The Oblivious Right (Paul Krugman, NYT, 04/25/2005)

[swag]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/25/opinion/25krugman.html?hp

. . .

According to John Snow, the Treasury secretary, the global economy is in a "sweet spot." Conservative pundits close to the administration talk, without irony, about a "Bush boom."

Yet two-thirds of Americans polled by Gallup say that the economy is "only fair" or "poor." And only 33 percent of those polled believe the economy is improving, while 59 percent think it's getting worse.

Is the administration's obliviousness to the public's economic anxiety just partisanship? I don't think so: President Bush and other Republican leaders honestly think that we're living in the best of times. After all, everyone they talk to says so.

Since November's election, the victors have managed to be on the wrong side of public opinion on one issue after another: the economy, Social Security privatization, Terri Schiavo, Tom DeLay. By large margins, Americans say that the country is headed in the wrong direction, and Mr. Bush is the least popular second-term president on record.

. . . MORE

[BillZBubb]

1. All true, but the Democrats still can't get any traction.

The Repugs have successfully brainwashed the sheeple into the belief that the Repugs may be bad, but those "Libruls" are much worse.

The sheeple have successfully suppressed any memory of the good years under Bill Clinton from their miniscule brains. The walls may be falling around them, but George By God W Bush shares their values--and that's what really matters.

[Demeter]

6. Dean's Got Traction

and a lot of base behind him---it's the empty heads and hearts at the top that act as a cork. Shake the bottle, people, pop the cork!

[Tux]

2. As long as

Republicians put out evangelicals that the working class will feel comfortable with as a drinking buddy, they'll win....untill hard economic times hit or peak oil begins.

[renaissanceguy]

4. So I guess our next presidential candiate should be

an alcoholic.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.21272885

[BlueEyedSon]

7. Well, it worked for Bush.... nt

[candy]

3. Krugman is right on target,as usual.

This is a president that makes just about no one happy,including many members of his own party,and I know a lot of them.

Everytime I hear that employment figures are up I almost barf. Sure they may be up,but it's shit jobs that are being created.

Bush is a guy that just won't listen.

We should call this country the good old UCA--United Corporations of America.

[Catchawave]

5. Great opportunity for the dems....

from the article:

"Democracy Corps, the Democratic pollsters, say that there is a "crisis of confidence in the Republican direction for the country." As they're careful to point out, this won't necessarily translate into a surge of support for Democrats."

So how do we create this surge ?

[BlueEyedSon]

8. kick

[fryguy]

9. great OP/ED, was about to post it myself . . .

"Bush Boon"?!?!?! Unbelievable!

kicked and nominated

[OETKB]

10. Maybe Jefferson was more eloquent,

but this sounds like the Declaration of Independence to me. This administration deserves impeachment as soon as a majority in Congress can be mustered. Hopefully the people will finally realize the first freedom, is freedom from harm. If a leader and his minions violate this, they deserve to be removed(legallly, of course).