A Year Before Election, A Nation of Discontent (USA Today Poll: 72% Dissatisfied)

[Hissyspit]

Source: USA Today

A year before voting, a nation of discontent
By Susan Page, USA TODAY

Call us the Unhappy States of America.

One year before Election Day 2008, most Americans are dismayed by the country's direction, pessimistic about the Iraq war and anxious about the economy. Two of three disapprove of the job President Bush is doing. Nearly a year after Democrats took control of Congress, three of four Americans say it isn't achieving much, either.

In all, 72% of those surveyed in a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Oct. 12-14 say they are dissatisfied with how things are going in the USA while just 26% are satisfied. Not since April have even one-third of Americans been happy with the country's course, the longest national funk in 15 years.

"Don't get me wrong, America's a great country," says Lori Jones, 46, a medical assistant in Phoenix. But she worries about her family's finances and prospects for the next generation. "I think we've somehow lost our way."

There's plenty of time for attitudes to change before the election, of course, but the current landscape is the sort that in the past has prompted political upheaval and third-party candidacies. The last time the national mood was so gloomy was in 1992, when the first President Bush was ousted from the White House and H. Ross Perot received the highest percentage of the vote of any third-party candidate in 80 years. Bill Clinton was elected amid economic angst.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-10-31-mood-cover_N.htm

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[Hugin]

1. Yet the Dems are still on the defensive?

I ask... Why?

[karynnj]

7. My guess - they feel pressured because they fear the media

A case of once burned, twice shy. The Republicans tell them if they don't pass what Bush wants, nothing will get passed unless they can get 60 votes - which they can't on most things. Even when they do, as in S-CHIP, the then told that it is their fault they don't have enough votes in the House to override a veto. Now, they should be pushing back against the media explaining that the Republicans are obstructing by:

- filibustering everything in the Senate
- not selecting their people on the Senate/House reconciliations - obstructing that process
- then routinely vetoing anything different from Bush's plan.

The problem is that the media ignores the above and asks why the Democrats "controlling both houses" can't pass anything. It doesn't help when they can get people on the left insisting that they do have the votes on Iraq. (The only thing they can do with 41 votes is filibuster. This leads to no funding bill. We do not have 41 Democrats willing to cut the funding completely until Bush agrees to a bill with a deadline. It is a game of chicken - and the Democrats fear that the media will stand with Bush if they were the ones refusing to agree to a bill that they don't agree with that satisfies Bush.)

[AndyTiedye]

8. They Fear Another Reichstag Fire

They don't "fear" that the MSM will side with Bush**, they KNOW the MSM will side with Bush**.

They fear another Reichstag fire, followed by martial law, (and the MSM cheering all the way).

[Demeter]

2. Peaking Too Soon

Perhaps the economy will keep the pressure on for real change....

[tinymontgomery]

3. That 72% is dissatisfied because

we haven't attacked Iran yet. Once we start it will be "USA, USA" etc and then we'll all be happy again.

[lonestarnot]

4. Raw Raw Raw.

And who's going to fight it? The war with Iran? Who's going to fight it?

[grahamhgreen]

5. I win all the discussions I have with conservatives over Iran by asking them

"what will the price of a gallon of gas be if we invade Iran?"

[lonestarnot]

6. LOL it will sell by the pint.

[Uncle Joe]

9. When will USA Today/Gallup come out with a poll reflecting

the American People's satisfaction/dissatisfaction regarding the corporate media's role in our current state of affairs?

[KillCapitalism]

10. Time for socialism!

That will reverse the discontent guaranteed.

[superconnected]

11. Hear that DEMOCRATIC Congress

WE WANT TO REPLACE YOU NOW.