As Democracy Corps admits up front, who knows how this one will end, but right now the Democratic pollsters say health care didn’t do squat for Democrats.
Health care’s passage did not produce even a point rise in the president’s approval rating or affection for the Democratic Congress. Virtually every key tracking measure in April’s poll has remained unchanged, including the Democrats’ continued weakness on handling of the economy. Both parties are equally reviled, reflected in their lowest ratings in history, while voters want to punish those in power – for the partisan bickering, bailing out the undeserving, government spending, the deficit, and the endless gridlock over health care while people struggled to survive the jobs crisis. With independents even more conservative and Republican-leaning in this survey, the congressional battle in 2010 looks like a dead-heat at best – a 12-point swing in this poll from 2008.
The health care bill is a very bad bill. That people don’t get any goodies until years from now was a ridiculous way to put the package together. The mandate inside a monopoly a horrendous idea. That the taxes on the middle class will hit in later years won’t matter to Obama, because even assuming he gets a second term, the bad stuff won’t hit until he’s gone.
On another note (via Greg Sargent), Mark Murray debunks the wingnut charge that the Obama administration spiked a report revealing health care would increase costs before the final vote on the bill. Murray, however, doesn’t deny the report says health care costs would rise in the near term.
A little back story: While the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that the health-care legislation (Senate bill, plus reconciliation bill) would reduce the deficit by $138 billion over 10 years and $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years, the Office of the Actuary at HHS said last week that the new health-care law would raise health costs $311 billion from 2010 to 2019.
Via Chris Cilizza, Charlie Cook has downgraded chances of holding Obama’s old Senate seat after Alexi Giannoulias’ family bank failed last week.
Another sign of 2010 is the Gallup poll on young voters.
Do you know anyone who is “very enthusiastic” about voting in 2010?
I will enthusiatically vote against every Republican on the ballot. Early and often. Peace
Heh-heh…
Like I said, even a broken clock is right twice a day.
As far as President Obama and a healthcare bounce…BWAHAHAHAHAHA! FOR THAT PATHETIC PERFORMANCE?!!!!
That makes me “right” twice as often as you are. Peace
The hapless Democrats. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of whores for ignoring their base.
“That people don’t get any goodies until years from now was a ridiculous way to put the package together. The mandate inside a monopoly a horrendous idea. That the taxes on the middle class will hit in later years won’t matter to Obama, because even assuming he gets a second term, the bad stuff won’t hit until he’s gone.”
I still think it’s better to have the bill than not, but I agree with the above mentioned concerns. It is too confusing and complicated for people to clearly understand.
That “dubunking” is kind of … bunk. It’s full of words such as “it’s hard to see how,” for example. There’s nothing definitive that PROVES the Wh didn’t have it ahead of time. That bill is a disaster. It was crammed down our throats, it takes away choice, it’s going to explode costs … and it’s out of the question the WH didn’t know this ahead of time? For heaven’s sakes I sure knew it ahead of time!
My congressman had a telephone townhall yesterday.The insurance questions were two to one.Everybody thinks they are going to lose something.One challenged if the Bill was Constitutional.
Ds and Rs at their lowest ratings…
D’n'R system: Do Not Resuscitate.
We are in need of a third party badly !!! I will not just vote democrat no more I am keeping my options open and I like to have a choice on who I am voting for, thats where independents such as myself come in. I just wished there was a third party candidates that could come in and win seats and take on both the democrats and republicans. I am watching and readinf about the election in the United Kingdom and I am thrilled about Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg and how well he is doing. It makes me wish there was a third party here. The health care bill is not want either side really wanted. I guess thats why it is being taken to the courts by states. I don’t understand either party anymore and neither as many other people in this country.
Some more polling from Gallup
“Enthusiastic” Voters Prefer GOP by 20 Points in 2010 Vote
…Specifically, men are more likely than women to say they would vote for the Republican candidate if the election were held today, while women would favor the Democratic candidate. Those who are currently married are more likely to support Republicans, and the unmarried are more likely to support Democrats.
There is a combined effect between gender and marriage, such that married men are decidedly Republican and unmarried women strongly Democratic. Marital status seems to be the more important of the two factors, since married men and married women prefer the Republican candidate, and unmarried men and unmarried women prefer the Democratic candidate…
http://www.gallup.com/poll/127553/Enthusiastic-Voters-Prefer-GOP-Points-2010-Vote.aspx
Thanks guyski.