Pessimistic Americans Want Change

[Doug]

One year out from the 2008 election, Americans are deeply pessimistic and eager for a change in direction from the agenda and priorities of President Bush, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Concern about the economy, the war in Iraq and growing dissatisfaction with the political environment in Washington all contribute to the lowest public assessment of the direction of the country in more than a decade. Just 24 percent think the nation is on the right track, and three-quarters said they want the next president to chart a course that is different than that pursued by Bush.

Overwhelmingly, Democrats want a new direction, but so do three-quarters of independents and even half of Republicans. Sixty percent of all Americans said they feel strongly that such a change is needed after two terms of the Bush presidency.

Dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq remains a primary drag on public opinion, and Americans are increasingly downcast about the state of the economy. More than six in 10 called the war not worth fighting, and nearly two-thirds gave the national economy negative marks. The outlook going forward is also bleak: About seven in 10 see a recession as likely over the next year.

Here.

[Barbara Fitzpatrick]

I'm pessimistic, too. The economy is a crash waiting to happen, and it won't wait much longer. If W starts WWIII, it will just happen sooner, since his "war spending" is more of his "trickle up" agenda. A whole lot can happen in 12 months, but that poll seems to say Hillary will get in. (She is NOT my first choice, but I think she will/would be so much better than what we have now, I won't quibble if she does.) The poll report tried to gloss over that - 35% haters and all that (so what else is new - she had 35% hate ratings for the last 25 years) - but bottom line is 51% even against Gulliani (at 46%) with a 3% margin of error. Sure that could mean she could get as low as 48% to Guiliani's 49%. It could also mean she'd get a 54% to Gulliani's 43%. In a 3% margin of error in which 5 of the 6 scenarios have her winning, I'd bet she wins.

Now, does that mean I think she'll save the world? No. This country is in such a mess, that I think damage control is going to take a minimum of 4 years, and if that's all she accomplishes, this nation is fully stupid enough to hand the government right back to the fascisti.