-nt

[nealmhughes]

23. Unless the GWOT comes back to the Most Serene Christian Republic, no, it will be the economy.

Short of a machine gunner outside the Goodyear Blimp during the bowl games or Arthur filled with explosives going down towards Hearld Square Thursday, it will be the economy.
While the populace are easily placated, they are also easily distracted, except when the bills come.

[Basileus Basileon]

7. Ab. So. Lutely. And that's what will carry HRC into office, if she wins the nomination.

People remember the economy of the Clinton years fondly. This is the one way in which the Clinton "baggage" will be a positive.

It's the economy, stupid.

[Imagevision]

8. If Bush can control the DOJ with Gonzo, why do you believe the unemployment numbers are real?!?

[cali]

11. Did you bother reading the Rasmussen numbers?

55% of Americans believe that we're either already in a recession or we'll soon be in one. bushco can lie til he's blue in the face, but do you really think people don't notice the dire economic conditions? It's clear that they do.

[Disturbed]

14. Dayjavoo- "It's the Economy, stupid."

Yup.

[THUNDER HANDS]

17. I think the top issue will be

the overall state of the nation.

There's so many problems, there won't be one far-reaching one that pulls anybody. I think foreign policy and the economy will obviously be the biggest one's, but one won't dwarf the other.

[ronnykmarshall]

18. It will be "why did Hillary not tip that waitress"

:hide:

[damntexdem]

19. martial law ...

and the suspension of the elections?

[1corona4u]

21. For me....

it's foreign policy. Everything else is going to fall in line, just like it always does. Oddly though, I'm not really worried about the economy. It will bounce back with a new president, and gas prices will drop like a rock when Bush is gone. That, I'm 100% sure of. My friends said I was nuts when he was selected, and I said "get ready for $3.00 a gallon gas!!" Well....I was right. They just didn't see it coming.

[CK_John]

22. The draft and lack of oil production. n/t

[Colobo]

25. I think the topic will be change more than any issue in specific.

Americans want overall change.

[antiimperialist]

26. Top issue: "how Hillary claps her hands like the Chinese"

according to Chris Matthews.

[PurityOfEssence]

27. Probably.

It's going to be dreadful and hit in all sorts of cumulative ways: inflation, gas prices and supplies, credit crunch, falling stock and housing values, job losses, and on and on and on.

Never forget, though: Junior and Deadeye Dick can still botch us into an international cyclone, so that may take much of the attention.

It's surprising to see how few understand the problem with the economy, but this may not simply hurt the Republicans and help the Dems: we can be blamed for controlling Congress, and the reactionaries play the fear card VERY well, not just on war but on economic issues.