Could Americans really get any angrier at Washington? Even before the recent government shutdown, congressional approval hovered around 10 percent, a minority thought the country was on the right track, and a “throw the bums out” mentality was rampant. Railing against the toxic mess in D.C. has been a winning […] Read more »
The American People: Winners or Losers or Both?
A number of our elected representatives have somberly proclaimed that there are no winners from the recent government shutdown and near-default. These utterances have not prevented pundits from weighing in with various lists of “winners” and “losers” anyway. In many instances, of course, it takes a significant period of time […] Read more »
Republicans Lost the Standoff, But They Won’t Lose the House. Unless …
The shutdown is over, but it lasted more than long enough to inflict significant damage to the Republican brand. A plurality of voters blamed the GOP for the shutdown, poll after poll shows the GOP’s favorability rating near record lows. And as a result, a once unthinkable Democratic takeover of […] Read more »
Can Obama seize the moment and make Washington work?
It’s rare when a president is given an opportunity to reboot in the middle of a term, but that’s what the end of the government shutdown has provided President Obama. The question now is: What will he do with it? … Obama will continue to face unyielding opposition from the […] Read more »
For GOP, the Damage Is Undeniable
The deal to open the government and raise the debt ceiling may be done, but the damage to the national Republican Party is considerable. … The problem, of course, is that the Ted Cruz/Ted Yoho wing of the party doesn’t really believe in negotiation, which, at its core, requires compromise. […] Read more »
Americans Expect Economic Crisis if Debt Deal Not Reached
Six in 10 Americans believe that an economic crisis will result if Congress does not reach an agreement on the federal debt ceiling by Oct. 17, echoing the same sentiments Americans held as the country confronted the last debt ceiling situation in the summer of 2011. … Given the low […] Read more »