Libertarian_Guard
05-22-2003, 03:35 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26093-2003May22.html
Snipet
Despite the mammoth numbers, Democrats will have a tough time scoring many political points, judging from polls and political professionals. The public is focused on the ailing economy and the threat of terrorism, and is paying scant attention to budget problems.
"People think there are extraordinary circumstances that have produced the deficit. In that sense, it has taken away the edge" of federal red ink as an issue, said Democratic consultant Celinda Lake.
The public is about evenly split on Bush's handling of the economy, a measure that consistently has been far lower than his handling of the campaign against terrorism. Even so, Bush's job approval rating has dropped from 71 percent in April to 62 percent in May, according to an NBC-Wall Street Journal poll released Thursday. His job approval had dipped into the 50s before the war with Iraq, when it spiked back into the low 70s.
Republicans want as little as possible to do with the borrowing spree because it angers many conservatives who form the base of their party.
Accentuating that, the GOP-run House reinstated a rule this year - initiated years ago by Democrats - that makes House approval of an increased debt limit automatic when Congress completes the final version of its annual budget. Thus, the House never had a direct vote this year on boosting borrowing, but has signed off on doing so.
Snipet
Despite the mammoth numbers, Democrats will have a tough time scoring many political points, judging from polls and political professionals. The public is focused on the ailing economy and the threat of terrorism, and is paying scant attention to budget problems.
"People think there are extraordinary circumstances that have produced the deficit. In that sense, it has taken away the edge" of federal red ink as an issue, said Democratic consultant Celinda Lake.
The public is about evenly split on Bush's handling of the economy, a measure that consistently has been far lower than his handling of the campaign against terrorism. Even so, Bush's job approval rating has dropped from 71 percent in April to 62 percent in May, according to an NBC-Wall Street Journal poll released Thursday. His job approval had dipped into the 50s before the war with Iraq, when it spiked back into the low 70s.
Republicans want as little as possible to do with the borrowing spree because it angers many conservatives who form the base of their party.
Accentuating that, the GOP-run House reinstated a rule this year - initiated years ago by Democrats - that makes House approval of an increased debt limit automatic when Congress completes the final version of its annual budget. Thus, the House never had a direct vote this year on boosting borrowing, but has signed off on doing so.