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Subscribe to RSSAmericans say they voted for change, they are hoping for change, but they expect business as usual.
That’s one of the messages Wednesday out of the latest NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll, the first released after the midterm elections in which Democrats lost six Senate seats and at least 61 seats in the House, the most in a midterm since World War Two.
“The message emerging from this survey, is Americans want to hit the Washington reset button,” said Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted the poll with Republican pollster Bill McInturff, “but they’re skeptical cooperation can replace combat and that progress can supplant gridlock.”
Almost seven-in-10 (68%) say they voted in the midterm elections hoping to see change. By a large majority (61%-33%), they say the election results – and divided government (60%-36%) – are good for the country. But they are doubtful of just how much change will actually take place. Almost three-quarters (73%) say there either will not be much change or just some change. And 76% believe the country is headed for a period of division with the parties showing little willingness to work together or compromise.
The country sees President Obama as more likely to show a willingness to work with Republicans than vice-versa – 67% said Obama is likely to work with Republicans versus just 45% who said the same of the GOP. But that’s the way the Republican base likes it, according to the poll. The country is split on whether it wants elected officials to compromise -- 47% say they do, 43% say they don’t. And just 27% of Republicans want elected candidates to compromise; 63% want them to stick to their campaign positions. In contrast, 64% of Democrats want compromise while 28% do not, and 46% of independents do versus 39% who don’t.
And Americans say they don’t want the president to take the lead role in setting policy for the country -- they want Congress to do it. They said so by a 52%-39% margin in this poll. That 39% for Obama actually is higher than what they said of Bill Clinton in 1994 – after Democrats suffered major losses in the House – and of George W. Bush in 2006, when Republicans lost control of both the House and Senate. Just 30% favored Clinton taking the lead, and even fewer -- 21% -- said so of Bush. The only time in the poll’s history that a plurality of respondents said they wanted the president to set the agenda was after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Obama’s job approval rating in this poll ticked up slightly to 47 percent approving and 47 percent disapproving. That’s the first time since May that more people didn’t disapprove of the job he was doing than approved.
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There will be change, after all, freshman congressmen are cheaper to buy than those that have been there awhile. Other than that, the faces at the top seem very familiar. Hit those brakes hard, gridlock ahead.
If they don't get something done, then in two years , there will be more change.
The freshmen have already been bought. There really is only one way to defeat the corruption, and I seriously doubt that President Obama has the cajones for doing it. But it is nice to dream that it could happen. The tools are still at his and Eric Holder's disposal.
Unfortunately, that would require a spine transplant. Sad to say.
Paul, I'm not sure what "one way" you're alluding to, and I too am disappointed in President Obama's lack of cajones, but I'm truly hoping that he's going to learn from his mistakes and proceed with greater aggression against the would be disruptions. I'm encouraged by the fact that he's acknowledging his mistakes, let's see what he does to correct them. We all fought hard to get him in office, I feel I owe him a chance to change course and find a way to push his agenda in spite of the resistance from the extremists...
Both sides are working for the same goal....enrich themselves screw the people
That is why it will take a huge set to upset that applecart.
Wow.. just saw on the internet that the big money that brought the republicans into power came from China Now China owns more America then we do !!
Be careful of believing what you read on the internet. Including what i just said ;p.
But you just said........but I.........oh hell, now I'm just confused.
Sorry just channeling the Cheshire Cat.
"We're all mad here" said the Cheshire Cat.
I was more referring to I must be Dreaming tongue in cheek.
Since the Murkowski thread has 700+ comments and there's no on on this thread, I'll post this here.
Yippee, the republican won! (sarcasm). Seriously, I'm really supposed to care which one?
YEEEEHAAAAAA!!! Since I seem to have this thread all to myself its time for "LATE NIGHT RANTS FROM THE RADICAL LEFT"
The midterm results are what they are, Americans showing their displeasure with government. Don't worry dems, the repubs will flub this opportunity like they always do, then it will be your turn to screw things up again. Woe be unto us, the never-ending cycle of mediocrity will continue unabated.
But here is something I'm sure we can all agree on and support regardless of ideology: send all of your negative energy to the Duke Blue Devils; root against them always. If we all band together in this noble cause, they will fall.
These Americans either skipped high school civics or slept through it. Repeat after me, boys and girls: "The president proposes, the Congress disposes." It's been that way for some time, now.
Although, if you look at the powers of the Presidency from the time of Washington to today they have grown by leaps and bounds. The president still sets a lot of US policy and often has the upper hand in steering it. So, while your statement is correct it downplays the presidents influence in todays government vs the original scope of influence in the time of Washington.