Was Clinton wrong?
 

It isn't so much that voters care about the national economy as it is that they care about their own economic wellbeing http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.gif A very large difference, in this case.

I'm sure that various events have also shifted the focus away from economic and perhaps to more matters of security or liberty or somesuch.

Plus, some people have been manipulated and care about stupid things - abortion, gay marriage, etc...

It's only "the economy, stupid" when that is your main campaign plank http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif.

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
the federal deficit is at historically low levels http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...s/confused.gif

Gore lost on similar "good" economic grounds. perhaps people don't see things as rosy as the picture being painted for them.

Originally posted by Whoha
people don't see things as rosy as the picture being painted for them. There aren't as many jobs being created as need to be, gas prices are up (though coming down), house prices are stagnant or falling (so pending via home equity loans is drying up), they aren't getting raises, bankruptcies are soaring after the inital post-anti-bankruptcy drop, etc.

Sure, things are good for some investors (though the fact that only the DOW is doing well says investors have qualms) and some capitalists, but over all, most people aren't feeling it. Plus, there's a badly handled war which is sending home dozens of dead Americans every week.

In spite of that, there's a good chance the Dems will manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

But they're all capitalist bastards to me, though the GOP is slightly more criminal in my opin.

Economic inequality is reaching historical highs though. A majority of people aren't better off, even if the rich are doing really well.

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
There aren't as many jobs being created as need to be

How can you seriously argue this when unemployment is below 5%? That only measures the number of people seaking work against those who have work. It doesn't take into account people who have never had work or have given up looking for work or who have work but not enough work to make a living. It also doesn't take into account the removal of a siazable portion of the workfroce to be sent oversea and shot at, who had to be replaced.

Only 50,000 new jobs were created in September.

I mean, ****, if all that's required is full-time work, but everybody's making minimum wage or just a cut above it, which as many cases have shown isn't enough to make a real living off of... sure, unemployment is down.

Doesn't mean people are actually economically improving, or well off. (Granted, at least they're not in debtor's prisons, but...)

Only 50,000 new jobs were created in September.

I'm not that concerned when 188,000 jobs were created in August.

I mean, ****, I'm not that concerned that we're still turning corners in Iraq. They've had democratic elections, right? It's all good.

Well, Pelosi still seems to think the economy is the main issue...

Democratic priorities are clear: we will fight to get the economy back on track, we will create jobs, and we will help unemployed workers.

http://democraticleader.house.gov/pr...ReleaseID=1857

I applaud the sentiment, but I have to wonder why she thinks we should elect the Dems to do these things when the GOP already is... http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...smilies/hm.gif

haven't real wages declined over the past 2 years.
.

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
Only 50,000 new jobs were created in September.

I'm not that concerned when 188,000 jobs were created in August. You may not be, but it seems to me a significant chunk of the electorate is.

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
What would you know about the views of the American electorate? What Fox News tell me. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/nod.gif

For most voters the economy is, at best, OK. Cost of living has kept up or outdistanced wage growth for most individuals, and while OIl prices have goen down from six months ago, oil is still far more expensive than the last time we had an election.

Republicans have purposely framed this election on national security, as they did the last two. They have no chance at this point to change the game plan.

More importantly, the electorate is disgusted with Washington, and in the end, that means the party that controls all the elected branches of government.

8.9/10. Plenty of catches.

Smartest post in the thread so far. Kudos, sir. http://www.discussworldissues.com/im...ons/icon14.gif http://www.discussworldissues.com/im...ons/icon14.gif

It's still the economy, Stupid


(Stupid = Drake)

Clinton was elected, then re-elected. Ergo, Clinton was right.

But the key difference is that Clinton made it the key issue, and the electorate was willing to "vote your pocketbook" at a time when few people felt they were doing well. Bush I compounded the problem by being pathetically out of touch. He was viewed as elitist and pro-business -- at thexpense of the common folk.

Fast forward to today and we have a very different situation. No comparison. The Republicans have spent a ton of political capital promoting their agenda of post-911 fear. They do not have the wherewithall to suddenly turn around and say, "No, really, you should be voting your pocketbook."

It's really apples and oranges. 9/11 changed the landscape, the Republicans decided to make it their bellwether issue. After 5 years of being told that further attacks are being foiled, terror level colors being used to drive opinion polls, supporting our troops while ignoring off-the-books war spending, and taking off their shoes at the airport -- the Republicans have to lie in the bed they made. I'm not saying this was wrong, but I am saying that after making an 8-year administration all about national security and family values, they can't change horses now.

People do tend to build their pocketbooks, but it's just too late for the Republicans to tell the voters to make it their key issue for the midterms. They can only hope that historical truth saves their butts.

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
Good answer. Thanks. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.gif http://www.discussworldissues.com/im...ons/icon14.gif http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/eek.gif Do I get some kind of award for this? http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/eek.gif