tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post501597604350236607..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Catch of the DayJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-50100063246440462402011-01-05T00:15:48.319-06:002011-01-05T00:15:48.319-06:00Agree -- and I recommend playing around at Gallup&...Agree -- and I recommend playing around at Gallup's presidential approval page. Good fun.Jonathan Bernsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-20665623000919612922011-01-04T23:19:19.424-06:002011-01-04T23:19:19.424-06:00Context like that David Tomlin just gave is really...Context like that David Tomlin just gave is really interesting. It'd be nice to be able to get that from mainstream sources. Thanks!Caitlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11266590357251588523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-42770831694922495882011-01-04T18:34:16.413-06:002011-01-04T18:34:16.413-06:00It's worth noting that Obama's approval, b...It's worth noting that Obama's approval, before the recent bump, was about where Bush's was when he (narrowly) defeated Kerry in 2004.David Tomlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-24757620499536523912011-01-04T16:46:55.844-06:002011-01-04T16:46:55.844-06:00Another poll, from 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair shows th...Another poll, from 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair shows that when it comes to the deficit, which the Republicans have insisted is the biggest is the Universe... when it comes to first steps to try to reduce it...<br /><br />61% favor tax raise on the rich<br />20% favor cutting defense spending<br /> 4% favor cutting Medicare<br /> 3% favor cutting Social Security<br /><br />So it may have been a politically shrewd to reschedule this debate for 2012 when the GOP will be trying to block the first steps supported by over 80% of folks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-47047568706548450872011-01-04T16:42:00.260-06:002011-01-04T16:42:00.260-06:00One good sign for Obama is that the economy is jud...One good sign for Obama is that the economy is judged in relative, not absolute terms. It largely doesn't matter how good the economic situation is on election day, just if it's getting better or worse. As Reagan and FDR learned, an improving economy means the same thing for re-election as a good economy. Unemployment could be 8.5% on 11/6/12, but as long as it's recently declined, Obama should be in good shape.Kalhttp://twitter.com/#!/Kalbelgarionnoreply@blogger.com