McClatchy-Ipsos poll, Obama approval 53% and most Americans see Washington as broken

[Jennicut]

WASHINGTON — An overwhelming majority of Americans think their federal government is gridlocked by partisan infighting and turf battles and can't accomplish anything, according to a new McClatchy-Ipsos poll.

Yet the anger and frustration with Washington aren't directed solely at either party and don't automatically add up to a tidal wave against the governing Democrats in this year's elections for control of Congress, the poll suggested.

In fact, Americans tilt slightly against Republicans as to which party they blame more. They also give a 10-point edge to Democrats when they're asked which party they'd vote for if the congressional elections were today.

“Overall, the poll suggests a level of disgust with politics as usual,” said Clifford Young, a senior vice president with Ipsos Public Affairs, which conducted the survey. “Americans are basically angry at incumbents and Washington. This isn't necessarily directed at any one party. I have my doubts about whether the Democrats will be obliterated. Yes, they'll lose seats, but there is a general backlash against all incumbents.”http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/6893608.html

The conventional wisdom is most of the public is turning against Dems toward Repubs but it is more complicated then that...people are fed up with incumbents. In this poll, Obama's approval was also up 3 points since January and he is at 52% on Gallup today. Rather then his poll #'s going down to the 40's they are staying steady.

[patrice]

1. Almost every American I talk to is a mix of "Liberal" and "Conservative".

And I talk to as many as I can.

[Bicoastal]

2. That's funny, I read a New York Post the other day...

...and it said it (in an uncredited Editorial statement on page 4) that the country's rejection of Barack Obama's administration was the BIGGEST STORY IN THE COUNTRY.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. As I've said before, they're just going to keep shuffling the deck until they have jobs.

If unemployment goes down a few points, we won't be having this discussion.

[jwirr]

4. Washington is broken - how is it different when we say this and when

it is a repug talking point? RWers all believe the government is evil and will not work. How do we stop them from acting on this idea if we believe it is true? We had a minister move up to our church from Texas and he was determined that government does not work. A rabid repug. He moved to a NE MN county were most of the people were his religion and they ran the government offices. At least in our area government works. It took us exactly 5 months to get rid of him. There is a very thin line between what we are saying and what they are saying here. Many too thin?

[Hansel]

5. Motive.

They are saying it because it's been their goal since Reagan to destroy the Federal government so these greedy gluttons and their ilk can steal everything this country has to offer unchecked and now they think they are about to drive a stake through its heart.

We say it because the 1st step in fixing a problem is to admit there is one. We are trying to get people who care about the middle and lower classes and the rule of law to wake up and start caring about our government before we lose everything to greed and turn into a 3rd world country.

There is a vast difference.

[jwirr]

8. Good point. I was just trying to say that we may be encouraging them

in their idiot belief.

[DrToast]

6. The problem is that Washington was designed broken

It took some time but were reaping the consequences of the Senate today.

[Pirate Smile]

7. kick

[tranche]

9. I think this is the basic reality.