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Is The Tide Turning?

Submitted by chemjeff on Thu, 01/29/2009 - 14:37
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Could it be that the truth about the porkulus bill is actually getting out?  Rasmussen reports that public support for the "economic stimulus bill" a.k.a. the Generational Theft Act of 2009 is slipping.  Of course support falls predictably along partisan lines, but the mushy middle is starting to oppose it as well. Here is the key quote:

However, support among unaffiliated voters has fallen. A week ago, unaffiliateds were evenly divided on the plan, with 37% in favor and 36% opposed. Now, 50% of unaffiliated voters oppose the plan while only 27% favor it.

It seems that people were initially supportive of the plan because they were gripped with fear, demanding that government "do something", and because they thought the plan would actually be, you know, fiscal stimulus.  Now that the truth is emerging that the plan is really nothing more than Democratic Party giveaways, people aren't liking it so much.

Furthermore, people are starting to warm up to the idea of tax-cuts-as-stimulus.  To wit:

While support for the plan has slipped, support for a recovery plan that includes only tax cuts - like the one proposed by House Republicans - has grown during the past week. Forty-three percent (43%) of voters support that approach while 39% are opposed. Though the topline numbers are virtually the same as support for the president’s plan, the partisan demographics are distinctly different. Republicans solidly support a tax-cutting recovery plan while Democrats are solidly opposed. Forty-eight percent (48%) of unaffiliated voters like the idea while 33% do not.

And:

Voters continue to soundly reject a recovery plan that includes only new government spending without any tax cuts. Just 15% support such a plan while 70% are opposed.

My faith in the people is slowly being renewed. 

And, this is coming on top of a poll from last week showing that people are nervous about the avalanche of spending that is sure to come.

Senate Republicans have to stand strong against this monstrosity.  There is nothing politically to be gained by compromising and going along with it.  Stick to your guns and force a vote on the Republican tax cut stimulus proposal.

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Comments

Monstrosity

Submitted by Scooter Schaefer on Thu, 01/29/2009 - 16:40.

Is perhaps the best term I have heard to describe the stimulus plan.  My fear however, is that there is not enough "guns" in the Senate to stick too.  I think are best hope for the Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins types, is that they vote with the GOP, because they realize the political fallout of a failed stimulus package.  Not because they are particularly against it.  Essentially I think we have an assortment of  Senate Republicans who have little or no guns to stick too.  Hopefully as you pointed out, there is enough public sentiment against the stimulus package, that moderate Senate Republicans will feel safe in voting against it.   

changing things around

Submitted by chemjeff on Thu, 01/29/2009 - 17:18.

Yeah I am pessimistic that the entire plan will fail, a la Clinton's aborted 1993 stimulus.  I'm thinking that if we can put enough pressure on them, we can convince them to change it to be more REAL fiscal stimulus, i.e. building bridges and the like, more REAL tax cuts, i.e., not just transfer payments to people who don't pay taxes in the first place, and less mindless spending on partisan nonsense.  This IMO is our best hope right now.  And the Senate is where it needs to take place.

hmm... interesting how the reduction in income tax

Submitted by RisingTide on Thu, 01/29/2009 - 17:21.

that was first designed to raise people's effective minimum wage, is now being touted as a way to punish some of our hardest workers (yall know that the janitor works harder than the middle manager, rightyo?)

you misunderstand

Submitted by chemjeff on Thu, 01/29/2009 - 17:32.

You misunderstand.  I don't have a problem per se with things like the EITC as long as they are employed for their original purpose, which was to offset payroll taxes.  I have a problem, though, with calling all forms of transfer payments a "tax cut" when they aren't.

ah. zo.

Submitted by RisingTide on Thu, 01/29/2009 - 17:38.

you're right. when we make a handout, even to the working poor, we should call it a handout (or something slightly less loaded, but still much more clear than a "tax cut").